The Germans are looking to install gold vending machines in their airport and railway stations.
Seriously.
Hmmm, I think Brian is going to Frankfurt in the next few months. Nothing says I love you like a piece of gold from your latest trip honey.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tip: Orange Cinema
Every year, Orange sponsors an outdoor theater in Bern, Geneva, Zurich, and (next year) Basel. It's fabulous- a great outdoor setting with restaurants and clean bathrooms (how Swiss!).
Tickets go on sale June 30. Check out the website and be prepared, tickets go fast!
Last year I bought our tickets to Wanted and Son of Rambow online without any problems; unless you count sitting Marion in front of the TV for a half hour so I could buy tickets before they sold out a problem. I don't.
After you have your tickets and you've waited anxiously for your night at the movies to arrive, get there early! Seats get reserved fast.
In summary: Tickets go fast. Seats go fast. Proof that this is a great way to get out in the summer. So go already!
Tickets go on sale June 30. Check out the website and be prepared, tickets go fast!
Last year I bought our tickets to Wanted and Son of Rambow online without any problems; unless you count sitting Marion in front of the TV for a half hour so I could buy tickets before they sold out a problem. I don't.
After you have your tickets and you've waited anxiously for your night at the movies to arrive, get there early! Seats get reserved fast.
In summary: Tickets go fast. Seats go fast. Proof that this is a great way to get out in the summer. So go already!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
12 weeks.
Darn, I'm really late with this one. And no pictures. But, years from now when Betti is complaining about the missing blog entry about her, I'll just have to explain that we were flying across the Atlantic and Europe. On two delayed flights. With an exhausted toddler. Yea, that's it. I'll blame her older sister.
Anyway, Betti was fantastic on the flight over. She slept practically the entire way. Everyone who walked past her fell in love and remarked that they wished they could sleep as well as my little Betti was sleeping.
She was an absolute angel.
Which, of course, terrified me when I realized that she had slept the majority of our 17 hour travel time and it was time for bed Thursday night.
But my little angel only woke up once during the night. And then did the same thing again Friday night.
It's a conspiracy I tell you. This fabulous infant is trying to erase all memory of my awful pregnancy so I will have more kids. It's gonna take more than an easy plane trip kid, but it's a good first step.
Anyway, Betti was fantastic on the flight over. She slept practically the entire way. Everyone who walked past her fell in love and remarked that they wished they could sleep as well as my little Betti was sleeping.
She was an absolute angel.
Which, of course, terrified me when I realized that she had slept the majority of our 17 hour travel time and it was time for bed Thursday night.
But my little angel only woke up once during the night. And then did the same thing again Friday night.
It's a conspiracy I tell you. This fabulous infant is trying to erase all memory of my awful pregnancy so I will have more kids. It's gonna take more than an easy plane trip kid, but it's a good first step.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Now, about that offer...
So sorry for the delay. The transition and jet lag has been worse than I expected. We are exhausted.
Anyway, about that little thing I mentioned in the last post. The offer we placed on a house...
Well, while home, Brian and I decided to contact our realtor to go look at houses "just in case". Basically, right now, we aren't sure what is in store for us after July 10, 2010 (when we will return from a cruise we booked last month). There are a lot of options on the table right now. Thankfully, all of the options are good ones so we aren't terribly worried about it. However, the unknown is kind of unsettling.
So we met up with our realtor to look at two houses in areas we would like to be in when we move back. We weren't expecting much, just wanted to see what was on the market so that, if we do return to the States next summer, we have a better understanding of what our money might get for us. We also wanted our realtor to get a sense of what we are looking for when the time comes.
Like I said, we weren't expecting much. So imagine our surprise when we actually really liked the first house we looked at. It is kind of a fixer upper but has a ton of potential, just what we like.
After a second trip, we decided to put an offer on the place. And, well, the owner didn't take it. Let's just say, uh, that there is a massive chasm between what we believe the property to be worth.
But the outing wasn't a waste. The owner met us and liked us. She thought Marion was adorable. We liked her and the property and were able to get our name and offer in there. And that's great. Because in six months, if the property is there, who knows?
We have plenty of time.
Anyway, about that little thing I mentioned in the last post. The offer we placed on a house...
Well, while home, Brian and I decided to contact our realtor to go look at houses "just in case". Basically, right now, we aren't sure what is in store for us after July 10, 2010 (when we will return from a cruise we booked last month). There are a lot of options on the table right now. Thankfully, all of the options are good ones so we aren't terribly worried about it. However, the unknown is kind of unsettling.
So we met up with our realtor to look at two houses in areas we would like to be in when we move back. We weren't expecting much, just wanted to see what was on the market so that, if we do return to the States next summer, we have a better understanding of what our money might get for us. We also wanted our realtor to get a sense of what we are looking for when the time comes.
Like I said, we weren't expecting much. So imagine our surprise when we actually really liked the first house we looked at. It is kind of a fixer upper but has a ton of potential, just what we like.
After a second trip, we decided to put an offer on the place. And, well, the owner didn't take it. Let's just say, uh, that there is a massive chasm between what we believe the property to be worth.
But the outing wasn't a waste. The owner met us and liked us. She thought Marion was adorable. We liked her and the property and were able to get our name and offer in there. And that's great. Because in six months, if the property is there, who knows?
We have plenty of time.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Time to go back
And just when the humidity in Maryland has taken a turn for the worse. Darn!
It's been a whirlwind trip of visiting, eating, and drinking. I've put on an embarrassing amount of weight, Betti was baptised, we did our part to help out the economy, we went to the dentist, hung out in Baltimore (stinky algae bloom and all), and put an offer on a house. And that's the short list!
I'll have to fill you all in when we get back to Switzerland. We should be back in approximately 30 hours!
It's been a whirlwind trip of visiting, eating, and drinking. I've put on an embarrassing amount of weight, Betti was baptised, we did our part to help out the economy, we went to the dentist, hung out in Baltimore (stinky algae bloom and all), and put an offer on a house. And that's the short list!
I'll have to fill you all in when we get back to Switzerland. We should be back in approximately 30 hours!
Friday, June 5, 2009
11 weeks.
The smiles are coming easier now and Betti's been cooing more and more. One of my friends, Lisa, got a full on love fest at dinner last night. Smiles and coos galore! 
Betti has also slept 8.5 hours in a row every night this week. Now I'm terrified that the jet lag and flight back next week will take it away. Marion didn't attend dinner with us last night. Mostly because dinner was with a group of friends and all their children that we haven't seen for over a year. Brian and I wanted to see and talk with everyone instead of chase the monkey around and leave early for bedtime! In attendance were eight of us with our significant others, seven children under the age of one and a half, a 3.5 year old, and one due in october. We had a great time! While we were out, Marion enjoyed girl time with her aunt. Colleen managed to capture this video from one of their activities.Monday, June 1, 2009
One year ago
One year ago, we packed up our lives and got on a flight for Zurich.
One whole year. It's amazing how fast it has gone yet it feels like we have lived there forever.
It's been a great, challenging, fun, hectic, overwhelming year. We've met new people, settled in to our new life, welcomed a new daughter, become recyclers, been confused by a multitude of languages, and become comfortable with a different culture. And that's just the short list.
I'm glad we decided to take the leap into the expat life. While this year has been tough, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I hope the next year is as good as our last!
One whole year. It's amazing how fast it has gone yet it feels like we have lived there forever.
It's been a great, challenging, fun, hectic, overwhelming year. We've met new people, settled in to our new life, welcomed a new daughter, become recyclers, been confused by a multitude of languages, and become comfortable with a different culture. And that's just the short list.
I'm glad we decided to take the leap into the expat life. While this year has been tough, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I hope the next year is as good as our last!
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