Thunderstorms and clouds...

So it's been a while since my last blog.  I think it was fireworks... and in fact I heard more going off tonight.  Maybe in celebreation that the skies have finally cleared?  Although it's been raining and overcast most of the week, I've managed to stay on track with my fitness regimine!

A hike on Mon and a chilly swim on Tues (that's right I've been swimming a mile each session!)...  Wed after working all day in the clouds- literally and figuratively- I hiked into the clouds- literally!  Today I took it easy after the torturous drive home from the office with a literal downpour and settled for yoga...

My good friend Zina had reccomended a great site that I've come to love mainly for the convenience factor, besides the fact that it pushes me out of my "typical" yoga routine check it out! www.myyogaonline.com

I've been inspired to do a lot of thinking the last few days....  on my hike in the clouds, one of the things I realized is how infrequently I've come to communicate- really communicate- to my dearest friends and family.  Admittedly, I'm much more of an "in person" communicator, but skype can work wonders. 

It seems the beauty and beast of the ever increasing technology at our fingertips is also creating a bit of a gap... you are constantly seeing everyone's facebook pictures and updates- it's almost as if you have a glimpse into their lives.  Yet, we loose the specialness of a call, a chat over coffee, or even just sitting silently next to eachother while watching a new movie.... it's the intimacy that's been stripped.  Facebook has given us so much, but taken something so valuable.

Now I'm blaming Facebook for my own issues.  Projecting onto an application that is there to be used how we see fit.  So, it's up to ME to bridge the techno gap.  And I do love seeing the photo updates :)

Enough of my pndering... let's get onto much more EXCITING news!  Drumrolll please............

I found the most FABULOUS pair of sunglasses EVER!  Seriously, no seriously... MADE my life in this hell-hole of a drab city Zurich so much brighter!  Also lucky that there was sun that day...

Ok, no more suspense- check out the photo...

SIMPLY FabUlous, no?


Yes, that's right, just when I'm about to leave this dead-zone I find it perking up to life!  It's ALIVE!!! 

There is this great Monday Market at a fun little bar on the river called Rimini in the summers:
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=82701426757&share_id=128014300556087&comments=1#!/group.php?gid=82701426757

Although I may have slightly freaked Roland (the owner of URBAN Eyewear) out by telling him he made my YEAR for having these... it seriously made my summer- or should I say lack there of...

Even though his site is in German (Laura, maybe an opportunity??) the concept is so great I must share.  He is on a mission for cool shades... so he goes to all these little glasses shops (for you Americans, they sell sunglasses mainly at Optical sores) around Europe and asks if they have any OLD stock.  The result is a goldmine!  From global name brands to was at one time a brand he finds BRAND NEW, OLD glasses!

So my search for the vintage shade with the earpiece on the bottom has finally come to an end....

Good thing I never antyed up to purchase those LV Gina's I've been drooling over for years....  Saved a whopping $500!!!!  Whoohoo! 

New shades in hand I had yet another jet-setting weekend... this time to somewhere I never in a million years thought I'd go... and a good reason too!  To the Black Sea in Romania for the Christening of Lucian Duncan McKinsey.  Max and I had the amazing honor of being the little man's godparents and I got to hold him through a beautiful Orthedox Christening ceremony.

Would have gone off without a hitch... if only I could have known to wear a breathable dress!  Silly me, I thought I needed to be propper and cover my arms. 

Nedless to say, the beautiful wodden church that was fashioned in Transylvanian style turned into soming much like a SAUNA with the lack of circulation and pleathora of hot bodies, humidity and torching Summer temps.

We all got through it and only damage to the family pics with the godmother looking a bit drenched :)  Lucian (or as Dana's dad likes to call him, Duncan) did an amazing job and even got a tour of the church in the process ;)  The we was amazing- a true glimpse of life in Romania, and the Black Sea was refreshing and more than I could have expected!

This weekend I'm off to a HEN party (AKA Bachelorette) in NICE! 

Yes, another box to check off the old list of places to go!  Alessandra will be tieing the knot with a fellow IMDer this Sept so she, Laura, and two of her friends are hitting up the sea for a girls-weekend get-away.

Until next time dear (3!) readers!

The coolest Fireworks EVER!

As you know, this weekend is Zurifest here in Zurich- it's an excuse for the ever-so-tightly-wound Swiss German community to come out of their shells and PARTY like it's 1999!

One benefit is the AMAZING fireworks display they put on both Fri and Sat nights...  I had made a reservation at a Fish restaurant I'd been told by my former Roomie Ang was great- right on the lake and great food!  This was originally for Max's B-Day dinner as he was trekking in the Alps on his actual B-Day last week.  Then I was told that it wasn't the usual menu- they were having a BBQ party for the festival and there would be an all-u-can-eat Buffet for dinner.  

So, turns out that for Zuri-fest the Swiss do things American style- all you can eat buffets, free music concerts on the lake (when normally would charge an arm and leg!) and food stands and carnival rides, like a state fair.  But they did show up ANY fireworks display I've ever seen.

Fri night we had a great view of the fireworks from the balcony of the restaurant, after a great buffet with our friends Matthieu and Alessandra.

Sat the IMD crew from Zug all came to Zurich for the festivities and I met up with M&A again as well as Paul, Aurily and her two friends that were in town from Pairs.  We almost missed the start of the fireworks, but Ale and I  (the shorties!) manages to squeeze our way to the front of the block and had a front-row view of the most amazing show!

Helicopters and little prop planes were even launching fireworks from the sky!  A mix of Pop, Dance and Classical music was blasting and the fireworks were choreographed to each song.  About 30 minutes of straight fireworks was worth bearing the hordes of drunk Swissies....

Alas, they go American style on the drinking as well, so late-nights aren't so pretty.  But the Swiss clean-up crew is early and efficient and the town is spotless again by 6am!

Incredible fireworks with great friends and a great weekend...

Happy 4th to those in the US and hope you enjoy the fireworks!