Still Bernen

Today is our last day in Bern. We´ve not done a whole lot, but that´s okay. We meant to take the train to a small town nearby called Murten, but after visiting the post office and spending 30 swiss francs to send 15 post cards, that´s like 25 bucks. So, we decided that we couldn´t afford to go anywhere today. Okay, that´s all a ruse we are really just lazy. Yesterday, we went to this like area called a lido, that is sorta like a dream for parents with kids, they have a kiddie pool and about three other pools for grownups. All around is grass and trees with shade. There is even an area that is fenced off for topless sunbathing. The kids were so funny, many of them were naked, some had underpants and a few has bathing suits. Nary a swimmer diaper to be seen. I liked that, kids pee in pools, live with it.
Today we´ve been to the train station to reserve seats on the Lausanne - Paris train for monday.That took nearly and hour and right at the end some old swiss ladies reprimanded us for letting Nora walk around barefoot were it was dirty. Um, Switzerland isn´t dirty...have you ever been to Italy?
About the new job...I´m getting excited, but also kind of sad that it is the end of my freedom. Well, actually, I´m sure it will actually mean a lot more freedom for me. It has full benefits eventhough it is part time. Also, if we can arange childcare amongst ourselves that means I get to take home the full salary. That will be great as all my student loans are coming due...
Tomorrow we leave for Lausanne and we´ll stay at Alec´s godmother´s. Should be cool.
Peace out.

Bern baby Bern

Okay, I only have 4 minutes to write this post so I wonät be very clever or careful about spelling errors. Here we are in Bern, very nice city and stuff, But here is the big news... I got the Job, I am officially a part of the chemical and nuclear engineering department at UCSB. Hard to believe isnßt it?

More soon....

Schlans

We are still in Schlans, but today we went on a short walk to the Swiss Grand Canyon. It was a nice walk and we had a great time. The weather has been really good so far, sunny and warm. The way people drive around here makes Boston drivers look like Sunday drivers. It is harrowing and I really mean that. I thought I was a bit of a reckless driver, but I have nothing and I mean nothing on these people. And they all seem to be in some kind of agreement. Like, "Yeah, we're likely going to die up around this curve but oh well." I was pretty sick to my stomach after the 30 minute car ride.
We are all on local time now. I still can't believe how well Nora is adjusting to the time change and the travelling.
We'll be heading to Bern on Monday. We are staying at a youth hostel (I thought those days were over) with a private room and shared bath and kitchen and common area. I think it will work out really well because we do NOT want to spend all our time in the same room as Nora. She's great and all, but once she is asleep the real living begins...
We'll use Bern as a base to visit all kinds of other places such as Luzern, Interlaken, and others that are within an hour. We plan to spend five nights there and then move onto Lausanne and stay with Alec's godmother. Then on the 30th it is on to Paris for two whole weeks. I can't wait.

Knowing What is really important

Setting your TiVo for a six week absence is more than just a technical issue, it is also an exercise in evaluating your life.
What shows do I REALLY value (when there are only 20 hours of time available)? Here is what made the short list:

Starting Over ah duh. But I lucked out, because the season is winding up and there are only 5 or so new episodes. Had this not been the case I would have been fucked.
America's Next Top Model. Again luckily there are onlz (z and y is inverted on the swiss kezboard so please follow suit) two episodes left and one is a dumb recap episode. So onlz one.
Alias. onlz four new episodes.
Desperate Houswives, onlz three or so new episodes.

I think that covers it. Law and Order will probablz be sidelined for awhile which is okaz because I've seen most them.

So we arrived safelz. The plane ride went reallz well and now we are battling the jet lag. Hopefullz we'll kick that dog bz tomorrow. Edith live IN the Alps, I'm not kidding. You look out the window and bam, there thez are, these immese postcard-tzpe mountains complete with snowcaps. So beautiful and sort of surreal. We are trying to plan out our next week. We walked through the village of Schlans (where she lives) and talked to some of the villagers, very european....

More soon.

Planes, Trains, and Toddlers

Holy Cow, we leave in less than 12 hours, wait, not quite...more like 14, but doesn't 12 Sound better. Alec's aunt called today to inform us that it is 38 degrees FARIENHEINT in CH today and to pack a wool coat for baby Nora, um we don't do wool coats in California. On the bright side she said it should be 75 degrees by Thursday. So, basically we are vacationing in...Boston??!! Just yesterday we were walking on the beach and I was thinking WHY are we leaving here again, oh right, the Shopping.

I'm starting to get a little nervous. Today I watched Alec making a grilled cheese in our "kitchen" and I realized I might actually miss the ole room. I mean we have been here for nine months and I've grown fond of my microwave/toaster oven set up. Honestly, there is no better way to justify having chips and dip for dinner Again when you don't have a proper stove. I do however miss the cookie baking that happened a little too often in Belmont.

In other news, I interviewed for a part-time job out at UCSB today. It is in the Chemical Engineering department (jeez, I don't even know if I spelled that correctly). Don't you think it is a perfect match?! Okay, okay it is for the Physics of Fluids magazine (huh?). Here's why it is a good fit: Part-time, meaning weekday afternoons, 1-5pm, Full benefits-for the whole family, Pay is actually not horrific, I'm intensly interested in fluids. The interview went very well, and I think they might offer me the job, course I am leaving for six weeks, but then again I am Parfait for the position (ie. it is clerical, very, very clerical). So send positive thoughts this away.

Saw Secretary last night, any thoughts?

Studio 2

Studio 2
Originally uploaded by jegoffin.

So I finally took some pictures of the studio. That is to say, we finally cleaned it and then remembered to take pictures...
So click on this photo and it will take you to the studio photos. Now, maybe Nora's room will follow suit.

Not too much is happening here except for getting ready for the trip. I thought I would be more nervous but, I'm actually really excited. I cannot wait to get outta here. It has rained enough in the past three weeks to delay construction for another week. Tres depressing. So, it is time to get out of town, county, state, country and start living (on credit cards). I'll be checking my email periodically too so don't forget to email me...
Trying to leech cable DSL from Vic an Faye, but have hit a snaffu, but hope to have it all ironed out and up to speed (haa haa) when we get back.