Black & Blue and Basel all over

It's common knowledge that I'm a bit of a klutz. For growing up as a dancer, this seems counter-intuitive, but my feet only seem to move in sync if there is music playing. This weekend Tim and I met in Basel, which is about half way between Frankfurt and Geneva. On Saturday morning, before we even made it to the old-town/pedestrian zone, I stopped to take a picture of a fountain and then promptly fell backwards down 4 concrete steps. Somewhere along the way I flipped around, so that the lip of the last concrete step stopped my fall against the middle of my shins. Yes it hurt. It hurt so bad that I promptly turned white, then green, then thought I was going to pass out then started to cry without even wanting to. The good news is that I didn't turn either of my ankles. The bad news it that it looks like someone took a baseball bat to my shin bones (it feels that way too).

Tim was quite the hero. He practically carried me to a cafe to get me out of the way and to figure out what to do next.. He also convinced me to go to the pharmacy. They gave me this odd creme that acts as a topical pain killer (cool!) and convinced us that I didn't break anything (it really did hurt that much). We then went back to the hotel where I propped my leg up, iced it and longingly looked at the bright sun out of the window and cursed my clumsiness.

This put a bit of a damper on our trip to Basel. Primarily because I couldn't walk for 3 hours and secondly because about 3 hours later when I decided I wanted to walk again, I was limpy and slow. Did I mention that everything worth seeing is in a pedestrian zone?

But, I'm fine now. Achey from the fall, but fine. Walking is not a problem, but steps are a bit of delima. Going down steps is seriosly painful. How fortunate that my bedroom is lofted above the living room. I guess once I get up there, I'll just have to stay there.

Like my shins, Basel is a brilliantly colorful city. This is a place that loves Christmas almost as much as my mom does. Every building was decorated with angel's lofted over the awnings, santa's climbing into windows, bows, ribbons and lights, lights and more lights. 20 foot fir trees were placed along the streets and lit up with candles (electric). Basel boasts "the longest christmas street in Europe" which means the street of the main shopping drag is draped with lit up stars and lights from building to building. It was the opening weekend of the Wiehnachtmarkt (christmas market). The christmas market was nice for the atmosphere, but I found the hoards of people and shacks selling crappy knick knacks a bit overwhelming. Tim and I found a little stand selling foods I've never heard of and gluhwein, a hot wine/cider mix, that warms up everything inside and out. As long as they sell gluhwein, I will visit every christmas market in Europe.

So, bruised but happy, I'm back home, ready for the holidays and thankful that I didn't break anything.

It's fun to be the American...although sometimes you feel like a turkey.

I'm in Brussels tonight for the Homecare Connect Days. This is our big dog and pony show where we convince all of the different countries why our innovation for the next year is great. It's called the connect days because we are supposed to forge friendships so that we don't spend the other 364 days of the year cursing at each other. In a corporate sense, this means big expensive meals and lots of wine. Tonight was the big expensive meal/wine portion of the event. Our emcee, the Assistant Brand Manager on Swiffer, gave me a bit of a shout out. In a room of over 80 people he mentioned that tomorrow was Thanksgiving in America and since we had one American in the room we needed to make her feel at home. To do this, he directed everyone to come up to me tomorrow and thank me.

I fear tomorrow may be a long day.

Auerbach Castle

Tim and I visited the Auerbach Castle a while back. It's a "national-park" type castle: free, open to the public, a bit unkempt and with amusing little details to keep kids entertained. For example, in the courtyard there was a "lifesize" replica of something that looked either like a dragon or a dinosaur. I mentioned to Tim that I wasn't certain which it was. Tim looked at me point blank and said it had to be a dragon cause dinosaurs weren't around when the castle was built.

Who says that Germans have no sense of humor?

Golden Arches

I spent the majority of October with pretty rough bout of homesickness. It is quite a distinct feeling of heartache and distress, like you are looking for something you've lost, but you can't remember what it is you've lost. The last time I felt this way I was in grade school at a girl scout camp. My homesickness caused me to do something unthinkable...I went to McDonald's. I haven't eaten at McDonald's in at least 3 years. I tend to be fundamentally opposed to everything the company represents from fast eating to biggie sizing to childhood obesity(and adult obesity) to beef industrialization. I also haven't eaten fried foods for two years. But, I ached for something familiar, comfortable...something American. There are many things I missed: television, radio, newspapers, english-speaking people, cookies. I could go on and on. But for some reason when my bus home from work passed the McDonald's, I knew that only one thing was going to make me feel better.

That evening I went to my African Dance class. This is where I show up in a room full of French speaking people and learn traditional african dances from a south african man and women who speak such an interesting version of french, that I'm not sure I could understand it even if I did speak the language. They speak to me in french and I nod and follow along and try to dance a little better so that they don't stop me again to tell me what I'm doing wrong (which I don't understand).

I had told myself that after dance I wouldn't want the McDonald's so badly and would be able to go home and eat a sensible meal. Unfortunately the Mickey D's is on my way home. I got near and I felt the worst dichotomy of yearning and guilt. I wanted McDonald's so bad! But's it's sooo bad for me! And bad for the world! And bad for children! And bad for heart disease! But one smell of the quintessiantal fresh fried salty aroma and I was done.

I literally felt ashamed when I walked in. But oh how juicy the fish fillet looked. It's quite possible that the last time I ordered a fish fillet it came in a box with a plastic toy. I must say, McDonald's is pretty brilliant with their international menus. It was simply one board with 8 sections each with a mouth-watering picture of one of their products and a number. You need to simply grunt and point to get a full meal.

I grunted, pointed, paid my 7.60 CHF (!) and walked away with my fish filet and fries. I hid my face in shame walked out and fretted about running into all seven people I actually know in Geneva and trying to rationalize to them why I was eating at a McDonalds (silly American!).

I got home, laid my bounty out on my Ikea coffee table and admired how after at least 20 years (since the last time I remember eating a fish fillet) they still haven't figured out how to line-up the buns with the fillet with the cheese. Why is it exactly that the cheese is always askew and dripping off the side? Is this a strategic choice? Do they train their mc-droids to do this?

I ate my fries first...I distinctly remember that if you wait too long they taste like cardboard. It was salty indulgence heaven. Then I had my fish fillet. It was just as I remembered it. Every bite took me one step closer to home. It was a like a little magic sandwich with fat-laden buns that made me happy. I ate the whole thing...and most of the fries (yes they still taste like cardboard after the heat has left).

I felt great...for about an hour. And then my stomach reminded me that there's a good reason why I shouldn't eat foods like this. I crawled into bed, curled into a ball...and fell asleep achey...but not with homesickeness.

Sarah Logic

Sarah's blog titled "If my life were a musical it would begin in Gruyeres, Switzerland" is the best reading I've had all week.

http://itsprobablysarahlogic.blogspot.com/