18 September, 2008
Caney, Kansas
Here's a cool article about a zoological park in Kansas. They were on the Today Show today. When some tiger cubs were abandoned by their mother they used a golden retriever to nuture the cubs. It's really pretty cool.
OMG LMAO!
I've been trying to pack all day long today. We've accumulated a lot of stuff in the last 2 weeks but can only have 1 checked bag per person on our way to KC. So I packed up my suitcase and realized that it was probably too heavy. But I wanted to know how heavy it was. I rolled it out to the elevator to take it down to the gym to use the scale there to tell me how much I had to take out of it.
There were already about 6 older guys in the elevator and had obviously been drinking for a while (there's an Elks convention here this weekend and they all were double fisting it). I roll in and one of the guys asks me if that's my carry on. 'Of course! Actually, I have to take it down to the gym to see how over weight it is.' The scrawniest one of then all comes over to pick up my suticase...'Yeah, it's too heavy...' Thanks, captain obvious.
One of the other guys says 'It looks like you've been here a month.'
'Well, I've been here two weeks and tomorrow I leave for 2 weeks in Kansas City'
'Oh, I'm sorry' he says.
'I'm pretty excited, it's my hometown'
'Do you know where Rolla is'
'Of course'
'I went to school there a long time ago'
***Elevator doors open and someone gets on***
'Have you ever been to Silver Dollar City? I used to work there'
'Of course, Jesus is the reason for the season!'
'That is correct my child' says the priest that just got on the elevator.
There were already about 6 older guys in the elevator and had obviously been drinking for a while (there's an Elks convention here this weekend and they all were double fisting it). I roll in and one of the guys asks me if that's my carry on. 'Of course! Actually, I have to take it down to the gym to see how over weight it is.' The scrawniest one of then all comes over to pick up my suticase...'Yeah, it's too heavy...' Thanks, captain obvious.
One of the other guys says 'It looks like you've been here a month.'
'Well, I've been here two weeks and tomorrow I leave for 2 weeks in Kansas City'
'Oh, I'm sorry' he says.
'I'm pretty excited, it's my hometown'
'Do you know where Rolla is'
'Of course'
'I went to school there a long time ago'
***Elevator doors open and someone gets on***
'Have you ever been to Silver Dollar City? I used to work there'
'Of course, Jesus is the reason for the season!'
'That is correct my child' says the priest that just got on the elevator.
15 September, 2008
NYC - Our Weekend
What a great tourist-y weekendend in NYC. Ok, not really a weekend - it was just Saturday. But we did enough for the whole weekend!
Friday night we went to see 'Burn After Reading' - it is an 'effed up' Cohan Brother's movie but it is very clever and a good time. It was nice to see a movie with no subtitles or intermission.
Saturday we got up and went into the city. We got tickets for 'Wicked' from Craigslist for the 2 pm show so we wanted to get downtown early enough to have lunch. We had pizza for lunch in Times Square and then saw the matinee performce. I've seen it before (with the original cast thankyouverymuch) but Kyle hadn't. It is such a great show and I love how it flows with the story fo the 'Wizard of Oz'. It is such a production show and there is so much to look at and watch move. I had to buy an 'I heart Oz' shirt...for lots of reasons.
After our matinee show we walked a couple blocks to see if we could get tickets for 'Spring Awakening'. It won 7 Tony Awards in 2007 including Best New Musical but they are thinking of closing it soon. Once we got tickets for a second Broadway musical that day we went to Junior's for dinner. Two giant milkshakes and 2 plates of ham, cheese, and bread later (I had grilled ham and cheese, Kyle had a ham and cheese sandwich) we were off to our next show. Of course it started to rain so we decided to go right to the theatre and not walk around...
'Spring Awakening' is very edgy - think the stage version of Rent (if you've only seen the movie it's just not the same). The music was written by Duncan Sheik, the same guy that had a couple hits in the late 90's. Again, it was a great show but it wasn't quite a PRODUCTION like 'Wicked' was. I think if we had seen them in the other order Kyle would have been able to appreciate 'Spring Awakening' a little more.
The show is set in Berlin so occasionally they would throw in a couple German words...oh yeah, we knew what they were saying!
We then took the subway back to the train and got home about 1 am....it was a long, and busy, but great day!
Sunday we got up late and went shopping for clothes for Kyle. On our way to the mall we found a street festival. There were lots and lots of blow up toys and other fun things we watched others play with. Unfortunately, all we found for him is jeans. So, we still have some shopping to do...
After shopping we went and saw the 'Dark Knight' again. Still a good movie - even better without subtitles and an intermission!
Then back to the hotel and straight to bed...it was a busy, busy weekend!
Friday night we went to see 'Burn After Reading' - it is an 'effed up' Cohan Brother's movie but it is very clever and a good time. It was nice to see a movie with no subtitles or intermission.
Saturday we got up and went into the city. We got tickets for 'Wicked' from Craigslist for the 2 pm show so we wanted to get downtown early enough to have lunch. We had pizza for lunch in Times Square and then saw the matinee performce. I've seen it before (with the original cast thankyouverymuch) but Kyle hadn't. It is such a great show and I love how it flows with the story fo the 'Wizard of Oz'. It is such a production show and there is so much to look at and watch move. I had to buy an 'I heart Oz' shirt...for lots of reasons.
After our matinee show we walked a couple blocks to see if we could get tickets for 'Spring Awakening'. It won 7 Tony Awards in 2007 including Best New Musical but they are thinking of closing it soon. Once we got tickets for a second Broadway musical that day we went to Junior's for dinner. Two giant milkshakes and 2 plates of ham, cheese, and bread later (I had grilled ham and cheese, Kyle had a ham and cheese sandwich) we were off to our next show. Of course it started to rain so we decided to go right to the theatre and not walk around...
'Spring Awakening' is very edgy - think the stage version of Rent (if you've only seen the movie it's just not the same). The music was written by Duncan Sheik, the same guy that had a couple hits in the late 90's. Again, it was a great show but it wasn't quite a PRODUCTION like 'Wicked' was. I think if we had seen them in the other order Kyle would have been able to appreciate 'Spring Awakening' a little more.
The show is set in Berlin so occasionally they would throw in a couple German words...oh yeah, we knew what they were saying!
We then took the subway back to the train and got home about 1 am....it was a long, and busy, but great day!
Sunday we got up late and went shopping for clothes for Kyle. On our way to the mall we found a street festival. There were lots and lots of blow up toys and other fun things we watched others play with. Unfortunately, all we found for him is jeans. So, we still have some shopping to do...
After shopping we went and saw the 'Dark Knight' again. Still a good movie - even better without subtitles and an intermission!
Then back to the hotel and straight to bed...it was a busy, busy weekend!
10 September, 2008
My Husband, The Princess.
Or, Is that your butt on my thigh?
Or, My love/hate relationship with the fat man
As promised, here is my travel story...
"We" had a 9:30 am flight out of Zurich. So, working the timeline backwords I had to get up at 5 am (yeah YOU think that's early, what about me?). Five am is before most people go to sleep in Kansas (10pm) BAH!
So, my flight left at about 9:30, had a layover in Amsterdam (no there wasn't enough time to 'explore' anything) and then took a 1:30 flight to JFK where I met back up with Kyle about 3:30.
Kyle, however, got to take a direct flight from Zurich to JFK in business class where he munched on cavier and champagne watched movies still in the theatre and dozed on the sofa that Swiss Airlines calls a seat.
I, though, took a toy plane from Zurich to Amsterdam. Seriously, I think I saw the pilot get out of the plane to wind the propeller before we left.
In Amsterdam I walked by the in-house casino (but couldn't go in because I didn't bring any Euros with me) on my way to my next gate. It was PACKED. so I sat on the aircontioner for about an hour before they let us go through security that was specific to that gate. Once through security I got to sit on the floor again and wait for them to board the plane. We bored late because the plane wasn't clean.
Once on the plane I got a pretty prime spot. I had a second row aisle seat. Close to the bathroom at the front, first in line for food. I sat down and got settled in then came Fatty McGee. He and his wife sat in my row and their 2 kids sat right behind them. I swear this guy was about the size of Budah and his wife was rather skinny. He sat next to me and decided that half of my seat needed to be his. His wife even got into the action when she started standing on her seat, sprawling out across her husband, and at one point even climbing over the back of the seat to her kids. Even half way through the trip this guy tries to raise the arm rest between us so that his flabbiness has more room to breath. UM NO!!!
You know, I understand that some people are larger than others (I know I really shouldn't even be talking since I'M larger than most people). But, if I buy a seat to something I want to be able to freely use all of the seat that I paid good money for, I want the leg room that is in front of the seat, and the head room above it. I am more then willing to share but if you try to take it from me you will receive a fight for it...
When Kyle and I fly together in 2 of the 3 seats in a row we try to kinda scootch together as we don't really mind rubbing thighs with eachother but it still creeps us both out to rub thighs with strangers. Most normal US citizens (as these 2 said they were) would do the same as I've watched it happen over and over. This guy just about sat cross legged in his chair...
Oh, and the best part about this guy was that every 1/2 hour he was page the staff and ask for 2 Heinekens - one for his wife and one for him. His wife didn't have a drink of anything the entire trip - he was baked (or at least should have been).
So my flight gets in about an hour late. Poor Kyle had to sit in the cushiness of JFK airport while watching AirWolf on DVD.
By the time I get off the plane I can't breathe anymore. I work up with sinus pressure and 18 hours later had turned into the worst cold, ever, in the history of the world. Sounds hurt, light hurts, moving hurts...
We take a towncar to our hotel about 35 minutes from the airport. Stop, go, stop, go, stop go. Once we get to the hotel we drop off our luggage but have to leave IMMEDIATELY otherwise we'd fall asleep at 5:30 (or 11:30 Zurich time). We make our way over to the mall across the street to eat at PF Chang's, one of my favorites. Finally about 9 (3 am Zurich time, I'd been up for 22 hours) we allow ourselves to pass out on the bed. Of course we both wake up at 2 am for a little snack and then for good at 5 am. We're slowly adjusting to the time difference (I still don't let Kyle go to bed before 9 no matter how much he bitches and moans about it) and should be super ready to do it right when we get to KC!
Oh, and this makes 100 posts! Yeah me!
Or, My love/hate relationship with the fat man
As promised, here is my travel story...
"We" had a 9:30 am flight out of Zurich. So, working the timeline backwords I had to get up at 5 am (yeah YOU think that's early, what about me?). Five am is before most people go to sleep in Kansas (10pm) BAH!
So, my flight left at about 9:30, had a layover in Amsterdam (no there wasn't enough time to 'explore' anything) and then took a 1:30 flight to JFK where I met back up with Kyle about 3:30.
Kyle, however, got to take a direct flight from Zurich to JFK in business class where he munched on cavier and champagne watched movies still in the theatre and dozed on the sofa that Swiss Airlines calls a seat.
I, though, took a toy plane from Zurich to Amsterdam. Seriously, I think I saw the pilot get out of the plane to wind the propeller before we left.
In Amsterdam I walked by the in-house casino (but couldn't go in because I didn't bring any Euros with me) on my way to my next gate. It was PACKED. so I sat on the aircontioner for about an hour before they let us go through security that was specific to that gate. Once through security I got to sit on the floor again and wait for them to board the plane. We bored late because the plane wasn't clean.
Once on the plane I got a pretty prime spot. I had a second row aisle seat. Close to the bathroom at the front, first in line for food. I sat down and got settled in then came Fatty McGee. He and his wife sat in my row and their 2 kids sat right behind them. I swear this guy was about the size of Budah and his wife was rather skinny. He sat next to me and decided that half of my seat needed to be his. His wife even got into the action when she started standing on her seat, sprawling out across her husband, and at one point even climbing over the back of the seat to her kids. Even half way through the trip this guy tries to raise the arm rest between us so that his flabbiness has more room to breath. UM NO!!!
You know, I understand that some people are larger than others (I know I really shouldn't even be talking since I'M larger than most people). But, if I buy a seat to something I want to be able to freely use all of the seat that I paid good money for, I want the leg room that is in front of the seat, and the head room above it. I am more then willing to share but if you try to take it from me you will receive a fight for it...
When Kyle and I fly together in 2 of the 3 seats in a row we try to kinda scootch together as we don't really mind rubbing thighs with eachother but it still creeps us both out to rub thighs with strangers. Most normal US citizens (as these 2 said they were) would do the same as I've watched it happen over and over. This guy just about sat cross legged in his chair...
Oh, and the best part about this guy was that every 1/2 hour he was page the staff and ask for 2 Heinekens - one for his wife and one for him. His wife didn't have a drink of anything the entire trip - he was baked (or at least should have been).
So my flight gets in about an hour late. Poor Kyle had to sit in the cushiness of JFK airport while watching AirWolf on DVD.
By the time I get off the plane I can't breathe anymore. I work up with sinus pressure and 18 hours later had turned into the worst cold, ever, in the history of the world. Sounds hurt, light hurts, moving hurts...
We take a towncar to our hotel about 35 minutes from the airport. Stop, go, stop, go, stop go. Once we get to the hotel we drop off our luggage but have to leave IMMEDIATELY otherwise we'd fall asleep at 5:30 (or 11:30 Zurich time). We make our way over to the mall across the street to eat at PF Chang's, one of my favorites. Finally about 9 (3 am Zurich time, I'd been up for 22 hours) we allow ourselves to pass out on the bed. Of course we both wake up at 2 am for a little snack and then for good at 5 am. We're slowly adjusting to the time difference (I still don't let Kyle go to bed before 9 no matter how much he bitches and moans about it) and should be super ready to do it right when we get to KC!
Oh, and this makes 100 posts! Yeah me!
09 September, 2008
A Little Comparison
Ok. So we're here in the US...I'll tell that story a little later. First I have to do this because it's freaking hilarious and very, very sad:
Here's what you can get in Switzerland for about $370:
1 t-shirt
2 tank tops
1 hoodie
1 hooded heavy weight shorts sleeved shirt
Here's what you can get in White Plains, NY (Westchester Co.):
2 tank tops
1 cardigan
3 nice short-3/4 length shirts
1 button down sweater
3 books from B&N
12 pairs of women's undies (OMG, I will never shop for undies again!! right color, wrong size, right size, wrong cut, right cut, wrong color....)
3 work out dvds
1 pair of aviator sunglasses
1 pair of sock monkey slippers
12 pop tarts
24 granola bars
2 men's t-shirts
1 men's hoodie
season 4 of Entourage
4 AAA battries
Yeah...Now you know why it's cheaper to buy things in the US and pay the crazy expensive shipping to get it to Switzerland.
Here's what you can get in Switzerland for about $370:
1 t-shirt
2 tank tops
1 hoodie
1 hooded heavy weight shorts sleeved shirt
Here's what you can get in White Plains, NY (Westchester Co.):
2 tank tops
1 cardigan
3 nice short-3/4 length shirts
1 button down sweater
3 books from B&N
12 pairs of women's undies (OMG, I will never shop for undies again!! right color, wrong size, right size, wrong cut, right cut, wrong color....)
3 work out dvds
1 pair of aviator sunglasses
1 pair of sock monkey slippers
12 pop tarts
24 granola bars
2 men's t-shirts
1 men's hoodie
season 4 of Entourage
4 AAA battries
Yeah...Now you know why it's cheaper to buy things in the US and pay the crazy expensive shipping to get it to Switzerland.
06 September, 2008
Ladies, Do You Ever Feel Like This?
:::raising hand:::
This should keep you entertained for the next couple days while I'm on my transatlantic flight. That reminds me, I need to pack my hat...
05 September, 2008
The Rollercoster of Emotions
So I'm sitting here, dying to get on a plane but not wanting to pack anymore...
I'm really kind of nervous to go home. From the beginning, Kyle and I have both said we didn't want to go home unless we had to. We are afraid that if we go home we won't want to come back. And it doesn't help that the 3 people I've told we're leaving for a month all say that leaving after your first trip home is 10 times harder then leaving to move here.
So, right now I'm nervous, excited, a little sad, overwhelmed, and still nervous.
Once I get there I already know that I'll be overwhelmed and lonely. Overwhelmed because I know I'll be bombarded with English. OK, I know this is going to sound weird but I am not the only one that thinks this. Here I have learned to tune out conversations, mostly because I don't understand them. But now I don't even know that people around me are talking.
Even when we came over for 1 week to find our apartment we got back to the airport in Dulles and my brain went into overdrive. People talking about their dogs pooing on the floor or not getting a receipt for the water bottle they just bought....first I felt like I was listening in on their conversation (maybe they shouldn't have been SCREAMING) and then you just want to scream and them to 'talk about something not lame'! I'm sure the Swiss people talk about things that are just as lame but I don't understand them so I don't know. And when I talk to the Swiss it's always about how I have to pay for something or 'how do i...?'
We already know that Kyle will be working some crazy hours while we're in New York; and I'll be in a hotel for 2 weeks. Luckily there is a mall and some restaurants across the street to entertain me but I can only assume that after I spend all my money and gain 20 lbs I'll be done. But I have English speaking people, bad hotel MTV, and books to keep me company...so I'm all good! Plus, I would much rather be bored and alone in a country that I can go to the movies or out shopping and communicate with people then in a country I can't.
Then we move on to KC:
Hopefully by then I'll be over my talking phobia. (The first week in the states, I can assume, I will have my ipod with me at all times.) I will be SO excited to see everyone! But again I'm sure I'll be overwhelmed. Then, I'll want to go hide in my room because I won't be used to being around everyone. Then I'll be sad that I have to come home.
Then we come home:
I'll be glad to come home becuase I'm always glad to sleep in my own bed and quit living out of suitcases. But I'll also be sad that I'm back here and all my friends are not.
OK. have have to go back to packing and cleaning and pretending to be a good hausfrau...
I'm really kind of nervous to go home. From the beginning, Kyle and I have both said we didn't want to go home unless we had to. We are afraid that if we go home we won't want to come back. And it doesn't help that the 3 people I've told we're leaving for a month all say that leaving after your first trip home is 10 times harder then leaving to move here.
So, right now I'm nervous, excited, a little sad, overwhelmed, and still nervous.
Once I get there I already know that I'll be overwhelmed and lonely. Overwhelmed because I know I'll be bombarded with English. OK, I know this is going to sound weird but I am not the only one that thinks this. Here I have learned to tune out conversations, mostly because I don't understand them. But now I don't even know that people around me are talking.
Even when we came over for 1 week to find our apartment we got back to the airport in Dulles and my brain went into overdrive. People talking about their dogs pooing on the floor or not getting a receipt for the water bottle they just bought....first I felt like I was listening in on their conversation (maybe they shouldn't have been SCREAMING) and then you just want to scream and them to 'talk about something not lame'! I'm sure the Swiss people talk about things that are just as lame but I don't understand them so I don't know. And when I talk to the Swiss it's always about how I have to pay for something or 'how do i...?'
We already know that Kyle will be working some crazy hours while we're in New York; and I'll be in a hotel for 2 weeks. Luckily there is a mall and some restaurants across the street to entertain me but I can only assume that after I spend all my money and gain 20 lbs I'll be done. But I have English speaking people, bad hotel MTV, and books to keep me company...so I'm all good! Plus, I would much rather be bored and alone in a country that I can go to the movies or out shopping and communicate with people then in a country I can't.
Then we move on to KC:
Hopefully by then I'll be over my talking phobia. (The first week in the states, I can assume, I will have my ipod with me at all times.) I will be SO excited to see everyone! But again I'm sure I'll be overwhelmed. Then, I'll want to go hide in my room because I won't be used to being around everyone. Then I'll be sad that I have to come home.
Then we come home:
I'll be glad to come home becuase I'm always glad to sleep in my own bed and quit living out of suitcases. But I'll also be sad that I'm back here and all my friends are not.
OK. have have to go back to packing and cleaning and pretending to be a good hausfrau...
03 September, 2008
Let the Packing Finish!
Here's my suitcase for the trip there. I'm going to be gone for a month, that's right - like 29 days. This bag is the size of a carry on - I have never EVER packed this well, EVER.Here's what's in my bag:
- pair of jeans
- pair of short
- workout top and shorts
- 5 shirts
- black sweatshirt
- 2 pairs of shoes (flip flops)
- shower bag
- toiletries
- jewelry bag
- hairdryer
- hair straightener
- 2 bags of random stuff I always take when I travel (extra contacts, nail clippers, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, etc)
- undergarments
- swimsuit
I've already figured out that I can bring back over 250 lbs worth of stuff. Kyle gets two check bags weighing up to 70 lbs, I get 2 50 lbs bag (don't get me started on the fact that Kyle get's to fly direct in business class and I have a layover in Amsterdam and have to fly coach, BAH!). Then I get a purse and one carry on (my new Vera Bradley duffel) Kyle get's 2 carry ons and a 'ladies handbag'. For the sake of our marriage Kyle will be carrying a 'ladies handbag' onto that airplane...
So we'll be taking home 3 pieces of luggage. We'll buy 2 new pieces in KC (the bigger the better!) and that will give us each 2 checked bags, one carry on, and one 'ladies handbag' a piece. If that's not enough then we can pay for heavier bags or for a 3rd bag (and I think we have bigger problems...)
01 September, 2008
Shhh...I Have A Secret....
I'M COMING HOME!
($100 says you thought I was going to tell you I was pregnant...I accept cash, check, and dinner at Jose Peppers)
That's right. I just booked my flight today. Kyle has to fly to Armonk, NY to do some work for a couple of weeks and then since he's already that close to home he's going to fly to KC and work from that office for a week and take a week of vacation. So I'm coming with (really, what am I supposed do to by myself for a month in Switzerland...it would be much cheaper if I fly home too).
So we leave on Sunday for New York. Are there until Sept 19th then fly to KC and fly out early morning on October 4th. THAT'S why I've been thinking about all the fun things I'm going to do when I go back to the states...
I'm off to start packing and eating all the perishables (cookies perish right?)!!
($100 says you thought I was going to tell you I was pregnant...I accept cash, check, and dinner at Jose Peppers)
That's right. I just booked my flight today. Kyle has to fly to Armonk, NY to do some work for a couple of weeks and then since he's already that close to home he's going to fly to KC and work from that office for a week and take a week of vacation. So I'm coming with (really, what am I supposed do to by myself for a month in Switzerland...it would be much cheaper if I fly home too).
So we leave on Sunday for New York. Are there until Sept 19th then fly to KC and fly out early morning on October 4th. THAT'S why I've been thinking about all the fun things I'm going to do when I go back to the states...
I'm off to start packing and eating all the perishables (cookies perish right?)!!
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