Holiday Review
What a whirlwind it was. Here are the highlights:
1. Had a really really great time with friends and family. Everyone on all sides of the fam was so accommodating and it was a joy to catch up with them again. A summary of activities aside from sleeping in include: eating ate too much steak and drinking too much wine and wassil, playing lots of spades, listening to lots of Christmas tunes, spending too much money, etc.
2. Got some awesome presents including but not limited to: a digital picture frame (thanks, Andrew and Eric!), an album from the family fly-fishing adventure and wedding pics (thanks, K & K!), robes, slippers, ear-warmers and other "cold-weather creature comforts" (thanks, Mom and Dad!), and the rest of our dishes that we registered for (thanks, Ginger!). Jack got me flat boots (since all my heels are utterly destroyed because of the hills, cobblestone, and walking everywhere) and a jewelry box. I got him 2 pairs of Clarks (brown and black) and some matching dress socks. So I guess we had a footwear Chritmas. We also got "each other" ski bibs so that we can ski on weekends and not FREEZE! I'm excited about that since we haven't fully experienced the Alps yet by hitting the slopes. Hopefully, that will happen soon.
3. We somehow managed to bring back *almost* everything that we had left in the States in our suitcases. We packed them one inside the other Russian-doll-style on the way over to ensure we had enough room, and sure enough it worked! Now we only have a couple knick-knacks still taking up space in the Jones residence. We finally have completed our first home with all of our own things. It feels good.
4. The flight back home (to Switz.) was...eventful. Unfortunately, starting on Christmas Eve my family started experiencing a stomach bug that lasted through New Years (for me, at least). Mom and Dad both got sick, but somehow Jack with his inexplicably resilient immune system managed to avoid the virus. Anyway, I was feeling really horrible as we were driving to the Houston airport and I just knew things weren't going to go well. I get motion sickness as it is, and this stomach thing wasn't going to help. I had two pieces of toast and a concoction of 1/2 OJ 1/2 water in a small glass for breakfast, bit the bullet, and started the epic journey home. On the Houston-Philly flight, I managed to close my eyes and engage in an anti-barf breathing technique long enough to get us on the ground. That's when the trouble started. In Philly, I had a little Sprite (in an attempt to calm the tummy) and a couple bites of a turkey and lettuce wrap (mild enough, right?) to carry me over until we got home to Geneva. They offered us dinner on the plane, but the smell made my stomach turn, so I didn't partake. I was feeling dizzy and nauseus most of the way, but put my head in Jack's lap for a bit and slept for maybe an hour. Then, suddenly, I woke up in a panick. "I need to get to the bathroom...NOW." So, I tottled my way to the lavatories, which to my dismay were both occupied. Now feeling like I might need one of those little brown bags, I braced myself against a plastic podium-like structure by the lavatories. The next thing I know, there is a ringing/whooshing sound in my ears and someone is saying in one of those dream-sequence-esque voices "Ma'am! Are you okay?! Ma'am! Are you on any medications?!" Turns out, I had passed out and fallen down in front of the lavatories. They called for a doctor even though by this time, I was more embarrased than ill because they were making a big deal out of a little fainting. I kept saying I was okay, but they had the doc take my BP and pulse. My pulse was so low, she couldn't hear it in the stethoscope. Fortunately, the BP monitor pulsed visually, confirming that I was indeed alive (haha). Anyway, the diagnosis was dehydration and possibly low blood sugar since I was otherwise healthy. A couple EMTs boarded the plane in Heathrow just to check me out before I deplaned. They took blood and confirmed that I had low blood sugar. They suggested that if symptoms persisted that I shouldn't fly to Geneva today, but I was determined to make it home. Luckily, our flight from London-Geneva was cancelled, so we waited for the next one for 3 hours. This would be horrible normally, but the Heathrow airport had long benches without disruptive armrests, so I could "sleep it off" and recoop for the last leg. We made it the rest of the way without incidence aside from the difficulty of lugging 6 bags 1 backpack and one box through Lausanne. At least we have all our stuff here now and we'll never EVER have to do that again. *phew* Oh! And the illness--totally gone now. Just as it happened with Mom and Dad it was over as quickly as it came, so I'm fine now.
5. Since I was still kinda feeling bad, I missed New Years (er...missed the countdown). So, my miraculous recovery on the 1st warrented celebration. We split a pizza, had champagne, and watched Death Race on DVD. Okay, so it wasn't massive party time or anything, but it was a nice calm break after a couple crazy days, which is just what the Dr. ordered. :)
6. Today is the 4th, the day before Jack and I go back to work. I'm sad the family time, sleeping in, and pigging out is over, but it's nice to have the feeling of starting a new year in the right place, so to speak. I really feel like we've "made it." I'm working where I want to work, living where I want to live, and loving who I love loving :) haha. So, everything seems to have fallen into place just in time for 2009. Now, it's just a matter of keeping up the pattern.
Love to all, and a very happy 2009.
1. Had a really really great time with friends and family. Everyone on all sides of the fam was so accommodating and it was a joy to catch up with them again. A summary of activities aside from sleeping in include: eating ate too much steak and drinking too much wine and wassil, playing lots of spades, listening to lots of Christmas tunes, spending too much money, etc.
2. Got some awesome presents including but not limited to: a digital picture frame (thanks, Andrew and Eric!), an album from the family fly-fishing adventure and wedding pics (thanks, K & K!), robes, slippers, ear-warmers and other "cold-weather creature comforts" (thanks, Mom and Dad!), and the rest of our dishes that we registered for (thanks, Ginger!). Jack got me flat boots (since all my heels are utterly destroyed because of the hills, cobblestone, and walking everywhere) and a jewelry box. I got him 2 pairs of Clarks (brown and black) and some matching dress socks. So I guess we had a footwear Chritmas. We also got "each other" ski bibs so that we can ski on weekends and not FREEZE! I'm excited about that since we haven't fully experienced the Alps yet by hitting the slopes. Hopefully, that will happen soon.
3. We somehow managed to bring back *almost* everything that we had left in the States in our suitcases. We packed them one inside the other Russian-doll-style on the way over to ensure we had enough room, and sure enough it worked! Now we only have a couple knick-knacks still taking up space in the Jones residence. We finally have completed our first home with all of our own things. It feels good.
4. The flight back home (to Switz.) was...eventful. Unfortunately, starting on Christmas Eve my family started experiencing a stomach bug that lasted through New Years (for me, at least). Mom and Dad both got sick, but somehow Jack with his inexplicably resilient immune system managed to avoid the virus. Anyway, I was feeling really horrible as we were driving to the Houston airport and I just knew things weren't going to go well. I get motion sickness as it is, and this stomach thing wasn't going to help. I had two pieces of toast and a concoction of 1/2 OJ 1/2 water in a small glass for breakfast, bit the bullet, and started the epic journey home. On the Houston-Philly flight, I managed to close my eyes and engage in an anti-barf breathing technique long enough to get us on the ground. That's when the trouble started. In Philly, I had a little Sprite (in an attempt to calm the tummy) and a couple bites of a turkey and lettuce wrap (mild enough, right?) to carry me over until we got home to Geneva. They offered us dinner on the plane, but the smell made my stomach turn, so I didn't partake. I was feeling dizzy and nauseus most of the way, but put my head in Jack's lap for a bit and slept for maybe an hour. Then, suddenly, I woke up in a panick. "I need to get to the bathroom...NOW." So, I tottled my way to the lavatories, which to my dismay were both occupied. Now feeling like I might need one of those little brown bags, I braced myself against a plastic podium-like structure by the lavatories. The next thing I know, there is a ringing/whooshing sound in my ears and someone is saying in one of those dream-sequence-esque voices "Ma'am! Are you okay?! Ma'am! Are you on any medications?!" Turns out, I had passed out and fallen down in front of the lavatories. They called for a doctor even though by this time, I was more embarrased than ill because they were making a big deal out of a little fainting. I kept saying I was okay, but they had the doc take my BP and pulse. My pulse was so low, she couldn't hear it in the stethoscope. Fortunately, the BP monitor pulsed visually, confirming that I was indeed alive (haha). Anyway, the diagnosis was dehydration and possibly low blood sugar since I was otherwise healthy. A couple EMTs boarded the plane in Heathrow just to check me out before I deplaned. They took blood and confirmed that I had low blood sugar. They suggested that if symptoms persisted that I shouldn't fly to Geneva today, but I was determined to make it home. Luckily, our flight from London-Geneva was cancelled, so we waited for the next one for 3 hours. This would be horrible normally, but the Heathrow airport had long benches without disruptive armrests, so I could "sleep it off" and recoop for the last leg. We made it the rest of the way without incidence aside from the difficulty of lugging 6 bags 1 backpack and one box through Lausanne. At least we have all our stuff here now and we'll never EVER have to do that again. *phew* Oh! And the illness--totally gone now. Just as it happened with Mom and Dad it was over as quickly as it came, so I'm fine now.
5. Since I was still kinda feeling bad, I missed New Years (er...missed the countdown). So, my miraculous recovery on the 1st warrented celebration. We split a pizza, had champagne, and watched Death Race on DVD. Okay, so it wasn't massive party time or anything, but it was a nice calm break after a couple crazy days, which is just what the Dr. ordered. :)
6. Today is the 4th, the day before Jack and I go back to work. I'm sad the family time, sleeping in, and pigging out is over, but it's nice to have the feeling of starting a new year in the right place, so to speak. I really feel like we've "made it." I'm working where I want to work, living where I want to live, and loving who I love loving :) haha. So, everything seems to have fallen into place just in time for 2009. Now, it's just a matter of keeping up the pattern.
Love to all, and a very happy 2009.