on feeling overfed and fabulous

and so it ends.

I left the house last night after singing "Ein Männlein steht im Walde" one last time, hopped on my scooter, taste of beef of broccoli quiche still in my mouth, the slightest hint of a sunburn on my shoulder, and zipped down to bid adieu to my friends once more in the best possible way: an under attended American redux concert.

These seven months were fine. I met some people, burned some bridges, saw some things, and did what most people do in seven months. I learned a lot about parenting, marriage, and "real life" and decided that, well, maybe I don't have to be in any rush.

That being said, it seems like my kind-of gap year (which turned into two) is coming to an end. Bigger, better things are afoot, and I couldn't be more excited.

an immediate afterthought

I just completed an entire (work)week eating a raw vegan diet. might that be contributing to my apocalyptic attitude? perhaps.

I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm gonna go
when the volcano blows
-Jimmy Buffett


Photo Credit: Árni Sæberg, Icelandic Coast Guard

A mere week ago I was blasting these wise words of my main man Jimmy, relishing one of the few springy days we've had in Switzerland and dreaming of the fabulous spring and summer awaiting me in what was then only three weeks!

Now I'm not one to cause a fuss, but this volcano thing has got me thinking uncharacteristically apocalyptic thoughts.

What if it goes on for 14 months, like it did almost 200 years ago?
Will we see a resurgence of freight-liners?
(this recalls images of the Titanic: opulence, good. but that death and destruction thing...)
What if the glacier next door melts?

and, you know, most importantly, when am I going to get to New York?

let's see how this pans out. Until then I think I will make myself a bloody mary and listen to more Jimmy. hypothetically that's how I would ride out the end of the world anyway, so why not rehearse?

a revelation

in 55 days (but who's counting?) I am moving to a city full of smart, beautiful people and fantastic restaurants.

no one ever really talks about it, but being an Au Pair affords a lot of time to think. Had I known how pathetically introspective (is that just a nice word for self-centered? maybe) I was going to become I might have chosen a different path but hey, here I am. C'est la vie (sidenote: that's just about the only French I know. Thanks, Switzerland)

So, I've spent the last six months thinking about who I want to be. Now I am going to spend the next eight weeks putting the plan into action.

First up: I really, really don't want to limit myself in the greatest food city in the world (my oh my I can't wait to try crack pie) but for my all-around well being I should probably think of some way to burn all of those extra calories I will be devouring. I'm also going to have to pinch a few pennies to be able to afford all of these luxuries so it looks like little miss "I'm not a runner" is going to have to start running.

Look for "See Cheryl Run" the most awkward children's book of all time on bookshelves near you this holiday season.

Also, it has been brought to my attention that a few years abroad have wreaked havoc not only on my use of proper English but also on my general intelligence. I am hoping to jump start my brain, which has been coasting for nearly a year now, by attacking the pile of books in my room the size of Mont Blanc. First up is Sophie's World, given to me by my walk-to-school neighbor friend (mother of Isabelle, 3 and Ivonne, 8) after I complained that I know nothing about philosophy.

So that's that. Wish me luck.

Initiating self-improvement sequence now.

no sugar

oh beloved abused blog,

great news! I will be moving to New York on May 3rd, which is only two and a half months away. now I just have to think of some cheap adventures to bide my time.

adventure numero un: my sweet friend Lori has convinced me to give up sugar for lent. I am not at all religious, but certainly giving something up that I consume excessively will be good for me, and the lord knows I could never sacrifice my cheese. so chocolate, cookies, and cakes it is!

so farewell, good friend.




adventure numero deux: a few weekends in Freiburg... ok, that's not adventurous at all, actually, but will be swell nonetheless. Cafe istanbul, major face time with Lia, booty shaking at Kagan and lots of unsweetened coffee pretty much sums that one up.

numero trois: London with Chen the charmer, who I have had the pleasure of seeing all over the place these last few months. since we held hands while we ice skated in central park and watched the surfers in socal, I feel like maybe we should live out some British romcom cliche as well... maybe I will make her posters professing my love and silently show them to her while playing a CD of christmas carols in the background? seems appropriate.

quatre: MACEDONIA. for the love of all things holy and delicious I hope that I can go explore that corner of the world with Janey in my favorite month of all. making it that much more adventurous, I'm thinking of taking a bus there. 27 hours, 5 countries, lots of new Macedonian friends? methinks yes.

any more ideas are heartily encouraged. more skiing (yep, I went once) would probably be a good start. and maybe a raw foods week?

same same but different