IrishOboe

Tuesday (Feb. 12) Mom and Dad look the train and bus to Lichtenstein while I got some work done.  They came home just in time to make it to BCF Bible study, which was an interesting discussion on the role of women in church. I Corinthians 11:3-16 gives plenty to discuss.  No my parents know why I like Bible study and Bible study knows why I can’t keep my mouth shut. ;)  I’ll let them tell you about Lichtenstein.

Wednesday (13⁾ – oh boy, I didn’t write anything down and I’m not sure I can remember.  I’ve been in a bit of a funk the last few days.  I think we slept in and had a late breakfast with Veronika then she drove us to the water own in Binningen and we saw the nice, though hazy view.  We also visited the castle-turned-restaurant and I recalled that the last time I’d been there it was light up with Christmas lights and Ester told Stephanie and me that we needed to find Swiss boyfriends who would take us to dinner there.  We didn’t object, and I already had my Swiss boy in mind.  It was satisfying to look at the castle and know the most important part of Ester’s ‘prophecy’ has been fulfilled – at least from my point of view.

Veronika drove Mom and Dad went to Luzern to see the transportation museum.  They said it would be better with kids or with grandpa (Langdon) but enjoyed it anyway.  I say they don’t enough of the kid left in them because I sure loved it when I went, though I, too, couldn’t help thinking how much fun the nephews would have there.  I believe Veronika cooked potatoes and ham for us that evening, but maybe it was Thursday night.

I felt bad sending my parents off to do things, but I was beginning to panic with all the work I had to do.  The famous quote of the week particularly amused my dad: “It’s so easy to get sucked into doing what you’re told.”  He enjoyed the irony of it coming on the heals of a statement I made in Bible study.  I was trying to remove the foot from my mouth after saying I’ve never seen discipline done the way Jesus did (implying it’s never so full of love).  I was referring to church discipline, but there was an awkward silence after while everyone looked at my parents so I added “Not that I have a problem with the way I was disciplined.”  Well, it made my dad laugh.  I still hold to both statements.

Thursday (14^th) we had a lazy morning and Mom and Dad went shopping.  In the afternoon we tried to eat at a cute guest house but they were closed for the week of Fasnacht.  We found a pizzeria and enjoyed their lunch menus.  I had pizza with mozzarella, tomatoes, pineapple, kiwi, chicken and curry.  It was good, and so was the coffee.  Hmmm.  During lunch I got a Valentine’s request via SMS.  Somehow I was lighter walking out of the restaurant than walking in.

We went for a walk in the nearby forest and I do believe it was that night we ate with Veronika.

Friday (15^th) we got up early and met Stephanie at the train station at 7:30.  It was so good to see her again and the four of us enjoyed the two hour train ride to Murten, where we enjoyed the cute medieval town and took lots of pictures.  It was just about freezing, but we still enjoyed climbing the ramparts and it made the coffees and hot chocolates in a nice tea room all the more enjoyable.  They played us a dirty trick by providing us with a basket of croissants and not telling us we’d have to pay for them.  They weren’t as overpriced as the drinks, but I don’t find that very nice manners and it only added to my distaste for eating out in Switzerland.  Japan is still paradise for dinning out in my mind.

We finished with the town sooner than expected, so we all headed back to my place for more hot chocolate, coffee, and conversation before going to the Bloms for dinner.  It was a lovely time as expected and we had a great dinner of raclette, bulgogi, and pickled vegetables.  Yum, yum.  We had wonderful conversation then a yummy banana pudding dessert before we had to get home and put Mom and Dad to bed.  I’d called for a taxi that day and was happy at 4:30 this morning when it came as planed.  My German has slipped noticeably in the past two weeks because of no school, talking with my parents, and using English with Veronika so Mom and Dad can understand.

I sent them off and went back to bed and supposedly they recently landed in Miami.  I’m sure there will be a comment to this post once they arrive safely in Orlando, which will still take a fair amount of time.

I am little miss prophetess, as I predicted a massive bout of depression for today and the coming weeks: Mom and Dad are gone, and Stephan is still away and will be for three more weeks.  Thank goodness for Stephanie, whose bright disposition will shine some sun in my life as I try to get back into work mode and forget about my emotional needs.  I’m really hoping my prediction of a difficult few weeks is not true because it was stinky enough to have a terrible Saturday.  Usually when I’m sad, depressed, needing love, have the “I don’t wannas” or otherwise am not right in the head a run clears the head brilliantly.  It was lovely run, but soon after I was curled up in bed with tears streaming back toward my nape convinced I couldn’t get up and do anything productive.  Luckily I had rehearsal that forced me out and though I really can’t do what I need to do for this piece, it wasn’t overly depressing and it took all of my concentration so I forgot myself for nearly two hours.  I still don’t feel very excited to get back to school.  I’m hoping that will change once I force myself in it, but it sure makes one doubt about whether one is doing the right thing with one’s life if one is not excited to get back to it.  Hm, looks like I need English lessons, too.  Well, don’t worry about me.  I have so much I need to do for school and upcoming concerts that I won’t have much time to sit around and cry.

Love you and miss you, Mom and Dad.  Thanks for a great visit!

That's a word that is fine to meet when playing the rice game, but when it is the translation of a German word in the music history essay I'm reading, I'm tempted to give up.  I've spend 45 minutes on the first paragraph of a 16 page essay and a good 40% of the words are highlighted as ones I had to look up.  Combine that with complicated grammar the average speaker does not use and I'm in for a challenge.  I don't have time for this, but neither will I learn if I always take the easy way out.  Hey, at least due to the rice game I didn't have to find a translation of the translation . . .

Well, it’s been taking all my energy to keep my folks entertained, but whether they need it or not is another question.  With some school assignments hanging over my head and the panic of upcoming concerts I haven’t been able to take a total vacation like I did over Christmas, but I’ve been enjoying myself none the less.  It seems like Mom and Dad are, too, and I think we’ve packed in quite a bit in these few days.

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Mom and Dad made it safely into Basel and we had a quiet afternoon at the house.  Veronika made a wonderful Swiss dinner of Käsekuchli (kind of like quiche) and Apfelkuchen (Swiss apple pie).  See the smiles!

The folks went to bed around 9pm.  Dad had a few naps but Mom seemed to be going strong.  We’re off to the Interlaken area tomorrow evening and will be gone for a few days.  I’m freshly loaded with goodies from America am happy to have some time with my mind off school.

Random sunset from my window.

Saturday, Jan. 19^th I went for a run with Valda through the forest paths.  I managed the trails barefoot, which made me happy.  After we had stew and bread and throughout it all we had great conversation.

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So I’m about to start two weeks of sight seeing with Mom and Dad and I’m behind with my blog already!  Massively out of order, here is the past week before the two weeks before it . . .

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I know I should be getting ready for my folks - they come in 12 hours - wahoo!!  I saw this statement praised, but it scares me.  It doesn't sound like Biblical wisdom either.  I'm for creative imagination and brilliance, but it needs to be tempered by wisdom.  It does not equal wisdom.  Can you think of any leaders who were creative and brilliant and did a lot of damage?  I think that's important for a presedential candidate to understand.

 "[C]reative imagination . . . coupled with brilliance, equals wisdom."