Thursday, November 29, 2007

Times Are A Changin'


I can hardly believe that I've lived in my place since January 1, 2000. I moved in on the first day of the new millenium...just a couple months after I turned 19. Craziness!
This place has served me well. It's been a good home. It's been a great place to dig my roots in and have some stability after moving around a lot in my teenage years.
And now, I'm moving out. I'll be out by the end of this year. To cut costs and save money, I've made the decision to pack up and......move across the street! For now, at least. heh.
My neighbors have made me an offer I can't refuse. This will be a great change for me and I'm looking forward to downsizing. I've accrued way too much stuff over the last 8 years.

I remember now why I haven't acquired a taste for moving. It's a lot of tedious work.

December is going to be a crazy month!

Monday, November 26, 2007

Complaints

I was watching the news the other day and they were doing a story about these two people who decided to start a complaint choir. Intrigued, I couldn't help but continue to watch. Soon, I was laughing out loud.
They managed to get the word out and now complaint choirs have started up all over the world in different cities. A choir is formed and members write down their complaints...either random personal ones or ones about their cities...and someone composes it into song and choral arrangements. They are hilarious! Some choirs have had sold out shows! Crazy, but funny.
It's like 'We Are the World' except with a bunch of disgruntled people. :)
I had to google it and found this link:

www.complaintschoir.org

Imagine if we started a complaints choir here in Portland. What kind of things do you think people would complain about?

Thanksgiving Aftermath

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving! I spent mine with some dear friends. I was still recovering from major jet lag and a cold, but great company and a bunch of meat is really some of the best medicine!



I just had to share these pics. Here's my plate. It's great to have meat in excess again!






Who cares about smiling nice for the camera when there's a ton of meat to be had?!




Monday, November 19, 2007

Other Random Things

-I went to IKEA for the first time. It just took me flying to another continent to finally do it. There were a bunch of IKEAs in Switzerland. Apparently, the owner of the franchise lives there.
-They don't have A1 sauce in Switzerland. (this one is for you, Danno.) Yes...very shocking!
-The Eiffel Tower gave me a cold.

I have more pictures to post of my 2nd time in Paris...including ones of the Eiffel Tower. However, I don't have the proper technology here to download the pics from the digital camera. I will try and figure something out as soon as possible.

The Point of Re-Entry

Hello! I'm back safe and sound. Once again, my return to Oregon didn't resemble anything normal or boring.

I just about missed my flight transfer in Frankfurt, Germany. As it turns out, I left my permanent resident card at home. This card is proof that I'm legal to live and work in the U.S. Yes...can I get a "Way to go Wellard" from anyone out there?

They had to get some official from the U.S. consulate to come to my gate and clear me for travel. He took his time getting there and didn't arrive until 5 minutes before they were going to take off.

After giving him my passport information, he says to me, "You're cleared for travel, but just so you know, after you've arrived and go through customs, they're going to fine you."

"How much?" I asked.

"$545." He said it like you'd say $5. As though it wasn't a large amount at all.

I broke into a cold sweat all of a sudden and said "Crap." (well...that's the g-rated version at least.)

I had a 10 hour flight back to Portland to contemplate my wretched fate along with how pea-brained I was to forget the card in the first place. I had no idea what I was going to do. I didn't have that kind of money.
So I said a prayer for grace and mercy with customs officials and then tried to not think about it. Have you ever made a point to not think about something before? Usually, it ends up being all you do think about.
The 10 hour flight went by really fast...or maybe it was just because I was dreading what awaited me. We landed in Portland and I walked the slowest walk ever. Soon, I was in line at customs and my turn came before you knew it.

The man I spoke with was a gruff older looking man. I explained my situation to him. He grimaced, stamped my passport and said. "Okay."

I was surprised and thought he was going to let me go. This wasn't so bad, I thought.

"Come with me." he said.

I followed him into a side room and watched him put all my papers into a folder.

"You're in for a long wait." That was all he said and then left.

So I waited....and watched other people pass through and look at me curiously. Soon the room started filling up with other possible illegals.
After a long time, someone finally called my name.

"We'll let you back into the country, but it's a $545 fine."

Tears started to well and I got choked up. The first thing I said was, "Do you have a payment plan?" (which makes me laugh now) "I don't have that kind of money and I'm unemployed."

Anyways, I must've looked really pathetic because then the guy went to try and see if he could get his supervisor to waive the fee.....which took even more time. I waited, bit my fingernails and then waited some more. I eventually just went and sat down.

Finally, the guy came out. "We only waive the fee for extreme circumstances. Leaving your card at home is not an extreme circumstance. We were able to get ahold of the customs court official who was willing to make an exception for you, just this once. But if something like this ever happens again, you will have to pay the fine. No exceptions AT ALL."

I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I let it all out. After thanking him profusely, I went to go search for my luggage.

Let's just say, I have another thing to add to my list of things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Comin' Back

I leave for Paris soon and I'll be back in Oregon in a couple days.

Where did time go?! It went so unbelievably fast!

Goin' Stag


I was back at the Paparazzi Restaurant in Baden last night. I tried Stag meat for the first time. It was REALLY good. Very flavorful and tender. Naturally, I had to capture the moment and take this picture.
I've been on some serious meat rations while being here since meat is so freakin' expensive. This was a very nice treat for me!
I know you're probably thinking like I first was "Stag meat? Are you kidding me? Ewww....gross." But seriously, it's good stuff! Take it from a meat connisseur (that would be me, by the way).

A Month's Worth of Random Things

-While over here, I've tried deer and horse for the first time. (sorry Bambi and Black Beauty!)
-I've had more salami and pasta in the last month than I've had in my lifetime.
-There are no toilet handles here...just buttons to push or knobs to turn.
-I've had to pay to use a public restroom twice.
-In the last week, I've had two dreams that it's snowed and it snowed last night for the first time.  (None of it stayed, I wish I could've gotten a pic of it!)
-I had a dream that I met Sting (it'd be cool if that became true...)
-I've had one major road rage outburst....while I was in the passenger seat.  You'll have to ask me about that one! (some material may not be suitable for some readers)
-I haven't had meat with every meal. (that is a REALLY BIG DEAL, people!)
-I saw a walrus skull, polar bear skull, stuffed bat, stuffed armadillo, 1 hug tarantula all in one room. (I visited someone's personal museum and it was crazy! I don't have pics, sorry.)
-I've become a better cook. (this one's for you, mom)
-I haven't watched TV at all and it's been fine.
-I didn't realize how much I've missed having free water at restaurants.  You don't get complimentary water here.  You have to order it...and it usually ends up being way more expensive to drink than your regular drink order!
-I've gotten lost twice while driving here...and ended up back at that children's school.
-Hot water is limited
-Here, you have to weigh and price your own fruit....which I didn't figure out until the cashiers had to leave and go do it for me...twice!
-I love crepes.
-When you think you have the last laugh, you don't always do. (Just ask me about my water/whipping cream/coffee fight.)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Showtime





Well, the house party was pretty dang cool. Don't worry, Danno, I wasn't burned at the stake...you just got a little impatient is all.




The concert was basked in candlelight. I was lovin' it. It totally set the tone. I alternated sets with another musician named Flavi. We also did a cover tune together called "Stranded" by the artist, Plumb. It's been a while since I've sung with someone. Here's a pic:



These pictures, once again, don't do it justice.

But the concert went really well. There was a lot of great feedback. One woman told me that I made her cry 3 times. I think that's a record for me. :) heh.

All in all, there were about 30-35 people there. The audience was fantastic. There was no talking, only listening. One thing I loved about this particular concert is that there was such a great range in age of the people that attended. My song "This Isn't My War" seemed to really resonate with the older people and it was interesting to hear them speak of it. There was a call for an encore so I ended up performing "Empty Place Beside Me" and it was awesome.


Flavi did an incredible job and he's a really great musician and songwriter. This clip is so short, but it gives you an idea of the mood of the night:



Unfortunately, no videos were taken of when I performed...sorry. The new song "Common Ground" went really well, though.


And to top it all of it was a "gaga" (pronounced ga-zsha)...also known as a paid gig. Wahoo! My first international paid gig.

Good times.

Monday, November 12, 2007

An Anticipatory Setup



I was asked to participate in another gig. It's a house concert. Flyers were sent out. People were invited. Food and drink were made and bought. All instruments and sound equipment is set up and soundchecked.


My Set List:

Breathless and Blind

My Own Enemy

A Beautiful Ending


Stranded (A duet)


Relentless

This Isn't My War

Common Ground (featured for the first time ever)

Art

"The modern artist is working with space and time and expressing his feelings rather than illustrating.
It doesn't matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said. " - Jackson Pollock


I visited Aspire....the gallery that Bryan is curator of. Every month, Aspire provides art workshops for the community to be involved in. A guest artist comes in to showcase their art as well as teach the workshop. Everyone who participates in the workshop has the opportunity to put their art on display when the time arrives to showcase community art.


The guest artist this month was Manuela Saurer. I totally fell in love with some of her pieces:









This one was my favorite of hers. I just loved the feeling of it and the mood it evoked.




















Here are some other pieces from some people within the community:
















































I got goosebumps when I saw this piece. This was done by a Spanish artist. The flag was painted onto a piece of wood. What you see all over the floor is ash and fallen stars. This piece is entitled "You Are Afraid". I have to say that I've encountered some animosity towards the U.S. by a lot of Europeans. Some of it has been directed to me, but when it is discovered that I am Canadian, there's been an immediate shift in attitude and acceptance. Stereotyping is annoying, but it can be really disheartening at times. It's been humbling and made me more aware of my own stereotypes that I project on to others sometimes.
I've always found it interesting the kind of things art can provoke in yourself and in other people.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Travelin'


This was the view from my room in the chalet. I took this picture first thing Tuesday morning just as I had woken up.



I left Huemoz in the afternoon and took a bus to the train station. I was told that the bus might not even come.





I had my bus money all ready to go.


Random fact of the day: it is safe to hitchhike in Switzerland and is even encouraged.
Since I wasn't too sure whether or not the bus was going to come, I decided to give it another 5 minutes and then I was going to try and hitchhike. Of course, after I made that decision, the bus did show up...




I don't think I've ever enjoyed a bus ride as much as I did this time around. The view was so awesome as you came down the mountains and into the valley.
This is such a crappy picture, I know. I took it through the bus window as we were moving. But at least it gives you an idea of the splendor.



I took the bus into a town called Aigle and then hopped a train. I had to change trains 2 times before I made it back to Liestal. Surprisingly enough, it was actually pretty easy! I didn't have any trouble except when I got kicked out of the first class section. I sat there without knowing it (seriously) and then had the ticket agent coldly point me out of the room. I think he was a little miffed too because he kept talking to me in french and I had no idea what he was saying....

After I found my next seat, I met these 2 old ladies who are best friends. They were very kind and spoke with me for a while.


While on the train, we passed Lake Geneva. There was such an incredible sunset. It reminded me of a sunset I once saw in Neskowin, Oregon.
Once again, I could only take a picture through the train window and of course this picture barely does it justice. It was so gorgeous, though. I had to capture it somehow.







And now you're all caught up. (Whew!)

Into the Alps



Went for a drive for a couple hours in the country on Sunday.
















Entered vineyard territory.



















Driving in the country during the fall will leave you breathless. All the vibrant colors draw you in. Seriously, pictures just don't say enough.







In the village of Villars, there was a little league hockey game happening. Of course, I had to check it out. Don't worry...I wasn't yelling "Fight! Fight!" to tomorrow's youth.









You are now entering the Alps. WARNING: I'm about to inundate you with a bunch of Alps picture.s These don't even come close to capturing the grandeur of it all.

You can't help but feel so small. The mountains just envelop you.











There was the constant clanging of cow bells. It was such a gorgeous day out that I literally took a snooze on the hillside in the sunshine.









































A meager film clip:

Sorry for the shakiness.



I met up with some people and ended up staying in a chalet in the village of Huemoz. Bryan went back to Liestal because of work.
Waking up to the view of the Swiss Alps is quite something to behold. On Monday night, I was having some hot chocolate and kept chuckling to myself, "I'm having hot chocolate in the Swiss Alps right now." I know, it really not funny...but I kept giggling about it because it was a little surreal.

Afloat on Lake Luzern

Continuing my Saturday in Luzern...we had free tickets to take a boat ride along Lake Luzern. The boat we rode was called the "Flüelen". It was the perfect size, nice and cozy.










A cold grey day and lots of wind. It felt like the northwest.









The unknown frontier.










A ship and its mateys. Arrrr.





View from the lake.








There were several different ports that we stopped at. It made me want to go exploring.



I took a short video to try and capture the rolling green hills and the view:





We negotiated our way into the first class area for free. Wahoo! The seating was much more comfortable there. A couple mugs of tea later, I was in a very happy place. The boat ride was so pleasant and relaxing.




First class lighting...the lighting in first class.








After our boat docked, we were awarded with a fantastic night view of Luzern. It was gorgeous.






Stomach grumblings led to restaurant explorings which then led to one candlelit dinner...right along the lake.





As we were walking back to the car, I saw this guy traipsing awkwardly in a cow costume. How random is that? I busted up laughing and started rummaging through my purse to try and find my camera. This guy was surrounded by a bunch of other guys who were just about doubled over with laughter. You couldn't help but stare and then laugh and then stare and then laugh all over again. He ended up coming up to us. As it turns out, it was his bachelor party. All of his buddies made him wear this cow costume and forced him to walk up and down the streets of Luzern with a basketful of cheese.
After I found my camera, I took this picture and his buddies roared.

"How long do you have to wear the costume for?" I asked.

"Until I sell all of this cheese!" he answered.

I peered into the basket and then gave the chap a very sympathetic look. He had a long night ahead of him!




Luzern = a day that couldn't get any better.

Lovely Luzern


Welcome to Luzern! Another fantastic city.






I went to Luzern this last Saturday. It's about an hour away from Liestal.

Once again, great architecture.










It was completely overcast that day. On a clear day, you can see that you're surrounded by the Alps. I was sorry to miss the sight, but I got a chance to see what it would look like by browsing the postcards.






We met up with this old man who was trying to feed some birds but was also scaring some other birds with hissing sounds and the clap of his hands. Come to find out, he was trying to feed only the local birds and was increasing irritated with the "foreigners" who kept trying to steal the food. He pointed out to us which was which:










These are the locals.










These are the foreigners. heh. Even overseas, seagulls are still a pain in the ars.












Wahoo! Look at me, Mom! I'm in Luzern!












I loved how aged and historical this city felt. This wooden bridge was awesome! As you're walking through, there's old paintings built into the architecture.








The tower.













A view from the bridge. Yes, I was trigger happy with the camera. Couldn't help myself.















We had quite a bit of trouble finding parking. At least 3 parking structures we found were completely full. At first, it didn't seem totally overcrowded...













...then we came to seas and seas of people! Come to find out, a blues and jazz festival had just started the day before.















This has absolutely nothing to do with the blues festival, but you know me and my love affair with street musicians. This group is called Pandolero. Here, they're playing "Mustang Sally" with their pans, triangles and drums. I've never seen anything like it, so I had to get a short video of it. I also caught a little girl dancing herself dizzy to the music.





Next stop: a boat ride on Lake Luzern....