The Job

Good morning everyone!!

hope it is a lovely day on the east coast and clear today after that mess of rain yesterday. I am just logging on after another bout with my nemesis - the espresso machine. Just when I think I have it figured it out, something goes wacky! But it is getting better. My coffee is not awful today! That is the one thing that I miss so far - some of you have been asking what I miss. Coffee to go!!! I miss my run into royal farms to mix some flavas together or running into Dunkin Donuts to grab some vanilla spice (and a sesame bagel with veggie cream cheese!). There is no "coffee to go" here in Europe - anywhere that I have seen. Even at the Starbucks, you sit down with your mug, relax and enjoy! It's actually a very good concept. Just takes some getting used to!)

The week is going well!! On Monday, Robs and I cooked up some delicious chicken burritos! There is not "mexican spice pack" at the Migros so we improvised with our own spices! And - we made fresh guac from an avocado with some olive oil & seasoning - yum! and some re-fried, warmed up with garlic & onion - the best of all!!

Yesterday, I went to "dePost" and asked the man to mail my letters in German! wahooo! I am catching on! I have a little book of cheat phrases (thanks Katie!) that is a huge help to me!

Also, yesterday I heard from the guy at the radio show. It's called "The English Show" and it's the only show of its kind in all of Switzerland. Pretty cool, huh? It's run out of a building over by that cool university area that Rob showed me on Sunday. Anyway- he invited me to come down for the show (it is broadcast on Tuesdays from 6:30-8pm) to see what I thought. So I rolled down last night to check it out. It was great! The people are very cool! Matt, my main contact, is actually from Jers - "warren county" he said - not too far from P-burg! And there is a British woman Melissa, an Irish guy, Andrew who is the producer and a couple of others that pitch in here & there. I sat behind the board while Andrew ran the show. It was flashing me back to my JC days on the sound & lighting crew - haaa!! I'm such a dork! Anyway, the guest of the week was a local band. Actually a team of two that write and record music pretty much just for their friends. Pretty neat! The show basically brings in a guest or two and otherwise provides news and information on local events in the Basel area to do and see. I really enjoyed it! My role is going to be more behind the scenes - I think I am going to be writing reviews and posting them to the web and trying to enhance the web in other ways - but they let me give a shout out at the end of the show last night. haa! Sundai Valcich hitting the airwaves! Anyway - I am excited about being able to contribute and keeping some sort of marketing going on while I am here. The people seem great too.

Last night, post broadcast review, I came home to my hub. He had gotten "a little chicken" (you know - those pre-cooked chickens they have) and we had some yummy salads with chicken and watch the Chapelle Show. I think it's funny that they show that over here - kind of seems like a US-focused humor to me - but it was funny as ever. They broadcast it in English and run German subtitles so I was learning some new words last night ;)

In other news, Rob and I booked our airfare to London on Thanksgiving day. We are going straight to the source for our thanks! Actually we are going to a Gomez show and to visit Rob and Leslie. It should be so fun! I am very excited!!! Rob's boss is encouraging him to take some time off to fit within the allocated hours so it is working out for some weekend trips! We are also peeking at Paris. wahoooooo!!

Okay friends! All is well here - miss and love you. Will talk soon.