Second chances

Picture from weheartit.com

Just kidding! It's not like there are enough people reading this blog to be picky about who is welcome here. Oh, and who knows, maybe I am talking about you... I guess you'll never know. But off to the actual point. Today I was thinking about second chances. 

What would you do if you had a second chance? Would you change everything? Get rid of bad times? Try to affect the world in general? Invest in Macintosh stocks? Vote for the same people? Watch the same shows? 

If I had a second chance I would live life with more humour, happiness, and leasure. Stress wouldn't affect me as much as it does today, although I'm obviously not stressed now because I have nothing to complain about. I would like to be able to depend on fate to bring me what I deserve but I always feel I need to control situations. So here is my start to living life with no stress and adding additional years to my life. Laugh every day, right?

(I found these on a random stumbler website, but I forgot which, so I take no credit for them.)

So, laugh, check. Now what? Well, spread it. My preferred activity is going around and when you stand next to a random person do or say something that is so completely out of context they either start laughing or have a story to tell their friends later. Randomness is the best entertainment. Learn things like these information posters above and see if people realize the information is complete bull. Or maybe you can get a theory going just like so many other people did. It's time to get creative!

Childhood fun

Today, after driving through towns I used to go to when I was a child, I reflected on all the things I used to do and see.  We used to live with my Nonna and Nonno, Italian for grandmother and grandfather, who had a house with my aunt, uncle, and two cousins in the suburbs of Zurich. There's a huge military airfield in the town so every ten minutes anything was interrupted by shaking and noise that even shouting couldn't overcome. But still, it isn't something I would want to erase. We spent most of the day either in the garden or on our bikes. It was the perfect place to spend our summers. 

Behind the house was a huge yard that belonged to a bunch of apartments so technically we weren't allowed to use the sandbox and swings. But that didn't stop us. Behind that yard was a path for walking and biking made of pebbles and sand or something. We spent hours driving around there, looking for shortcuts, driving through little paths, using the bike signs to pretend to be a car. We were always there in summer so we got to buy little crackers for the independence celebration of Switzerland on 1st August. This one particular place we loved was a little underpass under a highway. The walls were painted with beautiful spray paint art. 

We used to climb down to the river and skip stones or break fire crackers in half making a volcano out of them. We made boats out of twigs and raced them down the river, they didn't make it far but it was a test to see if we could even make a boat. We would ride across this little bridge that had more than enough Brennesselns, this thing kind of like poison ivy. We'd have to get enough velocity going to be able to drive across the bridge with our feet in the air so we wouldn't get burned by the plant. Sometimes we would venture into a little housing estate, it was like a miniature town with a well and a little pond with tadpoles. 

Later on we would all collect again and watch TV together, watching shows like Swat Cats or Biker Mice from Mars. Summers were always so wonderful. Even with some of the setbacks. Some of the bad times and some of the little annoyances or pains. Even after smashing open my leg when biking. Sometimes creepy neighbors that lived in a house that I thought was haunted were entertaining. Going to steal berries from the garden, climbing trees we should never have climbed, sneaking through gaps in bushes and fences, finding new hideouts by the river, having paths we take to get to somewhere that are named and assigned to either the way there or the return trip. I couldn't have asked for better summers. 

Pictures from weheartit.com

Sunday Funday

In starting traditions online I propose to start a scrapbook online. Pick a random picture, post it online, try to remember where and when it was, and explain the situation. I can't wait to do this, but don't worry, no secret identities will be revealed. At least not those of my friends...

December 5th, 2009:

One night out, not long before this one, we decided to have a fake bachelorette party, just because we can. So, we dressed up nicely, got a crown for our fake bride, and went to town. But we didn't just go anywhere. We decided to go to the gay district of Madrid, they're always up for a party. Once there we went to a drag show in a club and watched this particular lady dance and sing to things such as It's raining men. Afterwards we walked around the district, looking for other cool clubs and places where cross dressers were performing. Honestly, I think seeing a show was our initial aim. At the end of the night we met some random Spaniards and shot gunned some beers on the street next to a club we didn't really intend on entering. All in all it was a very successful night. We got what we wanted, even though we were never very obvious about the whole bachelorette party thing. But, this picture has made it to the internet nonetheless. 

Lazy Sunday

Reading, the pleasure of millions. The only set back right now? I saw the movie and read both of the following novels already. But then again, who doesn't want a creative challenge? So now I'm reading the first part of Eragon by Christopher Paolini, yay!

So, why on earth did I decide to watch the movie and then read the other two books rather than read the book and then follow up with the next two? I don't know. I probably should have done it that way, but no reason to dwell in the past now, I finally bought the first part. Page 2, I already know exactly what's going to happen, but you know what they say, the book is never the same as the movie, so I'm still hoping for some exciting surprise!

The memories I have of the other books, the beach, spraying our apartment in Hong Kong for bugs, using my precious hardcover book number 2 to squish a rogue bug... good times, disgusting, but good time. 

There's so many books in my room and I had to buy a new one. I know, I know, money money money. But they're books! I can't stop myself! So now I have more than enough material to occupy myself in the next couple of days. More than enough to read, that is, if I find the patience to sit down for such a long time and actually read without breaks. That's what tends to stop me. But not this time!

Off I go to Eragon.

ZZzzzurich

With everyone tuned in on World Cup news and wondering when the heat of summer is really going to arrive, Zurich has turned into a web of tranquility. It may seem cheesy to say, but if you were here you would understand. So, with no new experiences on my part, I bear you the gift of knowledge once again. These are the sights of Zurich:

Fraumuenster:

The original church of Fraumuenster was built in 853 AD in Muensterhof, next to a pig market. The church we see today was built on its current spot in the 13th century. Well recognized by its blue roof, the church's main attractions are the five stain glass window designed by Marc Chagall in 1970.

Grossmuenster:

As legend goes, Felix and Regula were brother and sister that had a heated affair. King Karl der Grosse, when they were exposed, had them decapitated, kept their heads in the cellar of the church, and now sits on his throne perched on the side of the church like a pigeon to keep an eye on Zurich in order to prevent other cases of incest. BUT! As I just learned, this is all untrue, let alone not even a popular legend! I felt like my whole existence was shaken in its foundation. Apparently, they were brother and sister, yes, but they had no such thing as a heated affair! Makes sense, since the good and moral people of Switzerland wouldn't do such a thing. They were martyrs and died together at the hands of a roman general. They are also saints in Switzerland which makes more sense than the whole affair thing since they have days on which they are celebrated. I  think people don't celebrate incest anymore. 

St Peter's church:

So, first of all, St Peter's church has the largest clock face of Europe, with a span of 8.64 meters. Another interesting thing is that the body of the church and the church tower belong to different owners. The tower belongs to the city of Zurich while the body of the church belongs to the community of St Peter. In 1911 Zurich used the tower as a lookout for firemen.

Lindenhof:

The story behind this area of downtown Zurich involves the smarts of Women. As an ideal spot to look out over the then rather flat land of Zurich around them, the men at Lindenhof could easily spot intruders and defend the city. However, one year all men of the city had to go to war and only women were left behind. They thought they didn't have to worry about an invasion, however, others found this the opportune time to invade Lindenhof and take over the city. Thinking on their feet, the women banned together, put on the old armour of their husbands, fathers or brothers and stood on the edge of the Lindenhof with makeshift weapons such as rakes, old swords, etc. They scared off the intruders because suddenly there was a horde of men defending the Lindenhof again! Go women!

Pictures and info from wikipedia.com

Dear Morning...

Why can't every morning be as wonderful as you are today? Yes, I'm writing this during a time when one can debate whether it is still morning or already too close to noon, but that just shows how much I enjoyed today without the craving the internet produces. So, the post today, I dedicate to you. And with this dedication I bring as an offering further dedications! See? Isn't this a wonderful way of starting the day? And that even rhymed. Today is so wonderful!

This is dedicated to all of those fevering for their countries or their favourites in the World Cup 2010 even if they have no idea what the rules of football are or otherwise never like to watch football. It's not about knowing the game, it's about supporting your country or your favourites and fevering in the heat of the moment with your friends and fellow fans. So, no matter if you have a clue about what's going on or not, you're awesome for joining in the fun!

This is dedicated to those people in our families that make it possible for us/me to wake up on a morning like this and simply laze around in my bed, writing a blog. If I had a glass of champagne, it would be raised to you. Thank you for working and breaking your back sometimes to make things possible and never complaining about my spending habits, let alone shopping addiction. 

This is dedicated to everyone around me, close and far away, that make my life so wonderful that I wake up on a normal Saturday morning and feel like I should thank people today. If it weren't for all the life lessons I've learned through you guys, and all the simpleness I learned to appreciate, this Saturday may not have started for me yet. But here I am, awake and ready for the day.

This is dedicated to hard work. Now that we may or may not have holidays, one should never slack on hard work. I personally will put most of my effort into brushing up on languages. If you have nothing to do, don't waste a day, a week, or a month. Do something that you won't forget, read a book, start a hobby, you know, the usual. But don't waste your time doing something/nothing and have to wish later on that you had done something.

So now what? Seize the day! Do something today that will make most other days blur of insignificance!

I hope your Saturday is awesome!

Why would you do this to me?

NO! Why would you do this to me Switzerland? WHY?Good play, I guess. You beat Spain. Greatest. Achievement. Ever.

Good work getting through all those games! Spain 0:1 Switzerland, Chile 1:0 Switzerland, Honduras 0:0 Switzerland. <-- good sign for the future!!!

Picture from weheartit.com