Sigh.

"However," he said, brightening up a little,
"we haven't had an earthquake lately."

A.A. Milne

German Coast Guard

Anyone who has learned a second language will appreciate this.

Swiss Shopping and Schweinebraten

I used to live in Germany.

For four years, 6 months and 29 days, I dutifully learned to Deutsch sprachen, be strong, not complain, bag my groceries like a mad woman and appreciate the culture. I am proud to say that today I make a mean schweinebraten (roast pork), can pan fry a schnitzel like nobody's business, occasionally dream in German and am very glad that I gave it a chance.

I worked hard. I met some great friends there. I lost my father. I grew up a little and I came to peace against some of the dark, little, congested and festering corners of my mind. I saw great works of art and learned to appreciate both sides of history. Let’s talk about this sometime over a beer and a nice Schweinehaxe.

On a related yet completely superficial note.
Now, no offense to da Cher-manns but I really had a hard time shopping there for clothes. Thus, when I came across Fox Town in Mendrisio, I was sceptical and drove by with a sad snort. After all, the small range of Swiss shops I had seen, although clever and efficient in service, seemed more difficult and expensive than even the most daunting of the German. I was wrong. Oh, sooooo wrong.

Fox Town is an outlet mall. It has free parking and truly is a magical fairyland where everything fits and is lovely and stylish - where a brass band plays and happy Swiss people who are pleased to take your money cavort merrily and speak to you in whatever language you please. Forgive me Foxtown. www.foxtown.ch
later,
Do

Hello Max...

Well, then.
Here we are.

This is mostly due to the people who have been bugging me to start a blog. Are you happy now? Actually, let’s get into this because I am entirely unsure about what to focus on here. When was the last time you really thought about happiness? What makes you, all you lovely people out there in the dark, happy? {Forgive me the not-so-subtly veiled reference to Sunset Boulevard, Max.)


Me, I like to find patterns in things. That makes me happy.


For example, yesterday, I took these two photos…


Yes. Look at me being happy.