Flowchart Fondness

Finally, someone has created a book specifically catered to my decision making needs and my love for flowcharts. I totally want this!


Everything Explained Through Flowcharts by comedian and writer Doogie Horner.

Here's a link to an introduction to the book by the author and some examples of what the pages hold from Wired. This is soooo me!

(and yes, if you must know, I'm procrastinating/taking a break from translating mountain forest ecology articles from German to English)

Five second rule??

If you didn't know already, I am in love with flow charts. I love the idea of straight forward "if this...then that" statements. And usually they are pretty fun to play with. This one is hilarious! My favorite part being the "bacon = eat it" part of course!

via MyConfinedSpace

I guess I have food on the mind. Today I went food shopping and my shopping list included the following Swiss essentials:

1. Cheese (Emmentaler)
   
2. Chocolate (a mixture of 3 different bars to compare brands...that's a legitimate reason right?)
3. Gummy bears
4. Local specialty lunch meat
   
5. Wine (really great wine comes super cheap here!)
   
6. Beer
   

And yes, that was the FULL extent of my shopping list. Not bad! I was in the cheese section for a good 15 minutes. So many amazing mouthwatering choices. The same goes for the meat, wine, and chocolate. The best gummy bears are the standard Haribo kind....yummm!

Advice on Long Key, Florida

During the planning stages of my 100 mile bike ride from Key Largo to Key West, I got a lot of mixed reviews and unsolicited advice. I am open to all forms of advice. I take warnings seriously, but usually they don't keep me from pursuing my goals. I take recommendations to heart. And I appreciate all forms of encouragement or inspiration.

Here are some things that people said to me about the trip:

1. "Be careful" - Sail Inn patrons, Delray Beach, FL
2. "How do your parents feel about this?" -mother of four on the snorkeling trip
3. "I'm so excited for you! I am living vicariously through you!" -my awesomely supportive Mom
4. "You're crazy" -lots of people
   
5. "It's too dangerous" -lots of Floridians
   
6. "Where did you COME from?" -Fernando, another camper at Long Key State Park. He exclaimed this while I was setting up my tent. It came out sounding like he was asking me which planet I was from, but he was just asking how I got there without a car.
   
7. "Awesome! I've always wanted to do that! Are you writing a blog?" - Fernando, same conversation, after I explained that I hadn't arrived via spaceship. I hope you're reading this Fernando! Thanks for being a great neighbor!
   

And the best quote of the entire trip:

"You watch your butt!" -a word of advice from camping neighbor John at Long Key State Park after I said to him "be careful, take care of yourself" as he drove away in his truck without a driver's side door. It took me a minute to realize that he probably meant to say "watch your back." I think I like his version better.

So if you're out there adventuring too, please watch your butt!

Funny sight at John Pennekamp State Park, Florida

Before leaving John Pennekamp State Park, I captured this picture.

Yes, I am a 16 year old boy trapped in the body of a 27 year old woman. What can I say? I find these things humorous.

Laughs for today

On a lighter note, come watch this funny and somewhat intense reading of Where's Waldo by Werner Herzog, a German actor, producer, and director. I stumbled on this video on a blog called The Debonaire, a really cute blog with lots of things to make you smile. I used to love Where's Waldo. Are these books even being published anymore?



I've been trying to read and listen to more German lately in preparation for my master's study program at the University of Zurich. Sometimes the language is a little extreme and harsh. Hopefully I don't come back sounding like this!

Flea-bitten Female

I started my 3 mile run tonight with a shirt and good intentions...

I ran a 1.5 mile route down to a small local marina that I really like where a few really beautiful sailboats are docked. I've been by this dock several times and have seen a really fat orange cat lounging around the docks. I thought it'd be a beautiful evening to run down to the marina, give the little guy a pat, and then head over to the playground for my hardcore playground workout (no seriously, it kicks my butt!).

Within the first 5 minutes I got whapped pretty hard in the eye by a bug. This put me to rubbing my eye and tearing up on the corner for another 5 minutes as I tried to cry it out so that I could see again. So then I continue to run down the street like a pirate and get down to the docks.

Just as I get there, I see the exact cat I was looking for slowly dragging itself across the planks, sopping wet, and much smaller looking than I remember. He was looking really rough and as I approached a few mallards took off from the water. They were no doubt the creatures that lured him into the water to begin with. He looked pathetic. His fur stuck to him in funny ways and water streamed from his face and legs. I think he was pretty exhausted from trying to get back on the dock too. I looked around and I have no idea how he managed to make the 2 foot leap from the water back onto the dock, but luckily he had managed. So there I am with this super cute, sad looking cat that keeps meowing at me as I try to calm him down. He was obviously uncomfortable and I wanted to help out. So I took my shirt off and toweled him down, much to his contentment. As I inspected my handiwork, I took a brief look at my shirt which was now stained brown with the muddy water from the intracoastal. I barely noticed some black specks in his fur and on my shirt...then it hit me and bit me all at the same time...oh crap! FLEAS! I start to itch immediately out of paranoia and disgust. Sorry cute kitty, no more petting for you. After I reassess my shirt and deemed it hopeless, I quickly found a trash can to rid of it. So now I'm left shirtless, standing in my sports bra, itchy. I ran the 1.5 miles back home as quickly as possible. It turns out fleas are a really good motivation to run fast. When I reached the house I immediately took a scalding hot shower, threw my clothes in the washing machine, and tried to forget my bug issues of the day.

It's funny. Just this past weekend when my Mom was visiting, I was contemplating the daunting task ahead of me called moving...again. The next time I move I plan to take only a car full. So in the meantime there will be a lot of downsizing and sorting. As it turns out, flea infested clothing is the first to go...no questions asked, no remorse! Thanks kitty for kicking off spring cleaning.

Here are some pictures from this past weekend to help you get the thought of bugs out of your mind:

I love this picture of Mom...she looks radiant and so healthy!

Fondue Pong

Ok, ok, so the Swiss hockey team got beat out by the US today...very sad. But I did come across a really awesome video where the Swiss and the US comes together for a friendly game of fondue pong. If you thought beer pong was difficult, watch how the Swiss do it!

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I found this video over at a great blog done by another lovely Swiss citizen known as SwissMiss (ok, she stole my nickname, but at least she treats it with respect).

Florida Flair

Oh Central Florida, how I love thee. After another lovely weekend in Tampa, I took the 4 hour drive back to Delray Beach. Central Florida is a very eclectic area filled with local Florida crackers, migrant workers, senior citizens, and good ol' hillbillies (this isn't a dig, I've got quite a bit of hillbilly in me.). Here's a gem I saw along the way. For those ladies who've always dreamed of a dress that goes with those awesome cowboy boots, there is fancy western wear bridal store in Central Florida waiting for your business.

Want a laugh?

Ok, this website is hilarious and if you need a good laugh today with some sarcastic humor then go read a few of these entries. You'll be in tears! Plus there are cute animals on the site too!

FUNNY!

Here's an excerpt from the blog that had me rolling!

"The Tibetan fox thinks he's better than you"

"I just want you people to drink in this world-class douchebag known as the Tibetan Fox. Have you ever seen such a holier-than-thou fucking look on a non-dolphin before? I'm not one for slapping foxes, as I generally think they know what they've done, but this one really has that look, like the asshole boyfriend of the girl the main guy wants in an 80s movie. Unsurprisingly, he is extremely rare. That's probably because he thinks if he has too many babies, some of them will turn out to be commoners and he wouldn't be able to show his square face at the country club anymore.

How's your ivory tower, Tibetan Fox? I'm sure it must be terribly stressful to stand in judgment of the rest of us little people, so why don't you just retire to your cabin and play lacrosse? You know what, on second thought, WHY DON'T YOU WANDER THE DESERT LOOKING FOR RODENTS. Some of us have to work for a living, Tibetan Fox. We don't get everything handed to us by a lifetime of hunting and scavenging, you stuck-up snob. "

If this has a rolling on the floor, go see more here.