the churches!

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Find photos for this weekend here


Another week has come and went (or is it gone?), whatever… point is: time flies.
I got my Christmas gift from gera early this year (well, actually, every year). He ordered more memory for my little 12” PowerBook G4 (that had been struggling to keep up with updates and new software and what not). It works much better now. Thank you Gera!
I managed to put some packages in the mail with a non-english-speaking clerk. Nothing major really, but an accomplishment in my book.

I got my secret-santa gift in the mail (I mentioned something about this last post). The site that organized the swap offered another henna-related gift when you signed up, and I got BOTH my henna gifts in the mail the same day. Of course I was not going to wait ‘til xmas to open them. From my secret santa I got a bunch of little henna-related things, like a small henna design book, and some henna powder, a marker-tattoo kit, bindis, some incense, lavender soap (what does that have to do with henna?, beats me!). Anyways, the incense had to go outside almost immediately! It was stinking up the place, Waaay too strong (it was some of those blue boxes with red letters that are sold at “international” markets). The rest of the stuff was ok. From the henna elf (the swap organizer) I got several goodies too! A CD with designs (I contributed one design, and it was used for the face of the CD! Awesome!), some crystals to beautify the henna, some henna powder, applicators, and glitter. It was a great day full of little presents!

We have almost done all the “touristy” things available around the city, except “the churches.” We decided we should do that on Saturday, so we armed ourselves with an umbrella and headed out. Our first stop was Augustinerkirche, and it was closed. We then headed to the Groomünster, that had just finished service and was very crowded. We couldn’t even get in, and the tower we wanted to climb was closed due to the services. (special services.. we could’t figure out what religious holiday was being celebrated… something to do with advent?) so once again we were disappointed by “the churches.” We moved on to St Peters Kirche, a church with a clock with a face that is 8.7 m in diameter (28 ft), the largest in Europe. That one was open, and there was a choir rehearsing, so we got a mini-concert for free! It was beautiful. As we were sitting there, listening to the music, our friend Carmen recognized us. What are the chances! We met her in Bloomington, she’s from Germany, and was on a day-trip in Zürich with her sister. We went for coffee to (once again) a Starbucks (hey! they are everywhere).

I finished watching ANTM, and moved on to the Amazing Race (AR). Today I just finished with AR (season 10), so now I'm looking for other shows. youtube rocks! Do i need to say that once again my reading has been reduced to zero? think not.

Other mini-notes: Gera’s cousin from mexico (whom I haven’t met) is arriving on thursday (tomorrow). I still haven’t decorated our home for xmas. Maybe by the time I get around to it, it’ll be easter! Gera’s lab xmas party is on Friday, and I am bringing flan. What else? Well, I’ve been thinking about new year’s resolutions… exercise it at the top of the list! What is on yours?