A perfect Sunday

After a night of Eurovision (see previous post), I clearly needed to recharge my batteries. I had a nice late sleep, finished cleaning the apartment and headed up to the roof deck with my radio and a stack of old home decor magazines to flip through. It was a perfect sunny day - probably 75 and not a cloud in the sky. Over the course of a few lazy hours I got relaxed and tanned and ready for some company.

My friends Jess and Chris came over for what was supposed to be an early dinner on the BBQ. I have had a bottle of raspberry vodka gathering dust for the past 2 years unopened so decided to break it out. I mixed it with Diet 7up and with some limes and ice it tastes exactly like a raspberry lime rickey from when we were kids. I mean, you could NOT taste the alcohol at all. Well, 6 hours and lots of food later we wrapped up with about an inch left in the bottle of vodka. Good food, fun company and a hell of a new drink that is officially my summer drink of 2009.

This wraps up what is basically an ideal Sunday in my world.

Eurovision Song Contest

Of the many secrets that the Europeans are keeping from us Americans, the Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most fascinating. You might think that Euros are so cultured, classy and calm, but every May they turn into a gaggle of silly school girls over this song contest between countries.

Every country has weeks of contests to decide who is going to be the one musical act to represent their country at the Contest. The whole country will tune in and it's almost as intense as the Presidential election in the US. Once their act is settled on, invariably everyone thinks that their country's act is sure to bring home the prize.

Each act then goes thru a series of semi-finals to whittle down the contestants. It all leads up to a Saturday in May when the final 20 or so get the chance to sing their song in front of all of Europe. The winner is determined both by a panel in each country as well as votes from viewers ala American Idol. Each country can give out a series of points - one country would get one point, another gets two points and so on up till 12 points. So, they can vote on 12 of the acts they think are best. Whoever has the most points at the end, wins. The winning country hosts the Song Contest the following year. This contest has been going on every year since 1956 and winners have included Abba in 1974, Celine Dion (singing for Switzerland) in 1988, and Katrina and the Waves in 1997.

Now, I haven't gotten to the fun part. Basically, the contest has maintained it's "bubble gum" pop image ever since its 1954 roots. The songs are invariably cheesy, sometimes catchy, and every once in a while, truly bizarre. Here are a few of my favorite acts to give you a sense of what it's like.

2007 - this was my first year watching. My favorite act came in second and it's Ukraine - basically the song is singing German numbers over and over and the singers are dressed like transvestite aliens. This is when I was officially hooked.

In 2006 the Finnish act thumbed their nose at the cheesy wholesome image and entered a monster metal band and ended up winning.

This year there was nothing that outlandish. Just good old fashioned CHEESE. Greece was my favorite for the best cheese factor. Ample exposed chest and tummy on a guy who clearly is his own best fan and check out the moves on the moving sidewalk.

Germany managed to get Dita von Teese to striptease for their song, which actually was my favorite song (for real). However, they came almost dead last. Nice silver pants!

And finally, believe it or not, this was the winner. Um, a 22 year old, violin playing, Harry Potter lookalike from Norway singing a song whose main lyric is (I kid you not) "I'm in love with a fairytale, even though it hurts" while Russian dancers keep up frenzied movements all around him.

You can't make this stuff up. It's awesome.

I say we start one in the Americas - I'm going to start a petition for the Amerovision Song Contest. Who's with me?

Wish list for the Melrose house

Since I was in Boston last, chair rail has been added to the dining room, and the DR is re-painted including the new crown molding and chair rail. I chose a dark color for the top (called Texas Leather - kind of a gray-ish brown) and chair rail and down is white. Pictures will come when I get there to see it in person. With all the white molding I think it's going to look really striking with the dark color. Sooooo of course I need a few new goodies.




I'm coveting this mirror and starting to like the idea of a little sparkle in the room to go with the chandelier. I think I'm going to order this guy - love it!







I also ordered two little tables from Target and am not sure if I will use them in the dining room or living room.




The living room also got beautiful crown molding in crisp white. I don't know where I'm getting this new need for sparkly stuff in my house. But I think it gives a needed kick to my very tailored style. I'll post photos when everything gets in place and show all the new colors and molding.



The only lighting in the dining room so far has been from the chandelier which needs to change. I ordered two of these lamps from ebay:



When I bought the house I bought an old bureau from the former owner and with the mirror removed it is functioning as a buffet. I am thinking of painting it white or a robin's egg blue (!) but I need to check out the room with the new color first. Can't wait! Anyway, these lamps will go on the buffet to give some extra lighting.




I am also dying for this little table but I think I need to save my pennies - and it's way out of my normal safe style:


I can hear my sister Alanna now "Are you kidding me?!?" No, not kidding. I love it. There's even a little shine on the edge which is going with my new "hints of glitter" plan.





Can't wait to see if it will all come together. Off to order my new mirror!

working on the roofdeck

All week the weather report has been saying rain but every day it's been sunny and beautiful other than an afternoon thundershower. So yesterday I went to the market and got a few flowers and worked on trimming back some of the plants on the roofdeck. Today am sitting here in the sunshine looking at the rooftops of Luzern and Mount Pilatus with the snow still sticking to its sides. It's probably in the low 70s today and the only plan is to play cards with some friends in the late afternoon at my favorite pub by the river.

I'll post some photos of what I'm looking at.

The Aunties come visit

Last week my aunts Pam and Carole came to visit me in Switzerland. They were troopers! The day they arrived I ran them around Luzern to keep them awake and we enjoyed a delicious Swiss veal dinner and lots of beer before crashing for the night.

Next morning we were up early, grabbed the rental car and headed to France. This is the town of Colmar in the region of Alsace which

is only about 2 hours from my house in Luzern. It's one of the most beautiful areas ever. All the houses are half=timbered and brightly painted. This photo was "mid-shopping".

We stayed in Colmar for the night and headed in the morning up the wine route which is an amazing drive north from Colmar. You come into tiny little medieval villages like the one below called Riquewihr.

The wisteria was in full bloom.

Here you can see the "Main Street" of Riquewihr. Ridiculous, isn't it? It's like Epcot meets medieval France. The aunties kept up their shopping marathon - French table cloths all around!

But Pam got repelled from a few doorways by the waft of stinky cheese.

Now I ask you. What would YOU do if you were driving down the countryside listening to Kenny Loggins blaring on the radio and saw an amazing picturesque vineyard? Well, of course, you pull over and all get out and dance........ Right?

We had a fantastic 2 days and headed back to Luzern. The weekend was spent enjoying the sunshine on my roofdeck and puttering around town. Ahhhh... a roofdeck view in Luzern.

The week went by too quick. Sad to see them go!