Tom's Blog: 4/7/13

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Zurich!

My business in Switzerland took me to Lenzburg, so I wasn't sure I'd get a chance to see Zurich. As it turns out, my return flight was on Thursday morning so they suggested I stay at a hotel near the airport Wednesday night. They put me on a train from Lenzburg to the airport (with a stop at Zurich HB--Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the main train station: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C3%BCrich_Hauptbahnhof), where I would catch a shuttle to the hotel. I thought I wouldn't have time to see Zurich...

But I found myself at the hotel by 6:45 or so, with time on my hands. Turns out that the trains in Switzerland are very easy to figure out, even for a foreigner who can't speak German. They also run right on time, no delays that I could see. So I shuttled back to the airport and took a train back to downtown Zurich. Here are a few of the pictures I took, all from April 10, 2013.

Somewhere in Zurich, west side of the river.

Somewhere in Zurich, west side of the river. Near St. Peter Church.

St. Peter Church.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter,_Zurich

Fraumunster Abbey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraum%C3%BCnster

Looking south, over Lake Zurich, from Qualbrucke bridge, towards the Alps. Cell phone camera doesn't do this shot justice. The view of the Alps was STUNNING. Picture taken from here:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=47.366394,8.542186&spn=0.000527,0.000549&t=h&z=21

Looking north, back up the river, from Qualbrucke bridge.

One of the steep, narrow streets in old Zurich, on the east side of the river.

I love beagles. Even stuffed Swiss beagles, apparently. Especially if they have a Swiss blanket on them!

Berner Teller for dinner. Beef, sausage, ham, sauerkraut, and potatoes. Delicious!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Things I Learned While Flying - Part II - Atlantic Edition

Saw the movie "Life of Pi" while somewhere over the Atlantic the other day. It was an older plane, without a video screen in each seat in front of you, so when a heard this quote I wasn't able to rewind to get it exact.

Here's what I heard, as I scrambled to pull out a pen and paper:
"The whole of life becomes learning to let go. Take a moment to say good bye."

Looking it up online I found a slightly different (and undoubtedly more accurate) version.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/life%20of%20pi%20quotes

"I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye"

That got me thinking. I'm now at a point in life where I probably have more life behind me than ahead of me. Kind of gets you thinking. When you're young you think of all the things you can do, will do. But at some point you realize that there are many things you meant to do that you won't get a chance to do.

No sense crying about it, better to accept it and make the most of it. I think that part of "accepting it" is learning to say no. To let go of stuff.

It's hard to say no sometimes. You wouldn't think so when you're young, at least I didn't. And it's hard to let go, even when you know you should.

Seems like this blog post is incomplete, that there's more to say. But you know what? I'm done with it. I'm letting it go.* :)

Once more, Dragonette sums it up:
"Dragonette - Let it Go (Official Video)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KsPIJK17uk

*Just this particular blog post, not the whole blog. Fear not, my seven (estimated) readers!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Song of the Day: Passenger - Let Her Go

Here's a song that speaks to me.

"Passenger - Let Her Go [Official Video]"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBumgq5yVrA

Lyrics:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/passenger/lethergo.html

"Let Her Go"

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies

But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much
And you dived too deep

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go
And you let her go
Well you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Song of the Day: Matt & Kim - Let's Go

Here's another song, just because I like the vibe. The video is pretty strange, though...

Say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Oh, say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything

Matt & Kim - Let's Go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJsVCi0UsSM

Lyrics:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mattkim/letsgo.html

"Let's Go"

Oooooo o-oo o-oo [x4]

I was up in my head
For everything I've said
Caught a million words
They're all made with lead
I bought a megaphone
You used inside your home
Forgot the batteries
But that's the old me

Shouting out of my windows
Roll down
Cause I don't care anymore
Said I don't care
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go

Oooooo o-oo o-oo [x4]
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go

Standing on the top
Of a parking lot
I gave it all I had
Show me what you've got
There's some things I've found
That make so much sound
All these words, I don't need 'em now

Shouting out of my windows
Roll down
Cause I don't care anymore
Said I don't care
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go

Oooooo o-oo o-oo [x4]
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go

Say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Oh, say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Oh, say what you wanna say
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go

Oooooo o-oo o-oo
(Hey hey hey hey)
Oooooo o-oo o-oo
(Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go)
Oooooo o-oo o-oo
(Hey hey hey hey)
Oooooo o-oo o-oo
(Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go)

Say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Oh, say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Say what you wanna say
Make it mean everything
Oh, say what you wanna say
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go
Let's go

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Lenzburg Castle

Guess what? I'm in Switzerland! Never thought I'd visit here, but here I am. Kind of a sudden trip.

Took a little walk today after work. Walked up the hill to Lenzburg Castle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenzburg_Castle

Fascinating to see what men built many years ago. Almost timeless, certainly in comparison to many modern buildings that won't last nearly as long as this place. The castle is really built into the mountain itself--I hope the pictures capture that.

Here are some pictures that I took with my crummy cell phone camera. The first picture is from April 8, 2013, the rest are from today, April 9, 2013. Enjoy!