Hiking at Mageriaz

I went hiking with some friends, up to a place called Margeriaz. It was a little over an hour drive from Chambery but I think it took longer than ususal because I had my friends pull over twice on the way up due to car sickness. Blah. My stomach does not handle the switch backs through the moutains well at all. I love the moutains, and being in the moutains, but my stomach has it's own opinion.

Once I had my feet on the ground, I was ok, and ready to go! We didn't have snowshoes which we didn't really need if we stuck to the path. I, however, was so blown away by the scenery that I had a hard time keeping my eyes and therefore myself on the path and ended up several times knee-high in snow, sometimes deeper. Luckily I had a pole to dig myself out with.

The moutains were beautiful, as always. I was ready to keep going, but was the only one. We headed back to the station and met up with some friends for a drink; mine was fizzy water. My stomach was a total mess on the way home too. If I'm driving, it's not so bad, but we took David's British car with steering wheel on the right, and I wasn't about to take over and attempt to shift with my left hand. It was such a fun day though and I'd love to go back...if I drive.

Cross Stitch Update

So, I've finished the top row of my cross stitch project, finally. This is as long as it is going to be, almost 27 inches. I had a moment of panic on page 6 when I thought I might run out of cloth before I finished the row, but got out my tape measure and reassured myself (as did Max) that it was going to be fine, and it was. I've dropped down to the second row, and have finished page 10 (as shown above). Only 44 more pages to go! I'll keep you posted.

(Picture of what finished project should look like...someday. Hyde Park by Camille Pissarro.)

Olympic Encounter in Geneva

Just when I thought I'd missed out on the winter olympics this year, I ran into a gold medal athlete at the Geneva airport! I was there to pick up Max and his co-worker after their business trip to Ohio. At first, I couldn't tell what was going on. There was so much noise; people with cow bells, horns, singing and shouting. There were French flags waving all over the place. Everyone was gathered around one particular area with cameras out and ready. My curiosity got the best of me and I headed towards the mob to see what it was all about.

It didn't take long to determine they were celebrating the return of an olympic athlete. I caught a glimpse of the medal around his neck and it was gold! By now I was kicking myself for leaving my camera at home, but I managed somehow to get a shot with the camera on my phone...not great but better than nothing.

Turns out that the athlete was Jason Lamy Chappuis who brought home one out of two gold medals won for France during this year's winter olympics. (No, the name Jason isn't really French. He was born in Montana to an American mother and French father). He won it in the Nordic Combined event. Here is a link to a much better picture of him and the other Nordic Combined medal winners:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/galleryid=419119.html#medal+ceremony+nordic+combined

He was very kind in the way he took time to take pictures and shake hands with people, and show them his medal, especially after having just flown in from Vancouver! The celebration went on for at least 20 minutes and that's only the part I walked in at and the part Max heard from baggage claim. Felicitations, Jason!