May 31st Ski Ski!!

So one of my goals this year was to ski every month for 1 year. I started last year in October, so I have skied 7 months so far...but the clock was ticking on May so I had to head and find snow. I left work today to find that it was pouring out...a great start right ;-) but that didn't stop me...I was on a mission. Orginally I was going to head to Col de la Columbiere but my naviagation wasn't to good so I got off at the Grand Massif/PDS exit. I thought there might be some snow at Avoriaz but when I got to Les Get it was not looking good and still pouring!! I drove through the town of Morzine and noticed a sign for a "Col" and I thought that would get me high quick and it did. The road is closed in the winter becasue it runs right through PDS:

The road was perfect...I was gaining altitude and fast. About mid way I was getting a little pesimistic about my chances because it was still raining and no snow....but wait...there is was a patch...and another..WOOOOHOOO!!! I kept driving until I got to the top of the hill which was actually the top of the lifts:

I took a pic or two, but it was raining, so I found a patch, put on the boots and skis and skied 4 turns! Proof!

It was in the woods and pretty much grass with some snow..LOL! This was a tough one, but I did it and I am wicked happy that I did. The trip was cool..I didn't come home and work....and I got to see more of France. Luckily Les Deux Alpes opens the end of June, so I can really ski again! G

Back to the EC!

So it was time to return to the EC for the first time in 9 months. Below explains it all!

As always, thanks Mom and Dad for the love and support...you rock! KK for the kisses. My family for the smiles and love only family can give. J and Lyss for being my friends and being there for me always. G

Beacoup Vin!

So it is 9:17 in the PM and this is my 2nd day straigt of 13 hour days in preparation for my vacation. That being said I still want to share my weekend..so here is the short version:
Friday:
Chill with Pedro in Carouge
Paul joins
Paul, Pedro, and I have beers and Kebabs in Carouge
Paul goes home
Pedro and I go to PointBar
Heidi and Nat come
Gregor goes home at 1:30
Talk to KK
Goodnight!

Saturday:
I wake up early
Go to Carouge "Marche"
Go shopping in Geneva for gifts
Meet Pedro and Heidi to go to the open Geneva Vineyards
It was a nice day out:

Even the birds liked it:

Headed to Satigny via train but some people by car:

Visted 4 vineyards and drank free "vin"...bought some too:


Sat and relxed to with some friends:


Great views too:

P and H:


Waiting for train back home:

Went to Heidi's for dinner
Watched Eurovision (don't ask!!! Georgia should have won!!! Youtube: Eurovision)
Had drinks
Went to a club
Got home late

Sunday:
Chilled
Played hoops with P and P
Watched Soccer
Ate a burger
Went to bed!

Another cool weekend of exploring and being in Geneva. I am off to the US on Thursday and look forward to seeing KK, Mom, Dad, and J Kriz!!!

1 year today my life changed.........

To all my friends and my family I appreicate the love and support you have shown me daily since this date a year ago. I am looking forward happier than ever...... smiling daily.
"The picture of my life has changed":

4 countries in 7 days.......2 new! 50% to the 2007 goal!

After a relaxing Sunday it was off for work on a brief but busy start to the week. I was off to London UK, Newbridge/Dublin Ireland, and Rome Italy. I left at 6AM to the airport to meet up with Arthur and Sebastian. After an uneventful flight we had a car to the Brooklands offices (which are very nice)and an all day meeting. This was the first time in the UK (outside of Heatherow) so it was a cool 30 minute drive. Saw some canals, rivers, small houses, traffic, etc...I need to come back.
#4:

Sebastian was heading back to Geneva but Arthur and I were off to Dublin. We arrived at around 10PM in Newbridge after Mick picked us up from the airport. Arthur and I grabbed some din and went to bed and rested for a busy day. I awoke the next day to a sunny Ireland which was cool because everytime I come it is raining. Meetings were on the agenda again for the day...to bad because it was a great day outside...Arthur and I only saw this room though!

After my meetings I left Arthur and headed to the airport to fly RyanAir. This is low-budget carrier in Europe. It is very much like Southwest but even lower budget. Seats don't even recline...luckily I paid the extra 4 Euros for the upgrade to get in the "Q" first and got an exit row.

After a cramped 2:45 flight I was in Rome. Nothing eventful here. I bought a beer and Panini at the airport and headed to the hotel which was close. In the AM it was a very nice again and I was meeting Sebastian at the airport to attend more meetings.
My hotel:

We hooked up with a nice Fiat at the airport and drove into Rome. Traffic was bad (45 minutes for 10KM) and funny at the same time...the Italians are an agressive driving bunch...Mom I think this is where I get my driving style ;-) The meetings were good. On a funny note the Fiat's power steering failed on the way back to the airport so we had manual steering in the nice Rome traffic...Dad always told me that the Fiats had horrible electrics....and I found out he was right! We got back to Geneva that night and I went right to bed..this was a tiring 3 days.
So the UK was the first new country in 7 days...so I need to go to another..right?..so it was time to get another....here I come Holland/Netherlands!
The boys and I have planned this trip for awhile because Paul was meeting up with some friends in Amsterdam. Time to go boys..no liquids!

After a quick 1:30 flight we arrived in Amsterdam and grabbed a beer for the train ride to our hotels. Pedro and I were staying on the outskirts of town and Paul was staying with T in town, so we grabbed the main train out of the airport towards the town center..so we thought.

After being on the train for a few we were talking and Ellen (our new friend) heard our conversation and told us we were on the wrong train..OOPS!..but no worries..she was mad cool and hooked us up with directions and showed us even how to utilize the Dutch Metro.
On the train:

Thanks Ellen!

After sorting that out we were in Amsterdam!

That night we meet up with Paul and T, had some food, chilled, went out...it was blast..P+P are really good friends.
The next day we woke a little battered, but not bad especially when the weather was like this:

We had not plans so we just checked out the city.
A festival:

Shopping:

This is great...you know I'm a sunglass addict:

Sites:


Note the green thing on the left...this is a urinal..very good idea! They are all over the city and are very usefull especially after a few cocktails!

Bikes (and there a lot of them)

All in all a nice chill day. That night we met up with T's friends and went to some bars, Club Escape, and just had a cool time. The next day it was back to Geneva. I like Amsterdam and would like to go back...the people are chill, nice places to eat and drink, and overall a good vibe...I think it gets a bad rap because of the Red Light District.

So this week I visited 2 more new countries that I never had been to before..so now I think it is a good time to review how I am doing on my 2007 goals...
1) Stay postive+
Daily!
2) Continue to grow and be open
I think this one is coming along...I feel very centered
3) Do things that people say to you after...."are you serious"
I think the avlanches in Engelberg cover this one!
4) Do things for me, but continue to be selfless
Ask my friends
5) Live life and not an "existence"
I said existence for the first time in a long time...I corrected myself
6) Be in contact with my friends/family more
50/50...I need to do a better job on this...this blog helps
7) Visit 10 new countries
5!
8) Cherish everyday for at least 1 reason
Today the clouds were rolling over the Jura and it looked like the mtns were made of clouds....very cool!
9) Just be
Thank you friends and family for this...you make it possible
10) Ski...ski....and ski!
13 new ski areas this year....I have skied 7 months in a row
....more to come!! -GG