Geneva

There are few things things that make me happier than this sight...pillows; paper and coffee in my future.

Greetings from the Hotel Beau Rivage where I am happily ensconced with many gulf Arabs fleeing the heat.

Portuguese Brigham visit was as joyful as ever; the girls know where their rooms are and where the cake is. Thomas found a trail of crumbs and followed it through the house to the pool when he wanted to find them (quite literally). ACB of course added his own brand of joie de vivre with a sporty twist on all proceedings..exactly like when he was a kid. He didn't just swim with them; he threw balls in the air as he jumped in, with the idea they would jump and catch mid air. He lead the charge for Thomas and me and him to take a long, "slow" jog, which I found long but not that slow; and funniest of all, he got this idea that we all should attempt the fitness test given to professional linebackers when they return for training in the summer. Wide receivers have a higher bar to reach, but the fat ones still must be able to run 300 yards in under 70 seconds three times, with a two minute break in between. I heard him making the sell to the children: 

"Then you can say you are as fit as a professional athlete!!!!!!" 

silence....you could hear them trying to absorb this; trying to get a toe hold on the bragging appeal of this one, which seemed elusive to me as well.

"oh come on!!!" You could hear him thinking : how can anyone NOT want to do this?

The girls said ok, but didn't change out of their high tops

F followed him out the door with detailed questions on rules and procedures, and Thomas took on the job of Ellie management with the ominous warning that he was not sure he could do it, which is code for don't get your hopes up.

Long story short everyone did it BUT me, because (also true to character) on the last one it was clear I would not make it, and why bother if you have already failed the test? The team found this depressing and I fear I will have to suck it up and try again before the summer is out. 

Now in Geneva for meetings, then drive to lech in a few days for Schneider palooza. F goes on Sunday to a sleep away Austrian ski camp (?!) which should be interesting. He has never done anything like this before; but he wanted to do it, so we said why not? 

There are, after all, only a few months left before the Almhof cup....:)