October 30 - November 10

There will be no political talk in this blog today other than: the person who is President has no influence on how we treat each other on an individual basis and I would like to encourage everyone to just FREAKING BE NICE, no matter who you voted for. Thank you, on to our regularly scheduled program.

My team beat Koniz 3-1 after my last post. Mic got MVP which was cool bc her mom was there to see her ball out and she claims to remember none of the game. I remember things from the game though. Mic dug a ball straight up in middle back, she yelled “GOOOOO,” I ran to set it, I set a good out of system set to the outside, she yelled “FRICK-YA-MADI-COVER!!!” right in my ear and I started laughing so hard I couldn’t finish the play but Z got a kill so it was fine. She was in the zone and I loved watching it happen. We celebrated the win appropriately at the Rodolphe, a club/bar/thing downtown in Neuchatel. We threw pumpkins across the bar (#festive), we tried to get into a Mexican Death Party (???), I wore flashing kitten ears, and it was Greg’s birthday (our fitness facility manager). It was a good day.

I did not leave my bed on Sunday other than to get food and pee.

On Monday, Mic and her mom were so kind as to invite me to join them on a journey above the clouds, literally. In recent days, Neuchatel has been covered by fog. Fog that makes SF fog look like a joke. I cannot see the car in front of me kind of fog. So we went up, to this place called La Vue-des-Alpes. We got coffee at a cute café and marveled at how it looked like we had just entered heaven. It was SO nice to sit and talk with a mom, even if it wasn’t mine. We watched these two sisters fight over a chair for about 20 mins. It started out fun and playful and eventually turned into what I recognized all to well as a knock-down-drag-out fight for the establishment of power in the sibling relationship in which one or both siblings end up crying. We left before the tears, but I know they happened.

That night we had a lifting session, which was not our usual time to workout. Apparently they have different playlists for the different crowds that come throughout the day…and this crowd was a bunch of meatheads. So we had a blast jamming to a bunch of throwback rap and some angry hip hop and definitely altered the mood of the gym from an intimidating muscle flexing competition to a goofy dance party. Something I like to think we’re pretty good at.

Z’s boyfriend, Steve, got here this week! He’s great and I approve. So all of you that are asking who the gorgeous Latin girl in my Snapchat stories is, back off.

After a week of intense practice, we beat Lugano in 3. It was a really fun game – the crowd was super into it, we won pretty handedly, everyone was crushing it, etc. Games like that are one of the top 5 reasons I love playing. I am going to reveal my volleynerd side (let’s be real, it’s not ever really hidden) and say that it was a beautiful game to be a part of.

We went to Gigi’s parents’ house one night and Monika drove us. We were supposed to follow Gigi there since we didn’t know the way and it’s kind of hard to find. We followed her car until it pulled into this random parking lot that was nowhere near houses of any kind, only to discover that the woman who got out of the car was not Gigi. We were late to dinner. Gigi thinks we’re idiots. We are idiots.

Thea’s birthday was last Friday. She turned 20, which she is convinced is entirely different than 19 and that her life has completely changed for the worse bc now she has to get her shit together and be an adult. I told her that I am 22 and in no way do I have my shit together and no one has told me that I’m a terrible person yet. The team went to dinner at a pizza/pasta restaurant downtown after practice and I had to roll myself home I was so full.

On Saturday, Thea, Martina, and I went to Lausanne to do some shopping. We went to a couple of stores but the best one by far was Pull + Bear. I essentially tried on the entire store. I walked out with some kickass shoes and a t-shirt. Serious self-control.

Yesterday we went to Zurich to play Volero. We lost in a quick whirlwind of 3 sets. I almost dug Foluke. I did dig Mammadova which was preeeeeeetty freaking cool (trying to find bright spots in a rough game). We play them again in a few weeks and I think we’re all looking forward to another chance at them.

Z’s boyfriend made dinner for us tonight after practice. I walked out of my room to a display of bread and cheeses and literally whimpered. It was so beautiful. I love cheese. After crushing two baguettes, the main course of lentils and sausage was ready. As soon as he set it down in front of me, I flipped the fork out of the bowl, which caused steaming hot lentils to fling onto my lap/legs/face/the walls. I seriously almost screamed but after already embarrassing myself with the action itself, I worked really hard to remain calm. (This reminds me of the time I got a third degree burn on my thigh from oatmeal) We cleaned it up and they kindly proceeded as normal. Now I am full, happy, and ready for our game against Luzern tomorrow!

Random Things:

1. The men’s basketball assistant coach offered me $100 to dab after I score a point. I cannot do it. I cannot. I’m not that cool and I make too much fun of people that do things like that. But $100 is a lot of groceries…

2. Happy birthday to Callie Farmakis!!! If I had to sum Callie up in 3 words they would be: BravoTV, farts, and fierce. The girl is a walking box of contradictions. Callie has love pouring out of her all the time and it makes her a fantastic person and an incredible friend. Also just thinking of all the embarrassing shit I could write makes me laugh really really hard. Hope you had a blast, dude. Tons of love from Switzerland.

3. Carole and Mic and I got coffee today and we are officially going to Milan next weekend and I am PUMPED to shop y’all.

4. KYLE GILBERT GOT ENGAGED. (Fittingly enough, Kyle and Callie both think farts are hilarious) Anyways, Kyle is getting married to Wayne Taylor. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for them. Selfishly, I'm excited for that wedding bc all my friends will be there and it's going to be so fun. I better be invited..........if you do that "only immediate family" thing I will not be pleased. I ship Gogurt and my main man Wayner so hard, let me come to your wedding.

5. Crepe party part 2 happened. Self-control did not happen. Rolled myself home, once again.

6. Mic’s mom and dad left and I am now counting down the days until Z’s mom and dad come for Thanksgiving. I like having parents around.

7. Holy crap, fall went fast. It is winter. I don’t care what you say Filipe, it is cold as shit. I am about to spend so much money on beanies and scarves and leg warmers. Someone send me an electric blanket. I am in for it.