WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1^ST AND THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2^ND:

Where in the world did “September” go?? 
Today I left for Grindelwald, Switzerland.  This is a festival that has taken place for many years but the first time I have worked with them on providing the talent.   I have the Tex Mex Experience performing on Friday night and Rick Trevino on Saturday night.  The festival promoters are delighted because the Saturday night is COMPLETELY sold out! 
The weather changed this week.  Last week it was beautiful and in the 50’s/60’s.  This week the highs are in the teens and snow is predicted for Friday.  Thankfully, the event is inside.
I have been to Grindelwald SOOO many times.   It’s a beautiful little village nestled at the base of the Jungfrau.   The Igor towers right in front of you.  I have friends there who own a hotel and usually stop through to say hello to them on my trips from Interlaken up the Igor.  What I remember most about Grindelwald is the year 2000.  I had the Bellamys performing for the “turn of the Century” and everyone was in a panic about the whole Y2K thing (which didn’t happen, of course) and we had several days off there so as not to fly on “D” day.  David’s wife – Susan – wanted to take dog sleds down the Igor.  Supposedly the dogs had already been put up for the winter so the promoter arranged for us to take sleds down instead.   In my mind, I’m thinking we would stand at the top of a small hill, take a quick run down a very short trail, then come back up and do it again.  NOT so.  They gave us these 4 slats of wood with runners on the bottom.  No rope to steer. No brakes to stop.  Then took us waaaaaay up the Igor and set us free.  I prayed for death just to get off the mountain.  Howard almost went over a cliff and but rolled off his sled at the last minute.  The sled went over and hung in a tree.  It took us about 2 ½ hours to get down and Grindelwald – which was our stopping point – never looked so wonderful.  Every time I go up in a train now, I point out the path we took down and am met with the same comment from everyone… “No way.  Are you crazy?”.   Thank you, Susan!  J
So, no sled trips for me this time.  I am flying by myself to Zurich via Washington Dulles.  Had to get up at 4 am to go to the airport at 6:30 am.  NOW I have a 6 hour layover at Dulles.  It was the tiny jet from Nashville to Dulles but weather was pretty.  Have been working on email as if I were in the office for 5 hours now.   Will meet up with Tex Mex when I land.  Then Rick comes in on Friday.
I am determined to stay on my diet and not gain any weight in Switzerland.  Actually going to try and lose a little more.   The Dulles Airport does NOT have a good selection of restaurants.   After hiking the entire length of the terminal, I found one that would make me an omelet.  Went back to the Lounge and worked until time to get on the flight.
Looks like it is a full flight.  Good news is, I got my aisle seat and they did not reconfigure the plane yet so none of the seats faced backwards.   The seat beside me was empty and I was praying it would stay that way. But a guy got on and started talking to a woman a few rows ahead of me.  She was in his seat.  She apologized and started gathering all her stuff.  Then he looked back and saw he would be sitting with me and told her to stay where she was.  Guess he liked me better for a seatmate than the person sitting by her.  
Across the aisle was a guy who sounded like he was from Switzerland and a blonde who sounded like she was from the deep south.  I couldn’t believe some of the comments she made.  She actually asked the flight attendant the difference between champagne and chardonnay.   God Bless the Flight Attendant…she handled it really well and explained the difference.  The guy seemed very intelligent so I sneaked a few glances their way to see what the  “attraction” was….let me tell you…huge hooters!  J
We had a lot of turbulence in flight but landed on time.  Tex Mex Experience got there before me and were already waiting on the bus.  Really nice bus driver who took the scenic route and explained the things they were seeing.  I did not sleep any on the flight over even after getting up at 4 am that morning.  The bus ride was 2 ½ hours and I couldn’t go to sleep on it either.  We stopped for some food but there was very little I could eat.  Ended up with some yogurt and a “sausage” with mustard.  Yum.  J  All the guys are so sweet.   Lindsey had been dealing with “Carol” so I was looking for a female.  Was so embarrassed when I learned it is one of the guys. 
We arrived at the hotel and Thomas – the person I have worked with on the entertainment – was waiting for us.  The hotel is lovely.  I made SURE that the rooms had wireless internet connection.  Not just the lobby.  I usually do not unpack because I’m rarely in one hotel more than a night at a time (or one of Saddam’s palaces!).   Today I unpacked everything and took a shower.  I SHOULD have checked my internet connection first.  No signal.  I had to go sit out in the hall to work.  I called the front desk and their “tech” was out for lunch until 2 pm.   He finally came back and couldn’t understand why there was no signal.  I had a room with a beautiful view overlooking the Jungfrau so I really didn’t want to move.  Not to mention not wanting to pack everything back up!!!!   But, he said there was a room available with a great signal, so I packed up.  Turns out, the “room” is a 2 bedroom suite that takes up the entire top floor.  There is a wraparound balcony with a spectacular view from every angle.  But, what a waste it is on me.  All I care about is an internet connection and a bathroom in my room.  I can sleep on a chair if I can just have those two luxuries.
My friend and promoter from the Interlaken Festival – Iris – took the train over.  Becky Hobbs also stopped by the “suite”.  Iris and I went to the restaurant to have girl talk for hours and I had a salad.  It was wonderful to be able to spend time with her.  Oh, we also discussed next year’s event, too.  J
Thomas invited us all over to his house for a light dinner.  He had turned one of his rooms into a little bar and had lots of cheese, cold meat, bread, etc.  It was a really fun evening for everyone.  Thomas said that he didn’t understand one of the English words in my email.  He said he thought the word was “Hubble”.  He had emailed me that he would not be picking me up at the airport.  I told him about the weather turning so cold by the time we arrived.   I told him, no, that I had teased him that I wouldn’t have anyone to “snuggle” with on the cold ride from the airport to the hotel.  Had to demonstrate to him what snuggle was with one of the musicians.  The guys got a big kick out of that…as did his very pregnant wife. 
Speaking of pregnant, my very pregnant with twins daughter started having pains yesterday.  She is only 27 weeks and is measuring 33 weeks.  She went to the doctor today and was told that her body thinks she is 33 weeks along.  The babies heads are down and she is having contractions.  They gave her some medicine to try and stop the contractions because they want her to wait at least 2 more weeks.  The babies only weigh 2 ½ pounds right now, so I am very worried.  And, of course, I won’t be home until Tuesday night.
Left Thomas’s house after a perfect evening and am still working on email.  It’s 1 am now.  I’ve have been away for almost 30 hours now and I am fried.  Going to get some sleep.  It wasn’t as cold as predicted but started raining tonight.  It might snow tomorrow!!!