Yeah, I'm still here

Okay, so I'm experiencing the 1.5 month hump, as it seems to be known by world travelers and expats (or at least among my friends) - that time, when back in the States, friends and family are enjoying the all-American aspects of fall: the World Series, football, spectacularly-colored leaves, and of course, Halloween - and I'm, at various moments, wishing I could be partaking in those experiences.

But, I do have a number of minute updates, which are, perhaps, worthy of note:

1. I received a Swiss social security card. While handing me the envelope, my boss explained that once I turn 65 I'll be "rolling in the dough" (okay, he didn't phrase it quite like that).

2. I have a Swiss bank account. Yeah, I know! And it's with UBS... which I initially chose because I was thinking, "Hey, we have UBS in the States, maybe I could just put money in as CHF and withdraw it in the US as American dollars!" When I explained this idea to the woman setting up my account, she tried, tactfully, to say that there are laws against that. OH, right. Like the billions of dollars that UBS is paying the US govt. for acting as a tax haven... Oops.

3. I have a nemesis. She is one of the Fraus at the restaurant and she is known by all of my colleagues of comparable age as the "hexe" or witch. Even before I knew they called her that, I actually could hear the theme song of the "wicked witch of the west" from the Wizard of Oz play in my head whenever she arrived. I told this to the other Diana and she looked it up on youtube and agreed. It's not like this woman is a bad person, she's just past due for retirement and insists on antagonizing everyone and treating me as though I am a complete idiot. She also does the flower arrangements for the restaurant every Monday, so I try to compliment her on those - unless of course she is sweetly telling me to set the tables for the personnel dinner 1.5 hours in advance.