I can't find a worthy image for this

I learned a new French idiom today:

"No arms. No chocolate."

I'm not even sure what that means.

But I'm going to start saying it all the time.

Risky Children

Friday night I decided to introduce my kids to Risk (actually it was Lux, a free download). I wasn't super aggressive at first. But my 7-year-old caught on pretty quickly. By the time I decided I needed to take my destiny in my own hands and defend my people, he was already in position to rule the world.

It was like being in a Greek drama where the son returns to dethrone his father.

I am sorry, My People.

Jumping for Jumpers

I received three new sweaters for Christmas. And I have since had a few Australian and British friends tell me they like my jumper. Of all the Queen's English idioms I've heard, I never knew a that "sweaters" were "jumpers."

I know they mean it as a compliment, but I can't hear "What a nice jumper!" without feeling a little humiliated.

Rhapsody in Meat, Vol. 1

You've got to hand it to the Europeans: they know what to do with pigs.

EasyJet Advertising, Part 2

As I've written before, I'm a fan of EasyJet's advertising. Not award-winning or revolutionary. But I look forward to them.

I had to look up where Faro and Heraklion were. I certainly wouldn't have said, "Oh, Faro! Use a mandolin-looking thing for the visual. They play those all the time there."

Maybe it's just because I'm an American.

Watches: DeWitt

I suppose it's hard to be in Geneva this long without starting to think watches are pretty cool. I never gave them much thought, but since I pass at least 20 different watch billboards and posters on my 20-minute commute to work, and another 10 to 15 shop windows with different brands all displayed, I've started to drink the Swiss-made Kool-aid.

Last month, our agency pitched and won the account for DeWitt, a brand I had never heard of, but which produces some pretty amazing pieces. (Count Jerome DeWitt is the owner, and keeps the title Count because he's a descendant of Napoleon's brother.)

Here are a few of my favorite DeWitt pieces. I love the first one with the bike chain.

My Little Sister Goes to Haiti

My sister Liz is a social worker in LA. She's worked in orphanages in Quito and Nairobi. She's been asked to go to Haiti to help displaced orphans.

She needs to raise $2000 within 24 hours to go. If you can spare $10, the details are in this email from Liz:

The group I am going through is Visiting Orphans Org. (visitingorphans.org) They have an orphanage in Haiti - Danita's Children's Home. I will go to Haiti from Jan. 31- Feb. 7 to help gather displaced children and bring them to the orphanage, among other things. I need to raise $2,000 this weekend. There are two ways to donate (all tax deductible) 1st- send a payment through pay pal to david.rathbone@visitingorphans.org or you can go to the Executive Director's blog at http://isaiah49.blogspot.com and click on the CLICK IN link on the main page. Either way make sure to list my name (Elizabeth Alexander). I am really trying to gather donations within the next 24 hours. If people can not donate I would be grateful to just have their prayers!

Ski Season Finally Began

We were finally able to start skiing (good mountain snow was a little late this year).

Just over that hill is a tiny resort we take our kids to in the Jura Mountains. It's not Snowbird or Jackson Hole, but it suits us. And it's pretty awesome to see trains headed to France roll by.