Friday, January 18, 2008

Friday Flashback: Box Of Random Photos Edition...

I rediscovered a box of random photos this week. Actually, I'm not really sure why these photos aren't in one of our many photo albums, but...whatever. Suddenly, while looking through the photos, it suddenly dawned on me that I was in possession of a treasure-trove of Friday Flashback material.

How lucky!

This past week was a "car" week for me. First, I had to book a Mobility car for only the second time since we sold our car three months ago in order to bring King to the vet. Then, the next day we received a letter from our insurance company regarding the refund of our car insurance for the period from October 15 - December 31st. And last but not least - I finally canceled our parking spot contract.

And why did I wait three months to finally cancel our parking spot, you ask?

Here's the reason why: LAZINESS!!!

First of all, let me say that we have to give three months' notice in order to cancel our parking spot (that's Switzerland for you!). Seeing that we sold the car right before going to Japan, I couldn't really be bothered with writing a short letter in German and sending it to our landlord, so I just put it off until November. Then November came around before I knew it and I came up with the excuse that we would just keep the parking spot during the cold winter months so that our friends could park in our building rather than having to park in the street when coming to visit us. Although it appears like I was being a good friend, the truth of the matter is that I was just being lazy, and didn't feel like spending the five minutes to type a short letter in German.

You see how little things become BIG things when one doesn't work?

After returning from Paris on Christmas Day, I decided to finally take the bull by the horns and I sat down and spent the five minutes typing the letter. Unfortunately, it was at this point that I also looked our parking contract over and realized that one of the first lines states that we are prohibited from canceling the contract during the month of December (rules...RULES!!!!). So, I put it off until January...

Finally, this week, I brought the letter to the landlord's office. Yes, I could have mailed it, but as punishment for my laziness I decided that I would go in person and hand deliver the stinkin' thing. And, that's what I did.

"Cancel parking contract" has now been crossed off of my (very short) Things To Do list. After April 30th, friends, you're all going to be parking in the street!

How fitting then that I discovered this picture in the box of random photos. I'm not really sure when it was taken - maybe 2001 or 2002. Perry and Renee (the bro- and sis-in-law) had been in Basel for a visit, but it was time to head back to Chicago and the suitcases were packed in the back of the old Jeep waiting for all to be chauffeured back to Zürich Airport.

Right before leaving, they asked Mrs. TBF to snap a photo of them posing in front of the Jeep looking all sad about the fact that their vacation was nearing its end. Naturally, recognizing the potential for photographic gold when I saw it (sorry, folks...it's instinct and it can't be taught), I jumped into the photo a split second before the shutter clicked after mustering up my best look of euphoria about the fact that they were (finally) leaving!

I guess it's not too far off the look I had when I sold the Jeep.

3 comments:

CanadianSwiss said...

Hey! Wait a minute... we always parked on the street!

BTW, I'll get rid of my car, too. It's just standing in the garage and I can't remember the last time I filled-up fuel.

Unknown said...

i wish i could say silence was laziness but it's not. Anyhow, thanks for the great pic, that was a laugh and a half!

Michael Lehet said...

My friends never want to play along with my photographic fun!!!! I love the pix