Ringing in the New Year

I rang in the new year with Jake by my side on the bed in myfather's house in Switzerland. My sister, her family and my fathers were all celebrating in the other room having champagne. They asked me to join them three hours earlier but I declined. I always ring in the new year the same way, in bed. I may be wake on my laptop but I am always in bed. Why? The same reason my sister won't work on Groundhog's day. Superstitions. Mine is about starting off the new year as I always do not to jinx myself. My sister's is because she doesn't want to end up like Bill Murray in the move Groundhog's day and have to go to work over, and over, and over again. However, this marked only the second time I've celebrated the beginning of a new year in Europe. The last time I did that was 2012, and that was an interesting year. Of course, I did graduate from veterinary school in 2012 so maybe I have something going for me. 

Jake and I boarded a plane in Omaha, Nebraska on December 22, 2014 and landed in Switzerland on the 23rd. This was the first time I've traveled with Jake, and the second time I traveled on TPN. The first time was for the Primary Immune Deficiency Advocacy Day in May, and that was in D.C. ThriveRx, my infusion company, will ship my supplies anywhere in the U.S when I travel. So that wasn't an issue. However, international travel was a different story. I was set up with Clinimix E, a shelf stable TPN, the additives I needed and for it. Getting me, and my supplies proved more challenging than I thought. However I will save that story for another day. 

Jake traveled well on the plane. His first flight was from Omaha to Chicago, and that one was interesting. He wasn't sure what was going on. However on the long flight he acted like an old hat. He got a good potty break in Chicago before we boarded for Zurich, and he didn't go again until we got to my Dad's house. On the way back we had to make a sprint through customs and to the service dog relief area (thankfully it was indoors right next to the gate I needed). We came very close to missing our flight. Thankfully my sister and her family got to the plane and told them I was coming just before I got there. The person at the desk said "there she is!" when I showed up. 

United gave us 1h20m to get through customs and onto the plane. Not. Enough. Time. I spent a good portion of the flight from Zurich to Dulles puking. And since I didn't get a chance to settle down and relax, take zofran, and settle my stomach before getting on the next plane I managed to pull a first for me. I puked on a plane, in my seat, and didn't have an air sickness bag. Twice, actually. The second time I kept most of it in, but a good portion came out my nose. EMBARRASSING. I couldn't get off that plane fast enough. 

We also pulled a first when we got to Omaha. I called, booked a hotel room, got on a shuttle and stayed in a hotel with Jake. I was praying for no access issues at that time and thankfully didn't have any. We stayed in a hotel for service dog camp, but they knew what was up. This place didn't bat an eye. I was very happy.