Squishy thoughts

All good things...

2009-05-20T02:38:00.001+02:00

I'm retiring this blog. After 5 years and 1004 posts it just isn't what it was anymore. I haven't been updating properly. I've been censoring myself because I realized there were things that some people who where dropping by here shouldn't read. I'm not saying this is an absolute never ever again thing, that I just couldn't do. I might come back, occasionally, maybe for good, so keep it in your feedreader. But like my blog peep LG I have created a safe haven for my thoughts elsewhere. Where, basically, you specifically and personally are welcome. So write me an email, fb-message, dm on twitter or contact me via kontactr if you want to continue reading my stuff and can handly a little explicit language, thoughts on sex and sexuality etc. I'd be happy to send you the link. For now I say "See ya, Squishy Thoughts", you have served me well, you're loved, and I could never ever destroy you... ever!

mcC xxx

P.S. oh shit, this is harder than I thought it would be :(
edit: P.P.S: maybe I'll keep it for the random stuff? *sigh*

The Banana Paradoxon

2009-05-05T18:17:00.001+02:00

I have an obscure but fairly distinct dislike of ripe bananas. I think I always have had it. The smell alone turns my stomach upside down - to be honest we're talking about near disgust here.

Which is weird.
Because generally, I have nothing against bananas. Sure, I don't eat them all the time and they're definitely not my favourite fruit, but I do enjoy the occasional non-ripe banana. Yes, not ripe. In fact, the greener the better. I think maybe someone some time might have told me that eating green bananas isn't healthy. I might be mistaken in that memory but in any way: I still like my bananas unripe.

Should I decide to by some I can be found roaming the fruit section of the supermarket on my quest to find the perfect green banana. Finn is usually the person behind me saying - with a slightly desperate tinge to her voice: "Honey, I'm pretty certain you won't find a banana in the world greener than that", pointing to the thing under the scrutiny of my probing hands and eyes. She seems to be of the opinion that I'd have to eat a banana still attached to a tree to be content with its ripeness.

However, in a daring attempt to rid our kitchen of those three ugly brown fruit items that have been lying in the fruit basket for oh-too-long I now have a batch of banana/peanut butter cookies in the oven.

I withstood the pungent smell and taste, managing to keep the gagging down to a minimum. Now I am praying the taste of ripeness will be lost in the heat or the other ingredients will overpower it. I'm certainly willing to give them a chance, after all there's chocolate chips in them. And if I don't like - Finn will surely be grateful for an abundance of cookies. She's a lot less picky where I am going bananas...

Edit: recipe link.

LF Gamer Name

2009-04-21T09:55:00.002+02:00

Much like Finn has asked you to help her decide between her chars, I am now asking you to help me find a gamer name for me. I'm planning to use it for registration on any games network and later on even as an xBox gamer tag (I realise I'm probably going to have to add numbers to it though).

So here are three choices I'm asking you to rate, but please feel free to add any other name you can think off incl. reasons why it would fit with me in the comments section (or within the poll if you don't feel comfortable commenting).

Come along with me - across the Danube

2009-04-09T11:24:00.000+02:00

Today was the first day I rode my bike to work. I even managed to find a way that lets me stay mostly on bike paths, so I don't have to deal with crazy car traffic. And although I am sweating profusely while basically crossing half the city the view when riding across the Danube in late morning light totally makes up for it.

The water park on the "other" side of the Danube.

what a monday - meme time

2009-04-06T10:17:00.000+02:00

Since for the first time the weather is making me feel less gloomy about work I decided to match my mood with an edition of manic monday for once. But before we go there I'd like to preserve the following for the interwebs-eternity:

Manic Monday #162

How often do you change your toothbrush?
As often as I can remember to buy one. When it's starting to look a bit frazzled I make a point of trying to get to the shop. Then it usually take me about 2 weeks to actually follow through with it ;)

What is your favorite item of clothing to shop for?
Since I absolutely HATE shopping for clothes I have to say shoes. Works fast and almost always makes me happy, for example when I find a pair of these.

Do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)? Which do you use most often?
I mostly use Twitter and Facebook, and Xing in a professional context. I detest flickr but use it if and when it serves a purpose.

She's damn worth my 1000th post

2009-03-28T09:24:00.000+01:00

This is my 1000th post. 4 years, 1000 posts, who knows how many words. I've been wondering for a while now what my 1000th post would be, should be. But all my careful planning just went out the window, because last night I saw Vienna Teng in concert at Porgy & Bess.

It was honestly the best concert I have been to. Ever. She even managed to get the whole room to sing with her - and sound good! Finn's theory is that the 1st district crowd is posh enough to know to shut up when they can't sing. She herself was being smart and kept out of the mix but I was singing along. And I loved it. It was such a once in a lifetime experience: Vienna Teng, an acoustic guitar, a cello and a whole room singing along with her, some even harmonizing successfully. It felt beautiful, a truly amazing end to an amazing concert.

I was also quite moved by the crowd's positive reaction to Teng's song 'City Hall' (which is about gay marriage). Now, maybe they didn't understand the lyrics, there's always that chance, but they were clapping and wooing and I kept thinking 'If this whole room is pro gay marriage maybe we do stand a chance here in this country that I'm so often ranting about'.

There's something about Vienna Teng... she completely commands the stage with her presence and this faszinating voice of hers. She's one of those people whose music works ten times better live. I had tried listening to her latest album prior to the concert, but I ended up always clicking past it on my iPod. It got to the point where I was wondering if it was a good idea to go to her concert when I wouldn't even listen to her songs on my headphones. Yeah... well, turns out she's not headphone material if you're not prepared to turn up the volume and ruin your ears, but damn, she's good in concert where her music profits immensly from the acoustics a small jazz club offers. Where you hear the nuances and little things that are hopelessly lost on the iPod with its crappy sound quality.

What I also appreciated about Vienna Teng is that she seems approachable, down to earth, a bit nerdy even. She was very shy while giving autographs after the show, but was very talkative on stage. That I like. I love the little bits some artists tell the audience about their songs, and Vienna Teng intricately weaves a net in which to embed her songs. Now that I have seen her live I'm pretty sure I'm going to be listening to her CDs a lot. With my headphones on full volume even if I have to...

Go look at this, but remember that the video doesn't do justice to the way the music fills the room at a concert. If you can manage, you should really go see her live.

btw L. - Vienna Teng's in Carinthia tonight. Maybe you should get your hubby to babysit and go see her :)

Writer's block sucks

2009-03-02T18:54:00.000+01:00

It's been a while. I'm sitting on the couch enjoying what is soon to be twilight, with a nice cup of coffee. That's been a while as well so I'm enjoying that as well. A lot actually. I have some music on. Basically, I'm having me some alone time hoping to get my creative juices flowing.

I feel kinda out of touch with myself lately. I've tried to get back in touch as well, as the past couple of posts on this blog document. They mostly start with "It's been a while" and end with promises to get writing again. Yeah... so much for that.

I don't exactly know what I've been caught up with. Loads of different shit. I'm still working out work - it's been three months and I'm just now fully settling in, finding my place, my co-workers are getting used to there being another person now, a woman even, and I'm finding ways to get my opinions heard. We've shifted my schedule from two 8-hour days (+ 4 hours at home if a journalist needs something) to three 6-hour days (+2 at home). This was initially my idea because I felt a bit like an outsider, and I'm very happy with the result. I think my boss and co-workers are too. This way I'm a lot more "plugged in", get more of a feeling for what's going on at the job, know what projects to expect. I also asked to be included in meetings and that helps a lot too.

But I'm only working 20 hours so that's no excuse for not writing. I've been spending quite a lot of time playing World of Warcraft. I know, I know, addiction danger yadda yadda. But I'm sitting here writing right now and not playing so shut up about it already :) The game still is this fresh new thing for us. And since we're playing together most of the time it's not exactly an unsocial thing. It is however a reason for being out of touch with myself.

I've also gotten a bit internet weary these days. Facebook, Twitter, reading blogs - I woke up one day and it had all turned into this big obligation. I had to check Facebook and lost hours on twitter every morning. Hell, even at work I caught myself spending an hour on the damn interwebs before getting any work done. And my feedreader... well, I'm a bit OCD when it comes to this shit, which means that unread feeds make me nervous. I like my feedreader all clean and empty. So I had to learn to let it go and let the damn feeds unread. And even though it sometimes makes me uneasy to look at the bulk of unread items in my Google reader I'm managing to only read something when I'm really in the mood for it.

Of course this also means that I'm hopelessly behind on all blogs and probably haven't noticed you have a new job/had a birthday/got married/had a baby (actually, I do think I'm up to date on all the new babies in my blogsphere) and even more likely haven't congratulated you on it. Sorry about that. So... I decided to "quit" the internet. Well, not actually quit quit, I'm not nuts yet. But I decided to not do the social media thing when I don't want to. And for now this is working fine for me.

So we have work and WoW and the interwebs. What else... ah yes, that tiny little matter called writer's block. To me writer's block was always something I associated with creative writing. Couldn't write a single poem? Writer's block. Couldn't write a novel? Life-long writer's block. But it's not something I ever connected to journalistic writing - heck that's partly why I became a journalist! I get stuck with my creative writing but I figured there's always going to be topics to write about for the media. Granted I was always a bit worried about actually finding those topics that other journos always claimed where lying on the street. It turns out I'm not that bad at finding things to write about, in fact, the list of topics in my Outlook tasks is immensly long.But surprisingly I can't seem to get them down on that virtual paper called MS Word. I've never ever experienced this before. Ever. I was always able to write. But these days I... I don't know. I did write a couple of articles lately, but nowhere even near the amount I could've written (and earned money for). If there's some pressure I'm fine, then I'll just end up doing it somehow. But no pressure - no write.

What's worked is a trick I found via The Golden Pencil. I wrote my last article shortly before going to bed, when I was dead tired, and ended up getting it done in about half an hour plus an hour of editing the next day instead of taking 3+ hours to get the damn thing down on paper, which is probably how long it would've taken had I been fully awake and editing myself right away. I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and do a couple of graveyard shifts.

It also helps that I'm being by myself this afternoon. I love having Finn at home, but she's been sick with sinusitis for about 10 days and I didn't really manage to squeeze in any me-time for a while. This afternoon with my cup of coffee was exactly the right thing for me. I might actually manage to make the changes I have been planning to make now: Write more again, finally read the about eight non-fiction books I've let slide while plowing through tons of urban fantasy novels and slightly sappy science fiction crime stories.

Speaking of changes: I've decided to quit my membership at Shinergy Zone - because frankly, I'm not using it anyway. The people there are indeed to posh and stick-up-their-ass for me. And considering how much I'm paying I'm not happy with what I get for my money. Idiotic timing - the classes are from about 9 to 11 a.m. and pick up again at 6 p.m., for € 80 a month I expect there to be classes all fucking day long. They have still not managed to install a proper ventilation system and I'm not happy about sweating with about 20 other people in a stuffy room. And the showers seriously suck too.

Instead I've decided to try some new stuff. I might end up paying more in the end if I decide to do a bunch of different things instead of doing it all in one studio but at least I'll be getting something for my money. Tomorrow night I'm starting the dance-experiment. I have this theory which is actually more like a fact than a theory: I can't dance. But I'm willing to prove myself wrong so I'm going to go to a hip hop dance class tomorrow night. I'll then decide if I want to continue it for the whole semester. I'm also going to try out a different martial art, Wing Chun, on Thursday to see how that will go.

As soon as it's a bit warmer again I'll take the bike to work again. And to university which is starting next week. I've decided to do two courses (assuming I get in), that should be enough right now. If I get the feeling that I can easily handle some more I'll do more next semester.

Oh... I think I've run out of things to write. But since I'm getting close to the 1000th post of this blog I have been planning to get started on a couple of more insightful if not to say more meaningful posts.

Manic Monday

2009-02-17T15:43:00.000+01:00

humor me, play along

Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find the most difficult to give up for the rest of your life?
Carbohydrates, probably. Carbs are a magnificent thing - one that I should definitely cut down on ;)

Which month of the year do you thing best describes your personality?
Like LG I'm going to have to say September. I just love late summer/early autumn. Leaves beginning to change colour, the light is changing too. Indian summers are so fucking beautiful to me.

If you could be a contestant on any game show, past or present, which show would you pick?
I really don't know, I don't watch game shows (except American Gladiators, but that wouldn't work with my lack of discipline)... it would have to be one where I could win a shitload of money though :)

And I thought the glass ceiling would be an issue...

2009-02-12T18:48:00.036+01:00

Face first. Full speed.
That's how I ran into a glass door when leaving work.

See, the door is evil. It is already responsible for a couple of other crashes of my co-workers. And today it claimed me. A colleague of mine sent out a memo yesterday that we should try to save money (and the earth) by turning lighs off and door closed to keep the warmth in. So when I left work I turned off the lights in my office and walked towards the exit. Unfortunately, it was so dark that I didn't see that the door in front of me was closed. I realised however that this was the case when my nose hit the glass.

My teeth are still ringing. My nose is swollen (it's not like it wasn't big enough to begin with). And I feel a little worn down by pain, shock and humiliation. But my head doesn't hurt and I don't feel sick. So I decided not to go to the hospital but to make myself feel better with Grammelknödeln, Coca Cola and ice cream. I hope my food is ready soon. Am hungry and in dire need of comfort. I'll just crash on the couch and watch some brainless TV.

I sure hope the swelling goes down. Got no ointments here for that. Just ice packs.
OK, I just called my mum to ask her to bring me some traumeel. Do I feel less grown up now? Maybe. But that stuff really works wonders. I was basically using it daily as a kid, even back then I always managed to constantly bump into things.

Journalists utilizing social media

2009-02-06T19:27:00.012+01:00

Just some quick cross-promo (hey, it's not everyday someone asks me questions and not the other way round): fellow twitterer @hksully mentioned me and many other journos in this recent post. Head on over and check it out! Like, right NOW ;) /end of shameless promo

I once was lost... in a spice shop

2009-02-06T17:29:00.062+01:00

Oh man! I should have know I was on a dangerous endeavor, but ever since it opened (about two months ago) I've wanted to head downtown to that spice & cookbook shop. I stopped by today after visiting Finn at the office to bring her some coffee and a bagel (because that's how good a girlfriend I am). The shop was right on my way home so I went in - and got stuck there for about an hour I think.

I originally only wanted to buy some curry powder, and maybe some cumin. By no means was I planning to get a cookbook. Because I don't know where to put my collection as is. But then I saw all those cookbooks, rows of books stretching from mediterranean to middle east to creole. I didn't even glance at the Austrian cookbooks because that's just not my cup of tea. And since I'm having a harder time each week finding recipes to cook for dinner, which don't take forever, are somewhat healthy and of course tasty, I figured why not buy one. I was going for Morrocan, leafed through a couple of those but couldn't really settle on one. Some had no pictures at all but unfortunately pictures are what triggers my appetite/willingness to try something. I know that the foods on the fotos are not really food but that's just how I work. Other's were not written in a manner I liked; for me it's gotta be fast, if I want to read I'll grab a fiction book. Other's were simply just not up to par. But damn, the variety!

I drifted further and further from the middle eastern food section and suddenly I was reaching for a book on carribean cuisine. Not usually what I go for, given the climate difference between here and there... but I swear this one was calling to me somehow.

Considering I'm a person who knows buyer's remorse quite well I decided to give the other Caribbean books a chance as well but after leafing through those I was still sure the first one was the one. So I grabbed it. Over all this took me probably about half an hour.

Then I went to collect my spices: grabbed some cumin, garam masala, and two curries: fiji and colombo (I barely refrained from buying the ceylon blend on top the other two). I was already on the way to the checkout when I saw this:

... and all I did was open in on two or three pages, glance at the price and take it with me! Just like that. *facepalm* But thank god I spent 30 minutes on selecting the other book... I still haven't had time to look through it properly because I basically just came home, looked at the Caribbean one and wrote this blog post. But I think my rash decision might have been a good one anyway.

The other book certainly look gorgeous, I can tell you that so far. The recipes are Sylvie Clément who came from France to Guadeloupe 20 years ago and built a life there with her husband Georgeand her five sons. Literally built it, since George is a carpenter and built all the little huts of their holiday village Tendacayou with his very own hands. The pictures are beautiful and I'm really looking forward to trying them out - though most of them will probably have to wait til summer, when I'll be thankful for this type of cuisine.

This girl wants the corner office

2009-02-04T10:53:00.052+01:00

I should be writing my article about university drop outs right now, because it's due today. However, I can't even remotely concentrate on it before I get the following off my chest. Then I'll write the article and then I'll probably read "Nice girls don't get the corner office 101. Unconscious mistakes women make that sabotage their career". That book's been lying around here for a while now, since Finn bought and read it about half a year ago. I never felt like reading it, because I never felt the need for it. Now I do.

The thing is, I've never been much of a feminist. In fact, for a very long time I was quite "appaled" by feminism because - at least in the german speaking world - it shows itself mostly in the destruction of language. And while I get that sometimes language is discrimination I'm still a big fan of language and I don't very much appreciate it being destroyed in utterly idiotic ways (for all my german speaking readers: I hate the way some people substitute "mensch" or "frau" for "man", that's just plain stupid).

My other reason for not immediately taking to feminism is a much more understandable one. It's simply that I never needed to. I was never personally confronted with any injustice based on gender. Sure, I encountered resistance at my very straightforward, direct way of dealing with things and people. I'm naturally assertive and people don't tend to like that. I had a hard time accepting this but somehow it never occured to me that it might not just be me. That it might partly have to do with the fact that I don't have a dick.

Now that I'm working in a field that is typically dominated by men (e-sports, gaming) I'm beginning to - more consciously - understand the things that set men and women apart in a work environment. And I'm disgusted. For some reason I have to constantly prove myself. For some reason if I make an honest mistake it is treated like this big thing. For some reason the guys are constantly allowed to make mistakes, no questions asked.

I have to work my way through every door - literally, because they simply get shut in my face, when I'm not invited to participate in meetings, not getting the code for the door to the "inner sanctum" that is the office where they guys are. Now, I do get that I'm the new girl and that they won't immediately trust me with access to everything, but the emphasis does seem to be that I'm the new girl. I get the feeling that were I a man I'd have that code already - and had they not given it to me freely I'd probably have asked for it and then received it. If I were a man, that is.

So it seems that for most of my life I've been on the right path by being assertive. Unfortunately, I was then taught to be less so, to be more socially acceptable, to be less me. And now, for fear of offending someone I'm keeping my mouth shut, secretly seething with anger. But the thing is, I'm not just a girl. I'm a woman and I'm (I gotta be) capable of speaking up for myself. I'm going to have to get not less but even more assertive if I want them to respect me. And while I still condemn that I have to do more than a man to earn respect for who I am and what I do, I'm still going to have to do it if I'm heading for that corner office.

It's possible that I might be going completely crazy

2009-01-29T19:14:00.034+01:00

I'm a sorry, weepy mess.
I don't know why, but I just came home and had a good cry.
Actually... I do know why, but it's embarassing and idiotic and I feel stupid about it.
The thing is.. I'm really bad at being away from Finn. Like, away away. Far away. It's not that I don't appreciate and need time for myself and respect the same thing for Finn. It's that I'm always horribly worried something might happen to her.

So today was the going-away-revelations-day. First, my trip to Cologne in August became a surefire thing - I'll be away for about four days. Then Finn called to tell me she'll be going on a business trip to London about two weeks from now - and we started to make plans for me to go with her so we could extend the trip and spend Valentine's day's weekend there. But then everything fell through because her sister can't look after the bunnies. So I will be staying here while she's on a plane - which I hate. And next week(end) I have to go to Budapest to see my grandma. I love her and want to visit her, but it's always such a drag to get there with all the striking in Hungary. Away again.

Now that I've written this down it doesn't seem like such a big deal. I know it's such co-dependent bullshit but I can't help myself. I guess it's just that everything came all at once today. Just too much. So... I remain reduced to the abovementioned sorry, weepy mess.

It's meme time again

2009-01-25T11:56:00.001+01:00

I have a really bad conscience about not blogging properly. Here's me trying to make up for it:
Saw this over on at LG's.
Rules: Take the list (copy and paste to notepad - it will remove all bold and italic formatting). Copy list back to Word or whatever where you then bold the items you’ve done. Don’t bold items you haven’t done.

1. Started your own blog (duh)
2. Slept under the stars (I'm planning to. Slight bug issues to be resolved first.)
3. Played in a band (Briefly, practice only. Didn't quite work out, but I had a lot of fun nonetheless.)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (Being Austrian I probably did, but I honestly can't remember. I definitely was on mountains in order to ski down on them, so yeah.)
9. Held a praying mantis (have I... mentioned... *gasp*... the bug issues?)
10. Sang a solo (See question #3)
11. Bungee jumped (head down - no good - bleargh!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Considering how much I eat and how likely I am to try new things - probably yes)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Unfortunately I've still not been to NY *grumble*)
18. Grown your own vegetables (Dad and I were never quite successful at this, but at least we tried. Usually the snails won though)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Interrail will do that to you)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (I'm crazy but not that crazy)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Noooooo, never!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (I'm a maverick ;)
27. Run a Marathon (Ha haha ha... have you looked at me?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (I think when I was very little. I definitely haven't when I went to Venice the second time.)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (The only two times a day the bastard can't hurt me)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (I'd love to though)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Finn and I had a brief period of trying to teach ourselves ASL a couple of years back)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (I'm not an artsy person but that was a very awesome moment in my life.)
41. Sung karaoke (I love karaoke. Unfortunately I don't have any friends who do too.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (Again, I'd love to go.)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (I hate to say it but: totally overrated.)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I was just accompanying Finn, doesn't make it the experience any better though.)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (In between getting ushered in and out again... the crowds are absolutely crazy!)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I went snorkeling. I'd love to try scuba diving but it's just too risky with all the inner ear issues I had as a child.)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (I'm realising that freelance journalism is just that though)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Needles? Where are the needles? GAAAAAAH!)
65. Gone sky diving (This is totally on my to-do list as well)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (not exactly an emotional highlight in my life since my grandmother was interned in Auschwitz during WWII...)
67. Bounced a check (checks are not really in use here, but I've had a big fat minus on my account.)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (See question #17)
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem (It's such an amazing place but it can be very strange and humbling to stand on a market and eat your falafel pretty much exactly on the spot where a bomb exploded only weeks earlier)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (Bylines make me a lot happier)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (I'd really love to though, especially now.)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (Possibly, probably not. There was someone with anorexia, pretty bad case. I like to think that I managed to help her get help.)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (only Austrian "celebrities")
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (But I did float in the Dead Sea.)
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Blogging on-the-go

2009-01-09T13:46:00.001+01:00

First the good news: There's a list of topics I want blog about. Long content-filled posts. The kind that faithful readers like. The bad news: I don't get to write them, not yet.

I have been swamped with work lately. And when i'm not actually working I just want to hang out on the couch and switch my brain off. Right now i'm on my way to a gaming event the company I work for is hosting. It's what we've been working on these past weeks. Tomorrow as well.

I'm looking forward to taking it easier next week, at least that's what I was planning on. By now I'm convinced that I have been postponing so many tasks and meetings to just-not-this week that I'm going to be even busier once this 2-day event is in the past.
I have a ton of articles to research and write and I promised a couple of ppl to meet them come january.
I'll also have to organise my getting back to studying, re-apply for uni, get someone to help me with my taxes, tell social security that my working circumstances have changed, start working out again etc. etc.

Come to think of it, next week doesn't exactly sound slow to me. But what terrifies me most of course is the exercise part of it...

OK... Almost there. Keep your fingers crossed for loads of media attention at our event, please.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

How "going back..." in the new year is a good thing!

2009-01-01T23:17:00.000+01:00

The new year that has just begun is bringing a lot of change. The timing, however, is purely coincidental.

I'm going back to university. Even though I swore only a couple of months ago never to study again I've apparently been toying with the idea for a while now. Mostly subconsciously, I wasn't fully aware of the process. I had been thinking about getting an MA in the UK or the US, sometime in the distant future, when I'd have the money to do it. That was an "If-when-then" plan. I don't know how and when it turned into an idea for the present. Actually I do, I was thinking that going back to uni would make me eligible for public transport student tickets (which are much much cheaper)... but somehow that turned into an honest desire to learn something again.

So I found myself making a call to the university student information desk last week asking about tuition fees. It turns out that the old new government actually delivered on their promise to take them off the table. Of course Austrian tuition was way below what an American or British university would charge - but those were still 400 Euro per term a lot of people couldn't afford.

To go into my opinion on the issue of free access to higher education, university fees and numerus clausus would take some time - especially since I can see and understand all sides of this. But right now I am happy and thankful that I do not have to pay money to continue my education. The way things are now someone going for an MA doesn't have to pay if they stay within the minimum study period of two years plus 2 so-called "tolerance semesters". If they take longer than that because they're working part-time or full-time they can request to continue their studies without tuition fees even beyond that.

So my job would make me eligible for that. My only problem: The University of Vienna doesn't offer an MA program for communications/journalism - not yet, maybe not ever... who knows? By the time I found out about this little issue I was already invested in the idea of studying something though and decided to simply follow up my "Magister" (Austrian degree, between BA and MA, takes four years, a thesis and a final theiss exam) with a BA.

So beginning in March I'm going to be student of political science. This has been a long way coming actually, with my interest in the topic continually rising. And I'm definitely looking forward to using my head that way. I still have to clear it with my boss but given that I only work 20 hours a week it really shouldn't be a problem if I'm attending classes on my days off. I could still be flexible in emergencies, as longs as work would mainly affect courses that don't require attendance.

So take that, 2009! I'm totally gonna kick ass :)
At least I'm terribly exited about trying to do so.

Anyone else got big plans for the new year?

The new year and Carrie Fisher (again)

2008-12-29T14:28:00.000+01:00

Just another ...

OK. Now that I have successfully gotten that terrible song stuck in your head, I'll diligently answer this year's last Manic Monday questions. And resolve to do it more often come 2009 :)

What is the biggest mistake you made in 2008 and will not make again in 2009?
Choosing the wrong thesis advisor. That idiot basically fucked up my whole schedule. The chances of me writing another thesis already next year are very slim, but I'll try choosing work partners in general more carefully. Plus: I'm gonna make the best of that thesis and try to win a contest with it. Seriously.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?
I usually decide not to but end up having a couple of "I should"s anyway. If only to make myself feel better about my failures of the past year - "Forget 20XX, 20XY is going to be way different anyway!"

Who do you nominate as “Man or Woman of the Year” for 2008?
Carrie Fisher, because she's talking openly about mental health issues and addiction while being funny. She also gets brownie points for titling her autobiography/stand-up routine Wishful Drinking. That's beyond ingenious. Take that, Angelina Jolie. No wait, Angie! That doesn't mean I don't love you anymore!

What was your greatest accomplishment in 2008?
As lame as it sounds: Finishing university. Actually I'm thinking about going back for a second degree now. Nevermind that I swore never to go back to uni again...

I think this would be a good moment (before I either forget or don't get around to it in time) to say: HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! I wish you lots of good and may you stay healthy and content in 2009.

Christmas past

2008-12-27T18:14:00.000+01:00

I was bad. I didn't mean to leave my blog unattended for so long, but I've kind of been wrapped up in work and Christmas. I really wanted to wish ya'll a merry Christmas before the event, but I kinda got stuck in my kitchen... I hope you all had a nice couple of days and spent them nicely whomever you wanted to spend them with. What did you do for Christmas and did you have a good time? Any cool presents? :)

I actually had a really nice time. Finn and I had my parents over for dinner on the 24th. Actually, it was more like a roast... I had decided to make turkey for the first time in my life and turned to Nigella Lawson's book Feast. I ended up making maple-roasted turkey, lemony beans, parsnips, roast potatoes and sweet potatoes & marshmallows. And it was good! My mom's still over-the-moon about my food three days later and even my finicky father liked what I cooked.

Then we spent the 25th with Finn's family, whose grandparents behaved... considerably well. And on the 26th we basically curled up at home, sleeping in, stuffing ourselves with leftovers, watching The West Wing, finishing the last season of Angel and playing Lego: Batman - which I got for Christmas from my baby and which is an awesome game by the way, probably even better than Lego: Star Wars :)

We managed to go out to restock our fridge today (that brining turkey sure took up a lot of space pre-roast) and are now back on the couch watching Out at the Wedding (meh). I don't think I'm going to do a lot more tomorrow. Another day off before I have to go back to work on Monday... *sigh*

Carrie Fisher is hilarious - again.

2008-12-10T19:26:00.000+01:00

I mentioned Carrie Fisher's book Wishful Drinkin a while back. The book arrived a couple of days ago (while I was still engrossed in Poison Sleep). I was planning to read it after getting through my PR for dummies book, but now I'm seriously tempted to just crack it open right away and spend the next two or three days laughing my ass off.

And here's why:

In need of some christmas cheer

2008-12-08T19:30:00.003+01:00

Oh great, it must be THAT time of the year again - someone in my family is dying. Last November my grandfather suddenly died. This year's it's my father's first wife who's in the hospital and, apparently, dying. She went in for an operation at the beginning of October, to have a tumor in her asophagus removed. Everything went absolutely fine and she would've recovered perfectly were she not anorexic. This woman has had an eating disorder for 25 years and is now down to about 27 kg. She's dying of frickin' undernourishment, or physical weakness or I don't know what. The doctors say it's a question of days.

Now my father's first wife - that's not exactly traditional family. But her and my mother have been friends for a very long time, and occasionally I'd have even considered her friends with my father. To me she's kind of an aunt, who used to look after me a lot whenever my parents were on business trips (which used to be quite frequently the case). As a kid I used to hate her of course, because my child's mind couldn't grasp the idea that my father used to be with someone other than my mom *gasp* :) I was a horrible brat to her, which in turn made her resentful towards me. But we learned to treat each other right over time and since then I've always considered her family. Her dying... it's not made any easier by the fact that her real relatives come directly from hell. Her sister already has an eye on her money (it's not that much and she's not that much in need of it, but that doesn't seem to stop her), constantly taking money out of her sister's account. While my mum and I were at the hospital yesterday this evil woman got my father to drive her to her dying sister's flat to get clothes to dress her in when she's dead! She's so "pragmatic" it makes me sick... She even talked to an undertaker already today. These are only some of the worst things she's doing. And we can't do anything about it, because we're not officially immediate family. It pisses me off...

However, this is the reason why I'm in dire need of some Christmas cheer in my life, so I got out all our Christmas decorations today, put on some Christmas music Finn had taken out because she's organizing a Christmas party at work. And then I went all out :) I decorated our living room cupboard with reindeers and baubles and the little silver stars Finn made for our first Christmas together 3 years ago. And of course there's the token chain of lights. On the window pane there's also a little pot I decorated last year with wonky but lovingly self-made candy canes and a reindeer sticking out of it.

I love Christmas. I always have, however dysfunctional it might be - in my and everyone else's family. Maybe that's because it's so close to my birthday (23rd) and that automatically makes it one big holiday for me. Or maybe it's because I have the fondest memories of my grandparents (Viennese and Hungarian together) taking me for a walk in the snow so the "Christkindl" could come and bring the presents (back then the Baby Jesus as a gift-giver was still more common than Santa Clause). I remember the empty and snowy streets of my district as completely peaceful. Almost everyone was at home, with the lights sneaking out of the windows into the streets. And whoever wasn't home yet, was just biding time like we were.

When we got home, noses red from the cold the door to the living room was closed and I waited anxiously for the sound of the bell which the Christkindl would ring once it was done laying out the presents. And I'd barge into the room torn between the flickering candlelight and the neatly wrapped presents beneath it. I had to sing through a whole round of Christmas songs and play some on my recorder. When I was older I'd accompany the singing on the piano and even later I'd play some music on my bassoon with my mum accompanying me on the piano. Then, and only then would I finally get to open my presents. I loved that model railway (no, wait, I had actually gotten that the day before for my birthday). There were matchbox cars and other toys, and always many many books that would barely last me for the holidays.

Today Christmas has become much more about giving for me. I love the christmas calendar I made for Finn this year simply because she loves opening the little presents. I love giving self-made foodstuffs to family, knowing they'll be eating something that I put a lot of effort into. I love how my mum "oooh"ed and "aaaah"ed about my homemade slow food pesto (no food processor came near that!) and how Finn's dad's eyes lit up when he reached into the jar with the homemade toffees or sipped the eggnogg I'd bottled only a day ago. This year I'm making mozzarella (ok, I'll try making mozzarella) and a chocolate spread (nutella style) and some rucola pesto. I love searching for my newest gift-ideas or experimenting to find out the perfect nut-rucola combination...

These days, as I'm reading so many english-written cook blogs and cook books, Christmas has probably also become more American around our own flat. A chain of lights would have been out of the question back when - still is today for my parents I think -, but I just love how it softly lights up my room, making it homely and just a tiny bit festive - with only a fireplace missing. I have to keep myself from putting the decorations up too early - that's how much I love Christmas. Since I never especially liked any of the german language songs my Christmas music has become strictly American/English too.

Now, in memory of the for now sadly dormant Soundcafe I give you my Top 7 Favourite Christmas Songs

1. Hard Candy Christmas (Dolly Parton)
2. All I want for Christmas (Olivia Olson from the Love Actually soundtrack)
3. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)
4. White Christmas
5. The first noel
6. I'll be home for Christmas
7. Santa Baby

On the 24th Finn and I will have a lazy morning and a lavish breakfast accompanied by the movie Love Actually. Love Actually is my favourite Christmas movie so I've turned it into a tradition that we watch it on Christmas day. And then I won't mind however the evening goes or where we'll spend it (my parents / her's / driving from one to the other like crazy).

Goodbye or Auf Wiedersehen?

2008-12-04T20:54:00.002+01:00

I just got dumped - by a friend. Actually she's probably the only real friend I had besides Finn who just happens to be my person, my lover and my best friend. But some things Finn doesn't get about me, however much she loves me. And that's OK, because for those things I had someone else who understood. Don't get me wrong, I have other friends, but they're all aquaintance-like friends. I like them all a lot, but in a moment of need I wouldn't trust them 100% to be there for me. I trusted C. with that, and I still do - we both made it clear that the door will never be closed. But she decided that since we've been living in different galaxies for quite some time now we might as well properly part ways. And as much as it hurts me to say goodbye (even if only temporarily) I have to admit she's right. We were simply not good together lately. And I admire that she had the strength to take that step. I know I wouldn't have, because I'm just not good with saying goodbye and letting people who are generally close to me out of my sight.
Maybe we will one day be in the same room again and be able to really hear the other person again. I'm pretty confident that we will. And I know that I can always call her if I need to. But for now our ways have parted, for now I have lost a friend, someone who was dear to me. To be fair, I'm not the only one she's cutting loose, but that doesn't make it easier for either of us.

In any case, she just left (ironically, we had a better talk than we did in a very long time) and I had to think about the following song. I thought about the music, but figured the lyrics are quite fitting themselves.
I think she'd like it. So this is for you, C.

I apologise to those who don't understand a word of this because they don't know any german. I'm sorry.

gotta love twitter

2008-12-04T07:53:00.000+01:00

This is awesome. Click to enlarge.

"Prop 8 - The Musical"

2008-12-03T16:07:00.000+01:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

wow, Neil Patrick Harris is kinda hot...

music to my ears

2008-12-02T15:13:00.001+01:00

I've had two longer posts in planning for about a week now. I just can't seem to get around to writing them. What I can do quickly though is this one here.

YouTube is doing something really awesome, they're casting a symphony orchestra!
It is something I'd totally do, but damn! Why haven't I practiced in such a long time? I've printed out the sheet music for basson and realised I have a hard time reading it. Like, a really hard time. But maybe my fingers will know where to go automatically. After all, that's how music always used to work for me. Also, I'm not even sure I can play this piece. After years of not playing it looks real hard to me.

I was planning to begin playing again, but I thought I would do it after getting my braces off. They're a bit of a pain when trying to wrap your lips around your teeth is a fundamental part of playing your instrument of choice. But maybe I will try. It sure looks like a good push.

my new alarm clock just arrived

2008-11-28T14:41:00.002+01:00

LEGENDARY!

2008-11-25T22:57:00.001+01:00

Because How I Met Your Mother is awesome!
Click on the picture for the whole napkin.

"Wishful Drinking" is an awesome title for a book

2008-11-24T14:15:00.000+01:00

There are some books you see/hear/read about that you know gotta have. One of those just happened to me: Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (yes, Princess Leia).

She not only happens to be quite the interesting person, but also one helluva humorous writer.

So thanks to my favourite online ordering website the hardcover book of Wishful Drinking is now on its way to my home. I'm pretty confident it will be the perfect holiday read.

a stunning monochrome

2008-11-22T15:24:00.013+01:00

There's a fucking snowstorm raging outside. Right now. This very moment. At the end of November. It's this year's first snow and definitely not the light kind that melts away after an hour - this is coming down bad and it's obiviously meant to linger. I'm glad we got our shopping done alread. No need to go outside. It's nice to be sitting on the couch together while the world is going grey and white outside, playing Sims 2, pushing aside and dietary or health concerns and eating comfort foods. The bunnies are sitting around kind of subdued - this is normal for them when it's grey outside. Then they're cute little sleepy bunnies.
There's a couple of perfect songs for this weather but one especially came to mind: Ani DiFranco - "Grey"

This is kind of a nice conclusion to this hectic week. I need some peace and quiet now. Especially since I was running around making errands all day yesterday. That included a haircut and having my eyebrows shaped (YAY! and ouch!) but also lots of stupid things like the wild goose chase my mobile phone provider sent me on. I had been trying to get my phone repaired for about 2 Weeks. I had to go to different stores and call the service line a couple of times because none of the stores had any rental phones left to give to me while they were sending in my Sony Ericsson. And no, they couldn't reserve one for me, because that would be unfair to other customers. WTF? Somehow it didn't strike them as ironic that a mobile phone provider whose stores are FILLED with phones didn't have any phones to lend to people while theirs were getting repaired.

After another angry call to the service line yesterday they suddenly did find themselves in a position to reserve a phone for me. So I had to go home from the studio (more on that later), grab my receipt and race halfways across town again to get the phone. And all that in the pouring rain and during rush hour when literally everyone is using public transport. No I have some kind of shitty LG model I can't find anything on but whatever - I just hope they'll have mine repaired soon so I can do the blogging, twittering and facebooking again from my mobile.

On the way back home I quickly hopped into a sex shop - which is THE sex shop on Vienna's shopping mile - where I have to explain to the lady who is working there what a dildo and a harness are. I try to inquire from her if they are carrying dildos for packing and playing which prompts her to ask: "Plug and play?" No, for that I'd be going to the electronics department but thank you very much NOT. In the end she offers me a blow-up man. I sigh, I think: "Okay. Let's keep this simple and basic". So I ask her where the dildo section is. Happy to finally know what to do she leeds me over to a wall with plenty of dicks - unfortunately they were not dildos but vibrators and completely useless for use in a harness. Gaaaaaah!

Needless to say, I gave up on educating her on the finer parts of girl-on-girl sex since I was apparently better suited to work there and help people than she was. Again, WTF? I did find a couple of nice and fairly innocent things on my own though which will go into the christmas calendar I'm making for Finn. I also went downstairs into the gay section, where between all the leather, S&M stuff and boy-on-boy tools I feel weirdly way more at home than upstairs with the clean and girly "mainstream" toys. I chatted a bit to the staff and one of them tried to help me find some nice lesbian porn - however I'm reluctant to pay 50 bucks for the one dvd that looks worthwhile while all the rest costs only half that.

However, not everything is about sex ;)
Remember the job interview I had on Wednesday? Back when they told me there were three or four candidates for the job and they'd take about a week to decide. Well, they called me barely 24 hours later, told me they really liked what they saw and asked me back for next Wednesday to meet the CEO. I don't want to jump to any conclusions here but I am stoked! This is looking really good :)

If I really get the job a lot of things are going to change though. I'm going to make less money than I do currently but since I have never done PR work before I'd feel weird earning a shitload of money while not having a clue as to what I'm doing. This way we're going to grow together - I'm going to learn the ropes and they already said they don't have a problem with change. So asking for a raise after some time and good work would probably be worth a try. Also, since Finn has a well-paying-job now I can afford the leisure to earn less for a while while I build up my freelance career. This way I'd have a fixed income that I can pay rent with etc. from the job, which is only 20 hours a week and I'd be able to invest another 20 hours in working freelance - which brings in a comparably big amount of money. So we should be generally all set in that department. I've already got a freelancing gig lined up and I'd be planning to contine freelancing for the paper I'm currently working for.However, I have no ideal how I'll break the news to my current boss if everything works out on Wednesday.

That guy has really given me a break last year when I desperately needed an internship and he let me stay on, so I'd have a hard time saying goodbye. But he also knows that I'm not happy with how things are at the moment, I haven't been for a while now so I'm hoping he'll understand. It's simply an uncomfortable thing to tell your employer you're leaving. I'd also have to do it fast because the new job would start december 1st. I'd still offer to come to the paper once a week or so for a transistion period. But I wouldn't be able to do this forever since I want to get started freelancing for others.

Also I'm getting more and more involved with Ether Magazine (I allow myself one un-paid work-thing at a time). I'm writing a couple of things for the next issue and yesterday I went to the radio studio to talk to my editor about filling in for her at the monthly radio show in the future when she's too busy with other Ether stuff. Even though I'm by far not a "radio person" I ended up agreeing. 1) because all I'd have to do is show up and talk and I can do that :) and 2) because it's definitely something that would look good on my CV. And third, I haven't done radio before and I like doing new things - especially at the moment it seems I tend to just take the leap and play it by ear. I went to a homeless shelter earlier this week because I was working on a story for the paper and now I'm considering doing something social in the near future, like helping out in a soup kitchen or something. I'm going to have to let that wait for a while though - can't work everything out at once. I like to forget that and then I go crash under the weight.

I think this just became my single longest post in all my blogging history. But it was a long week.
By now it has stopped snowing but the tree by our window is still lightly coated in puffs of white. It's very beautiful... I like.

Why I could never be the president of the United States

2008-11-19T17:31:00.000+01:00

Besides all the other, more obvious reasons: I don't think i could survive in a technology dominated world without my own peripherals. Which is exactly what Obama will have to do once he moves into the WH (I'd link to the ny times article which told me this, but I'm blogging from my cell right now). He'll probably have to hand in his blackberry, and the placement of a laptop in the oval office is still up for discussion apparently. Putting security issues aside for a moment this strikes me as fairly odd. Wouldn't you want the leader of the most powerful nation in the world to be able to get his own news? Unmeddled? Hell, if he wants to he should be allowed to get his info from citizen journalists as well, who are not in the hands of major conglomerates! I have learned of the most amazing things via the internet, via email or twitter. Even a lot of pro media outlets are online only these days. Shouldn't the one person wielding such enormous power have the same right as me?

Even with all the ppl responsible for keeping the potus informed, handing him cell phones, i'd still feel cut off from the world.

I wanted to blog this yesterday, but didn't get around to doing it. The article I'm referring to is in yesterday's ny times.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

Freeze-your-balls-off weather

2008-11-18T12:16:00.000+01:00

I had to go back for a scarf and fingerless gloves when leaving for work because it's THAT cold here today. I like the weather - so much I'd rather stay home. Though that might have more to do with the fact that I'm dreading work more and more each day. Which is why I have a job interview tomorrow. Partly bc I want out me my current workplace badly, but also and mostly because if that job is as awesome as it looks on paper i really, really, really want it. Unfortunately for today I'll be stuck at the hellhole. bleurgh.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

Before you turn 30 meme

2008-11-15T17:25:00.000+01:00

Things to do before you turn 30, found on L’s blog. It’s a mighty weird list, methinks, but I felt like doing this meme anyways.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
~~06. Held a tarantula~~
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
~~10. Bungee jumped~~ (I’d rather parachute)
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (Getting me drunk on bubbly is easy, can’t handle the stuff)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited

Ireland

(Unfortunately not yet)
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited

Japan

55. Milked a cow
~~56. Alphabetized your CDs~~
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theatre
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married

73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on a television news program as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music (There’s a CD with my voice on it, hidden among others in a choir)
~~87. Eaten shark~~
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country (Do the canals of Amsterdam count?)
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
~~120. Had a snake as a pet~~
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States (That one was easy since I live where the “foreign countries” are while I haven’t been in the US yet)
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
~~132. Touched a cockroach~~
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey (in parts, in Latin)
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
~~149. Caused a car accident~~
150. Saved someone’s life

She's happy, I'm happy

2008-11-11T12:47:00.000+01:00

Finn got the job! And that makes me happy in three ways.

1. I'm happy because she's happy. She really wanted the job, so I'm glad she got it.
2. I'm happy because her getting the job means we're out of the financial doghouse.
3. I'm happy because her earning money means I'm under less pressure to earn more money. That's not to say I'm generally lazy and don't like to work, but it means that I can focus on finding and doing more freelance work and less at the daily I have learned to despise. Because finding and doing freelance work requires time. The ideas are there, I just need some time to do research, write and sell them.

it's monday, hence it's meme time

2008-11-10T21:35:00.000+01:00

just another...

What was the first thing you thought when you looked at yourself in the mirror today?
"Please, be good, hair. Please, be good!"

Do you have a recurring nightmare? If so, explain.
Fortunately not. However, I had two (!) nightmares last night. I think that compensates...

List three foods you can’t stand:
wow... hm... this is hard, because I used to not like a lot of stuff and then I tried again years later and found access to most of it, if it was cooked differently than I knew it before. For instance I don't like lentils (elementary school trauma), but I found out I like daal, which is made of lentils sometimes. Up to now I haven't found a way to like brussels sprouts. I really can't think of a third food item. No wait! I remember: I can't stand fennel, and celery. With celery I can make exceptions, not with fennel though. Oh, and I hate innards. yuck.

post election non-hangover

2008-11-05T13:24:00.000+01:00

After a shower and getting dressed in the most comfortable jeans and tee shirt I could find I might finally be on the right path to feeling humanoid again. Unfortunately I'm still looking for hangover food. I haven't had a drop of alcohol in months, but hangover food is what I crave right now. stupid healthy fridge fillings...

my first election night

2008-11-05T07:45:00.002+01:00

For the first time in my life I had the liberty of staying up to watch the coverage of the US election night because I don't have to work today. I did sleep between midnight and 3 am (gmt+1) and probably won't be going back to sleep anytime soon today, but that's okay (just don't ask me to drive a car today). It was absolutely worth it, because I had the chance to watch something historic, to see the world change before my very own eyes.
Not only is this a great moment in the history of the United States of America, this long-time hegemon of the western world. It's also a great moment for the rest of the world. Because the 44th President of the United States will also be the first African American president of the United States. Because a woman was a front and center in the run for the White House for a very long time in this election and because the vice presidential candidate for one of the two major parties was a woman. Because this poses a symbolic end to the borders of race and gender - it's still a long way to equality but it's also certainly a beginning of a kind. For America as well as for the rest of the world this is a big win in the fight for equality of all people - whatever their ethnicity, their gender, or age.
Unfortunately for one minority this positively life-changing election also means a life change in the negative sense. Namely for GLBT folk in states where the majority voted for some kind of ban on gay marriage, be it Florida or California. This means that thousands of people lost rights today, rights they already have, as the bonds they officially forged got shattered by people who don't even know them, their partners, their families. This just shows that the fight against injustice and for equality isn't over by a long shot. Indeed, it has just begun.

Congratulations, America, for choosing an awesome new president, for choosing Change.

Tell ABC that they made the wrong choice

2008-11-05T07:26:00.000+01:00

The following letter just went to ABC, unfortunately their contact form is restricted to a certain number of characters. But I hope you will make a statement anyway. It might be especially important now that prop8 and prop2 have passed in California and Florida

Dear ABC executives, I want to express my disappointment about learning that ABC is abruptly ending Brooke Smith's time on Grey's Anatomy. I have a hard time believing the sudden "killing off" (though not literally) of Erica Hahn had nothing to do with her sexual orientation. It is a shame to let such a character go because whether gay, straight or bisexual - Hahn is an intriguing character. The shame is even bigger since her coming out moment was one of the best ever seen on TV. Sincerely, mcC

you can tell ABC they suck here

Election Night coverage

2008-11-04T23:07:00.000+01:00

It's 11 pm here in Austria and I'm still determined to stay awake for the election results. this just isn't something that I want to wake up to in the morning, this is something I want to see live. And to make this more fun I'm live twittering the whole thing. If you want to read about Austrian TV presenters mis-pronouncing names and places and filibusters - go to http://twitter.com/mcCutcheon
I'll be trying to make this as much fun as possible. Also am keeping my fingers crossed for Obama and hoping I won't have to eat my words tomorrow morning.

Done

2008-11-03T16:16:00.000+01:00

I passed :)

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

nervous

2008-11-02T23:40:00.002+01:00

do you use skype? do you know that emoticon that is barfing green stuff? that's how I feel right now. not that I'm actually barfing but I do feel sick to my stomach when I think about tomorrow. and momentarily that can't be prevented.

I wish I could actually vote on this

2008-11-02T15:35:00.001+01:00

Once upon a time in Austria there was a draft for a Registered Partnership Act. The minister of justice, a social democrat, had worked it out with several lobbies from the pro- and anti-gay marriage sides. Granted, the draft didn't include adoption, social security, health care and several other points of importance to Austrian LGBT people and their lobbies. However, after many months of fighting between left and right as well as among the major LGBT lobby groups said justice minister presented the draft for assessment by all stakeholders (a common legislative process in Austria) before the draft would go to the Council of Ministers to be formed into law.

But let's rewind to the assessment phase for a moment where all the political fun took place. Knowing well that adoption was out of the question anyway LGBT lobbies began criticizing the absence of social security rights etc. That was to be expected. One super right wing party bashed the draft in general since they see no need for equal rights - not a surprise either - while the other super right wing party smartly kept their mouth shut, probably because there were too many rumors among journalists and gays that the party leader was a closeted homosexual.

Not surprising though not quite expected were also the remarks that came from the conservative, catholic church-influenced party in coalition with the social democrats. They seemed to have realized earlier that there was no way they could forever oppose gay relationship recognition, but decided they weren't going down without a fight. Not all but some, many, party members began debating that while the queers should totally get some model of recognition no way where they gonna get it in a registrar's office or share a common name if they want to. While some were completely against holding the ceremony at a registrar's office some said they just "didn't want a ceremony with all the bells and whistles". Because that's what heterosexual people do. They plan big parties at the registrar's office - apparently. And here some people really believed that was a church-thing and not a registrar's thing - but what do they know, after all they're not allowed to get married so you can't really blame them for not knowing about weddings, can you?

Thus continued the discussion about where those homosexuals were to be ~~wed~~ not-quite-married-please-call-it-something-else and other "issues" the conservatives had with the draft until the planned discussion of the issue of gay partnership equalization in the Council of Ministers was moved from June to August. And in the middle of all this the coalition broke, Austria voted again and now the social democrats and the conservatives have been fighting for five weeks about such basic things as whether they'll actually manage to form a working government at all.
The issue of gay marriage? Droned out by politics.

And that is how once upon a time Austria almost got the worst same-sex relationship recognition ever seen.

another psa brought to you by a relentless mcC

2008-11-02T09:00:00.003+01:00

Tell me again that Starbucks is bad.

while they apparently trust you to tell them the truth about whether you voted it's still great that they're trying to encourage people to actually go and vote. it's a good ad methinks.

Oh, and because I will invariably annoy you with this for the next couple of days anyways:
VOTE!
I know the lines are long, I know you're probably gonna miss work and make less money that week (though that may actually open up the chance for you to finally get some decent health care like I do), I know you have better things to do - no wait actually you don't, you shouldn't. Because this election is really important. And no matter if people tell you that your ONE vote won't make a difference, it will. Many "one votes" will make a lot of votes and that will make all the difference. Make your voice count. Go vote on Tuesday! Please.

And while we're at it: Vote NO on Prop8, because this PSA shows you what fundamentally will happen.

Cry for help

2008-10-31T09:57:00.002+01:00

OK, blogpeeps, I can admit it: I need your help.
I need ideas on how to get me through the next 3 to 4 days. I'm exhausted and I'm tired and I need a boost. I've already gone off the diet because I realised my body cherishes all the carbs it can get to turn them into energy. I'm also drowning myself in Red Bull light, although even the smell of it makes me want to throw it out. I'm drinking loads of fluids and I've started taking kalium phosphoricum tablets because when I was writing my thesis the pharmacist told me they would help me stay healthy during stress.

Is there anything that you can think of that could help me get through these 4 days, to stay energized and capable of studying please drop me a comment or email me via the contact form linked to in the sidebar. Everyone has had these kinds of times where they need to perform no matter what, so I'd appreciate your stories, hints and tricks.

The Obama-Ad

2008-10-30T23:18:00.003+01:00

OK, I finally got around to watching the Obama infomercial on YouTube and I have to say it is a genius campaign move. I loved how he got the proper mix of telling the moving stories of American citizens, making clear what his points are and frickin tear-jerking music (admittedly, my current hormonal and exhaustion status might have something to do with that). Seriously, if America doesn't vote for him now I'm gonna loose all confidence completely.

So please, Obama-voting-Americans, don't feel safe because the polls project a lead for Obama, go VOTE on Tuesday.

Why do I care so much? Because this affects us too. Because whether I particularly like it or not the U.S. is still kind of a hegemonial power. So what America becomes politically has an impact on Europe as well. I really love this guy... Obama may actually be the most amazing politician the U.S. has produced in a very long time.

Comedy about sensitive subjects? That's totally my cup of tea

2008-10-30T20:46:00.003+01:00

I know that right now I have to study, but let me just tell you that I am sooooo looking forward to The United States of Tara. This is going to be so great.

New/Different angles on Prop8

2008-10-30T15:09:00.001+01:00

John Scalzi has is making a good point by drawing attention to the effect that Prop8 would have on existing marriages so I'm now drawing your attention to his post. Also, in the second comment there's a link to what it sounds like if you exchange the wording "same-sex" for "interracial" in a Pro-Prop8-ad (that word just broke my virtual tongue). Not that I really think that any of my readers would even think about voting yes on Prop8, but why not get the word out there:

Vote NO on Prop8!

weight loss plan for 10 days while studying hardcore

2008-10-24T16:07:00.001+02:00

I love to cook and eat. Also I tend to eat for various reasons, be it boredom or stress, and even more when I'm studying or not very content with my situation - which at the moment I'm both. But now the plan is to:

- eat light and stay away from sugar and probably also fat as much as possible
- don't overindulge (my biggest problem with the whole weight thing)
- drink loads and loads of unsweetened tea and water to avoid hunger
- snack on fruits and veggies (that is without a fatty dip sauce)
- do sit-ups daily
- if possible go for bike rides or work outs in the morning when studying is not an option because of the brain-deadness.

I know this isn't healthy. But my suit doesn't fit or I don't fit into my suit - whichever it is, I need to loose a couple of kilos within the next 10 days so I can wear it to my exam. It's the kind of thing one has to dress up for unfortunately, so no, my comfy jeans and a tee are not an option ;)

I did want to loose weight anyway, just not this fast. But at least now I have real motivation...

edit: I know this post seems rather ironic after the pudding one.

Experiment! Experiment! With pudding.

2008-10-23T16:59:00.002+02:00

As mentioned before on twitter, I have done a little experiment with pudding. The result might not be pretty, but it certainly tastes good. It's wonderful because it's not too sweet, and since I've been staying away from the "bad" sugars (as the doctor ordered) I seem to have lost my super-sweet tooth. Well, this isn't super-sweet, it's slightly sweet - and it doesn't contain sugar (other than the bit they use in puff pastry).
Recipe after the pictures. Oh, and Maria, if you're reading this: Yes, this is a recipe even you with your supposed lack of cooking skills can pull off ;)

Ingredients
Puff Pastry, readymade
Instant chocolate pudding mix, unsweetened
500 ml milk
Approx. 4 tablespoons of artificial sweetener* (you can probably substitute the same amount of sugar)
2 tbsp flour
About 1.5 handfuls of ground nuts (I used hazelnuts)
~ heaps of unsweetened cocoa powder make the experiment even more chocolatey :)

1 egg, white and yolk separated
hint of cinnamon (I used too little, I think half a tsp would be better)

What to do

- preheat oven to 200° C, line baking dish with puff pastry and glaze with egg white and put it in the oven
- Prepare pudding according to instructions w milk and sweetener
- beat in egg yolk, since I was feeling decadent I added a splash or two of whipping cream
- add nuts, flour, cinnamon, cocoa powder and mix well

- pour into puff pastry lined dish and back into the oven it goes
- leave on 200° until the puff pastry becomes golden (~ 10 min), then lower the heat to about 75° and leave it in another 10 minutes. Set out to cool and the pudding will set too.
- Find a way to get it out of the dish without getting pudding everywhere - and then tell me how you managed, because I didn't ;)

*I don't know what it is exactly since my Hungarian isn't that good and I have my mum bring the stuff when she visits my grandma. I like it because it lacks the bitter taste artificial sweeteners usually have. It works really well for baking.

manic monday... uhm... tuesday

2008-10-21T16:18:00.000+02:00

It's been a while, but I'm manic again:

How long does it take you to get out of bed in the morning?
That depends. When I really have to get up to be somewhere I can be fast. But if I only decided that I probably should get up it can take me a while to actually get myself moving.

Do you usually sleep on one side of the bed or another?
Each has her side. But we've switched once, so sleeping on the other side is not a problem either.

Something you wish to accomplish before the end of the year:
- pass my final exam and get my degree
- get my freelance career off the ground
- get fit and loose some weight

New: Contact Form

2008-10-18T23:14:00.000+02:00

You can now also contact me via the Kontactr form in the sidebar, in case comments are not your style :)

Back in my day... we used to protest xenophobia

2008-10-18T21:32:00.002+02:00

I just had a moment. I'm studying Austrian history for my exam and suddenly I found out the reason for me being out protesting on the streets of Vienna with my parents as a 9-year-old. I distinctly remember the "Sea of Lights", it's one of the few very clear memories I have (yup, my goldfish memory unfortunately goes way back). I remember meeting up with friends of us - one of their sons is only a couple of days younger than me (interestingly he later ended up in my class in high school and as a one-week-fling of mine). Their big family and our small family went to Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square) to protest xenophobia in the exact same place where not-enough-years-ago Adolf Hitler had declared Austria's annexation to the Third Reich. The trigger for the protest was the "Austria first!"-referendum by Austria's resident right wing party - which back then was the only right-wing party - now that we actually have two sadly I'd have to specify which did it. Back then it was the FPÖ.

In 1993 I was too young to know what exactly we were protesting aside from the explanations my parents gave me. I knew we were out there to stand up against racisms and right-wing politics, as much as one can grasp that as a 9-year-old. But I remember that feeling of uniting against something that oppresses, making a stand, I - who is usually afraid of the masses - remember that effervescence (I've always wanted to use this word) of... "good" if you want to call it that. 350.000 people holding candles and torches on a dark and rainy January night on the streets of Vienna's inner city - that's simply a very emotional thing.

Now that I came across the referendum that triggered all this, I had to think about what's going on today. Today Austria has two dangerously right-wing, xenophobic, populist parties that make the "Austria First!"-referendum look harmless in comparison - yet I don't see people in the streets. Granted we're not much of a protesting nation in general, but now even the will seems lacking. In fact, only 4 weeks ago a lot of Austrians voted for these two parties. Combined they would reach about 28% of all votes. Yes, that scares me. Even more it scares me that there has been no outcry this time around - because we've gotten frickin' used to them. But we shouldn't! We should all grab our candles and torches and walk the streets and protest against what this country is becoming, to show that there still are people who are against racism and populism and these right-wing politics.

venturing out in blogville

2008-10-18T19:05:00.000+02:00

During my travels on the internets - procrastination, call me mistress (but not in a dirty way!) - I came across a couple of blogs lately that I happened to like. I can't really remember how I found them, but I'm pretty sure twitter is responsible. I decided to include some of those on my blogroll since I liked them so much:

For one there's Backpacking Dad, who met Wil Wheaton (for which I'm totally envious). He carries his daughter around in one of those baby backpacks and he's a fellow geek plus I kinda have a thing for doting fathers - I think it's cute.

Then there's stacyjill who somehow found me on twitter and seems like a nice gal with a certain understanding of why I really need to see Twilight and a girlfriend who isn't so keen on this movie.

And because I always appreciate well written cookblogs (food + humorous writing = good) I decided to add Steamy Kitchen to those I already regularly read.

back to basics, back to nights

2008-10-18T04:27:00.001+02:00

I spent the past four hours studying Austrian politics. It so happens that I'm the type of person that learns through writing things down. So before each exam I read and then I summarize by hand. After that everything is a chaotic mess so I'm bringing everything in order in a nice word file or on index cards, sometimes even both. Bringing the information in order helps me understand and see and make connections. I never understood how people could simply learn by heart, I need those connections. At that point the information has gotten really condensed and is sitting there in an almost mind-mapped sort of way. The big pro of that is that the connections show up well and some of the stuff will stick to me in picture form - although I don't have absolute photographic memory some of that is definitely going on in my brain. Not unpractical :)
However, I wish I had a different way of remembering stuff. A less exhausting, but mostly less time-consuming way. Some people have to just read the material, others listened well in classes and don't have to do much studying after that. Which way do you learn?

Studying my way takes hours... plus: It seems my brain doesn't do shit during the day. No matter how much I've tried to change that, I just work better nights. For instance, I've tried studying during daytime since Monday - because I thought that I too have the claim to a human-style day-night-routine. Yeah... no such luck. I got a lot more done these past four hourse than the past four days. I'm interested: How and when do you study? Night owl or morning worker? Do you have to bother studying or are you one of those people who just know?

I'm going to go read some blogs now and then crash - at 5 a.m. ... what a healthy habit....

studying galore

2008-10-16T09:26:00.000+02:00

By now I'm halfway back to my normal healthy self. Still not feeling up to going for a work-out, but doing ok. I also managed to get a good 6 or 7 hours of studying done yesterday and I'm back at my desk right now. Wanted to start earlier but somehow time got away from me again. Maybe it's good I'm not going to the gym yet, maybe that would just cost me time... Unfortunately I need to loose weight if I want my suit to fit me for my exam. And I want.

bad patient

2008-10-12T10:21:00.002+02:00

I did everything right. for once! I went to bed early, slept for 11 hours, stayed under the blanket the next day, drank my tea, took my homeopathic remedies, took some aspirin c and some paracetamol. and what do I get instead of better - yup, worse. Last night I started coughing and feeling woozy - basically feeling sick. grrrr... and now finn made me inhale and I'm taking stronger meds and staying in bed. grrr... I'm a really bad sick person. I hate lying in bed, I can only sleep so much and lying around doing nothing (because computers and reading is supposedly to exhausting) bores me immensly.

Being sick sucks. Especially since I really need to get with the studying.

awwww!

2008-10-11T15:42:00.001+02:00

[Video - Rachel Maddow guest at Jay Leno - removed, because it blocked my Blogroll]

smart, funny, cute... damn, is Rachel Maddow hot..

Do not go gentle....

2008-10-11T15:15:00.001+02:00

Matthew Rhys - check.
Keira Knightley - check.
Cillian Murphy - check.

Dylan Thomas - cha-ching!

Hence I'm looking forward to seeing Edge of Love:

time to panic

2008-10-07T16:27:00.000+02:00

I just found out that my final exam is going to take place on November, 3rd. That's less than 4 weeks from now. I was counting on at least 4 to 5 weeks of studying time. This means I'm going on a 3-week-holiday on monday so I can study. Note to self: ask parents for financial help...

The related-but-good news is that I got an A on my thesis :D

iGoogle is great

2008-09-29T14:22:00.002+02:00

I know, I know... Google is bad and evil and all that. But I just fell in love with iGoogle.
If you're more or less self-employed but working from different computers plus studying for your final exam it's really practical to have all your stuff in one place. Calendar, documents, twitter, news feeds, blogger dashboard, to-do list... all there in one place.
I'm still keeping my non-electric-calendar though :)

Oh my...

2008-09-28T17:44:00.000+02:00

How bad does it have to get before it gets better??

Today Austria basically voted for the two right-wing parties. That means that we'll either get the same coalition whose failure just triggered the reelection - until their next failure follows suit - OR, and much much worse, the conservatives will coalite with the right.

I really don't know what to do. I can't just pack my bags and move, not this fast. However, we're talking about a country that never changes, so maybe we should begin making plans.

like a giant sissy...

2008-09-28T15:19:00.000+02:00

41 seconds

I'm back (unfortunately)

2008-09-27T21:33:00.000+02:00

We're back from Sweden. Arrived safe and sound yesterday evening and spent today refilling the fridge and doing loads and loads of washing. I've caught up on my emails and we've watched some of the shows we missed last week. And I started playing Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, on which I should be writing my very first game review. As much as I enjoy being back I just love being in bumfuck, sweden for a whole week with no computers, games or emails. I did check my mail once or twice on my phone but only to find out about my job interview - btw: I didn't get the job, but it's ok. We had a TV and did watch, but quite lazily - simply turning the tv on without a clue what's on is way different than actively watching a lot of shows. I really enjoyed that, not giving a flying fuck about all the white noise technology makes in my life. Just us, nature, fresh air (right now I hate being back in the city), driving places in our rental car - it was wonderful and I wish I could go back. Because, unfortunately, my mother managed to ruin my first evening back by calling me just to tell me my father has pains in his leg again (he had a bypass years ago but kept on smoking and drinking like a mutherfucka, so no surprise there) - couldn't she have waited a day, just to let me settle back in and maybe get one last relaxing evening? My dad refuses to see a doctor, not about his leg, his stomach problems nor his ongoing lifelong depression. But then me mum kept complaining about my dad being unfair to her yadda yadda yadda all the usual shit. That's what she calls me for - just to complain. I'm gonna have to tell her to get herself some friends or a good shrink, because she's been overstepping my boundaries for a very long time now.

So yeah, I'm back and have to deal with going to a workplace I've begun to hate, I have approximately 6 weeks to study for my final exam plus I have to deal with stuff my mum is not capable of dealing with. We need to get my dad to a doctor (no clue how I'll manage that), meanwhile my grandma will move into a retirement home in hungary which occupies most of my mum's time and my dad's ex-wife who is family to all of us has cancer and will be having an operation in october. I'm pretty sure the next 8 weeks will be hell, so guess what: I WANNA GO BACK TO SWEDEN! like, right now.

however, I did miss you all, dear readers and bloggers and am looking forward to catching up with what you've blogged while I was gone from the land of the internets :)

/holiday

2008-09-26T11:56:00.001+02:00

Finn dragged me out of bed at 5 am this morning because we had to drive to stockholm and now we're at the airport - 3 hours early! Gaaah...

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

time flies, and soon I will too (to Sweden)

2008-09-17T11:24:00.002+02:00

Things have been happening lately and I've been meaning to blog about them, yet somehow... time seems to be the one thing I couldn't make enough of. Other things just seemed bigger and more imprortant to do than bask my ego in a bit of blogging ;) However, now that the dust is settling, I'm ready for a little catching-up.

work has been a strain - to put it mildly, because one of my co-workers seems intent on showing me just how much of a prick he is. incidentally, by now everyone is suspecting his prick to be rather small, considering how much he has to show off his greatness. You know, people who do amazingly at their job and voice that are one thing. But people who think they're oh so great but arent't, that's a whole different topic. Well, said co-worker is one of the latter sort. He's been doing this job for 30 odd years and while he does an ok job writing articles he has ... erm... flexible working hours and very flexible ethics. He's a racist, homophobic, mysogynist pig - and no one does anything about it. Also, since I had to change rooms two weeks ago and am now sitting in the same room as said co-worker he has been yelling at me rather constantly for no good reason at all. just to show he is my boss - which he isn't, but try pointing that out to him. All this has made me want to walk out of here rather sooner than later.

Roughly at the same time I have received a job offer of sorts. or rather the offer to apply - the big cheese's son is looking for someone for the press department at the company he works at and mr big cheese thought of me and told me to apply. which is nice of him I guess. They've invited me to interview when I'm back from my holiday. The thing is, I'm not sure I want the job. Yes, I always wanted to work in a press department and it would for sure help with future applications to different press departments, but on the con-side we're talking about a pretty stuffy company that handles really really boring stuff (trust me, really boring). on the other hand the staff seems to be quite young and energetic. also I wasn't looking for a full-time position and 40 hours sounds like an awful lot of time to spend at work - especially since I've been planning to freelance more. That's another con: I probably won't have time to work on the projects I've been developing ideas for. I guess I'll just see what if feels like after the interview.

So although I haven't been planning to change jobs/direction this soon all these events have ignited a fire under my butt and I have begun to keep my eyes peeled for open positions. In fact I'm going to apply for a trainee position at a major international media company and see how that goes down. at the off chance that I should get that one, I'd have to move but I guess I'd do it without blinking an eye. Of course, family situations would have to be sorted out, I'm not too keen on living without finn and the bunnies... not at all. But hey, I haven't even applied yet. and as much as I want finn to find a really great job that she loves here in vienna I still hope that she might come with me if I'm going somewhere ;)

I'm going to hand in my thesis this afternoon (deja-vu!) so please, keep your fingers crossed for me. I then should have about 6 weeks to study for my final exam.

However, next week I'm not going to lift a finger bc as you may know finn and I are heading to Sweden for a week of relaxation, nature, quality-time and lots and lots of sleep. all of which I'm desperately in need of. in the meantime the bunnies will be taken care of well by finn's sister, so no bad feelings there.

There's still so much to do before we leave. Stuff to buy, hair to dye. But that comes tomorrow. Today I'm at work, then I'm handing in my thesis and then I'm drop by at my mum's whom I haven't seen I think in a month at least. She's gone a lot with work and taking care of my grandma and I seem to be working and studying pretty constantly. So I'm actually looking forward to having a chat with her.

Btw: Autumn is here. Me likes.

The kindness of strangers

2008-09-15T11:31:00.001+02:00

Someone just gave me their 24h ticket for vienna public transport which is valid til tomorrow morning bc he doesn't need it anymore. If saw that i was about to purchase a ticket and simply offered it to me, just like that. I'm amazed. Things like that don't really happen anymore these days. Thank you, kind stranger.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

What's wrong...

2008-09-14T17:18:00.000+02:00

...with this picture?
Nothing. It's just finn wearing her thesis correction hat - marker on goes on the right side, pen on the left :)
Adorable!

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

daily show snippet

2008-09-07T23:10:00.000+02:00

Samantha Bee at the DNC interviewing people about - what's the word?
Ah yes... Decision.

QOTD: sex and chocolate

2008-09-06T21:09:00.001+02:00

I was never especially fond of Teri Hatcher... I think it's the voice.
But in a time of promise rings and chastity belts and whatnot, I just have to be fond of a woman who says things like this to her daughter:

"Have great sex [and] eat the chocolate," (link)

I know, it's People magazine, so chances that it's actually true are naturally slim, right?

I really need a new gig

2008-09-05T19:13:00.000+02:00

I wrote an article about reverse graffiti last week. keep in mind that reverse graffiti is when you use a stencil to clean parts of a wall and not to spray stuff onto it. However, the readers of the paper I almost exclusively write for don't get that - they send stupid letters-to-the-editor. And neither does the chief editor - who in turn sends equally doubtful emails around the whole office. Now, please, also keep in mind, that I was very clear in the article about the fact that this isn't spraying but cleaning. They still complained about that. But they also complained about the things the guy I interviewed said - He was politically left-ish and uttered some anti-police power things, i.e. that he was glad to have found something that annoyed the police but which they couldn't do anything about since it was legal. So they actually complained about the quotes (!) I happened to use. One of my co-workers (right wing, pro-police, openly racist, misogynist, homophobic) apparently ranted the whole day about that, I was told (I didn't work today, so a co-worker called me to warn me of Monday)

Again, I really need to finish uni so I can finally start looking for work elsewhere. There's not much choice here, but there's one daily that doesn't enforce this right-wing, neo-liberalist bullshit all the other twits do. One paper. One paper! Crap, I'm probably gonna end up moving to a different country rather sooner than later.

P.S.: in case you wondered: everyone knows about the openly racist guy's openly racist slurs - also he doesn't really work much or well - yet no one does something about it. not my boss, not the editor-in-chief. Sad, isn't it. How disillusioned would I have to become to be able to work in such a place?

meh

2008-09-04T13:40:00.000+02:00

not much in the mood for work today. I'd much rather be seated on the couch at home reading Old Man's War. It's bad, I can't really put the book down - that's how much I like it.

I created a middleman wallpaper too. what bugs me is that the avatar's nose is a fixed design - makes them look like Michael Jackson no matter what. And that's not something I want as my wallpaper. Look at that:

Non-baby names

2008-09-03T12:58:00.000+02:00

Blogpeep Zoe, who is planning to have a baby with her partner, posted this quiz on her blog - and even without a pending child I got curious about what names the quiz thinks I like...

You Like Names that Are Retro and Fashionable

You like names that are from the past but becoming modern again.

Names with a strong history are very appealing to you.

You're a big believer in giving children very adult sounding names.

You're not a fan of nicknames or newfangled spellings.

Some female names you might like: Audrey, Emma, Fiona, Georgia, Isabelle, Naomi, Rosemary, and Veronica

Some male names you might like: Brendan, Colin, Ethan, Jared, Kenneth, Martin, and Nathaniel

What Kind of Names Do You Like?

Besides Emma, Colin and Nathanial none of the names appeal to me. In fact, Nathaniel is the only one I really like (maybe that comes from watching too much Six Feet Under). Maybe Isabelle would work for me with a different spelling: Isobel (again, SFU...).

reminder

2008-08-28T10:58:00.000+02:00

much needed

2008-08-27T23:51:00.001+02:00

I'm in a weird place right now, having weird thoughts, and I don't like it. Maybe I should just go to bed....

Eatsdropped in Vienna, now on Hedonia

2008-08-25T12:51:00.000+02:00

I have made it into the Eatsdroppings over at Hedonia. Yay :)

"Let's take the train to anywhere..."

2008-08-25T00:56:00.000+02:00

The second time around I am realising how much BS my thesis is. Seriously! But I don't think there will be time to go over it again. So it'll just have to remain weak to mediocre *shutting off inner perfectionist now*

I thought Missy Higgins' music would get me through working on these stupid citations. And it did fine. But then "Don't Ever" started. And now I feel like I just want to get out of this city into a nice country home and write and make music and be. The verse that did me in?

We'll get a house where the trees hang low and pretty little flowers
On our window sill will grow
We'll make friends with the milk man and the butcher Mr. Timms
Will give us discounts when he can

twittering away

2008-08-23T23:30:00.001+02:00

Even though I can't really share twitter with my coworkers or friends, because people here aren't big with the social networking sites (my friends seem to be virtually computer-illiterate, I don't even think they've realised what a blog is) I now have twitter, hoping to share it at least with my blogpeeps.

Find me under mcCutcheon of course. Or just click "follow me" in the sidebar.

Stupidity, glorious stupidity!

2008-08-23T23:24:00.000+02:00

The customer is not always right.
How did I NOT find out about this site earlier? My favourite so far is this one:

(A customer was trying on a shorty wetsuit.)
Customer: “It seems to fit okay, but the zip is a little high. It would irritate under my chin.”
Me: “Yes. I can see what you mean, but if you put the suit on the right way round, you won’t have that problem.”
Customer: “…”
Me, to co-worker: “Remind me to never dive with that guy.”

A piece of vienna sky

2008-08-20T20:02:00.000+02:00

Stumbled out of the gym and was greeted by this view.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

Oh, me? I've been stuck.

2008-08-18T19:25:00.011+02:00

I wanted to put Breaking Dawn in my Shelfari window but finished the book before I could get around to go online. I read it in about 2 days while still managing to play a whole map at Spellforce. It was OK, Breaking Dawn, I mean. Not stellar, but I felt compelled to read it since I'd read parts one through three. Also, welcome reprieve from the real world.

I'm kinda in a tough place right now. After being sick last week I couldn't go to work today because my IBS flared up again over the weekend thanks to some antibiotics my dentist prescribed me. I'm better today but my tummy is still tender which makes me really crabby because I can't really do anything besides taking painkillers. I hate not being able to treat the cause of pain but only the symptoms. It's bollocks is what it is. Stupid antibiotics-obsessed doctors. And stupid me for not saying 'thank you, but no, thank you'.

As much as it bugs me that I can't go to work and earn lots of money (well, some money at least) I'm really quite content not to be there at the moment. Work's been getting to me lately as much as and probably connected to the feeling of being on the wrong track. It's ridiculous, really. I just have to get through this tough stretch, get my thesis done and pass my exam to leave university behind me and shovel free some space in my head for all those big plans and dreams I have, to start realising them. But the trick is getting through that time. I have no recipe for that. And right now I'm frustrated with the standstill and the melancholy mood the season is beginning to impose on me for once doesn't help much. It's still summer here, but I can notice it turning into something else - not quite fall yet but this beginning of becoming that comes towards the end of summer. And when I feel fall approach I always get melancholy and then I get creative. And not being able to live that right now feels crippling.

It also doesn't help much that I can barely remember these past few months. First the thesis limbo, when I didn't know who would oversee it, then the soccer cup that basically made me work's bitch. And now this feeling has gripped me that after this monthlong standstill - for fuck's sake - shouldn't I be doing something? Something worthwhile? Because all I'm doing is sitting and waiting, and as much as I realise I have to learn this (and I have, to some extent), patience really isn't my style.

It might sound elitist, but I'm gonna be honest here (or what's the blogging point?), I'm struggling with going to the same work every week. Same place, same people, basically the same stories. I'm not simply an elitist or averse to work or unable to commit. OK, that last one might be true about me. I can't really commit to one strand of thing, but I still stand firm that I might not have to do that. What gives other people security, namely a safe workplace (not that my current "employment" is safe. I'm still a freelancer, but one with unvoluntary ties) gives me reason to run. I grew up with parents who work freelance. They always travelled a lot, worked project after project, stayed home for stretches in between that. My mum still does that, but I can see how my retired dad is going nuts about staying put. He might not admit it, but I can hear it when I talk to him. Travelling with them even as a kid I inherited that pull, that nomad need to move on. Maybe there's some cigány* blood in me, who knows? Which reminds me that I miss my grandpa so much, lately. So much...

However, I started working like that too while I was in uni full time. Working as a floor manager for Austrian tv occasionally, a different production every time, sometimes new people, sometimes well-known faces. That rush of blood pumping adrenaline (does that flow in blood, actually) to my heart, anticipating what could go wrong in that specific production, always ready to run wherever needed. I really miss that, the feeling of "going live", also the feeling of family when hundreds of people are pulling one wagon. It's one of the most exhilarating feelings I've gotten to know. Then I started working for a company that offers media solutions (fancy word for PR by video I guess) and that meant project work too, learning something new all the time, like editing film or being a project manager.

So, I guess I know where my desire to work in the film business comes from. And I think it also explains why I feel so stuck now. But knowing doesn't help, since I can't change much right at this moment. After I'm done with my thesis, after I've graduated. Then, yes. But until then I'll have to somehow make peace with the fact that my mind and my strength are somehow tangled up in this mess and not free to do "the creative thing". Yet. For now I'm gonna have to content myself with sitting in my window, writing an endlessly long blog post. Breathing in almost-fall, enjoying the sound the crickets make or the wind unsettling the leaves of the tree next to my window like he wants them to fall already. I really don't want to miss autumn this year, I need to savour it this time around.

The neanderthal in me.

2008-08-12T12:26:00.000+02:00

I'm usually fine with sharing food - after all, I cook for people. I'm even ok with people at work asking me for part of my lunch, occasionally. There are some exceptions though.

1. You don't eat my last salami (Finn learned that the hard way), not if it's Hungarian.
2. Keep your hands off my burger - unless you have a proper exchange for a bite - of the tasting exchange kind.
3. Do not ever ask me for a cookie if that cookie is an Oreo - The aforementioned work colleague came into the room while I was munching on the second of my six Oreos and asks "Can I have a cookie from you". I didn't even have to say anything. She must've caught the look I gave her because she was out of the room fast, mumbling something. She's probably mad at me now, even though I tried to yell an explanatory "Not my Oreos. I don't share Oreos" after her. Well, bite me. These are my Oreos.

The Worry Hat

2008-08-07T11:32:00.000+02:00

I haven't been blogging lately because I just couldn't find the time at work and wasn't inclined to do internet stuff once I got home. And then I've been busy playing the Spellforce Platinum Edition (a really awesome RPG for PC). Got it for free with a german videogaming mag we're reading. I'm losing whole days to this game as does finn... Also I've been sick with a weird summer cold these past couple of days, so I stayed home and played even more Spellforce. I'll be working on my thesis again the next two or three weeks and also I'm working working, that is when I'm not home sick. Being sick in the summer really really sucks. By now I'm down to a simple cough but it's enough to make me not want to travel through half the city to spend the day in a sweltering hot office building.

I might not get around to blogging much these next months, but I should at least get back to reading all your blogs once I'm back at work on Monday. However, I do want to leave you something nice. Like, for example, pointing you to today's Questionable Content comic. May it make you laugh as much as me.

I'm giddy with excitement already

2008-07-30T13:49:00.000+02:00

The first Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer:

to spare you the searching progress

2008-07-30T12:31:00.000+02:00

The Last Lecture

It's hard not to gush

2008-07-29T16:53:00.000+02:00

So... I did get to write an article about Randy Pausch. The media department was looking for a story - like, fast - and someone remembered my pitch. Of course they only realised they needed a story really late in the workday, so my article isn't exactly perfect. I basically wrote it and then skimmed it once or twice to catch the biggest mistakes. I would have had more time if I wouldn't have had to watch the Last Lecture again (it's more than 1 hour long).

- I just got a call saying that the article was OK considering the short time. Ah well, I guess I have to hold myself to a higher standard. Someone should :)

Again, Pausch's speech was inspiring. I had a really hard time staying in my journalist role and not gushing in the article. I can only try to remember his words every day. Especially that stuff about not complaining but working harder. I'm a big complainer and I know it. And: I don't always "find the best in everybody" like he suggests. But I'm willing to try and work on this. I'm determined not to let the brick walls hinder me. And I'm not ashamed to be so influenced by the thoughts of someone whom I didn't even know. I know I'm not alone with it. Even though his speech was intended for his kids in the first place Randy Pausch spoke to a helluva lot of people.

manic monday meme

2008-07-28T12:44:00.003+02:00

I'm doing this weeks, and last weeks as well. That's me playing along :)

Every person you have ever slept with is invited to a banquet where you are the guest of honor. No one will be in attendance except you, the collection of your former lovers, and the catering service. After the meal, you are asked to give a fifteen-minute speech to the assembly. What do you talk about?

"Friends, Romans, ..." Just kidding. That all sounds so formal, why not do something more fun? ;) To be honest, I'd be way more interested in what has happened in their lives than in giving a speech. Also, they'd all think I'd gone nuts if I'd be doing a speech. Or holding a banquet, come to think of it.

What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
Staying in, drinking tea or coffee, sitting on a window pane, listening to music and/or reading, playing video games.

Are you a window person or an aisle person? Why? Theoretically I'd be an aisle person, because no matter how short the flight it's almost guaranteed I'm gonna need to pe. However, I'm that bitch that makes the people next to her get up for that because I much prefer the window seat. I like leaning against the wall/window, looking out of the window, feeling a bit remote from whoever's next to me...

And last week's:
What's your favorite beach in the world?
That would probably be Le due sorelle in Italy (Province of Ancona).

Due Sorelle means "two sisters/nuns" and the beach is called that because it is located between two cliffs that look like praying nuns. You have to walk/climb down the mountainside on the Passo del Lupo (Wolf's trail), but then you arrive at a tiny but lovely secluded beach.
We were on a language course with our Italian class and made the trip to Due Sorelle on September, 11, 2001. We were completely alone there, about 12 of us maximum - it was beautiful. We were literally frolicking in the water and sand, when some started getting weird text messages from their parents, but we couldn't quite grasp from them what had happened. And when we finally made the climb back up the huge rock, suddenly it was not only the 11th day of the month but 9/11. Nonetheless Due Sorelle is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to and I hold a very fond memory of that afternoon between the cliffs. Damn, I really have to take Finn there, even though she hates Italy. Must. Find. Way.

What's the next country you want to visit?
The next country I will visit (see: holiday) is Sweden. We're going to fly to Stockholm, rent a car
there and drive down to Smaland where we will stay for a week before driving back up north to Stockholm.

What one thing are you craving today?
Interestingly, I'm craving nothing today. I've been doing quite well with the eating discipline lately :)

R.I.P.

2008-07-28T11:17:00.001+02:00

I came to work about five minutes ago, and I was barely sitting when one of my co-workers came into the room and told me "your internet professor is dead". At first I didn't know what the heck he was talking about. But then I remembered that I had pitched a story about Randy Pausch to him about a month ago (he declined back then). I went to Pausch's website, he died three days ago on Friday. For those of you who are not familiar with Pausch (I wrote a post about him back when). Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and he was dying of Pancreatic cancer. Diagnosed in 2006 and given three months to half a year he continued to fight the cancer for almost two more years. His "last lecture", held at Carnegie Mellon, inspired many young (but I reckon also older people) to make the most of their lives. The lecture made the You Tube rounds and got published as a book. (you can find Randy Pausch's story here and his personal website where he kept updates on how he was doing here).

I'm not crying (I try not to at work), but I do feel terrible. After all, the words of this amazing person did touch my heart and somehow, as he was doing OK for such a long time (with ups and downs of course) according to his website, I kinda took it for guaranteed that he'd be around a bit longer. Boy, what I would have given for an interview with him. In cases like that it really sucks being on the wrong side of the pond... Even via a youtube video on a screen that guy came across as extremely charismatic and a person with so much heart and enthusiasm. My heart goes out to his family, his friends and his students - and all those others who, like me, feel they have learned so much from Randy Pausch's Last Lecture.

edit: This NYT article succeeded in making my cry.

not everyday is a holiday

2008-07-24T12:07:00.000+02:00

I just booked a holiday for us. I'm gonna hand in my thesis (again) in the middle of September (15th or 16th I reckon) and on the 19th Finn and I are going to leave for Sweden for a week. And Finn's sister will stay with our bunnies (which I'll have a hard time leaving nonetheless).
We still have to book our flights and arrange for a rental car, but it's going to be our first holiday in - forever, so I'm pretty exited about this. A week of relaxing in Smaland sounds so very enticing... the bungalow apparently even has a fireplace. And I'm a sucker for fireplaces :)

media ethics and the U. S. of A.

2008-07-23T12:28:00.000+02:00

Last night I was reading a Huffington.com post about Christian Bale allegedly assaulting his mother and sister and I happened across the following sentence: "British police do not name suspects who have not been formally charged." That put me severely in shock. I hadn't realised that it would have to be specifically stated in an American media outlet that no, the police does not publicly identify suspects that haven't been officially charged yet. That must mean that this isn't the case in the U.S.
Now, I'm all for freedom of the press, but I in that case I'm glad that in Austria (and probably most other European countries) it is intrinsic to media ethics that suspects are not named in the press period. Not ever, unless it is in the interest of the public. And that's one of the few things which I am happy about in this country.
I still can't believe that this isn't the case everywhere else in the world...

2008-07-22T17:34:00.001+02:00

I haven't exactly been blogging a lot lately and i think the cause of it is that i'm having some kind of a quarterlife crisis. It isn't a catastrophe, and it hasn't exactly snuck up on me. I've seen it coming for a while now but there just wasn't anything i could have done. Not yet.

The thing is, i feel like i'm in limbo. Life-wise. Like i've arrived at that point where my plan ends and i feel seriously lost without a map. Which is probably damn normal at my age. Still. To me it means i need a new plan and that is where things get difficult.

I've decided that the limbo feeling will end once i'm really done with my degree. For real this time. Ok, first it will probably get worse but THEN it will get better.
But what comes afterwards? I'm a good journalist and a lot of others would be so thankful to be able to do what people expect of me in my job. And don't get me wrong, i like my job a lot. I just can't imagine doing this forever, because there's this other thing tugging at me. I actually have a hard time saying it "out loud" here: i want to be a film editor. My heart jumps even at the thought of working as production assistant on a film set.
Call it a forgotten dream or one that has always been slumbering in me. Maybe it's in my genetic make-up because my parents are in a similar business. My point: i can't get rid of this feeling that i'm in the wrong business.

I'm going to have to continue these musings tomorrow, because i just arrived at our apartment. Home :)

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

full of surprises

2008-07-21T15:08:00.000+02:00

I expected Forgetting Sarah Marshall to be an entertaining-in-a-dumb-kind-of-way movie for a sick day at home (my stomach is being weird), but it turned out to be so much more... funny and sweet and smart and even kinda deep in a way. Jason Segel wrote it, I'm beginning to like this guy. Oh and by the way the movie also co-stars Jack McBrayer (Page Kenneth from 30 Rock) and he's hilarious.

The other surprising movie I saw this week was Mamma Mia! Surprising, because every single critique I caught said it was a bad movie, yet I can't agree with that. It's no Rendition or Batman Begins (No, I haven't seen The Dark Knight yet, will have to wait for August, because that one I really need to see on the big screen.), but Mamma Mia is campy and fun and it has an amazing cast. I haven't laughed this much in a long time.

monthly eating "disorder"

2008-07-16T12:34:00.001+02:00

I just devoured two nussini.

In about 2 minutes tops.
And now I'm totally grossed out by myself.
I hate getting my period just for my eating habits in the previous days. And also because I feel attached to my boobs and not the other way round.

edit: oh no, I ate another one! Apparently I'm a slave to chocolate today. HEEEEELP!!!!!

one of those days

2008-07-14T13:05:00.000+02:00

I'm at work and I'm feeling cold and sick and my eyes burn and I'm close to tears because I just want to be at home, in my bed, sooo much.

Disney and guns. And Ani of course.

2008-07-04T16:53:00.000+02:00

Disney's got balls and I like it. They're basically sticking their tongue out to the state and the NRA. Yay Disney!

I had to think of Ani's To the teeth just now:
"open fire on each weapons manufacturer/while he's giving head/to some republician senator"

aaaaaawwww!

2008-07-04T13:55:00.000+02:00

go to today's Questionable Content to see what induced my aaawwwing :)

btw: I like blogger in draft. finally got around to enabling it.

bookworm

2008-07-04T12:14:00.004+02:00

Okay, I finally got my "reading"-widget (thanks, shazza!), which means I now have to fess up to you. I'm reading the Twilight saga. I never thought it would happen, especially since I tend to give books that everybody is over the moon about a wide berth. But somehow in my current habit of basically devouring books in 2 days max I got sucked into it, young adult love story or not.
And I have to say Twilight was really good. Not Philipp Pullman-deep kind of good and not John Irving-crazy kind of good, but I liked it. Except for the fact that I want to barf at how Bella's life revolves around Edward and nothing and no one else exists. You got to have friends, girl! I finished New Moon yesterday and am now reading the third part, Eclipse. I still enjoy reading it, it's quite suspenseful at times, however the saga has the typical sequel problem - whatever comes after the first book is usually not that great (that goes for movies as well usually). And another big con: While Bella is completely oblivious about a lot of happenings and reasons, I tend to guess what's going on with the same information that she has. So then I'm basically just waiting for her to figure it out as well or someone else to enlighten her. Predictability can be quite annoying with books, takes away a bit of the pleasure. I will however read the fourth part as well when it comes out in fall. I'm kinda ocd like that, I can't just not read a sequel if the parts are more than just loosely connected...

Finn of course will never ever read it, that I know. She has a strong dislike for young adult books and romance. In fact, our reading habits are totally different. But that's gonna have to be another blogpost, because I have some work to do now. With the words: "Do you want to earn some big money today" my boss just gave me a couple of articles to do :)

wanted: widget

2008-07-03T16:39:00.000+02:00

I know that Finn actually wants Wanted, the new Angelina Jolie flick that's not gonna be coming to any Austrian cinema, not just near us *thud*. But what I want right now is a nice "currently reading" or "now reading" widget. Anyone know any? I know I've seen some around on blogger, but I can't remember for the life of me where and google isn't very helpful with this.

I love it. I'm there. Sign me up and let me kiss the ground Joss Whedon walks.

2008-07-03T14:01:00.003+02:00

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog starts on July 15th. With Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion.
It comes as no surprise to me that Whedon even knows how to service the internet crowds. One can not not love this guy *sigh*

Crabby attack

2008-07-02T21:16:00.001+02:00

I hate concert crowds. Actually i hate all kinds of crowds. How hard is it to obey a fucking non-smoking policy. I know i'm ruining this for finn and i'm so sorry but we've been waiting for this concert to start for 45 minutes now. Which means i want to go home already even pre-concert. Argh... And i know finn loves this and i should be more supportive. I suck :-(

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson videophone

Where I'm from

2008-06-30T15:32:00.005+02:00

There is one meme I have been wanting to do, but I never got around to it. It's a meme I saw on a couple of blogs months ago, while I was first writing my thesis, and I immediately loved the idea. I knew though that I would need time and a certain state of mind to do it. I finally got around to that.

Where I'm from (based on a poem by George Ella Lyons). The instructions can be found here, I'm not tagging anyone, but please let me know if and when you've done this on your blog, because I'm interested in reading it.

I am from stacks of books, from LEGO and ski slopes.

I am from the little lake that was my ocean (fiery at sunset, warm and clear after a summer storm, wind in my hair).

I am from the dirt road leading to my “island”, the low vegetation beating on my arms, snapping in my face as I playfully raced through it.

I am from Canasta and the mono-brow, from playfully wrestling with my grandfather in the mornings (he always let me win), from Sándor, who I lost, and Maria, who I barely knew.

I am from the short-tempered and the bullheaded.

From reading is adventure in the mind and clean up your room.

I am from processing history. From not knowing about one belief while another one was being imposed on me - and now churches creep me out.

I'm from the Danube, twice along its route, I’m from paprikás krumpli and Tafelspitz.

From the grandfather who thrived as a prisoner in Russia, enjoying the arts, the grandmother who got scarred for life in a war that put a tattoo on her arm, and the grampa who didn’t go to war because his hand got disfigures – most probably not completely by accident if we're being honest.

I am from a grandfather and a mother (and me) - who all used to see life through a lens quite frequently, but organisation got lost over the generations and the pictures are mostly scattered in boxes and chaos by now. Except for a couple, that hang on my wall: My grandparents, two of them old, two of them young. Inadvertently the ones who got older are younger in the pictures. One grandmother blinking against the sun that lightens up her hair even in black and white, the other in colour but with little me in her arms (my memory of her comes from that picture mostly). One grandfather, old, I knew all the liver spots on his face, the other one in his best clothes, once on the other side of a camera – in the 50’s or 60’s? My parents, and me with almost-white blond hair, missing teeth and always those glasses. A rare picture, of me on my tricycle, my dad pushing me, smiling (a rare treat), taken three days after Tschernobyl.

me-mosaic

2008-06-30T14:06:00.007+02:00

LG did one. And Finn did one. And I'm game and have the day off (and Finn just complained that I haven't done one yet), so here comes my
12 things flickr meme!

This is how it works:
1. type your answers to the 12 questions into the flickr-search module.
2. pick one of the pictures of the first result page and add their url to the Mosaic Maker (you'll have to register)
3. Press the "Create" button and post your mosaic.

12 Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name?

so he always had those teeth...

2008-06-29T15:28:00.002+02:00

I was sure they weren't the one he was born with.

in case you haven't noticed: that is Nigel Lythgoe dancing. And singing!
as is this (embedding disabled)

it's sorta how I would imagine a roomful of geeks dancing *snicker*