I've found that my motivation to write and my skills at description have waned over the years.....this is probably not helped by aching back and shoulders......i happen to enjoy the infrequent hour or two that we take to pause from all the activity......and i chose to do just that: pause.
admittedly, i almost didn't make it here tonight......it started to rain, so we decided to head to our place for a rest......a 45 minute nap at 630pm almost became a full night's slumber.....but alas i AM here.....and i'm well.....and probably heading out now that i am awake.......i promise to write something (hopefully remotely interesting) soon.........
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
ein zweibel
(written feb 24)
our place currently reeks of onions--this is primarily due to the fact that we had a delectable dinner in which onion was a staple. Unfortunately, this almost did not occur. Who knew what a challenge it could be to buy a single onion.....not a bag, no......no need for a bushel.....we only have one dinner for two people to prepare.....we tried the Billa (supermarket), we tried the corner produce, we tried everywhere we could think of......our options were 2: no zweibel vs. many zweibel.......we had all but given up when we passed our friendly wine merchant/deli......noticed a basket......a basket of....none other than.....ZWEIBEL!........i tentatively asked, with one finger raised "ein zweibel?" (one onion?) and the man behind the counter nodded.....a spontaneous song and dance ensued........ein zweibel was a victory with tangible (and tasty) results.
our place currently reeks of onions--this is primarily due to the fact that we had a delectable dinner in which onion was a staple. Unfortunately, this almost did not occur. Who knew what a challenge it could be to buy a single onion.....not a bag, no......no need for a bushel.....we only have one dinner for two people to prepare.....we tried the Billa (supermarket), we tried the corner produce, we tried everywhere we could think of......our options were 2: no zweibel vs. many zweibel.......we had all but given up when we passed our friendly wine merchant/deli......noticed a basket......a basket of....none other than.....ZWEIBEL!........i tentatively asked, with one finger raised "ein zweibel?" (one onion?) and the man behind the counter nodded.....a spontaneous song and dance ensued........ein zweibel was a victory with tangible (and tasty) results.
feb 24 - vienna
how to capture our stay thus far?
so much has filled our days.......i've seen real Schiele, Klimt, Moll, Warhol, Export, Ono......i've eaten confectioneries created for an emperor and drank a variety of Viennese melanges.....i've gawked at gothic cathedrals and been down to see the bones of priests and plague victims.......we've been suurounded by opulence in the Imperial Palace and at the opera.....we've meandered midieval courtyards and created our own missions while learning many facts and skills........
what i like about vienna (beyond the obvious):
1) dogs, dogs everywhere!
so much has filled our days.......i've seen real Schiele, Klimt, Moll, Warhol, Export, Ono......i've eaten confectioneries created for an emperor and drank a variety of Viennese melanges.....i've gawked at gothic cathedrals and been down to see the bones of priests and plague victims.......we've been suurounded by opulence in the Imperial Palace and at the opera.....we've meandered midieval courtyards and created our own missions while learning many facts and skills........
what i like about vienna (beyond the obvious):
1) dogs, dogs everywhere!
- on the street
- in that guy's coat
- on leash, off leash
- on the tram
- in the posh coffee shop
- in the pizzaria
- at the pub
- (and an add-on from prague -- in the art gallery)
where the people go, so too go their dogs......and the dogs are amazingly aloof.......
2)conservationism abounds
- power goes out (even in the public washrooms) if no one walks in after a while
- appliances are small
- toilets use less water....and sometimes you control how much water you use based on your needs
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Mr. Lenz
(written Feb 21)
we both woke up fairly early...it's been a relaxing yet jet-lagged day....we settled......got groceries....got our bearings......wandered vienna......we're in vienna...no really. we are.
our apartment is FABULOUS! angela said "it's liek staying at someone's grandmother's house but without the grandmother".....we have 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room AND terrace...it's clean...it's cozy...it's home (for now).....and then there's mr.lenz....
my mom has this movie that she loves called "Until September"....it's about an american woman who gets stuck in paris when she misses her connecting flight to (was it?) budapest.....it follows her as she meets this man--her friend's nextdoor neighbour--with whom she has a heated affair.
well, the moment we walked into our building, i felt like i stepped into a scene from "Until September"...the feeling of foreigness was the same....the portayal of exhaustion was the same......the walk-up was the same......
as we found our apartment, mr.lenz was standing in the doorway.....he was our new neighbour and he had opened our place for us.....va va va voom!.....but the plot twists a bit when the neighbour is a 4foot9, 65 year old austrian man with a firm grip......
maybe next time i'll tell you more about vienna......
right now it's time for bed.......auf vedazen (or something like that).....
we both woke up fairly early...it's been a relaxing yet jet-lagged day....we settled......got groceries....got our bearings......wandered vienna......we're in vienna...no really. we are.
our apartment is FABULOUS! angela said "it's liek staying at someone's grandmother's house but without the grandmother".....we have 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room AND terrace...it's clean...it's cozy...it's home (for now).....and then there's mr.lenz....
my mom has this movie that she loves called "Until September"....it's about an american woman who gets stuck in paris when she misses her connecting flight to (was it?) budapest.....it follows her as she meets this man--her friend's nextdoor neighbour--with whom she has a heated affair.
well, the moment we walked into our building, i felt like i stepped into a scene from "Until September"...the feeling of foreigness was the same....the portayal of exhaustion was the same......the walk-up was the same......
as we found our apartment, mr.lenz was standing in the doorway.....he was our new neighbour and he had opened our place for us.....va va va voom!.....but the plot twists a bit when the neighbour is a 4foot9, 65 year old austrian man with a firm grip......
maybe next time i'll tell you more about vienna......
right now it's time for bed.......auf vedazen (or something like that).....
an afternoon in amsterdam
How exhausted can a person become? Let's do an experiment:
night shift (make it 2?)
add trip prep & cleaning for minimal slumber
stir with last minute packing
combine with 9 hour flight
set aside for 8 hours while you visit amsterdam
admittedly, it was whirlwind and overwhelming.....i felt liek i'd stepped into a section of disneyland (thank you, anita)......surreal? yes......we wandered the streets along the canal....dodging trams and cyclists...it's flatter than the prairies and so many cyclists...awesome!
the buildings? what can be said. hundreds of years old....tall and slender...each with their own slant--forward, right, left-- yet holding each other up......we stopped for a coffee and streudel just as it started to pour......our windowed-in terrace style seating area gave us a good view of the passers-by.......we were exhausted and amsterdam was uneventful....thankfully!
but i'm getting off track....back to the experiment:
add 2 hours of flight time
and the quickest possible mode of transportation to accomodation
and the brain--including motor and communication skills--has gone a long way in the process of shutting down
result: 2 comatose women
night shift (make it 2?)
add trip prep & cleaning for minimal slumber
stir with last minute packing
combine with 9 hour flight
set aside for 8 hours while you visit amsterdam
admittedly, it was whirlwind and overwhelming.....i felt liek i'd stepped into a section of disneyland (thank you, anita)......surreal? yes......we wandered the streets along the canal....dodging trams and cyclists...it's flatter than the prairies and so many cyclists...awesome!
the buildings? what can be said. hundreds of years old....tall and slender...each with their own slant--forward, right, left-- yet holding each other up......we stopped for a coffee and streudel just as it started to pour......our windowed-in terrace style seating area gave us a good view of the passers-by.......we were exhausted and amsterdam was uneventful....thankfully!
but i'm getting off track....back to the experiment:
add 2 hours of flight time
and the quickest possible mode of transportation to accomodation
and the brain--including motor and communication skills--has gone a long way in the process of shutting down
result: 2 comatose women
follow up
i managed to abide by the security rules....i managed to fly the first leg of my trip without any major issues (except perhaps exhaustion)......i managed to get my butt (and other parts) safely to amsterdam.....then, recklessly, i left the security area....
i managed to enjoy my first visit to the city without purchasing and transporting any liquids greater than 3 fluid ounces. Yet, somehow, i found a way to get chastised at the security point on my return for my connecting flight.....and tragedy.......they threw away the wine given to me on the previous flight........heartbreaking
i managed to enjoy my first visit to the city without purchasing and transporting any liquids greater than 3 fluid ounces. Yet, somehow, i found a way to get chastised at the security point on my return for my connecting flight.....and tragedy.......they threw away the wine given to me on the previous flight........heartbreaking
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
PSA
So I’m getting the last minute details together before I fly away for 3 months……last minutes details? Who am I kidding? I haven’t even started packing yet…….but I have downloaded a ridiculous amount of music onto my ipod…..
Anyway….i came across some pretty important information that I think the average person should know…..(in addition to the above-average people like yourself, of course):
According to the Transportation Security Administration, part of the US Department of Homeland Security, certain surprising items are not allowed in one’s carry-on baggage when flying……for the progression of items to be fully appreciated, I suggest you check out the website and read them in order before continuing…….
Admittedly, it is nice to know that I can now carry-on makeup, shampoo and other liquids, gels and aerosols (provided they are less than 3 fluid ounces). On the other hand, as I moved down the lists from “make-up & personal items” to “electronic devices” to “sharp objects”, the progression of less-desirable carry-on items was apparent. I mean, how stupid are we getting? Does it really need to be specified that firearms should not be in carry-on luggage? Let alone, does it require an entire subsection describing the particulars of what would be considered a firearm? Do we need to be told explicitly not to bring our brass knuckles, nunchukus, throwing stars and swords on the plane? I mean, I can see how there may be some differences in opinion when it came to meat cleavers, hand grenades and plastic explosives….come on! But the strangest is that the list finished with “food and drink”. The items we would consume. Whereas screwdrivers and tools less than seven inches in length are allowed in carry-on luggage, “Beverages brought from home or purchased before reaching the security checkpoint in containers LARGER than 3 oz.” are not allowed. I recognize the importance of security. But am I the only one who sees the lunacy created when common sense is thrown out the window for doctrine?
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…..let’s pack!
Anyway….i came across some pretty important information that I think the average person should know…..(in addition to the above-average people like yourself, of course):
According to the Transportation Security Administration, part of the US Department of Homeland Security, certain surprising items are not allowed in one’s carry-on baggage when flying……for the progression of items to be fully appreciated, I suggest you check out the website and read them in order before continuing…….
Admittedly, it is nice to know that I can now carry-on makeup, shampoo and other liquids, gels and aerosols (provided they are less than 3 fluid ounces). On the other hand, as I moved down the lists from “make-up & personal items” to “electronic devices” to “sharp objects”, the progression of less-desirable carry-on items was apparent. I mean, how stupid are we getting? Does it really need to be specified that firearms should not be in carry-on luggage? Let alone, does it require an entire subsection describing the particulars of what would be considered a firearm? Do we need to be told explicitly not to bring our brass knuckles, nunchukus, throwing stars and swords on the plane? I mean, I can see how there may be some differences in opinion when it came to meat cleavers, hand grenades and plastic explosives….come on! But the strangest is that the list finished with “food and drink”. The items we would consume. Whereas screwdrivers and tools less than seven inches in length are allowed in carry-on luggage, “Beverages brought from home or purchased before reaching the security checkpoint in containers LARGER than 3 oz.” are not allowed. I recognize the importance of security. But am I the only one who sees the lunacy created when common sense is thrown out the window for doctrine?
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…..let’s pack!
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