Library

Next to the VHS (adult education centre) next to where I live is a library as well. So today, after enrolling for my second semester of the French course, I thought I’m going to check it out. And I almost got lost! Oh dear! It’s not big, but it has enough interesting stuff. Also plenty of music CD’s from Spice Girls to Björk, classical, jazz. So I ended up taking more than I wanted. When I go to the main library at Urban Loritz Platz, I’m never taking more than one or two items. It seems they have too much or the things I want I cannot find or it is not there. I used to go to the library very often, when I was living in Uxbridge (UK) and would take four books at least. I haven't been to the library in over a year. I just rediscovered it recently. We’ll see how long it lasts.



Yesterday at the rehearsal for Tanz die Toleranz Josef used music for the warm-up and I had more space (front or second row FTW!). Also we made two groups, which always helps! The piece comes slowly together. But it is still a long way until perfection. Oh dear! And the music! You cannot really count it and I don’t know it very well so I don’t have any feeling for it either. We’ve still got four weeks to go.

Surge of emotion

That's what I felt on the way to the rehearsal for Tanz die Toleranz. It somehow got triggered by people looking at me. It was not good, but it wasn't bad either. It was beyond words.
Then I met people from the group and we went to the studio. And it was crowded, I wasn't able to dance. There was no way of concentrating on the movement, the body, my breathing. It was better after lunch. But ... it's complicated.
Maybe yesterday was too much. Three exciting things happening on one day are hard to handle! I hope I can elaborate on the past and the future and the present - in that order - some other time. My plan is to update more often.

hello world

That’s what you get, when you don’t have a permanent internet connection on your beloved machine:


Left before I marked the TUAW posts as read, right after.

I’ve been working pretty hard the last two weeks. At least for my taste. Yesterday we had a bit of a problem, then the adrenaline is kicking in. And if you have a problem with files, that are already printing on the BIG BIG machine, then it’s expensive. It was hard to recognize beforehand (if you don’t know what you’re looking for), but I hope, now we know and something like that might not happen again. Woah that’s cryptic, ey?
But luckily it’s Friday and I can calm down and rest a bit. Well well, election day on Sunday. Interesting Formula 1 race as well. And some awesome pieces of music yesterday btw:

Sergej Wassiljewitsch Rachmaninow: Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2 c - Moll, op. 18
Peter Iljitsch Tschaikowskij: "Der Sturm". Phantasie nach William Shakespeare, op. 18
Igor Strawinsky: Suite aus dem Ballett "Der Feuervogel"; Fassung 1919

Yes, at the Musikverein, not at the Konzerthaus, as I assumed. Pah! But as it happened in Vienna it was easy to get from the one place to the other. Don’t even think about that happening in London! :)

Keep it down

I’m back! And what a journey. I alone had 9 kg overweight on my checked bag, which is equal to 63 pounds less money in my pocket. I had to check one of my 2.5 hand luggage bags as well, which was oddly enough for free. In order to do that I had to repack on the airport and I had to wear one of my pretty warm coats, so I can take it with me. Thank you for air conditioning! (My toes seem to be in my way recently, outch.) In Vienna on my way to the train, some odd guy asked me where I got the suitcase from and how much it was. Mumbling like crazy and talking essentially zero content, it was a very dry conversation. And being on the feet since 10 hours didn’t help. My muscles were very weak, but don’t you dare think that somebody would help you! Muahahaha. Funny. NOT AT ALL. Rather complaining, why everything’s going so slowly. Ah people, you must love them. *Shudders*
Right now I am trying to avoid unpacking and just cleaned the other table in my room of stuff, which is not mine, in order to set up my computer. But I can’t find the other monitor and maybe it is useless anyway, as I already could move in in Vienna on Monday or Tuesday (theoretically).
I won’t get jobseeker’s allowance, because I am 16 workdays short to be entitled. But there’s something else, and if you get this other thing you have to go to the basement. I imagine that there are sitting the mean guys and upstairs are the nice ladies, who will only advise you if you get jobseeker’s allowance. I am really counting on those interviews next week. Fingers crossed!
Oh, and is it possible to get keyboards with an english layout in Austria?
Update: Yes, for Apple keyboards, this is the case. Hmmm....


This one is from my mobile phone again. No postprocessing this time.
Maybe it could’ve used some, but I’m lazy.

To quickly kill some time

What do you do if you need the computer from your boyfriend, who isn’t home right now, and you don’t have an account on said laptop? You write a blog entry, containing a few updates and why you need that thing so desperately.
As I mentioned earlier, my family is here. My dad just took one 2 GB memory card with him, which was a mistake. So I have it now to get those pics off and burn it on DVD afterwards (use number 2). My computer doesn’t really like that SD card. While Windows only reads half of it, Mac doesn’t like it AT ALL. So that’s where use number 1 comes in. I need the Intel based Mac machine to get at least half of the pictures from that card. It is 12 minutes past 10. I am tired, because we went around London all day and I’m cold (have I mentioned that it is July?).
I took some awesome pictures of squirrels today, with said camera and I was keen on uploading a few. We fed them some chips in Greenwich Park and tried to ignore the fat pigeons. So that was fun! I don’t like my digital camera anymore, that’s why there won’t be much pics to post (camera phone pics anyone?). I’ll do my best to pimp the camera phone pics somehow. Since America I don’t like my own camera anymore. So I need a job quickly, to allow myself a new camera.
I’m pulling the pics from my mobile phone and I’ll post a taster of those squirrels.


It’s impossible to pimp those pics!

The unbearable lightness of being unemployed

As the weather is not inviting at all to do ... stuff, I might as well write another rant about my situation here. I got a few invitations for interviews in Austria waiting for me. And I am so grateful, one can’t imagine! It really seems a slightly bit easier to get work after a few years of experience in your pocket. It might sound presumptuous, but maybe the UK thing did help as well. But I won’t wait until the money really comes in to get a nice flat in Vienna. This task might be a bit harder though, with us still being abroad. Those estate agents with their commission are not making it easier! I hate you! I won’t pay three monthly rents just because of your smart dress. There were voices out there to change that, and there did actually happen something but nothing big, because they are all complaining. Oh, come on!
What else? I am waiting for a few pounds from the UK (tax refund), the council (Council Tax) and the water company (thanks again for non-metered water!).
My family (parents and sister) is coming on Friday. We will explore London and hopefully Brighton. I haven’t been to Greenwich yet. So please! Rain! GO AWAY!
On Saturday is The Big Dance 2008 on Trafalgar Square. If you are in London either come and see or come and dance! There are still around 400 places left. I would’ve liked to do more during this event, but the weather was oh so disgusting. I guess we’ll have to turn on the heating again. I much rather spend the day in bed, sleeping. Brrrr.
Ah and for the record! Our flight home is on the 30 July. I am planning to be in Vienna the week after (4 August), to do a few interviews and hopefully look at a few flats as well. I am afraid it is time for me to get a Wiener Linien annual travelcard. Ah the fun of a new beginning! No! Honestly! I like it.


Let’s have some tea for my cold toes.

It’s gonna happen, man

Yes. Got the tickets, the voucher, tha monies. But still loads to do. I hope I won’t forget anything. But doing something like that for the first time ... When I went on a holiday for two weeks for the first time, I took to many clothes with me. Next time my suitcase was more like half empty then too full.
Good. Went to Regent's Park. I love it, I simply love it and I hope we’ll visit it more often in the summer.
So, now, the itinerary for the next few weeks:
18/05/08 LTN-VIE
22/05/08 VIE-JFK
02/06/08 JFK-VIE (arriving on 03/06/08)
05/06/08 VIE-LTN
And then on the 30 July we’ll fly home. And then there is the usual again. Job-hunting, solving the living situation and so on. But before that I’ll have a two months holiday! The family is visiting and I’ll have to make a nice plan where to go.
We watched Persepolis (Tickets in London are utterly expensive!) on the weekend and though it is an animation, I felt like being in Vienna (it is also set in Vienna, yes) again. Hmmmm, I’m really looking forward to it and everybody there and around it, near it ...


Votivkirche, May 2007 (analogue SLR)

The Tour-Beetle

First this and now the Beetle, in which I toured around Austria gets sold as well :( But I really will not be able to use them more frequently. A car in Vienna is quite useless really.

Counting the days

I love lists and countdowns and planning and all that other stuff connected to it. So yet again (Oh dear! I didn’t even notice, that the title is the same!) I will have to make all that counting of dem months and weeks and days ...



4 weeks until we will be back in Austria for a few days
4 weeks left, where I have to be in the rat race (work)
4 weeks and 1 day until I have my hair as pictured above (Yessss!)
in 5 weeks we’ll be on a different continent for the first time in my life (at least I reckon it’s still happening)
8 weeks and 2 days until seein Trouble over Tokyo live
10 weeks and one day until seeing Erykah Badu
12 weeks and 4 days until seeing Death Cab for Cutie again

There is still some planning to do for June and July, because I want to have a closer look at a few cities in the country (Scotland!!!).

Juggling rings

I still have to practice a lot, but it is a start. I bought them yesterday, shortly before we stumbled upon the International Beatboxing Convention. Find a video and pictures on my flickr account.



I picked up the rings, you can see in the video above, from Camden Lock Market and I was quite struck by the sight of Stables Market, especially the part pictured above. We've been there with D. and S. in late December, shopping for clothes. Now I think of all the people who suddenly lost their jobs and shops and else ... The mind is a strange thing, which is filled by the media unless you go there yourself and see with your own eyes what changed.

Grow up!

They are planning yet another strike! The London Underground that is. Come on guys! GROW UP! The people you hurt, are the people who rely on you and cannot get to work without getting up at 5 in the morning! I hope they call it off again. I have only four weeks to go. Please let them be without a strike! (And I want to get to the airport without any hassle as well!)



via Tube strike threatened. Again. | London Metblogs

BUT! Good news! I learned to juggle rings yesterday! Yessss! I will get me some tomorrow so I can practice in the garden a bit (If it is not raining all weekend, yes, then I REALLY COULD do that! What is it with this clouds, that they always come on Friday and go on Tuesday morning as soon as I am in the office? HA?!!?) In the meantime the Pound is rising against the Euro, which is good, as I earn Pounds right now. I wish it is highest by the end of July, when I move my money back : )

Closer

The Atlantic was born today and I’ll tell you how...
The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean
Making islands where no island should go
Oh no



Those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your door have been silenced forever more
The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
It seems farther than ever before
Oh no

I need you so much closer

I need you so much closer
So come on, come on

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

Long time no read

Ah! Where to start? I finished another one of those work intense weeks and there are still six remaining. It is really hard for me to get up in the morning. Amid some dream the alarm clock goes off and I think “Oh no, it’s that kind of day again!”. It feels like sliding from a sweet dream off to a nightmare. (Ok, maybe I exaggerate ...) All in all the week was not too bad and I am feeling pretty well today. I took a picture of someone else’s bogue (n. The expanse of skin that appears between the top of your socks and the bottom of your trousers when you sit down. from Douglas Adams & John Lloyd The Deeper Meaning of Liff), sorry, I just couldn’t resist!
Yesterday we watched the awesome, hillarious, important and strongly recommended Shaun of the Dead, in which all the usual suspects from British TV and/or film are seen (at least I’m claiming that). What else? Yeah, The Creation will be performed from scratch and I really, rilly (sic!) would like to attend, but it’s a Sunday and it seems that I wouldn’t be able to make my way home by public transport. Maybe I’ll ask at the choir, if somebody’s driving up there. Our flight home is booked (LTN-VIE 30/07/08).


My sweetheart/sis/Schwesterherz and me at the Donau not far from my parents’ house (da hometown, more or less). Photograph by nungee

I bought a medium format camera via ebay (I ebayed it? ;), but I asked them to send it to Austria. I trust the Austrian mail a tiny little bit more than the British. The weather is good, as long as I’m working, the coming weekend doesn’t look that grand, it won’t be as warm as today. In the meantime we’re desperately awaiting the vouchers for the American trip (at least I am). Yes, I think that pretty much covers all. Hmmmm, did we do some experimental cooking in the last few weeks? Nah, don’t think so. We made a nice Tiramisu again, with real sponge fingers (Biskotten) this time. Oh dear! I could take a bath in it! ;) We didn’t even use rum and it still tasted awesome! (Orders in the comments please.)

So long and thanks for all the fish! (Video)

As stated, Karla and I are working on the same things, just different formats. She’s Mac, I’m Windows.
“Entirely appropriate,” Karla, “because Windows is more male, and Mac is more female.”
I felt defensive. “How so?”
“Well, Windows is nonintuitive ... counterintuitive, sometimes. but it’s so MALE so just go buy a Windows PC system and wast a bunch of time learning bogus commands and reading a thousand dialog boxes every time you want to change a point size or whatever ... MEN are just used to sitting there, taking orders, executing needless commands, and feeling like they got such a good deal because they saved $200. WOMEN crave efficiency, elegance ... the Mac lets them move within their digital universe exactly as they’d like, without cluttering up their human memory banks. I think the reason why so many women used to feel like they didn’t “understand computers” was because PCs are so brain-dead ... the Macintosh is responsible for upping not only the earning potential of women but also the feeling of mastering technology, which they got told is impossible for them. I was always told that.”

From: Douglas Coupland Microserfs (1995)

The end of an era ...

... and my childhood (at last).

For my German speaking readers ...

... some little note on my German blog.

Bureaucracy

E. and J. came for a few days over the last weekend. On Saturday we watched the oh so awesome hip hop theatre Into the Hoods. As I hurt my foot last week on Thursday, it was really difficult to watch, but I was on the edge of my seat for the whole of it. Nice movements. Aaaaah! We enjoyed London, though freezing like never before, it seemed. On Tuesday I had to get back to work. Still eight weeks to go. 32 days. I do not want to know how many hours that would be (no do not even THINK about writing it in the comments!). Yesterday I got myself a medium format camera on ebay. Looking forward to that. And I am still waiting for the vouchers for the trip at the end of May. Having an insured foot sucks! W. might be able to write an opera about that I guess. :/


Oh! There is a spar in the UK!

Too long Johnny

This entry is for E., who complained that I did not post anything recently.
Yesterday I finished Extremely loud & incredibly close. “I’m still wearing heavy boots.” I can really recommend that book to everyone, it is a must-read.


The Whitest Boy Alive at the Electric Ballroom, 07/02/08

This week I was very lazy concerning Thing-a-Day. I not good in doing something on the tube or during my lunch break. I either read (I finished the book within five days, which is good, when you keep in mind that I was at work on four days out of those five.), talk or feel too sick for doing anything (I hate the Metropolitan line! It is so shabby and wobbly, that I could vomit all over the train …). And because I am really not into drawing (more into painting, but I do not have the materials), I haven’t done anything worth mentioning. I will upload one picture, which I quite like. I made it on my way to work. Everyday the sun rises three minutes earlier and you can really feel the difference. It’s amazing!


The Whitest Boy Alive at the Electric Ballroom, 07/02/08

My hand was also hurting every now and then, which kept we away from my computer at home. On Wednesdays I have my choir rehearsal and on Thursdays I hopefully practise my juggling some more. Fridays are here to chill out and phone home. I forgot Tuesdays: I am coming home at about half past seven and do stuff one does when s/he comes home from work so late and I prepare for bed. So, I am sorry, but from Tue to Fri I am really not up to do something to be worth posting. But I make a picture every now and then.


On my way to work, 06:44 am. You can already anticipate the sun rising.

I flipped through the recent photographs and I will post a few in/with that entry.
At the beginning of March I will get an assessment from my manager, if I got it right, besides that my wage will go up a bit. I really hope, that I can get the tax back I am paying right now, because it is immensely high! As I only work for three months in the UK tax year of 2007/2008, it is just a matter of me insisting on getting it. I haven’t heard anything regarding Council/Housing Benefit yet, which pisses me off (like missing the Chiltern train in the morning). I don’t want to phone them and tell them to their †¿§‰?"*)+!=•¡ job.


On my way to the office. I can see where I go! 07:34 am

Right now I am also waiting for the tax rebate from Austria. It takes so long because I received jobseeker’s allowance for a while. That’s unfortunate, but I can hardly change it.
I started the first book of Harry Potter today. It’s so much thinner than the last one! Good, I think that’s it for now …

Too long Johnny

Snowdrops

Beautiful snowdrops, blurry picture. Still no snow seen in the UK. But SNOWDROPS! YAYYYYYY!!!! I am knackered so that is it for the day. No idea if I will be able to upload something tomorrow or Friday, because Thursday is a concert and Friday either concert or Chinatown.

It's a beautiful day

I took a walk during my lunch break today, which isn't always the case as I only have half an hour. As you can see it was an awesome day! A bit chilly, but if you walk fast enough it is ok. I had something else in mind but took my camera with me (after months of not doing so), in case something comes up. This picture is one lucky shot. I didn’t take a series of shots. I did a bit of post-processing to make it look like I really wanted. Now after one boring day at the office I guess I will take a closer look to a few other projects. Have a nice weekend and read you tomorrow.

Facebook - Face it!

I struggled with myself and came to the conclusion, that since Facebook it is really easy to end a relationship. You make a few clicks and suddenly in your mini-feed appears the message for all to see: XY is no longer listed as in a relationship. And I did it! But behold! I did not do it to end my relationship with my boy-friend, I did it to gain more distance from my relationship with Facebook. After reading an eye opening article on The Guardian home page. After reading it, I deleted all of my data and all applications. I know that on any server thousands of kilometers away there might be all my data still available. But it was the only thing I could do in the meantime.

Today I deleted my Visual Bookshelf. I had a few things saved on there and needed to copy them. Then I saw the picture on the left. According to Facebook I just broke up with someone so of course they would throw ads at me, which mach that criteria. I also saw an ad about a girls get away. That might be fun!

Something funny happened yesterday. I received an email from Ferrero (you know, Ferrero Rocher, the Kinder stuff etc.), that I won a trip to America with two of my friends! Awesome! I have no idea when, how or if it will happen. I have to phone them on Monday! I cannot wait to do that. I will be wide awake at 8 am I guess, trying to get someone on the phone (Ah! It is 9 am in Austria then! Perfect!). I already forgot, that I took part in that sweepstake (seems to be the proper English word ...) and the letter via mail did not get to me.

On Monday I borrowed three books from the library. I had 20 minutes to kill in the city (I had to wait for the pharmacist to take care of me prescription. Strange system they have in the UK!) and went to the library. If I had more time I would have probably ended up with 10.

D and S visited us over New Year and it was great fun and joy! Thank you again for stopping by! We went to Oxford, Camden Market, Tate Modern Area, saw Big Ben and the other stuff (Squares etc.). I was too lazy to sort my pictures, let alone to post-process them. I am trying to read as much as I can, because there is so much I want to read! So little time, so many books! On Wednesday I bought Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for 50p. It is thinner than expected. I will try to fit it in somewhere between my other three books.

I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!

London New Year's Eve

We've (D & D & S & me) been on Primrose Hill (green area above the green arrow) and saw the fireworks, which took place at London Eye, as well. AmAAAzing! I've never seen something like that as far as I can remember.

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice

Short summary (really VERY short!): The huge amount of choices we got is responsible for depression in the western world.
The video is really interesting. You should watch it!
Btw: I am sorry for not blogging in the last few weeks. I am simply too lazy! Work is really exhausting and the internet is just too fast for me right now. I hope I will dedicate some time for a nice update. In the meantime ... WATCH! :)

50th post: George Carlin - Religion is bullshit

Job!!!

I got it, I got it, I got it!!! Sorry for the delay of the happy news. Yesterday I was just too tired to do anything productive after coming home. I will start on the 4^th December. Mondays are free, which is good. Today I got my debit card. Only thing that's missing right now is my computer. I will try to fix it on the weekend. Making a full backup and doing a reinstall of Tiger. Next thing will be the purchase of a FireWire hard drive. One that fits under the Mac Mini would be nice, but it will be more expensive. I am also flirting with the My Books from WD, but they need more space, which is already limited somehow on my desk. Well, after 37.5 hours of computer hours a week, I hopefully won't use the computer that much.
Two friends of mine are visiting around New Year's Eve and I am already thinking about stuff we could do. There is very much of course! But I have clearly no idea what's good to do in London on the 31^st December. I will have to do a thorough internet search, I guess.

Still no Mac

Yesterday I tried to boot Ubuntu with the Live CD, but that didn't work either. I just talked to Michael and he says that I should update to Leopard. I am really afraid of that, because my recent RAM Update could have been useless. But he also meant that his machine works with 1 GB RAM. You just don't use all the new special features, which I don't need really. But will all of my applications still work?
Yesterday I imagined myself coming out of the branch of the bank and waving the letter, which says "congratulations! you opened a bank account!". Just like all the people who bought an iPhone and got applause, when they left the Apple Store.
My kidneys decided to stop hurting me. They just were tired of it I guess. I wouldn't listen. Sorry guys. Next time don't even try!
Ah! AND I learned juggling yesterday. I am now able to juggle four times in one go. So I have three juggling balls and I am able to through all of them once and one of them twice and then often two of them land on the floor. But it's good. At the end of the year I want to juggle with clubs and rings (not at the same time!).

I (almost??) lost a Mac today, but got a bank account

To everyone who has a Mac and still runs Tiger: do not, I mean DO NOT install the Update (10.4.11) unless you have a back up on a FireWire external hard drive. I don't have a FireWire hard drive. I have just a USB hard drive. And I didn't make a back up. I just wanted to buy a FireWire cable but it's £ 19.99 (about 30 Euros)!!! I checked the data though, and it is still there. I even got a black screen!!!

I made the Update yesterday and after that I turned the Mac off for the day. Today I turned it on and noticed that it takes longer ... ah yes update. I used it for let's say 5 minutes and then everything got crazy. All applications closed and all menubar icons except one (can't remember which) vanished. And the rainbow circle appeared (what's its name again?). Turned it off. On. I used it for 2 minutes and it went crazy again and showed me the most feared message where it tells you that the computer is stuck and you should restart it by pressing... in 4 different languages. And then I got stuck in the gray startup screen. I managed to put my Mac into a black screen mode with a white blinking rectangle on the top left hand corner. I wanted to enter Mac's Open Firmware but I guess I got to crazy with the shortcut or I got it completely wrong???

fain_jewel in Apple - Support - Discussions

But yes! I got a bank account. Yesterday we got a bill in the mail. Often it's not good to get bills but this time they got my name right. I went to another bank this time. She wanted to make me get an account where I have to pay 12 pounds a month! HAHAHA! No, no. But it worked out to get a free account. So have to sort out that Mac problem now. Hmpf.

Things to remember

If you want to get money from the UK, do not wait until they get back to you again. You have to call them and tell them, that they have to do something, i.e. working on your case again. And I really have to be carefull in order to get the money I am entitled to. And to all those people outside, who have their phones defaulted to "do not send caller ID": I hate invisiblo calls! Particularly if they hang up, after I picked up. What the ... ?!?
What you also ought not to forget: London is BIG! No not big it is BIG, HUGE, B I G. I guess one must either work in the centre or live in the heart of the city for at least six months to be able to say you know one hundredth of London. I still didn't encounter every inch (and not even the interesting ones!) of Vienna, though I have been living there for three years in total.
Ttyl.

NIN

Today I got my NI (National Insurance) Number aka NIN, which is valid for lifetime! Wow! I even will get a card in six to eight weeks. The interview on Wednesday was wonderful, except for the distance. Everything was perfect! Money, tasks, the guys who interviewed me were nice, but the travelling is just not possible by public transport. My longing for a job grows every day, because I need money and I want to do something. I really enjoyed post-processing my pictures from today. Yesterday I reapplied at a company which I wrote months ago for the first time. They are not that far away, but it still would take 45 minutes. I am pissed off though, because so many employers do not even write you back. So you never know. They might call me in December, when I am close to sitting on the street or booking a plane back home. NOOOOOOO!!!!! That won't happen. I get a job. I get a job. I get a job sooooooon. Maybe I get the promised jobseeker's allowance in December? But I don't expect very much. Oh my! Council Tax! #~&@‹€∞§¶$%
I recently started to read The Da Vinci Code. It is thrilling and very interesting, because it contains many facts (I guess they are ...). I am trying my best to not imagine Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou looking like the main characters. Ngah, I am tired. I cannot continue right now.

Good old days

I just started to play Command & Conquer again. It was one of my first "real" games on the computer. No, it WAS my first game on the computer. I was in elementary school if I remember right. There was Paint and Word. And Command & Conquer on the PC of friends of my parents. Now it runs on my Mac. He chokes on the graphics every now and then, but he's doing good!



I also did not that bad. I have no idea anymore what I have to do, but the mini tutorials tell you what you can/have to do. Suddenly, as I knew what I have to do and click, my phone rang and I got another interview on Wednesday. In the middle of nowhere. Gonna be a long journey! But I am really not complaning!!! I have one day left to figure out how I get there quickly. Oh my, I want to playyyyyy!

Internet

Our home is finally online and I am totally overwhelmed by all the stuff I have to do. In order to get things done I chose, as always, multi-tasking, in which I am not that good anymore. Thanks to one month without the internet at hand 24/7.
What else did happen? I tried the local choir. It was just like back in the days in Austria. We will be singing something from Benjamin Britten. One has to roll the 'r' in a special way, which I never did before. But it is fun and the people are very nice!
Nothing else is happening apart from a bit of a sickness but not too bad, just feeling not good. I should do some workout anytime soon to improve my immune system.
Ah! By the way! Diggnation is going to be in London on the 3^rd October at The Future of Web Apps Conference. And I will be there too when they record the show. Yesssss.
Well that's that ...

First Pictures

Yesterday (and today) we had beautiful weather. Though I only have mobile phone pictures, they are not that bad.

The Canal, not far from our house.

The house we'll be living in for a year.

I had to come all the way to the UK and turn almost 23 to find out what the sign on the left picture at the bottom means. Finally! I never could figure out what the industry meant with that sign.

	My tidy closet containing all I could take with me (concerning the clothes).

On Thursday we've been in Central London, meeting with colleagues of Dominik. The trip in the city is always long and one should always have a book at hand.
I have to go now. Sunny greetings from the UK! (A big SORRY for the crappy layout, I have not time to fix this right now.)

Finally

I am finally sitting at a computer, where no clock is ticking and I have enough time to do some proper update on my blog.
Arriving at Heathrow was easy, but getting my luggage was a big problem, somehow. They lost a container, in which my big suitcase was and so I had to fill in a form that my luggage is missing. Shortly after that they found the container. With 1.5 hours delay we finally arrived at the house.
Our new home is pretty nice, our room is bigger than expected and the location is good. The weather is very british, the last time I saw a blue sky was during the flight.
On Monday I did the job thing (going to Jobcentre Plus). I had to phone some centre, after about 40 minutes she had all the information and I got it in my mail the next day (!!!). My appointment with some guy is on Tuesday.
We do not yet have desks or chairs and I do not have my own display, but a keyboard and a mouse. Nothing special was happening because we mostly did some shopping to get the most important things, which we could easily transport home.
I do not feel at home yet and I am not yet sure ...
I need something to do here, e.g. work.

German Version

Four weeks left

So far in this week I wrote seven applications. Today two. With a big headache over me. Normally it started in the evenings. Today it started shortly after breakfast. In German there is the wonderful word Kopfzerbrechen (breaking your head), but there is no proper translation for that. I am doing hard falling asleep since I realised how little time there is really left. I always think of how I can get my medicine over there without complications. Meaning not being allowed to take it with me in the cabine bag, worrying that it could be damaged in the air being in the checked bag. I still was not able to figure out what is the best way.
After dumping the idea of a farewell party I just will meet with a handfull people. I do not have so much important friends, who I am really going to miss. One hand is sufficient to count them.
Shortly before my departure I will meet with an old friend of mine, who is coming back from Mongolia, for an picture-evening. Looking forward to that.
My head is trying to explode again.

Comatic Disbehaviour

Today I wanted to talk about how one values a city. Before one's moving to it, after one has to leave it. But I cannot. Not today. Because the society growing older right now, who hits the puberty and gets used to loads of alcohol is worrying me. I know why I hate booze, I know why I hate the U6 and I know why I hate (Viennese) Chavs. Drunken, about 14-16, getting attacked by some Turkish people. I am sorry, it was like that. The group of Chavs had one boy with them, who did not look like the others. I could compare him with a burning victim, I am not sure, but maybe you can imagine. One Turkish boy kicked him, which lead the Chavs to kick back and throw a bottle of white wine mixed with lemonade. Said bottle hit me and the girl sitting next to me. Do not praise a day before its end! It kind of escalated. Did not get much. It made me puke over my bag and I went a little back in the train to clean the mess up a bit. One of the Turkish boys found the cell phone of one of the Chav girls and they nearly smashed the windows. I hate politicans who make our youth like that (or the parents, who are influenced by the politicans and learn it their children). I hate Vienna, I hate the U6 and I still will not drink alcohol. As I jumped in the train I was frightened by the Chav crowed because I saw drunken faces and bottles and they screamed like little babys. The anger was stronger then the fear, otherwise I would have totally freaked out (shaked, cried). I know that my hatred will not help either. I just have to write it all down. At first I thought it was a glass bottle. Thank _fill in what you prefer_ it was only out of plastic! I do not want to imagine where the two of us (the girl and me) would be right now. I have to take a shower right now, though I just wanted to fall in the bed and sleep like a baby. I have to get rid of the rage, otherwise I will try each side at least a hundred times until I finally can be in my own little paradise again. Sorry. The value thing will hopefully be written some time soon.

Counting the Days

2 days left, then it will be two years
11 days left where I have to get up so early
15 actual days at work left, from which 6 days are only half days
21 days until my last day at work
25 days left until I move
100 days until my 23^rd birthday
~11 days left until I have to decide wether it is worth it to stay longer in Austria

Update: I just made the calculations for June 2007. I have € 74,69 left for this month. That is about € 3,– a day. And today is the fourth day of the month.

Viennese everyday Life

Today the whole city is insane! An old ugly guy gets up from his table and grabs my arm. As I am listening to music I do not understand a thing of what he says. Only something about „bad”. Bad things, I did something bad? First I went out of his way. He got me anyway. Next stupid guy. Before the dance class he asks what is next. „Modern.” „Modeln?” (Only makes sense in German as modeln means to pose, to model.) „Modern!” „Modeln?!” „Yes!!” He recognizes that one of my dance colleagues is stretching. „Does one have to be well stretched for that?” „No, you could join us today” He murmurs something about not allowed and such. She says someone must have taken his brain. Later on my way to Einbaumöbel the nightmare continues in the train. A woman who could easily get a role in a david lynch movie (e.g. that spooky lady with the polish accent in Inland Empire). And a guy who has a beard consisting of two dreads down to his belly button. Argh.
...
On Wednesday we won tickets for Inland Empire. I have seen almost every movie of David Lynch last year in May it was I guess. As I am not a big fan of him, Inland Empire was too much for me. I was tired and slept a bit in the last third. Waking up everytime when there was a scream or horror music. Yesssss.

Update to my last entry: I got the chance to attend the project. But I have not decided yet. We allready booked a flight and the rebooking costs € 100,–. And we would not get to the UK before September 16. I will go to the first meeting today and if I know that it is really worth it, I might do it.

What a bummer!

I finally found the one thing, I will not be able to be part of.
CALL: turn terror into sport



My aunt told me about it, but nothing specific. I searched the homepage of Tanzquartier Wien a few weeks ago and could not find anything. Today I found it. And ouch! It hurts. But it will go away sooner than later. 100 tap dancers will perform in mid-September. That will be awesome! Hopefully my aunt will be one of them. Or I know anyone else who will be. An exciting thing, but impossible for me to be in Austria for part of the rehearsals and all the performances.

Tilly and the Sign on the Wall

Today we finally saw the new sign in the waggons of the viennese underground. They exchanged an old man with an old woman, a blind man with a blind woman and a mother with her kid with a father. They did leave a few of the old ones though, which is good.



I like that idea. But they also intended to change the emergency exit. Quite horrible. You can see it in the story of Mr. Zachbauer on fm4.orf.at (in German).
And now a question to you my reader: I am planning to go to the Tilly and the Wall concert on April 13^th in the Flex. They are going to support CSS from Brazil. They are funny and I like the idea of leaving the drums at home and having a tap dancer do the work. So if somebody wants to come, join me.
Other concerts in April:
MXPX, WUK, 11.4.
Garish, WUK, 17.4.
Anajo, Arena, 18.4.
Kosheen, WUK, 21.4.
Chicks on Speed, Gartenbaukino, 28.4.

And my recommendation/selection from the Donaufestival 2007:
Jamie Lidell, Pablo Fiasco, Gonzales & Mocky, Klangraum Krems Minoritenkirche, 28.4.
Maybe as an addition: Gonzales Solo Piano, Klangraum Krems Minoritenkirche, 29.4.

Hella

The last four weeks were fascinating and turbulent for my (emotional) life. I got to know a very special person (though not as much as I would have liked to).
Yesterday I decided to come back to Vienna for one last dinner before he would leave Vienna. And the short trip back to Vienna was totally worth it. The guy sitting next to me opened my eyes again to see and name the person's abilities and just awesomeness.
One woman said, that she just has acquaintances and no real friends. "The guy" called that "lived misanthropy". I thought I am the only person, who lives like that, but it seems that there are others too.
The words are missing right now. I will upload a few photos of that evening later on.

Dance(hall)

»… ’cause you dance good. You have flow.«
Oh, for how long I waited for those sentences! At the Hip Hop(/Dancehall) class we are going to show our work in March. But only eight people are allowed to dance. He asked me if I want to come. I was the first of the dancers he asked. Nice. But I am not gonna stay for the second term. We will have to sit and wait if I can attend at the performance. For now I am really excited. Though I just had to notice that making a Dancehall class only is way too expensive for one term. Hmpfntz.

Shopping nowadays

You want to buy glasses and come back with a REALLY awesome notebook. I HAD to buy it, as I was so fustrated with the stuff (mostly clothings) you get at H&M (Clean Clothes) and such. I was obsessed by the Moleskine notebook since I first saw it. It is black and simple and nice and just IT (and not that cheap by the way but anyways). Then at one shop I saw the new Moleskine City Notebook – I just had to have it. And I bought it for London. There is the tube map, the city map, space for notes, space to order stuff you like (restaraunts, people, music, places, you name it). Even a transparent plastic sheet you can add to the city map so you don't have to write actually on the map but draw something in it. So I'm all excited about that, as you can tell, and I'm totally looking forward to actually going to London again.
Later on, as I was in the Merkur market there was that lady telling us: „Minus 10 Prrozent, heute für Frrändzz.” Just hilarous – you had to be there. So I'm soon going to meeting my classmates from the Graphische again. I hope there'll be all of them – at least almost. Have a nice weekend.