Thought No. 1
So we know that ants are these little animals. They're ants.
And elope is something like running away.
What's an antelope then?
An eloping ant?
Something eloping because of an ant? Because it's what? Scared?
Either way, if you know an ant and you want it to run away, because it's in danger or something, you can still shout: 'Ant, elope!'
Only I don't know the chances for that to happen.
Thought No. 2
Does Tim Burton know that there are other male actors besides Johnny Depp?
Because I'm starting to doubt it.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Tales of the Tenant (Part Trois)
My seven years of French are finally paying off.
He's gone.
Gone gone gone.
Not gone as in 'met with us, gave us the money he still owes us and promised to be a better person from now on', more as in 'gave the keys to the janitor and took off'.
He left us no money. Jerk. Now we have to track him down and consult a lawyer. Not necessarily in that order, but both has to be done.
Still and most important, he's gone.
He's gone.
Gone gone gone.
Not gone as in 'met with us, gave us the money he still owes us and promised to be a better person from now on', more as in 'gave the keys to the janitor and took off'.
He left us no money. Jerk. Now we have to track him down and consult a lawyer. Not necessarily in that order, but both has to be done.
Still and most important, he's gone.
Now I Feel So Stupid
Okay, first I was the last one to figure out trackback. Only that I haven't even figured it out yet. I'd say that I'm just to lazy to read the instructions, but that doesn't change the fact that the one time I tried it I couldn't make it work.
Still blaming it on the laziness though.
Now I wonder again. I've found several blog entries where bloggers talked about the search terms other people used that led those people to their blogs. Willful Exposé did it, DeAnn did it and now I see Robin did it, too. How the hell do you get that kind of information?
Is there a special site on the web that does it for you? Is it a special feature that some blogware offers? Do I have to subscribe to something? Where do I find it?
How does it work?
The worst think is that I actually work in the IT industry, so somehow I think that if anyone then I should know. But I don't. So please tell me, because I think you do and I don't want to die stupid.
Current mood: Feeling stupid. Not my favorite feeling.
Listening to: So Simple by Alicia Keys
Still blaming it on the laziness though.
Now I wonder again. I've found several blog entries where bloggers talked about the search terms other people used that led those people to their blogs. Willful Exposé did it, DeAnn did it and now I see Robin did it, too. How the hell do you get that kind of information?
Is there a special site on the web that does it for you? Is it a special feature that some blogware offers? Do I have to subscribe to something? Where do I find it?
How does it work?
The worst think is that I actually work in the IT industry, so somehow I think that if anyone then I should know. But I don't. So please tell me, because I think you do and I don't want to die stupid.
Current mood: Feeling stupid. Not my favorite feeling.
Listening to: So Simple by Alicia Keys
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Ask Jamie: The Abroad Experience
Willful Exposé asked: Here's a question: How many times have you been to America and where? As Caitlin said, you've probably been here quite a bit because your English is excellent.
I've been to America three times. You could say four times, because one time was really two times interrupted by a three week return to Germany, but I think of it as three times.
The first time I was in America was when I was 13 or so. We stayed in California for three weeks. It was my, my mom and another family with two little kids. One of the little kids actually was the friend who rented the DVDs on Saturday. Back then he was a toddler and I was a teenager, now I would most likely refer to him as a friend. Time surely changes a lot of things.
We started the trip in San Francisco and then went south stopping at Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Carlsbad. Then we went back north taking a route that took us to Yosemite and Seqouia national parks (in the reverse order, I think) and back to San Francisco. Of all the places we went to I liked San Francisco and Monterey best. Although the steep streets and occasional tremblings were really something you have to get used to.
I think when we went there I had about 2 1/2 years of English at school. I understood a lot, but certainly not everything. There was this one incident where I thought that 'I beg your pardon' meant 'I noticed your perfume'. Don't ask. It makes kind of sense when you know the circumstance, but I admit it sounds pretty stupid.
I didn't come back until June 1999. That was shortly after I finished high school. There was a friend of my aunt who needed someone to help her with her kids over the summer and my aunt asked me and I said yes. What do you think I said. Of course I said yes. That's how I got to spend three months in Hoboken, New Jersey. When people here ask me I usually say that I was in New York. That way they get an idea where I was. It's not even that much of an exaggeration. From where I lived it was about a 15-minute bus ride to Port Authority, Manhattan. After all, I was in New York.
I came back in February 2000 for a few days. It's a very complicated story involving a relationship with someone I met there in summer and me meeting the boyfriend one month earlier and falling in love. It's not a memory I usually like to talk about, so most people I met afterwards don't even know I was in a relationship with an American for half a year. My stay was originally planned to last for a whole six weeks, but I rescheduled my flight and came back home after nine days.
That's it.
I also spent a total of about three weeks in England. One was a school exchange and the other one a trip with the choir. I always went to South England and all I can say is that South England, especially the New Forest is just plain beautiful. I would always return there.
Of course I'd also always return to America, especially New York City, which I consider the most amazing place I've ever been to. Maybe it was also the fact that I was short out of high school, but I never felt as free and relaxed as I felt when I was in New York City. I loved walking along the streets and I was just happy.
As for my language skills, that's another topic totally worth writing about, but right now I will leave it.
Question answered?
I've been to America three times. You could say four times, because one time was really two times interrupted by a three week return to Germany, but I think of it as three times.
The first time I was in America was when I was 13 or so. We stayed in California for three weeks. It was my, my mom and another family with two little kids. One of the little kids actually was the friend who rented the DVDs on Saturday. Back then he was a toddler and I was a teenager, now I would most likely refer to him as a friend. Time surely changes a lot of things.
We started the trip in San Francisco and then went south stopping at Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Carlsbad. Then we went back north taking a route that took us to Yosemite and Seqouia national parks (in the reverse order, I think) and back to San Francisco. Of all the places we went to I liked San Francisco and Monterey best. Although the steep streets and occasional tremblings were really something you have to get used to.
I think when we went there I had about 2 1/2 years of English at school. I understood a lot, but certainly not everything. There was this one incident where I thought that 'I beg your pardon' meant 'I noticed your perfume'. Don't ask. It makes kind of sense when you know the circumstance, but I admit it sounds pretty stupid.
I didn't come back until June 1999. That was shortly after I finished high school. There was a friend of my aunt who needed someone to help her with her kids over the summer and my aunt asked me and I said yes. What do you think I said. Of course I said yes. That's how I got to spend three months in Hoboken, New Jersey. When people here ask me I usually say that I was in New York. That way they get an idea where I was. It's not even that much of an exaggeration. From where I lived it was about a 15-minute bus ride to Port Authority, Manhattan. After all, I was in New York.
I came back in February 2000 for a few days. It's a very complicated story involving a relationship with someone I met there in summer and me meeting the boyfriend one month earlier and falling in love. It's not a memory I usually like to talk about, so most people I met afterwards don't even know I was in a relationship with an American for half a year. My stay was originally planned to last for a whole six weeks, but I rescheduled my flight and came back home after nine days.
That's it.
I also spent a total of about three weeks in England. One was a school exchange and the other one a trip with the choir. I always went to South England and all I can say is that South England, especially the New Forest is just plain beautiful. I would always return there.
Of course I'd also always return to America, especially New York City, which I consider the most amazing place I've ever been to. Maybe it was also the fact that I was short out of high school, but I never felt as free and relaxed as I felt when I was in New York City. I loved walking along the streets and I was just happy.
As for my language skills, that's another topic totally worth writing about, but right now I will leave it.
Question answered?
Unconscious Mutterings - The Not-So-Green Side
Coroner - Six Feet Under (What? I am a TV geek.)
Mystify - Making it even harder.
Corroborate - And easier.
Misinterpret - Happens every so often, expecially when you're me.
Humorless - Sucks.
Calculus - Math. I loved math.
Eye for an eye - Oh come on, that's like ancient.
CPR - Can't do it, so don't try to die when I'm around.
Stitched - Ouch.
Facility - Making it easier again.
Again, you can take part and have a lot of fun... just click here.
Mystify - Making it even harder.
Corroborate - And easier.
Misinterpret - Happens every so often, expecially when you're me.
Humorless - Sucks.
Calculus - Math. I loved math.
Eye for an eye - Oh come on, that's like ancient.
CPR - Can't do it, so don't try to die when I'm around.
Stitched - Ouch.
Facility - Making it easier again.
Again, you can take part and have a lot of fun... just click here.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
The Others: It's a Blue World
I have planned this for a long time and now I will start. There's this whole list of blogs on the left. Yes, these are truly blogs that I visit most each and every day.
But why should you?
Here's why you should pay a visit to Caitlin of 'unglaubliche caitlin':
I will start with a little bit of history.
I started my blog last October, mostly out of boredom. I'm pleasantly surprised, by the way, at how well it turned out to be. If everything I do out of boredom would turn out to be so good I wouldn't be bored anymore, but I digress.
I don't even remember why I chose Blogger. I guess there must have been some blog I surfed on that was also made via Blogger, so I just clicked the link and signed up. I made some entries for my profile, also including my favorite musicians. Katell Keineg always comes up when I'm asked for that. So, on Blogger you can just click on any of the favorites and you get a list of all the bloggers who also included it on their profile.
So I clicked on Katell Keineg. For a reason I still don't understand, nobody in this whole wide world has heard of her. At least I haven't met someone before. I have met someone who knew Lori Carson and someone who knew Jane Siberry, but that's about it.
Caitlin did know her. That was intriguing enough for me to start reading her blog. She hadn't started blogging but about two months before I did. She was nearly my age. From what I can tell from her blog she was born one week before me.
I was a lurker for some days until she practically urged me to comment on one of her posts and so I did. So, basically that's when we met.
What can I say about Caitlin? I'd like to make it easy for me and just send you there to see for yourself. But I think I shouldn't get away that easy.
Caitlin's blog is one of the most honest blogs I have found so far. As she talks about her struggles, her wants, her fears, her desires and everything I find myself thinking that I may not ever be able to write entries like hers, because I would never be that honest to myself, let alone the rest of the world.
She lets me take part in all those things that happens in her world without compromise. Although it's a blue world sometimes, it's mostly a world like - I would say - yours and mine, and then again it's like nobody else's but hers.
I'm running out of words here... just go and explore for yourself. It's definitely worth it.
What? You're still here? What the fuck are you still doing on my blog?
Go here!
Jeez.
But why should you?
Here's why you should pay a visit to Caitlin of 'unglaubliche caitlin':
I will start with a little bit of history.
I started my blog last October, mostly out of boredom. I'm pleasantly surprised, by the way, at how well it turned out to be. If everything I do out of boredom would turn out to be so good I wouldn't be bored anymore, but I digress.
I don't even remember why I chose Blogger. I guess there must have been some blog I surfed on that was also made via Blogger, so I just clicked the link and signed up. I made some entries for my profile, also including my favorite musicians. Katell Keineg always comes up when I'm asked for that. So, on Blogger you can just click on any of the favorites and you get a list of all the bloggers who also included it on their profile.
So I clicked on Katell Keineg. For a reason I still don't understand, nobody in this whole wide world has heard of her. At least I haven't met someone before. I have met someone who knew Lori Carson and someone who knew Jane Siberry, but that's about it.
Caitlin did know her. That was intriguing enough for me to start reading her blog. She hadn't started blogging but about two months before I did. She was nearly my age. From what I can tell from her blog she was born one week before me.
I was a lurker for some days until she practically urged me to comment on one of her posts and so I did. So, basically that's when we met.
What can I say about Caitlin? I'd like to make it easy for me and just send you there to see for yourself. But I think I shouldn't get away that easy.
Caitlin's blog is one of the most honest blogs I have found so far. As she talks about her struggles, her wants, her fears, her desires and everything I find myself thinking that I may not ever be able to write entries like hers, because I would never be that honest to myself, let alone the rest of the world.
She lets me take part in all those things that happens in her world without compromise. Although it's a blue world sometimes, it's mostly a world like - I would say - yours and mine, and then again it's like nobody else's but hers.
I'm running out of words here... just go and explore for yourself. It's definitely worth it.
What? You're still here? What the fuck are you still doing on my blog?
Go here!
Jeez.
Don't Be Shy, I Rarely Bite.
Maybe I'm just really self-centered and extremely keen on getting comments, but whatever. In the end, it's up to you.
In one of her recent entries Caitlin wrote about how despite reading my blog there are a lot of things she doesn't know about me.
So, go ahead and ask me! All of you.
I will try to do my best to tell you most everything you would like to know. In the very unlikely worst case I might tell you that I just won't answer your question, and you can draw your own conclusions from there on.
Apart from that I have plans to write about several things I consider important esperiences in my life. Things that made me who I am or things that I always come back to in my mind.
In one of her recent entries Caitlin wrote about how despite reading my blog there are a lot of things she doesn't know about me.
So, go ahead and ask me! All of you.
I will try to do my best to tell you most everything you would like to know. In the very unlikely worst case I might tell you that I just won't answer your question, and you can draw your own conclusions from there on.
Apart from that I have plans to write about several things I consider important esperiences in my life. Things that made me who I am or things that I always come back to in my mind.
I Feel So Special
Yes, my blog is on the list for Round Three of Michele's Scavenger Hunt. I feel so damn special, I can't believe it.
I'm also really happy because I figured out my clue immediately. I will give no hints though, so don't bother to ask or bribe me. It's too much fun to be spoiled.
So, whoever surfs in on the hunt, take a look around and have fun.
Also, I promise to post a picture somehow connected to one of the clues, once the game is over. I bet you're all pretty excited to see it.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Just Bring Them Back Someday
Somehow I always served as a private video rental for friends and family. I have top choice, offer good costumer service including recommendations and I'm really cheap.
Just a moment ago a friend rented 'Meet the Parents', 'Sleepy Hollow', 'Cruel Intentions' and 'Sex and the City Season 2'.
Did he pay? Hell, yes! I call two bottles of my very favorite ice tea my own now. Now we're back to the olden days where money was not yet invented. What for, anyway? Why should I want funny slips of paper when I can get something to drink!
DVDs, anyone? I also accept Ben & Jerry's ice-cream (but no Cherry Garcia or Chunkey Monkey) and invitations to sushi. It's your choice.
Just a moment ago a friend rented 'Meet the Parents', 'Sleepy Hollow', 'Cruel Intentions' and 'Sex and the City Season 2'.
Did he pay? Hell, yes! I call two bottles of my very favorite ice tea my own now. Now we're back to the olden days where money was not yet invented. What for, anyway? Why should I want funny slips of paper when I can get something to drink!
DVDs, anyone? I also accept Ben & Jerry's ice-cream (but no Cherry Garcia or Chunkey Monkey) and invitations to sushi. It's your choice.
Forget Sunday, It's the Thursday's Child Who's Lucky
When I had my job interview for the traning I just finished I was asked what I would consider my most important successes and my worst defeats.
I told them I honestly couldn't tell them any defeats. It's true, in my whole life I never had a defeat that I would label as 'really bad'. Sure I didn't always win, I wasn't lucky every day, but there wasn't one point in my life where I wanted something really badly and didn't get it.
Of course I'm not the world's most ambitious person, so I never went for goals like 'Be the best one', 'get a degree faster than anybody before' and things like that. There were things I wanted, but didn't get, but somehow there was always another door open which was pretty much as attractive as the one that just closed.
I mean, look at my life. I live in a beautiful apartment together with the man I love, I just finished my traning, the job prospects aren't completely bad (yet), I have a great family, I was always able to pursue my interests...
In short, I'm damn lucky.
To maybe be continued...
I told them I honestly couldn't tell them any defeats. It's true, in my whole life I never had a defeat that I would label as 'really bad'. Sure I didn't always win, I wasn't lucky every day, but there wasn't one point in my life where I wanted something really badly and didn't get it.
Of course I'm not the world's most ambitious person, so I never went for goals like 'Be the best one', 'get a degree faster than anybody before' and things like that. There were things I wanted, but didn't get, but somehow there was always another door open which was pretty much as attractive as the one that just closed.
I mean, look at my life. I live in a beautiful apartment together with the man I love, I just finished my traning, the job prospects aren't completely bad (yet), I have a great family, I was always able to pursue my interests...
In short, I'm damn lucky.
To maybe be continued...
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Nick Drake Isn't Really Dead
In fact, he just disappeared for a long time, didn't age, changed his gender, somehow faked his birth certificate so now it says that he was born in Iceland and changed his name to Emiliana Torrini.
If you don't believe me, just listen to her music. On that CD, if you please. He made another one before, but used a lot of electronics, so that I wouldn't blow his disguise too soon. But now he revealed himself. And beautifully so.
Current mood: Confused. For very different, not connected reasons.
Listening to: Snow by Emiliana Torrini (aka The Not-So-Dead Nick Drake)
If you don't believe me, just listen to her music. On that CD, if you please. He made another one before, but used a lot of electronics, so that I wouldn't blow his disguise too soon. But now he revealed himself. And beautifully so.
Current mood: Confused. For very different, not connected reasons.
Listening to: Snow by Emiliana Torrini (aka The Not-So-Dead Nick Drake)
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
The End of a Training And The Story of a Red Blouse
I'm now officially not a trainee anymore. Today I had my orals and now I'm done. Done. As in... done basically.
I'm really tired and exhausted. For one thing we ran around with two laptops, two folders, one poster-size sheet of paper for Andreas and a beamer and I dragged us all the way to Karstadt to get a frickin' brownie just to realize that they don't sell them there anymore.
Apart from that, it's getting really cold here. I guess the temperatures I'm moaning about are nothing compared to, say... Chicago, but for us it's fucking cold. Also, I had to do a presentation, so naturally I was dressed in a skirt with nylons and pumps and that's not exactly what you want to wear when it's a few degrees below zero.
Bottom line, I was not exactly the happiest girl on this planet.
Anyway, I'm done. Did I mention that?
As I am tired (which I think I already said as well) I will not go into a lot of details here. I will do that tomorrow or whenever I feel like reliving the memory. Now is not the time.
But I don't want to keep you waiting for the answer to this morning's question. The red blouse...
So I started to dress up for the presentation. I wanted to wear my favorite skirt which is black with a border of red and orange flowers at the bottom and just really beautiful. Only problem is, there's not so much that goes with it. All in all I can wear the red blouse or my black pullover. The latter was on the laundry list and no can do. So I went frantically searching for the red blouse. I looked in every drawer and the wardrobe but it was nowhere to be found.
Then I remembered where I left it. I took it off at my parents house because my mom had bought clothes for me. She got that super nice pullover, which was perfect, especially for cold winter days and I decided to put it on and forgot to take my red blouse back home. So when I knew where my red blouse was I also knew that there was no way I could wear it today. (Did I mention that my parents are in Australia at the moment? So I couldn't even call them and have them bring it over.)
So, that's where my red blouse is and that's why today I wore the dark violet one which is fine, but does not go with my favorite skirt. Bummer.
I still looked pretty good.
I'm really tired and exhausted. For one thing we ran around with two laptops, two folders, one poster-size sheet of paper for Andreas and a beamer and I dragged us all the way to Karstadt to get a frickin' brownie just to realize that they don't sell them there anymore.
Apart from that, it's getting really cold here. I guess the temperatures I'm moaning about are nothing compared to, say... Chicago, but for us it's fucking cold. Also, I had to do a presentation, so naturally I was dressed in a skirt with nylons and pumps and that's not exactly what you want to wear when it's a few degrees below zero.
Bottom line, I was not exactly the happiest girl on this planet.
Anyway, I'm done. Did I mention that?
As I am tired (which I think I already said as well) I will not go into a lot of details here. I will do that tomorrow or whenever I feel like reliving the memory. Now is not the time.
But I don't want to keep you waiting for the answer to this morning's question. The red blouse...
So I started to dress up for the presentation. I wanted to wear my favorite skirt which is black with a border of red and orange flowers at the bottom and just really beautiful. Only problem is, there's not so much that goes with it. All in all I can wear the red blouse or my black pullover. The latter was on the laundry list and no can do. So I went frantically searching for the red blouse. I looked in every drawer and the wardrobe but it was nowhere to be found.
Then I remembered where I left it. I took it off at my parents house because my mom had bought clothes for me. She got that super nice pullover, which was perfect, especially for cold winter days and I decided to put it on and forgot to take my red blouse back home. So when I knew where my red blouse was I also knew that there was no way I could wear it today. (Did I mention that my parents are in Australia at the moment? So I couldn't even call them and have them bring it over.)
So, that's where my red blouse is and that's why today I wore the dark violet one which is fine, but does not go with my favorite skirt. Bummer.
I still looked pretty good.
Going Crazy While Being Girly
Man, where is that red blouse when you really need it?
Stay tuned for the answer.
Stay tuned for the answer.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Style Is Me
Did I just write 'relatively urgent' in a text-message to the boyfriend? That's like that one stylistic device whose name I never remember.
But that's just me, the uncrowned queen of relativization.
Yes, I want to talk to you. I really want to talk you. I have something important to tell you. Also I have a very important question, that I need an answer to as soon as possible.
But, please, take your time...
But that's just me, the uncrowned queen of relativization.
Yes, I want to talk to you. I really want to talk you. I have something important to tell you. Also I have a very important question, that I need an answer to as soon as possible.
But, please, take your time...
Culture Aboard
According to dvdsoon.com my copy of 'Garden State' has been shipped.
It's now on its way across the ocean, so I guess I will be able to watch it soon.
And that's all thanks to you, blog friends, because you all kept talking about how you finally watched 'Garden State' and it was such a great movie until I couldn't help but had to find out what the hell you were talking about. Then I watched the trailer and then I had to order it.
And again one of my 'Am I the only one...' questions:
Am I the only one or does Natalie Portman remind anybody else of a younger Julia Louis-Dreyfus in that one scene where she tells Zach Braff to do something nobody else has done before?
Maybe the way my mind works is just really strange.
It's now on its way across the ocean, so I guess I will be able to watch it soon.
And that's all thanks to you, blog friends, because you all kept talking about how you finally watched 'Garden State' and it was such a great movie until I couldn't help but had to find out what the hell you were talking about. Then I watched the trailer and then I had to order it.
And again one of my 'Am I the only one...' questions:
Am I the only one or does Natalie Portman remind anybody else of a younger Julia Louis-Dreyfus in that one scene where she tells Zach Braff to do something nobody else has done before?
Maybe the way my mind works is just really strange.
Monday, January 24, 2005
I Will Never Shop Again. NEVER EVER!
Every time I try to do what is widely known as shopping, it is a complete desaster. I seem unable to shop. I seem unable to enjoy shopping. Obviously I lack some girly feature which makes shopping enjoyable.
I had two goals today. Buy books and buy clothes. I was hopeful enough to think that I would at least achieve one of these goals. Guess what happened...
Exactly.
The books. I made a list of all the books recommended by my blog readers. I had a voucher worth 30 Euro from that one bookshop and vowed to spend it all on books from that list. Only that they had none of those books available. Well, they had Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, but I already read that in German and I wanted to spend all 30 Euro or nothing. So I spent nothing and will go to the other store on Hohe Strasse next time to see if maybe they have at least some of the books from my list.
So much about my first defeat.
Then I went clothes shopping. Again. Because I'm not able to learn from my past mistakes. Or because I'm incredibly optimistic. Or both.
I was smart enough to look for the address of another Zara store and went there immediately. When I stepped in I was in heaven. No winter sales, or at least not solely winter sales. Matching blazers and trousers actually hanging next to each other. I was happy.
Until I tried some clothes on.
Let me tell you this straight: That fattish girl in the mirror was NOT me. I must know because I know me. I don't look like that. It was a girl that looked a lot like me, I admit and happened to be in the same cubicle, coincidentally trying on the same clothes I picked, but she was at least 4 pounds heavier than I am.
That was not me.
Why is it that I look okay in every mirror in our apartment, but when it comes to trying on clothes in a store I look like I need to join the Weightwatchers immediately. Do they do something to the lights? To the mirror? Am I stepping not only into a cubicle but also into another dimension where everyone is fatter? Because I really don't look like that. And that's not hurt pride that's stating a fact.
I also realized again that I seem unable to understand the concept that clothes come in different sizes and that I don't fit in every one of them. When I see something I like I tend to grab the very first item and have to remind myself to look for the right size, too. Or I'll end up in a cubicle with a pair of trousers size 36 which even with a constant holding your breath I will never fit in. I also never remember exactly which size I have. Which might be because my body is strange with sizes. I need at least a 40 for my trousers, but sometimes I can go with a skirt size 38. Also I have clothes ranging from size S to XL in my wardrobe which all fit.
(I have to admit that I only have one t-shirt size S in my drawer, and I suspect it's because I bought it at H&M, where all the sizes are perfectly screwed up.)
I know now by the way, that I need to get real and realize that I need a size 42 when I buy trousers. Tragic, but true.
I also tried on two shirts, which magically made my boobs at least two sizes bigger. How can that be? Those were regular shirts. How could they do that? I honestly don't need magical breast enlargements. But again I claim that that girl I saw in the mirror was not me.
That said I was exhausted and disappointed when I left the cubicle, so I couldn't get myself to trying on anything else. I just got back to work, again empty handed and again with a vow never to go shopping again.
Oh, and guys at Zara: See you tomorrow.
I had two goals today. Buy books and buy clothes. I was hopeful enough to think that I would at least achieve one of these goals. Guess what happened...
Exactly.
The books. I made a list of all the books recommended by my blog readers. I had a voucher worth 30 Euro from that one bookshop and vowed to spend it all on books from that list. Only that they had none of those books available. Well, they had Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, but I already read that in German and I wanted to spend all 30 Euro or nothing. So I spent nothing and will go to the other store on Hohe Strasse next time to see if maybe they have at least some of the books from my list.
So much about my first defeat.
Then I went clothes shopping. Again. Because I'm not able to learn from my past mistakes. Or because I'm incredibly optimistic. Or both.
I was smart enough to look for the address of another Zara store and went there immediately. When I stepped in I was in heaven. No winter sales, or at least not solely winter sales. Matching blazers and trousers actually hanging next to each other. I was happy.
Until I tried some clothes on.
Let me tell you this straight: That fattish girl in the mirror was NOT me. I must know because I know me. I don't look like that. It was a girl that looked a lot like me, I admit and happened to be in the same cubicle, coincidentally trying on the same clothes I picked, but she was at least 4 pounds heavier than I am.
That was not me.
Why is it that I look okay in every mirror in our apartment, but when it comes to trying on clothes in a store I look like I need to join the Weightwatchers immediately. Do they do something to the lights? To the mirror? Am I stepping not only into a cubicle but also into another dimension where everyone is fatter? Because I really don't look like that. And that's not hurt pride that's stating a fact.
I also realized again that I seem unable to understand the concept that clothes come in different sizes and that I don't fit in every one of them. When I see something I like I tend to grab the very first item and have to remind myself to look for the right size, too. Or I'll end up in a cubicle with a pair of trousers size 36 which even with a constant holding your breath I will never fit in. I also never remember exactly which size I have. Which might be because my body is strange with sizes. I need at least a 40 for my trousers, but sometimes I can go with a skirt size 38. Also I have clothes ranging from size S to XL in my wardrobe which all fit.
(I have to admit that I only have one t-shirt size S in my drawer, and I suspect it's because I bought it at H&M, where all the sizes are perfectly screwed up.)
I know now by the way, that I need to get real and realize that I need a size 42 when I buy trousers. Tragic, but true.
I also tried on two shirts, which magically made my boobs at least two sizes bigger. How can that be? Those were regular shirts. How could they do that? I honestly don't need magical breast enlargements. But again I claim that that girl I saw in the mirror was not me.
That said I was exhausted and disappointed when I left the cubicle, so I couldn't get myself to trying on anything else. I just got back to work, again empty handed and again with a vow never to go shopping again.
Oh, and guys at Zara: See you tomorrow.
Why I Won't Blog About This and That
I just wrote a post about an article I read online. It was about the fact that in Germany a lot of well-educated people don't have children. I wrote my opinion about it, but then decided against publishing it and saved it as a draft for the time being.
Why won't I publish this post?
There are several topics that I decided I won't write about on my blog. In general those topics are politics, religion and things like that.
It's not that I'm not interested in these topics or that I'm not interested in other people's opinions. But I realized that these topics are fruitful ground for misunderstandings. In my experience discussing such difficult topics on the internet almost alwas goes wrong and is very likely to backfire. People end up insulting and hurting each other. Although I am pretty sure the people I know reading my blog are not very likely to be like that, I will do most anything to keep my blog free from joyless discussions. If that includes censoring myself on certain subjects, so be it.
So, what I wrote about that article I read will most likely stay a draft and be deleted after a while. I can live with that.
So, brando, see, I'm just like you. I let go of the snark, because I am honestly afraid to offend some stranger. Once again I get the feeling that I'm just too nice and harmony-addicted for this world.
Why won't I publish this post?
There are several topics that I decided I won't write about on my blog. In general those topics are politics, religion and things like that.
It's not that I'm not interested in these topics or that I'm not interested in other people's opinions. But I realized that these topics are fruitful ground for misunderstandings. In my experience discussing such difficult topics on the internet almost alwas goes wrong and is very likely to backfire. People end up insulting and hurting each other. Although I am pretty sure the people I know reading my blog are not very likely to be like that, I will do most anything to keep my blog free from joyless discussions. If that includes censoring myself on certain subjects, so be it.
So, what I wrote about that article I read will most likely stay a draft and be deleted after a while. I can live with that.
So, brando, see, I'm just like you. I let go of the snark, because I am honestly afraid to offend some stranger. Once again I get the feeling that I'm just too nice and harmony-addicted for this world.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Unconscious Mutterings - Exploring the Crazy Mind
Material world - Oh my,... Madonna. (What did you think?)
Satin sheets - I need to do the laundry.
Blizzard - Warcraft. And weather.
Real estate - Wish we had none.
Dress up - Clothes.
Wesley - Wyndam-Price. Hey, I just rewatched Buffy Season 3.
Robber - Go. Away.
Saliva - The word is grosser than the stuff itself.
Slave - Somehow images from Asterix comics pop up in my brain.
Shift - Yeah, I have three of those on my keyboard.
Again, you can take part and have a lot of fun... just click here.
Satin sheets - I need to do the laundry.
Blizzard - Warcraft. And weather.
Real estate - Wish we had none.
Dress up - Clothes.
Wesley - Wyndam-Price. Hey, I just rewatched Buffy Season 3.
Robber - Go. Away.
Saliva - The word is grosser than the stuff itself.
Slave - Somehow images from Asterix comics pop up in my brain.
Shift - Yeah, I have three of those on my keyboard.
Again, you can take part and have a lot of fun... just click here.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
He Is THAT Screwed Up!
Oh, how I love him.
He doesn't vacuum, he takes the vacuum cleaner for a walk. He also talks to his vacuum cleaner, which I picked up and now I do it, too. 'Good boy, good boy. Yes, we're going for a walk now. There's plenty for you to eat in the living room, 'cause, you know, Jamie ate there.'
He also talks to his bass. His bass faces the television, so that, you know, he isn't bored when nobody plays with him. Better yet, the bass can talk back. Or it's me playing single notes. The lowermost site is him growling. 'What's up, baby? Aren't you happy? Yes, somebody will play with you VERY soon. Stop growling, now, stop growling.'
Strum.
He doesn't vacuum, he takes the vacuum cleaner for a walk. He also talks to his vacuum cleaner, which I picked up and now I do it, too. 'Good boy, good boy. Yes, we're going for a walk now. There's plenty for you to eat in the living room, 'cause, you know, Jamie ate there.'
He also talks to his bass. His bass faces the television, so that, you know, he isn't bored when nobody plays with him. Better yet, the bass can talk back. Or it's me playing single notes. The lowermost site is him growling. 'What's up, baby? Aren't you happy? Yes, somebody will play with you VERY soon. Stop growling, now, stop growling.'
Strum.
Friday, January 21, 2005
This Time I'll Stick With The Books
Is it just me or did they leave out about three quarters of the book when they made 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' into a movie?
Now I'm the greatest defender of movies based on books, but this... no. Just no. It's not the fact that they left out parts. It's that they left out so much that anyone who hasn't read the books, e.g. the boyfriend, must feel completely confused.
'I couldn't really concentrate, so I think I missed something', he says.
'No', says I. 'It wasn't you not being able to concentrate. It was them not giving any background information needed to get the plot.'
I still like the movie, basically because Hermione kicks ass the whole time. (It's not as good as her and Ginny somehow being the best characters and completely ruling the fifth book, but still.)
But I still think that I only could enjoy it the way I did, because I have actually read the book and knew the plot.
And thank heavens for the kids wearing normal clothes.
By the way, I copied this from imdb.com
The German subsidary of Warner Bros. tried to cut down the film (as they did with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)) to secure a more commercial "Not under 6" rating. They submitted several versions but all were rejected by the German ratings board FSK for this rating. In the end the uncut version was released with a "Not under 12" rating.
You don't want to know what they did to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets here. I saw both versions and I felt like I was watching two completely different movies. Like, the one with the finale and the one with... yeah, no finale.
You also don't want to know what they did to that new Peter Pan movie that came out last year or so. According to the German version, nobody died throughout the whole movie. They are really pushing those movies to a "Not under 6" version here. At all cost. And fun it is not.
(On another side note, am I the only one who read Peter Pan and sympathized with Hook? Like all the time? Peter Pan is such an annoying brat. No wonder Hook wants him dead.)
Now I'm the greatest defender of movies based on books, but this... no. Just no. It's not the fact that they left out parts. It's that they left out so much that anyone who hasn't read the books, e.g. the boyfriend, must feel completely confused.
'I couldn't really concentrate, so I think I missed something', he says.
'No', says I. 'It wasn't you not being able to concentrate. It was them not giving any background information needed to get the plot.'
I still like the movie, basically because Hermione kicks ass the whole time. (It's not as good as her and Ginny somehow being the best characters and completely ruling the fifth book, but still.)
But I still think that I only could enjoy it the way I did, because I have actually read the book and knew the plot.
And thank heavens for the kids wearing normal clothes.
By the way, I copied this from imdb.com
The German subsidary of Warner Bros. tried to cut down the film (as they did with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)) to secure a more commercial "Not under 6" rating. They submitted several versions but all were rejected by the German ratings board FSK for this rating. In the end the uncut version was released with a "Not under 12" rating.
You don't want to know what they did to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets here. I saw both versions and I felt like I was watching two completely different movies. Like, the one with the finale and the one with... yeah, no finale.
You also don't want to know what they did to that new Peter Pan movie that came out last year or so. According to the German version, nobody died throughout the whole movie. They are really pushing those movies to a "Not under 6" version here. At all cost. And fun it is not.
(On another side note, am I the only one who read Peter Pan and sympathized with Hook? Like all the time? Peter Pan is such an annoying brat. No wonder Hook wants him dead.)
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Love and Marriage and How To Get There (Episode 5)
We did it! Wediditwediditwedidit!
Well, we finally went to the registry office to get all the information we needed, which was close to nothing. Basically we have to get one document for the boyfriend, then show up with our IDs and choose a date. Oh, and don't forget to bring the money. It's not for free, after all.
So, if all goes as planned, we'll get married in April. At least that's when I would want it to happen. Remember, my grandmother's birthday?
We got this nice flyer which holds all the information we supposedly need. Look at it and be happy for us. Or don't look at it. You can still be happy for us, though.
Getting Married for Dummies
Well, we finally went to the registry office to get all the information we needed, which was close to nothing. Basically we have to get one document for the boyfriend, then show up with our IDs and choose a date. Oh, and don't forget to bring the money. It's not for free, after all.
So, if all goes as planned, we'll get married in April. At least that's when I would want it to happen. Remember, my grandmother's birthday?
We got this nice flyer which holds all the information we supposedly need. Look at it and be happy for us. Or don't look at it. You can still be happy for us, though.
Getting Married for Dummies
Huh? You Want Me? Are You Sure?
Apparently they're starting to fight about where I will get to work after my training.
There has been an arrangement with the managers, so that all the trainees can stay here for three months after we have finished our training. Nobody can tell what will happen after these three months, if you're really lucky can might get a time-based contract, but that's not very likely to happen.
So, one of my bosses (it's complicated, so don't ask) already asked me if I would like to work on that project they have. Basically I had no other choice but to say yes, because I didn't have any other options.
Today, Andreas got his things from his other desk up on 10th floor and told me that the guy he worked for there asked him whether he and I would like to work for the project they are currently working on.
He already sent a mail to one of the managers saying that he would like to get us to work on this project.
Even better, both projects are important enough to maybe get us (or me) another fixed-term contract.
Last week I had nothing and now they're starting to fight over me.
Guys, I'm not that great. In fact, I'm pretty lazy and lack motivation most of the time. I'm only here for the money anyway.
Then again, let them fight. I'll lean back and enjoy.
There has been an arrangement with the managers, so that all the trainees can stay here for three months after we have finished our training. Nobody can tell what will happen after these three months, if you're really lucky can might get a time-based contract, but that's not very likely to happen.
So, one of my bosses (it's complicated, so don't ask) already asked me if I would like to work on that project they have. Basically I had no other choice but to say yes, because I didn't have any other options.
Today, Andreas got his things from his other desk up on 10th floor and told me that the guy he worked for there asked him whether he and I would like to work for the project they are currently working on.
He already sent a mail to one of the managers saying that he would like to get us to work on this project.
Even better, both projects are important enough to maybe get us (or me) another fixed-term contract.
Last week I had nothing and now they're starting to fight over me.
Guys, I'm not that great. In fact, I'm pretty lazy and lack motivation most of the time. I'm only here for the money anyway.
Then again, let them fight. I'll lean back and enjoy.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
I Don't Want Your Discount, I Want Clothes!
I just came back to work after a very unsatisfying trip downtown to get some clothes. I thought it was going to be easy. I was wrong.
See, living in an underprivileged country like Germany means certain limitations on shopping freedom. Like laws for closing times. And laws for sales. They kind of lowered the restrictions and are constantly working on lowering them even more, but somehow I got lost on the track. I thought they changed the laws on sales to that degree where every shop can have a sale any time, but even if I'm right, I discovered that the old habits still stick. Which means that we still have the traditional winter and summer sales, which are supposed to help the stores get rid of their winter resp. summer collections when nobody wants to buy them anymore.
They're just having winter sales.
What I was planning to buy was easy. I calculated a total amount of time needed of approximately 30 to 40 minutes spent in the one clothes store I like best. I planned to walk in there, grab a few things I liked, try them on and hopefully walk out with what I liked best. I even planned to spend more money than usual. I need some business outfit that I can wear for job interviews and probably my orals next Wednesday. I was thinking a pair of trousers with a matching blazer. Possibly a new blouse. Couldn't be too hard.
Did I mention they're having winter sales?
This is what actually happened. The store I planned to go to is closed for the moment due to... something I forgot. But they have another store not too far, so I walked all the way down there to get what I wanted.
I walked in and naturally found a nice dress, black with little flowers, that looked perfect and was cheap, so I grabbed it and went to look for my business clothes. By then I thought it could only get better.
Instead it got worse.
Obviously they just don't have a sale, they have nothing but a sale. Which wouldn't be too bad if they'd only left the clothes where they were before the sale. Which they didn't. They arranged the clothes in a new way, which summed up could be described as: 'All the blazers here and the trousers... heck, put them there in the back, yeah, right across the floor. Gee, I can't even see them anymore. Yep. Leave them there.'
Do I need to tell you that I came back to work empty handed?
At first I tried. I looked through the blazers and found one I liked, then I searched for matching trousers. Didn't work. Then I tried it the other way round. I looked through the trousers, found some I liked and tried to find the matching blazer. Didn't work either. After a short while of trial and error I gave up. It was no use, really. I don't have a lot of patience with clothes shopping as it is, but browsing through clothes endlessly just in hope to find a matching pair of trousers which most possibly doesn't even exist didn't occur to me as the thing I'd like to do for the next few hours.
I was willing to pay a lot of money, guys. So, your discount looks nice, yeah, but I actually rather would like to find some clothes.
As in matching clothes.
See, living in an underprivileged country like Germany means certain limitations on shopping freedom. Like laws for closing times. And laws for sales. They kind of lowered the restrictions and are constantly working on lowering them even more, but somehow I got lost on the track. I thought they changed the laws on sales to that degree where every shop can have a sale any time, but even if I'm right, I discovered that the old habits still stick. Which means that we still have the traditional winter and summer sales, which are supposed to help the stores get rid of their winter resp. summer collections when nobody wants to buy them anymore.
They're just having winter sales.
What I was planning to buy was easy. I calculated a total amount of time needed of approximately 30 to 40 minutes spent in the one clothes store I like best. I planned to walk in there, grab a few things I liked, try them on and hopefully walk out with what I liked best. I even planned to spend more money than usual. I need some business outfit that I can wear for job interviews and probably my orals next Wednesday. I was thinking a pair of trousers with a matching blazer. Possibly a new blouse. Couldn't be too hard.
Did I mention they're having winter sales?
This is what actually happened. The store I planned to go to is closed for the moment due to... something I forgot. But they have another store not too far, so I walked all the way down there to get what I wanted.
I walked in and naturally found a nice dress, black with little flowers, that looked perfect and was cheap, so I grabbed it and went to look for my business clothes. By then I thought it could only get better.
Instead it got worse.
Obviously they just don't have a sale, they have nothing but a sale. Which wouldn't be too bad if they'd only left the clothes where they were before the sale. Which they didn't. They arranged the clothes in a new way, which summed up could be described as: 'All the blazers here and the trousers... heck, put them there in the back, yeah, right across the floor. Gee, I can't even see them anymore. Yep. Leave them there.'
Do I need to tell you that I came back to work empty handed?
At first I tried. I looked through the blazers and found one I liked, then I searched for matching trousers. Didn't work. Then I tried it the other way round. I looked through the trousers, found some I liked and tried to find the matching blazer. Didn't work either. After a short while of trial and error I gave up. It was no use, really. I don't have a lot of patience with clothes shopping as it is, but browsing through clothes endlessly just in hope to find a matching pair of trousers which most possibly doesn't even exist didn't occur to me as the thing I'd like to do for the next few hours.
I was willing to pay a lot of money, guys. So, your discount looks nice, yeah, but I actually rather would like to find some clothes.
As in matching clothes.
Unconscious Mutterings - Pilot
I thought I'd take part. If you want to try, click here.
Yoda - Star Wars (Shut up! You thought it, too.)
Mensa - Really bad food
Pink - I admit, that I like her. It's P!nk though.
Text message - The tenant who uses it constantly to drive us crazy.
Galactic - Galaxy Quest (The movie, yes. Again: Shut. Up.)
Chicks - ...with guitars.
Quesadilla - Huh? I know it's food.
Backpack - Thanks, but no.
Socket - Here they left her.
Compromise - Always welcome. I'm Libra after all.
And next week will be even more fun.
By the way, can you tell that I'm at work and really bored? I thought so.
Yoda - Star Wars (Shut up! You thought it, too.)
Mensa - Really bad food
Pink - I admit, that I like her. It's P!nk though.
Text message - The tenant who uses it constantly to drive us crazy.
Galactic - Galaxy Quest (The movie, yes. Again: Shut. Up.)
Chicks - ...with guitars.
Quesadilla - Huh? I know it's food.
Backpack - Thanks, but no.
Socket - Here they left her.
Compromise - Always welcome. I'm Libra after all.
And next week will be even more fun.
By the way, can you tell that I'm at work and really bored? I thought so.
Love and Marriage and How To Get There (Episode 4)
No, there has been no news on the marriage front since the last episode. Still I thought I might give you some more on this particular topic.
So I decided to do the following: Ten Reasons Why We Should Get Married
Unfortunately I could only come up with three good reasons and one extremely good reason.
Three Good Reasons and One Extremely Good Reason Why We Should Get Married
1) We would save on taxes.
2) It would make my grandmother really happy.
3) I could finally get rid of my last name, which I never learned to like.
4) I can't see a single reason why not.
You see, the deal is done. Nothing can stop me. And I will keep you updated when there is real news to share with the rest of the world.
So I decided to do the following: Ten Reasons Why We Should Get Married
Unfortunately I could only come up with three good reasons and one extremely good reason.
Three Good Reasons and One Extremely Good Reason Why We Should Get Married
1) We would save on taxes.
2) It would make my grandmother really happy.
3) I could finally get rid of my last name, which I never learned to like.
4) I can't see a single reason why not.
You see, the deal is done. Nothing can stop me. And I will keep you updated when there is real news to share with the rest of the world.
Napkin, Anyone?
When I go to lunch here at the company I always grab a bunch of napkins and put them on my tray, but I only need one or two, so I end up taking the rest to my desk and keep them there.
Up to now I have about twenty napkins (looking at the pile, I guess it's even more) piling up on my desk.
So, if you ever need one, I got one.
On a side note I wonder, will they catch me and fire me for repeated napkin thievery? They can't do that, can they?
Up to now I have about twenty napkins (looking at the pile, I guess it's even more) piling up on my desk.
So, if you ever need one, I got one.
On a side note I wonder, will they catch me and fire me for repeated napkin thievery? They can't do that, can they?
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Brief Interlude
I went to bed with a headache, I woke up with a headache even worse.
I decided to call in sick but then remembered I still had some documents at work which I needed to get that application done for that job I found yesterday on the internet that I MUST get. So I went to work. I went there, told my boss I was sick and just needed to get a few things done, made copies of the document, hang around for 15 minutes and went back home.
Now I'm here, still headachy and tired and ready to go to sleep once I'm done with this post.
The boyfriend doesn't know that I'm home already, so he will be pleasantly surprised when he gets here.
I also had a very bad dream about me fighting with my father which didn't help making me feel better today. Especially since my parents are going to Australia today and somehow I hate the fact that I had a very bad dream about my father the day before he leaves.
I'm going to bed now. And I'm going to be very frustrated if I don't feel better when I wake up.
I decided to call in sick but then remembered I still had some documents at work which I needed to get that application done for that job I found yesterday on the internet that I MUST get. So I went to work. I went there, told my boss I was sick and just needed to get a few things done, made copies of the document, hang around for 15 minutes and went back home.
Now I'm here, still headachy and tired and ready to go to sleep once I'm done with this post.
The boyfriend doesn't know that I'm home already, so he will be pleasantly surprised when he gets here.
I also had a very bad dream about me fighting with my father which didn't help making me feel better today. Especially since my parents are going to Australia today and somehow I hate the fact that I had a very bad dream about my father the day before he leaves.
I'm going to bed now. And I'm going to be very frustrated if I don't feel better when I wake up.
Monday, January 17, 2005
What Shall Jamie Read? - First Impressions
I started with one of DeAnn's suggestions: The Dogs of Babel. First, because I've thought about buying it before and second, because it was the only one of my list available at the bookshop in the train station.
I have read about 60 pages or so and this is such a great book. Thanks DeAnn, for recommending. I'm so happy with this book.
The greatest thing about it: It deals with two of my favorite things: dogs and linguistics. I didn't think you could combine those two, but it seems you can. As far as I can tell, it also is a heart-breaking love story, but I'm mostly thrilled about dogs and linguistics. So great, so great. Aaaaah. Sigh.
On a side note I would remind you that if there's one way to get my attention that is closest to foolproof, it is dogs. Mention your dog on your blog, I'll be the first one to comment. Or not, because I live in a different time zone, but I will comment eventually.
Better even, post a picture. Only then, I won't be able to write complete sentences anymore. I guess, DeAnn and Sarcomical know what I'm talking about.
Current mood: Headachy. That is also why my posts are rather confusing (and not as excellent and witty as usually) tonight. I've been busy all day, and I mean literally. I left home at 7 am and came back at 8 pm and I wasn't involved in a lot of fun in the time between.
Listening to: The boyfriend caressing his bass in the living room. It's just too cute.
I have read about 60 pages or so and this is such a great book. Thanks DeAnn, for recommending. I'm so happy with this book.
The greatest thing about it: It deals with two of my favorite things: dogs and linguistics. I didn't think you could combine those two, but it seems you can. As far as I can tell, it also is a heart-breaking love story, but I'm mostly thrilled about dogs and linguistics. So great, so great. Aaaaah. Sigh.
On a side note I would remind you that if there's one way to get my attention that is closest to foolproof, it is dogs. Mention your dog on your blog, I'll be the first one to comment. Or not, because I live in a different time zone, but I will comment eventually.
Better even, post a picture. Only then, I won't be able to write complete sentences anymore. I guess, DeAnn and Sarcomical know what I'm talking about.
Current mood: Headachy. That is also why my posts are rather confusing (and not as excellent and witty as usually) tonight. I've been busy all day, and I mean literally. I left home at 7 am and came back at 8 pm and I wasn't involved in a lot of fun in the time between.
Listening to: The boyfriend caressing his bass in the living room. It's just too cute.
Tales From The Tenant (Part Deux)
What do you want to know?
Like, how he didn't show up today when he was supposed to meet us at the apartment?
Like, how we found out that his former landlord still gets 3,500 Euro from him, because he didn't pay his rent for 6 months back then?
Like, how he apparently lies to everybody about totally unimportant things?
Like, why all his furniture is still at his old apartment?
Like, how he claims he doesn't have an ID? (Which, for those who don't know, is an obligation in Germany.)
Like, what, for fuck's sake, does all this mean?
Like, how he didn't show up today when he was supposed to meet us at the apartment?
Like, how we found out that his former landlord still gets 3,500 Euro from him, because he didn't pay his rent for 6 months back then?
Like, how he apparently lies to everybody about totally unimportant things?
Like, why all his furniture is still at his old apartment?
Like, how he claims he doesn't have an ID? (Which, for those who don't know, is an obligation in Germany.)
Like, what, for fuck's sake, does all this mean?
Sunday, January 16, 2005
What Shall Jamie Read? - Recommendations
Thanks to everybody who commented and recommended. So far there has not been a single recommendation I didn't like.
Anyway, since I figured there might be other blog readers out there searching for an inspiration on what to read next, I decided to post the results. Of course they can all be read in the comment box, but I think they need a special blog entry.
UV recommended:
The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
Caitlin recommended a hell of a lot of books:
Born Confused by Tamuja Desai Hidier
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Cass recommended:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Fayza recommended:
Sally Hemings by Barbara Chase-Riboud
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
DeAnn recommended:
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken
FoFuSa recommended:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters as well
srah recommended:
Anything by Christopher Brookmyre
What a set. I think I have enough recommendations for the next few months. As soon as I'm done I'll get back to you. It has proven to be really inspiring.
Anyway, since I figured there might be other blog readers out there searching for an inspiration on what to read next, I decided to post the results. Of course they can all be read in the comment box, but I think they need a special blog entry.
UV recommended:
The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
Caitlin recommended a hell of a lot of books:
Born Confused by Tamuja Desai Hidier
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Cass recommended:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Fayza recommended:
Sally Hemings by Barbara Chase-Riboud
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
DeAnn recommended:
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken
FoFuSa recommended:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters as well
srah recommended:
Anything by Christopher Brookmyre
What a set. I think I have enough recommendations for the next few months. As soon as I'm done I'll get back to you. It has proven to be really inspiring.
Leave That Song Alone!
When I walked across the Roncalliplatz in Cologne today on my way to meet my mom, there was this South American flutist group (we call them 'Anden Mafia' by the way, but that's just a side note) playing 'Sound of Silence'.
Now I'm probably one of the biggest Paul Simon worshippers of my generation. At least I spent more than 120 Euro altogether to see him play live (twice, though, I spent 60 Euro for each concert). But I never really liked 'Sound of Silence', the same way I never really liked 'The Boxer'. Mostly because they somehow are constantly abused by people when it comes to singing around a bonfire. Like 'Hey, can you play 'The Boxer'?' and everyone chimes in during the lie-la-lie-refrain, because no-one really knows the lyrics.
Still, walking by these flutists I realized that I indeed like 'Sound of Silence'. I only don't like the way everyone handles this song, because honestly... that is not a campfire-we-are-all-happy-and-love-each-other-song.
Have you ever read the lyrics?
That is a mighty scary song.
'When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light'
Creepy.
'And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, maybe more.'
Creepy.
'"Fools," said I, "you do not know, silence like a cancer grows.'
Ew. Creepy.
The whole song, dear blog readers, is amazingly creepy and scary. And incredibly good.
You just don't play it with panflutes accompanied by corny drumloops. So, do me favor, guys, do whatever you like, but take your hands off that song.
Now I'm probably one of the biggest Paul Simon worshippers of my generation. At least I spent more than 120 Euro altogether to see him play live (twice, though, I spent 60 Euro for each concert). But I never really liked 'Sound of Silence', the same way I never really liked 'The Boxer'. Mostly because they somehow are constantly abused by people when it comes to singing around a bonfire. Like 'Hey, can you play 'The Boxer'?' and everyone chimes in during the lie-la-lie-refrain, because no-one really knows the lyrics.
Still, walking by these flutists I realized that I indeed like 'Sound of Silence'. I only don't like the way everyone handles this song, because honestly... that is not a campfire-we-are-all-happy-and-love-each-other-song.
Have you ever read the lyrics?
That is a mighty scary song.
'When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light'
Creepy.
'And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, maybe more.'
Creepy.
'"Fools," said I, "you do not know, silence like a cancer grows.'
Ew. Creepy.
The whole song, dear blog readers, is amazingly creepy and scary. And incredibly good.
You just don't play it with panflutes accompanied by corny drumloops. So, do me favor, guys, do whatever you like, but take your hands off that song.
What Shall Jamie Read?
I finished 'Our Lady of the Forest' by David Guterson this morning on the train.
I thought it was a really strange book and I have to admit that there were times when I had trouble relating to anyone of the main characters. Also, as I have mentioned before, Guterson doesn't really seem to like quotation marks, which maybe could be considered style, but honestly, I don't really mind quotation marks. I think they can even be really helpful sometimes.
Although I still have to read 'Vanity Fair' and supposedly be able to read 'Der Schwarm' soon (the boyfriend has to finish it first), I need some recommendations on what to read.
So, please tell me: What shall I read next?
All in all I'm open for anything, so just think of a great book and tell me a little bit about it. I am anxious to know.
I thought it was a really strange book and I have to admit that there were times when I had trouble relating to anyone of the main characters. Also, as I have mentioned before, Guterson doesn't really seem to like quotation marks, which maybe could be considered style, but honestly, I don't really mind quotation marks. I think they can even be really helpful sometimes.
Although I still have to read 'Vanity Fair' and supposedly be able to read 'Der Schwarm' soon (the boyfriend has to finish it first), I need some recommendations on what to read.
So, please tell me: What shall I read next?
All in all I'm open for anything, so just think of a great book and tell me a little bit about it. I am anxious to know.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Why I Won The Euphemism Prize
Because I can put the simple statement 'My life sucks' in words like these:
Currently there are certain aspects of my life that lack complete perfection.
Thank you all very much. Here are some examples:
1) I can't argue with my father. It's not because of me. Nobody can argue with my father. The only possible way to have a nice insult-free and non-aggressive discussion with my father is to share his opinion in all respects. Everything else is doomed to fail.
2) I have a headache. I didn't drink. I didn't spent my whole day at the computer. I just got a headache and I don't know why. That's like the second worst way to get a headache. The worst way is waking up with one and not after a night spent with wine and liqueur.
3) I might have to go to Cologne tomorrow to buy a newspaper. Right. A newspaper. And it's Sunday, which, in underprivileged countries like Germany means that there are no stores open and thus, nothing to do. Besides buying a newspaper.
4) I still haven't managed to put together all the stuff for my applications. Sending out applications in an underprivileged country like Germany means spending a whole lot of money to be rejected. My optimism, by the way, has gone shopping. To Italy or so.
5) I don't want winter anymore. Go away, winter. You're too dark and too cold. Also, you bring me no snow. I want spring.
6) The book I'm reading right now is really very poorly written. I wonder if I would've given up already if the story wasn't interesting enough for me to keep on reading and just be frustrated by stupid word choice and bad writing like basically all the time. I haven't found an English translation of the book yet, so I figured there is none so far. You're not missing anything.
7) I'm sure there is something else, but I think I complained enough. I have to admit that I just wanted to write something for my blog and ranting was all I could come up with. I'll be back with more happy posts tomorrow. I have a whole agenda of things to do. Like introducing all my favorite blogs and bringing 'The (Not-So-)Weekly Freezer' back to life.
And a lot of other fun. Possibly.
Currently there are certain aspects of my life that lack complete perfection.
Thank you all very much. Here are some examples:
1) I can't argue with my father. It's not because of me. Nobody can argue with my father. The only possible way to have a nice insult-free and non-aggressive discussion with my father is to share his opinion in all respects. Everything else is doomed to fail.
2) I have a headache. I didn't drink. I didn't spent my whole day at the computer. I just got a headache and I don't know why. That's like the second worst way to get a headache. The worst way is waking up with one and not after a night spent with wine and liqueur.
3) I might have to go to Cologne tomorrow to buy a newspaper. Right. A newspaper. And it's Sunday, which, in underprivileged countries like Germany means that there are no stores open and thus, nothing to do. Besides buying a newspaper.
4) I still haven't managed to put together all the stuff for my applications. Sending out applications in an underprivileged country like Germany means spending a whole lot of money to be rejected. My optimism, by the way, has gone shopping. To Italy or so.
5) I don't want winter anymore. Go away, winter. You're too dark and too cold. Also, you bring me no snow. I want spring.
6) The book I'm reading right now is really very poorly written. I wonder if I would've given up already if the story wasn't interesting enough for me to keep on reading and just be frustrated by stupid word choice and bad writing like basically all the time. I haven't found an English translation of the book yet, so I figured there is none so far. You're not missing anything.
7) I'm sure there is something else, but I think I complained enough. I have to admit that I just wanted to write something for my blog and ranting was all I could come up with. I'll be back with more happy posts tomorrow. I have a whole agenda of things to do. Like introducing all my favorite blogs and bringing 'The (Not-So-)Weekly Freezer' back to life.
And a lot of other fun. Possibly.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Late New Year's Resolutions à la Jill
I've mentioned it before and now I'm gonna go for it. 2004 has been a crappy year. Not necessarily for me, but for the boyfriend and that affects me a lot.
But we tried our best and since that obviously did not help I don't see the point of making New Year's Resolutions other than the way Jill does. And rightfully so.
Now here they are, my New Year's Resolutions for Other People:
The-Guy-That-Said-He-Sent-My-Boyfriend-A-Mail-But-Really-Did-Not
1. I will not lie to nice people.
2. Especially not to Jamie and her boyfriend.
3. I will not pretend to have sent an email when I didn't.
4. Especially not to Jamie or her boyfriend.
5. Especially not when it concerns a job as a trainer paid with 3000 Euro.
6. Also, I will not immediately call someone else and give him that job because Jamie's boyfriend never replied to the email that I never sent.
7. Additionally, I will lose my job and know how it feels when you are unemployed and dependent on idiots.
The-Guy-That-Stole-My-Boyfriends-Wallet-On-The-Train
1. I will not steal Jamie's boyfriend's wallet again.
2. Mostly because if I did it would prove my stupidity since there were like 5 Euros in it and not a single useful credit card.
The-Tenant-Who-Refused-To-Pay-The-Rent
1. I will never not pay my rent again.
2. Nor will I yell at my landlord.
3. I will also not lie to my landlord.
4. Or refuse to talk to him.
5. Or hang up on him.
6. I think I may just move back in with my mother and stay there for the rest of my life.
The-Other-Tenant-Who-Never-Paid
1. I will never rent an apartment again.
2. Nor will I ever talk.
3. Because apparently everything I say is a lie.
Our-Neighbors-From-One-Floor-Below
1. We will move out.
2. Soon.
3. Tomorrow maybe.
My-Favorite-Office-Fiend
1. I will never ever speak again.
2. Nor will I always touch people when I talk to them.
3. Additionally I will disappear from Jamie's life.
Those-Guys-On-The-Train-And/Or-Escalator
1. We will learn how to get off or on a train without hurting other people.
2. We will learn how to use an escalator.
3. We will realize that there are actually other people living in this world.
That-One-Guy-That-Really-Doesn't-Deserve-His-Job
1. I will read someone's resume before that someone has his job interview.
2. Especially when that someone is Jamie's boyfriend.
3. I will at least have a quick glance at it like five minutes before the actual interview.
4. I will not ask that someone if he did indeed got his degree.
5. I will not ask that question twice when I got an answer the first time I asked.
6. Especially not since I would know the answer if I had read the resume.
I'm really feeling good now. I don't know if I will update the resolution's or if I already covered all of last year's most important idiots that ruined my day.
But we tried our best and since that obviously did not help I don't see the point of making New Year's Resolutions other than the way Jill does. And rightfully so.
Now here they are, my New Year's Resolutions for Other People:
The-Guy-That-Said-He-Sent-My-Boyfriend-A-Mail-But-Really-Did-Not
1. I will not lie to nice people.
2. Especially not to Jamie and her boyfriend.
3. I will not pretend to have sent an email when I didn't.
4. Especially not to Jamie or her boyfriend.
5. Especially not when it concerns a job as a trainer paid with 3000 Euro.
6. Also, I will not immediately call someone else and give him that job because Jamie's boyfriend never replied to the email that I never sent.
7. Additionally, I will lose my job and know how it feels when you are unemployed and dependent on idiots.
The-Guy-That-Stole-My-Boyfriends-Wallet-On-The-Train
1. I will not steal Jamie's boyfriend's wallet again.
2. Mostly because if I did it would prove my stupidity since there were like 5 Euros in it and not a single useful credit card.
The-Tenant-Who-Refused-To-Pay-The-Rent
1. I will never not pay my rent again.
2. Nor will I yell at my landlord.
3. I will also not lie to my landlord.
4. Or refuse to talk to him.
5. Or hang up on him.
6. I think I may just move back in with my mother and stay there for the rest of my life.
The-Other-Tenant-Who-Never-Paid
1. I will never rent an apartment again.
2. Nor will I ever talk.
3. Because apparently everything I say is a lie.
Our-Neighbors-From-One-Floor-Below
1. We will move out.
2. Soon.
3. Tomorrow maybe.
My-Favorite-Office-Fiend
1. I will never ever speak again.
2. Nor will I always touch people when I talk to them.
3. Additionally I will disappear from Jamie's life.
Those-Guys-On-The-Train-And/Or-Escalator
1. We will learn how to get off or on a train without hurting other people.
2. We will learn how to use an escalator.
3. We will realize that there are actually other people living in this world.
That-One-Guy-That-Really-Doesn't-Deserve-His-Job
1. I will read someone's resume before that someone has his job interview.
2. Especially when that someone is Jamie's boyfriend.
3. I will at least have a quick glance at it like five minutes before the actual interview.
4. I will not ask that someone if he did indeed got his degree.
5. I will not ask that question twice when I got an answer the first time I asked.
6. Especially not since I would know the answer if I had read the resume.
I'm really feeling good now. I don't know if I will update the resolution's or if I already covered all of last year's most important idiots that ruined my day.
The Boy's In Heaven
The boyfriend had one of his dreams fulfilled last Wednesday. He's now a proud owner of a 400 Euro acoustic bass.
He already started complaining about his fingertips hurting. The pain is part of the practise, honey.
That didn't stop him from answering the phone with 'Master of Disaster' these days. Which, unfortunately, is really true.
He already started complaining about his fingertips hurting. The pain is part of the practise, honey.
That didn't stop him from answering the phone with 'Master of Disaster' these days. Which, unfortunately, is really true.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Love and Marriage and How To Get There (Episode 3)
Today is Thursday.
If you don't know what I'm referring to: See here and here.
This time, maybe? They're closing at 6 p.m. Lazybones.
Update: It's 3:55 and the answer to above's question is 'Apparently not.'
To be continued...
If you don't know what I'm referring to: See here and here.
This time, maybe? They're closing at 6 p.m. Lazybones.
Update: It's 3:55 and the answer to above's question is 'Apparently not.'
To be continued...
Got What I Wanted
There's no need to be overly detailed, so here's a very short summary.
There were three parts of the written exams, two were weighed with 40% each and the third weighed 20%.
So, the results are:
Part 1: 81%
Part 2: 81%
Part 3: 91%
All together it makes a lovely 83%!
I admit I hoped for a little bit more, but my main goals have been met.
(Those were: Reach more than 80% and be better than my favorite office fiend. And I'm so much better than her. Yay!)
So, yay for me. I think I could've done better, but it's over and it's fine.
There were three parts of the written exams, two were weighed with 40% each and the third weighed 20%.
So, the results are:
Part 1: 81%
Part 2: 81%
Part 3: 91%
All together it makes a lovely 83%!
I admit I hoped for a little bit more, but my main goals have been met.
(Those were: Reach more than 80% and be better than my favorite office fiend. And I'm so much better than her. Yay!)
So, yay for me. I think I could've done better, but it's over and it's fine.
Stuck On Book Memes (And Liking It)
I got this from DeAnn's Blog. I had seen it before but I just decided to do it.
Here are the rules:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don’t search around and look for the “coolest” book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you.
I would also recommend to link to the person you got it from as well as writing a comment here if you decide to do this meme. That way, everyone - including me - can track where the meme came from and where it goes and read all the lovely out-of-context-sentences. But that's just my suggestion, not necessarily part of the rules.
Now I am kind of cheating. I knew I wanted to do this meme when I was at work and had no 'good' books around, so I waited until today. I'm at work again, but I brought a book to read on the train.
So, here it is, from David Guterson's 'Our Lady of the Forest':
'His black leather belt made creaking sounds.'
Apparently Guterson isn't so fond of long sentences (and quotation marks, for that matter).
And just to give you an idea of how it would have been if hadn't allowed myself to cheat an eensy-weensy tiny little bit:
From Peter Prinz's and Ulla Kirch-Prinz's 'C++ - Lernen and professionell anwenden':
'Zu beachten ist, daß eine do-while-Schleife mit einem Semikolon abzuschließen ist.'
Fun, huh?
Here are the rules:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don’t search around and look for the “coolest” book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you.
I would also recommend to link to the person you got it from as well as writing a comment here if you decide to do this meme. That way, everyone - including me - can track where the meme came from and where it goes and read all the lovely out-of-context-sentences. But that's just my suggestion, not necessarily part of the rules.
Now I am kind of cheating. I knew I wanted to do this meme when I was at work and had no 'good' books around, so I waited until today. I'm at work again, but I brought a book to read on the train.
So, here it is, from David Guterson's 'Our Lady of the Forest':
'His black leather belt made creaking sounds.'
Apparently Guterson isn't so fond of long sentences (and quotation marks, for that matter).
And just to give you an idea of how it would have been if hadn't allowed myself to cheat an eensy-weensy tiny little bit:
From Peter Prinz's and Ulla Kirch-Prinz's 'C++ - Lernen and professionell anwenden':
'Zu beachten ist, daß eine do-while-Schleife mit einem Semikolon abzuschließen ist.'
Fun, huh?
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
I Am THAT Screwed Up
I have this special ability to see when in any given text, be it on paper or on the internet, there are accidentally two spaces between words instead of just one.
And it really bugs me when there are more than one.
And it really bugs me when there are more than one.
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Idiots
I really don't need to write much, since Jill got it all covered on her blog and this is exactly how I feel right now.
So, once I have calmed down a little and feel able to write more than little snippets of how crazy this world is, I will present you my New Year's Resolutions for other people. Because apart from my harmless flaws I'm doing really great.
And I don't deserve to be treated like this. I'm really nice. Yes, I do snark and bitch sometimes, but I never actually hurt people. I'm not violent at all. I don't pull hair or punch anybody. I always pay for everything. I give tips when I eat out or order in. Occasionally I use my elbows to remind people that they should let me step out of the train before they can get in. And I sometimes throw paper balls at my co-workers. That's it. Really.
So, world, why do I have to put up with all these idiots? And why, oh why, do they always win?
Oh, yes, I remember... I'm too nice.
Current mood: Frustrated. Really.
Listening to: One Evening by Feist.
Eating: Pudding
So, once I have calmed down a little and feel able to write more than little snippets of how crazy this world is, I will present you my New Year's Resolutions for other people. Because apart from my harmless flaws I'm doing really great.
And I don't deserve to be treated like this. I'm really nice. Yes, I do snark and bitch sometimes, but I never actually hurt people. I'm not violent at all. I don't pull hair or punch anybody. I always pay for everything. I give tips when I eat out or order in. Occasionally I use my elbows to remind people that they should let me step out of the train before they can get in. And I sometimes throw paper balls at my co-workers. That's it. Really.
So, world, why do I have to put up with all these idiots? And why, oh why, do they always win?
Oh, yes, I remember... I'm too nice.
Current mood: Frustrated. Really.
Listening to: One Evening by Feist.
Eating: Pudding
Tales of the Tenant
So he won't talk to us, won't answer our calls, won't pay.
I just talked to a friend of my parents who works as a real estate agent. He said that our main goal should be to get the tenant out by February. We can still try to get the rent for January later.
Concerning our situation right now he couldn't really help, but he gave me some really useful hints what to do when we search for a new tenant, which hopefully will be really, really soon.
Anyone interested in a nice one-room apartment in Germany? We hope we'll be able to rent it soon.
There's one condition though: We'd like you to pay the rent. And be nice and polite to us, but we're willing to call the last one an option, really. Just pay, then.
Oh yeah, his lawyer will contact us soon. Because of what again...? Accepting his notice of cancellation and just having asked him to pay this month's rent?
I just talked to a friend of my parents who works as a real estate agent. He said that our main goal should be to get the tenant out by February. We can still try to get the rent for January later.
Concerning our situation right now he couldn't really help, but he gave me some really useful hints what to do when we search for a new tenant, which hopefully will be really, really soon.
Anyone interested in a nice one-room apartment in Germany? We hope we'll be able to rent it soon.
There's one condition though: We'd like you to pay the rent. And be nice and polite to us, but we're willing to call the last one an option, really. Just pay, then.
Oh yeah, his lawyer will contact us soon. Because of what again...? Accepting his notice of cancellation and just having asked him to pay this month's rent?
I'm Not Happy With This
No, I didn't get my results yesterday.
And no, I won't get them today.
And yes, if nothing goes wrong I will have them tomorrow.
Obviously they can't just send out all the results in one big load and be done with it. They have to send them out in little packages, so apart from being among the last ones to know in the country, I will be the very last one to know.
See, I was pretty well aware that the responsible institution was obviously one of lamest of the country. All the other trainees all over the country already knew their results when we in Cologne didn't even know when we would know our results.
And now, not only are my results processed by the country's slowest IHK (the German chamber of industry and commerce) ever, but I am obviously last on their list.
The only good news is that I could prevent a disaster from happening. Yesterday I was wondering why I didn't have my results when some of the other trainees at my company did. The boyfriend thought that it might be because of the postman who doesn't seem to care to come and bring us mail but every other day. When I woke up this morning it hit me that the IHK still had my old address in Bonn, so if they had already sent my results I would never ever get them.
So I called them right this morning and though I was right and they still had my old address it also turned out that they haven't even sent my results yet.
So, on the one hand: Relief, since my results didn't go all return-to-sender.
On the other hand: Why am I last on your list, lady? What did I do that I get to know everything last? Huh?
I know, I'm not really fair, nor am I being rational here, but since 99% of all trainees nation-wide know their results, I would like to know mine, too.
Except... see post below.
And no, I won't get them today.
And yes, if nothing goes wrong I will have them tomorrow.
Obviously they can't just send out all the results in one big load and be done with it. They have to send them out in little packages, so apart from being among the last ones to know in the country, I will be the very last one to know.
See, I was pretty well aware that the responsible institution was obviously one of lamest of the country. All the other trainees all over the country already knew their results when we in Cologne didn't even know when we would know our results.
And now, not only are my results processed by the country's slowest IHK (the German chamber of industry and commerce) ever, but I am obviously last on their list.
The only good news is that I could prevent a disaster from happening. Yesterday I was wondering why I didn't have my results when some of the other trainees at my company did. The boyfriend thought that it might be because of the postman who doesn't seem to care to come and bring us mail but every other day. When I woke up this morning it hit me that the IHK still had my old address in Bonn, so if they had already sent my results I would never ever get them.
So I called them right this morning and though I was right and they still had my old address it also turned out that they haven't even sent my results yet.
So, on the one hand: Relief, since my results didn't go all return-to-sender.
On the other hand: Why am I last on your list, lady? What did I do that I get to know everything last? Huh?
I know, I'm not really fair, nor am I being rational here, but since 99% of all trainees nation-wide know their results, I would like to know mine, too.
Except... see post below.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Do I Really Want To Know?
The results of our written exams have been sent out. Finally.
Another trainee talked to her sister this afternoon and apparently she got her results already. Now, either the boyfriend is playing games with me or I haven't gotten mine so far. Tomorrow, then.
But do I really want to know? I mean, I have all these high expectations and though I'm pretty lazy I'm also pretty ambitious. In the sense that I just expect I will do fine because I always have. So I tell myself and the whole world that I'm prepared for a loss (which will be less than 80% for that matter) but then I again I'm really not. Because I'm just not used to losing.
As soon as I know you will, too.
Another trainee talked to her sister this afternoon and apparently she got her results already. Now, either the boyfriend is playing games with me or I haven't gotten mine so far. Tomorrow, then.
But do I really want to know? I mean, I have all these high expectations and though I'm pretty lazy I'm also pretty ambitious. In the sense that I just expect I will do fine because I always have. So I tell myself and the whole world that I'm prepared for a loss (which will be less than 80% for that matter) but then I again I'm really not. Because I'm just not used to losing.
As soon as I know you will, too.
Love and Marriage and How To Get There (Episode 2)
This would better be titled 'How Not To Get There', but I'm too optimistic for something like that. It's not that bad actually.
We just didn't go to the registry office last Thursday. We didn't go because the boyfriend wanted to come to Cologne and when we got back it was too late. Like all the public offices in Germany the registry office has opening hours that scream 'ridiculous' from the top of its lungs. So Thursday is the only day we have a chance of getting there or I would have to leave work early.
Since there are actually no real news here I am contemplating telling you the date I would want to be the wedding day. I don't know... is that too early, maybe? Should I wait and see how things turn out and tell you when we've actually decided on a date.
This much I can tell: It's my dead grandmother's birthday. I am lucky enough to have three living grandparents still. My grandmother died of cancer when she was 80 in 1995. She was a big part of my life, since we lived with my grandparents until I was 13 and so I spent a lot of time with them.
I just realized that this year it will be her tenth day of death(and it would have been her 90th birthday), so now I am convinced that we must marry on her birthday.
This Thursday, maybe?
Do you think...?
Current mood: Kind of excited. Yes, the thought of getting married gets me excited. That's me.
Listening to: One Moment More by Mindy Smith.
We just didn't go to the registry office last Thursday. We didn't go because the boyfriend wanted to come to Cologne and when we got back it was too late. Like all the public offices in Germany the registry office has opening hours that scream 'ridiculous' from the top of its lungs. So Thursday is the only day we have a chance of getting there or I would have to leave work early.
Since there are actually no real news here I am contemplating telling you the date I would want to be the wedding day. I don't know... is that too early, maybe? Should I wait and see how things turn out and tell you when we've actually decided on a date.
This much I can tell: It's my dead grandmother's birthday. I am lucky enough to have three living grandparents still. My grandmother died of cancer when she was 80 in 1995. She was a big part of my life, since we lived with my grandparents until I was 13 and so I spent a lot of time with them.
I just realized that this year it will be her tenth day of death(and it would have been her 90th birthday), so now I am convinced that we must marry on her birthday.
This Thursday, maybe?
Do you think...?
Current mood: Kind of excited. Yes, the thought of getting married gets me excited. That's me.
Listening to: One Moment More by Mindy Smith.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Book Meme, Anyone?
I'm in meme mood. There are some news on the strange tenant, but I'm too lazy to write about it. Besides we won't know anything for sure until tomorrow.
This is how this meme works. Copy the list from the last person in the chain, delete the names of the authors you don't have on your home library shelves and replace them with names of authors you do have. Bold the replacements.
Also, link to the person you got it from, in this case, the fabulous me.
(Am I getting a little bit too self-confident on this blog? Cause I'm afraid I am.)
J.D. Salinger
Jack Kerouac
Bill Bryson
Douglas Adams
J.K. Rowling
JRR Tolkien
Oscar Wilde
W.H. Auden
Val McDermid
Now, go on and meme it. And tell me if you do, because I'd really like to see the list. And get comments actually, but I am REALLY more interested in the list.
This is how this meme works. Copy the list from the last person in the chain, delete the names of the authors you don't have on your home library shelves and replace them with names of authors you do have. Bold the replacements.
Also, link to the person you got it from, in this case, the fabulous me.
(Am I getting a little bit too self-confident on this blog? Cause I'm afraid I am.)
J.D. Salinger
Jack Kerouac
Bill Bryson
Douglas Adams
J.K. Rowling
JRR Tolkien
Oscar Wilde
W.H. Auden
Val McDermid
Now, go on and meme it. And tell me if you do, because I'd really like to see the list. And get comments actually, but I am REALLY more interested in the list.
What's Wrong With Those People?
So, you may remember my rantings about the new tenant, who up to now has paid nothing so far and out of the blue sent us his notice of cancellation on Friday.
He also wrote that we (or rather the boyfriend) could contact him on Monday (which is today) for further questions and arrangements. Only we can't contact him because he won't pick up his frickin' phone. All I get is a the regular beeping with 'Call on Me' played in the background. And that song sucks. Honestly. Now that I get to hear it every time I try to reach that guy it sucks even more and that's close to impossible.
The only thing he did is sending the boyfriend a text-message telling him that he (the boyfriend) will be contacted by his (that guy's) lawyer soon.
Huh?
No, really... HUH?
What does he need a lawyer for anyway? He didn't pay, he sent us his notice of cancellation, all we need now is make arrangements so we can show the apartment to future tenants and hopefully rent it as soon as possible. There's no need for a lawyer.
But maybe I'm missing something.
Obviously the whole world went insane. I'm already thinking that maybe the best would be to sell that apartment (that brought us nothing but trouble so far) and keep our sanity.
I'm trying hard to avoid the f-word on my blog. Not because I think it's rude, but because I think that others might and I want to keep my blog as rude-free as possible. But I can't hold that back any longer, so let me say this and then I'll shut up and listen to 'Call on Me' again:
What the fuck?!?
He also wrote that we (or rather the boyfriend) could contact him on Monday (which is today) for further questions and arrangements. Only we can't contact him because he won't pick up his frickin' phone. All I get is a the regular beeping with 'Call on Me' played in the background. And that song sucks. Honestly. Now that I get to hear it every time I try to reach that guy it sucks even more and that's close to impossible.
The only thing he did is sending the boyfriend a text-message telling him that he (the boyfriend) will be contacted by his (that guy's) lawyer soon.
Huh?
No, really... HUH?
What does he need a lawyer for anyway? He didn't pay, he sent us his notice of cancellation, all we need now is make arrangements so we can show the apartment to future tenants and hopefully rent it as soon as possible. There's no need for a lawyer.
But maybe I'm missing something.
Obviously the whole world went insane. I'm already thinking that maybe the best would be to sell that apartment (that brought us nothing but trouble so far) and keep our sanity.
I'm trying hard to avoid the f-word on my blog. Not because I think it's rude, but because I think that others might and I want to keep my blog as rude-free as possible. But I can't hold that back any longer, so let me say this and then I'll shut up and listen to 'Call on Me' again:
What the fuck?!?
Erm... Yeah... There's Someone Else, You Know?
Maybe I am in the early state of complete enthusiasm, sometimes also called a crush. Maybe I'm just blinded by love. Maybe I will come to discover that it was all superficial looks and nothing else.
But... what if not?
I am deeply, I repeat, deeply in love with my GMail-account. Oh, all the fascinating things I can do. All the labels and filters I can set up. All the stars I can apply.
I'm checking my mails every 30 seconds or so and I am not even disappointed when there are none, because my account is so damn beautiful I am happy just looking at it.
Okay, now, that's a crush, right? A real one? I'm in love with an email-account? How crazy is this?
I guess, I'll get over it in time. But GMail, please promise me: We'll stay friends, right?
Current mood: In love. With GMail, yes, but still.
Listening to: Bullshit talk by my most favorite office-fiend.
But... what if not?
I am deeply, I repeat, deeply in love with my GMail-account. Oh, all the fascinating things I can do. All the labels and filters I can set up. All the stars I can apply.
I'm checking my mails every 30 seconds or so and I am not even disappointed when there are none, because my account is so damn beautiful I am happy just looking at it.
Okay, now, that's a crush, right? A real one? I'm in love with an email-account? How crazy is this?
I guess, I'll get over it in time. But GMail, please promise me: We'll stay friends, right?
Current mood: In love. With GMail, yes, but still.
Listening to: Bullshit talk by my most favorite office-fiend.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Jamie Needs and Gets Her Love
Today we spent the day moving between the bed, the couch and the kitchen (but only to get food). It probably was one of the laziest days we had in a very long time, which wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have a presentation for my finals to prepare. Up to now all I have is the agenda and I need a complete and working first draft by Tuesday. Which is in two days.
I've said it again on various occasions, but here I go again: I really need to get my priorities straight.
Pi, which might be referred to as the boyfriend from now on (but I haven't completely made up my mind), because I kind of came to grow on that expression, anyway... starting that sentence again, because obviously the first attempt didn't work out.
Okay, here we go...
Pi (or the boyfriend) stayed mostly in bed, reading the whole time. No, I'm not kidding! He spent this whole day reading. We just borrowed 'Der Schwarm' from my parents. It's supposed to be really good and has been on bestseller lists for weeks now. I even thought about buying it, but up to now it's only available in hardcover and we are not in the position to spend 25 Euro for a book at the moment.
So I needed to hug. Sometimes I do.
So I came to the bed, carefully put his book away and even more carefully told him that he will get his book back really soon. I then crawled under the blanket and got myself a really warm and loving hug, which I desperately needed.
It takes about 40 seconds, maybe a whole minute.
'Can I have my book back now?'
Now, honestly, I know I somehow managed to get the sweetest guy in the world. Just seeing him cuddled up between all the blankets made my heart melt several times.
Awwwwww.
Apart from that, I filled out my nominations for the 2005 bloggies award. I tried to include as many blogs as possible. If I forgot yours, I'm sincerely sorry, but I guess I'm off the hook anyway, since you are never going to find out whether I nominated you or not.
Did you nominate me? I'm screwing the subtlety here. Did you nominate ME? If you didn't, you still can.
I also managed to finally watch the latest episode of Veronica Mars and two episodes of Arrested Development. Both shows are so great. If you have the slightest interest in TV shows you should really try them out.
So, I'm going to make us dinner now. It's food from the freezer today, pizza for the boyfriend and pasta for the girlfriend (aka me).
I'll finish with three questions:
1) Why is the first season set of Carnivale (I don't care for the fancy acute accent) so damn expensive? I really want to order those DVDs, but 70 CAD at my beloved dvdsoon? No way.
2) Should I consider bringing 'The Weekly Freezer' back to life?
3) Can someone please tell me how trackbacking works. I tried to use it today on someone else's blog, but obviously I don't even get the concept.
Current mood: Look at me, the queen of procrastinating. And I can't bring myself to feel bad about it.
Listening to: Nothing.
I've said it again on various occasions, but here I go again: I really need to get my priorities straight.
Pi, which might be referred to as the boyfriend from now on (but I haven't completely made up my mind), because I kind of came to grow on that expression, anyway... starting that sentence again, because obviously the first attempt didn't work out.
Okay, here we go...
Pi (or the boyfriend) stayed mostly in bed, reading the whole time. No, I'm not kidding! He spent this whole day reading. We just borrowed 'Der Schwarm' from my parents. It's supposed to be really good and has been on bestseller lists for weeks now. I even thought about buying it, but up to now it's only available in hardcover and we are not in the position to spend 25 Euro for a book at the moment.
So I needed to hug. Sometimes I do.
So I came to the bed, carefully put his book away and even more carefully told him that he will get his book back really soon. I then crawled under the blanket and got myself a really warm and loving hug, which I desperately needed.
It takes about 40 seconds, maybe a whole minute.
'Can I have my book back now?'
Now, honestly, I know I somehow managed to get the sweetest guy in the world. Just seeing him cuddled up between all the blankets made my heart melt several times.
Awwwwww.
Apart from that, I filled out my nominations for the 2005 bloggies award. I tried to include as many blogs as possible. If I forgot yours, I'm sincerely sorry, but I guess I'm off the hook anyway, since you are never going to find out whether I nominated you or not.
Did you nominate me? I'm screwing the subtlety here. Did you nominate ME? If you didn't, you still can.
I also managed to finally watch the latest episode of Veronica Mars and two episodes of Arrested Development. Both shows are so great. If you have the slightest interest in TV shows you should really try them out.
So, I'm going to make us dinner now. It's food from the freezer today, pizza for the boyfriend and pasta for the girlfriend (aka me).
I'll finish with three questions:
1) Why is the first season set of Carnivale (I don't care for the fancy acute accent) so damn expensive? I really want to order those DVDs, but 70 CAD at my beloved dvdsoon? No way.
2) Should I consider bringing 'The Weekly Freezer' back to life?
3) Can someone please tell me how trackbacking works. I tried to use it today on someone else's blog, but obviously I don't even get the concept.
Current mood: Look at me, the queen of procrastinating. And I can't bring myself to feel bad about it.
Listening to: Nothing.
Comment for a Good Cause
I realize that nearly all of my recent posts have been somehow related to blogs, blogs techniques and all that stuff. I promise I will go back to writing about me and my life really soon. But until then you can comment for a good cause, so please do...
The wonderful Michele (who, I suppose, most of you already know) donates one dollar to Oxfam International for everyone who leaves a comment today. So go here and say hi!
The wonderful Michele (who, I suppose, most of you already know) donates one dollar to Oxfam International for everyone who leaves a comment today. So go here and say hi!
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Reward the Bloggers
There's another blog award upcoming, so if you want to you can now nominate all the great blogs you read and reward the people behind them.
So, go to the 2005 bloggies and nominate!
I will put my list together carefully tomorrow. As there are a lot of categories I plan to include a lot of blogs I have come to appreciate lately.
PS: Erm... I'm trying to be really subtle here... after all, I mean, the blog you are reading right now isn't so bad, is it?
Yeah, I think you got it.
PPS: Now, how much exactly do I suck at subtlety?
So, go to the 2005 bloggies and nominate!
I will put my list together carefully tomorrow. As there are a lot of categories I plan to include a lot of blogs I have come to appreciate lately.
PS: Erm... I'm trying to be really subtle here... after all, I mean, the blog you are reading right now isn't so bad, is it?
Yeah, I think you got it.
PPS: Now, how much exactly do I suck at subtlety?
Say It With Haloscan!
I registered with Haloscan today and updated my blog, hopefully it will work well.
I will keep the old comments from blogger, because they were all so lovely and I wouldn't want to miss a single one of them.
For new comments please use the Haloscan option. It will make me very happy!
I will keep the old comments from blogger, because they were all so lovely and I wouldn't want to miss a single one of them.
For new comments please use the Haloscan option. It will make me very happy!
Friday, January 07, 2005
Mail News and a Lot of Thanks
Kudos to Lewis Moten for sending me a GMail-invite. I saw all the GMail-invites on everyone's blogs and didn't know what it was all about at first. Then I looked it up and when I decided I wanted to have a GMail-account, too, all the GMail-invites were gone.
But I was lucky enough to stumble upon Lewis Moten's blog today and he had some invites left. So I finally got my account.
I just had the chance to have a first glance at the features, but I am really amazed by the possibilities. So, thanks again, Lewis.
Up to now, I haven't figured out how to use the three main email-accounts I have. I'm thinking about using the GMail-account for all my blog activities, but I'm not sure yet, so until then all mail goes to the old account.
Note: I don't think I have any invites, and I'm not sure whether I will get some, so please don't ask for one. In case I ever get some I will post it here.
Current mood: Still ranty, but the GMail made me a little happier.
Listening to: Me and My Monkey by Robbie Williams. (Oh, Robbie. Sorry, I can't help it. But, ohhhhh, Robbie!)
But I was lucky enough to stumble upon Lewis Moten's blog today and he had some invites left. So I finally got my account.
I just had the chance to have a first glance at the features, but I am really amazed by the possibilities. So, thanks again, Lewis.
Up to now, I haven't figured out how to use the three main email-accounts I have. I'm thinking about using the GMail-account for all my blog activities, but I'm not sure yet, so until then all mail goes to the old account.
Note: I don't think I have any invites, and I'm not sure whether I will get some, so please don't ask for one. In case I ever get some I will post it here.
Current mood: Still ranty, but the GMail made me a little happier.
Listening to: Me and My Monkey by Robbie Williams. (Oh, Robbie. Sorry, I can't help it. But, ohhhhh, Robbie!)
They Just Keep Inviting Us
I need time. I want to be at home and watch TV (here's how far behind I am: 3 episodes of Lost, 1 episode of Veronica Mars, 1 epsiode of Joan of Arcadia, 3 episodes of Arrested Development and a lot more). I NEED to be at home and watch TV.
But they just keep inviting us.
Wednesday it was my mother's birthday and although Pi said that he didn't want to stay too long it was actually me who finally told him I wanted to go home. At 11 p.m. I would have liked to stay longer, but I have gotten way too little sleep this week already.
And the food was all gone, too. (I admit, I like to go to parties for the food. A lot of different delicious thingies for my tummy for free is one good reason to go to parties.) I was tired as well.
Today, Tina and Torsten invited us for dinner. As always we're gonna end up staying over night. I left home this morning at 8:30 a.m. and I'm not going to get back until tomorrow morning or early afternoon.
As much as I appreciate that obviously we have a lot of friends, because we constantly get invitations for this or the other and we have people over at our place for dinner quite often as well, sometimes I would rather be able to stay at home alone.
But in the end, those evening shared with friends are the best. I know that. I just have 3 episodes of Lost to watch is all.
Current mood: A little bit tired, a little bit ranty, a little bit stressed, a little bit excited. I can be all this at one time.
Listening to: Worn Me Down by Rachael Yamagata.
But they just keep inviting us.
Wednesday it was my mother's birthday and although Pi said that he didn't want to stay too long it was actually me who finally told him I wanted to go home. At 11 p.m. I would have liked to stay longer, but I have gotten way too little sleep this week already.
And the food was all gone, too. (I admit, I like to go to parties for the food. A lot of different delicious thingies for my tummy for free is one good reason to go to parties.) I was tired as well.
Today, Tina and Torsten invited us for dinner. As always we're gonna end up staying over night. I left home this morning at 8:30 a.m. and I'm not going to get back until tomorrow morning or early afternoon.
As much as I appreciate that obviously we have a lot of friends, because we constantly get invitations for this or the other and we have people over at our place for dinner quite often as well, sometimes I would rather be able to stay at home alone.
But in the end, those evening shared with friends are the best. I know that. I just have 3 episodes of Lost to watch is all.
Current mood: A little bit tired, a little bit ranty, a little bit stressed, a little bit excited. I can be all this at one time.
Listening to: Worn Me Down by Rachael Yamagata.
Move In, Stay, Pay The Rent. Is That So Hard?
So, the bitch-tenant moved out finally. We had a new tenant that we both felt good about, but obviously he's not as good as we thought. He still hasn't paid the rent for January nor has he sent us any of the documents we asked him to send.
I could now rant about the whole thing for a long time, telling you the whole story about how nothing worked and nothing turned out the way we wanted it to. But I won't. Because you really don't want to know. Believe me.
To make it short, Pi gave the new not-paying tenant the fax-number of my office, so he could send the documents via fax to get them here as soon as possible. Today I arrived at work and on my desk lies said document. NOT.
He just sent us his notice of cancellation. What the...?!?
Now we have to go through all the trouble of finding a new tenant again.
I mean, what was that guy thinking anyway? He just moved in there a week ago. If he knew he could never pay for it or whatever the problem is why not say it and spare us all this mess. And why lie to us for more than a week straight? What is going on with these people? What is wrong with them? Or do we just expect to much?
I mean: Move in, stay, pay the rent. Is that concept so strange? Because that's what we do. We moved in, we stayed and we pay the rent. Every month.
Jeez.
Current mood: This world is just screwing with my sanity right now. And I'm not liking it.
Listening to: Usual office noises.
I could now rant about the whole thing for a long time, telling you the whole story about how nothing worked and nothing turned out the way we wanted it to. But I won't. Because you really don't want to know. Believe me.
To make it short, Pi gave the new not-paying tenant the fax-number of my office, so he could send the documents via fax to get them here as soon as possible. Today I arrived at work and on my desk lies said document. NOT.
He just sent us his notice of cancellation. What the...?!?
Now we have to go through all the trouble of finding a new tenant again.
I mean, what was that guy thinking anyway? He just moved in there a week ago. If he knew he could never pay for it or whatever the problem is why not say it and spare us all this mess. And why lie to us for more than a week straight? What is going on with these people? What is wrong with them? Or do we just expect to much?
I mean: Move in, stay, pay the rent. Is that concept so strange? Because that's what we do. We moved in, we stayed and we pay the rent. Every month.
Jeez.
Current mood: This world is just screwing with my sanity right now. And I'm not liking it.
Listening to: Usual office noises.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Just Do It, Girl!
The internship-student-whatever-guy just asked me to run a short Java-program on my laptop to see if it works. I don't know where he comes from, but it seems that his mother tongue his French, which absolutely has nothing to do with what I wanted to write about, but still, I thought I'd share that fact.
Anyways, just starting up my little Java editor and getting the program to run and him being all happy because it worked reminded me of the fact that I actually DO like to program. So, why the hell can't I get started and at least do something slightly useful. If not for the good of this company then at least for my own good.
Current mood: Can't really tell.
Listening to: The Top of the World by Juliana Theory (It just happens to be on my playlist.)
Anyways, just starting up my little Java editor and getting the program to run and him being all happy because it worked reminded me of the fact that I actually DO like to program. So, why the hell can't I get started and at least do something slightly useful. If not for the good of this company then at least for my own good.
Current mood: Can't really tell.
Listening to: The Top of the World by Juliana Theory (It just happens to be on my playlist.)
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Blogmarking Or Not Blogmarking
Just a note to all those people I have blogmarked. If I delete your blogmark from my list it could be one out of two possibilities:
1) I added your blog to my Internet Explorer favorites or I have added a link to your blog to my own blog. Either way I have decided I like your blog enough to return there regularly.
2) I have decided that I'm not going to return to your blog on a regular basis. This doesn't mean that I don't like your blog, it's just that I have a long list of blogs that I read already and I just don't have the time to read them all.
I use blogmarking not so much as a list of my favorite blogs but as a reminder of the blogs I have stumbled upon and found interesting enough to think about reading them. Every now and then I check that list, take a closer looks at a few blogs and delete those that on a closer look I can honestly say I won't come back to. I have about 40 blogs on my blogmark list. I don't want that list to become an endless list of blogs I never read, so every now and then I clean up a little and make room for new ones.
1) I added your blog to my Internet Explorer favorites or I have added a link to your blog to my own blog. Either way I have decided I like your blog enough to return there regularly.
2) I have decided that I'm not going to return to your blog on a regular basis. This doesn't mean that I don't like your blog, it's just that I have a long list of blogs that I read already and I just don't have the time to read them all.
I use blogmarking not so much as a list of my favorite blogs but as a reminder of the blogs I have stumbled upon and found interesting enough to think about reading them. Every now and then I check that list, take a closer looks at a few blogs and delete those that on a closer look I can honestly say I won't come back to. I have about 40 blogs on my blogmark list. I don't want that list to become an endless list of blogs I never read, so every now and then I clean up a little and make room for new ones.
New Entries For The Dictionary
I'm very proud of myself. I have invented three new words so far, although I'm not so sure one counts as a new word, still I find a lot of appropriate contexts to use it.
Please feel free to include those in your conversations and writings. I'd be happy to see my creative work spread around the world.
(Yeah, like that's going to happen. Dream on, girl, dream on.)
bitchworthy
My favorite one. A lot of things are bitchworthy. Stupid people are. Especially stupid people on trains and elevators. I don't think I need to explain the meaning of bitchworthy. It describes something worth bitching about. Who would've thought.
dillic
Dillic stands for 'Do I Look Like I Care' and somehow it evolved from Andreas' wish to have a t-shirt that said that very sentence because he saw one on 'Will & Grace'. We then started to use that sentence every time it seemed fit and then I thought that it would make a really good acronym and started to just say 'dillic'.
You can use it as a regular expression, 'Dillic?!?', to indicate your complete disinterest in something. You can also use it as an adjective, dillicky, as in 'I feel very dillicky today.' or as the noun 'dillicness', as in 'I feel a general dillicness.'
sbs
It doesn't look like it, but sbs is a verb. It's pronounced with every letter pronounced as in the alphabeth, so a little bit like as-bee-as. It stands for 'surrounded by stupidity' and - to give you an example - describes how I felt at school.
Unfortunately sbs isn't as flexible as dillic. Usually it's used like this 'I am totally sbs'd right now'.
I agree it doesn't look really good on paper, but it's a word I am sure you can use in a lot of situations (I do!), so you should really consider adding it to your active vocabulary.
Now I will wait until these words have caught on and I can call myself a great contributor to the modern english language.
Dear Thesaurus: It's January, 5th 2005, I am Jamie Affolk and these words were invented by ME!
Please feel free to include those in your conversations and writings. I'd be happy to see my creative work spread around the world.
(Yeah, like that's going to happen. Dream on, girl, dream on.)
bitchworthy
My favorite one. A lot of things are bitchworthy. Stupid people are. Especially stupid people on trains and elevators. I don't think I need to explain the meaning of bitchworthy. It describes something worth bitching about. Who would've thought.
dillic
Dillic stands for 'Do I Look Like I Care' and somehow it evolved from Andreas' wish to have a t-shirt that said that very sentence because he saw one on 'Will & Grace'. We then started to use that sentence every time it seemed fit and then I thought that it would make a really good acronym and started to just say 'dillic'.
You can use it as a regular expression, 'Dillic?!?', to indicate your complete disinterest in something. You can also use it as an adjective, dillicky, as in 'I feel very dillicky today.' or as the noun 'dillicness', as in 'I feel a general dillicness.'
sbs
It doesn't look like it, but sbs is a verb. It's pronounced with every letter pronounced as in the alphabeth, so a little bit like as-bee-as. It stands for 'surrounded by stupidity' and - to give you an example - describes how I felt at school.
Unfortunately sbs isn't as flexible as dillic. Usually it's used like this 'I am totally sbs'd right now'.
I agree it doesn't look really good on paper, but it's a word I am sure you can use in a lot of situations (I do!), so you should really consider adding it to your active vocabulary.
Now I will wait until these words have caught on and I can call myself a great contributor to the modern english language.
Dear Thesaurus: It's January, 5th 2005, I am Jamie Affolk and these words were invented by ME!
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Love and Marriage and How To Get There (Episode 1)
Yesterday I told Pi that instead of talking about getting married for nearly one year now we can as well go to the registry office and let them tell us what we need to do.
I don't know for sure whether he knew how serious I was about it.
This is how serious I am: I looked up the opening hours of Lev's registry office today and plan to drag Pi there on Thursday. Well, we have to start somewhen. I decided somewhen is Thursday.
Side note: There have always been little remarks from a lot of people about when we're going to get married. They were 99% not serious.
The 1% is my grandmother who would really love it if we would get married.
Lately I have brought up the topic a little bit more often, but always in a joking way, yet I've been earning confused looks from my parents whenever I mentioned it. I'm not so sure how excited they will be. Still, they will have to deal.
I don't know for sure whether he knew how serious I was about it.
This is how serious I am: I looked up the opening hours of Lev's registry office today and plan to drag Pi there on Thursday. Well, we have to start somewhen. I decided somewhen is Thursday.
Side note: There have always been little remarks from a lot of people about when we're going to get married. They were 99% not serious.
The 1% is my grandmother who would really love it if we would get married.
Lately I have brought up the topic a little bit more often, but always in a joking way, yet I've been earning confused looks from my parents whenever I mentioned it. I'm not so sure how excited they will be. Still, they will have to deal.
Things You Should Not Tell Your Girlfriend #1
Situation: You're on a trip to - let's say - Darmstadt. You're already on the train. You have spent the last of your money for those train tickets. You will be gone for the whole weekend. Friday to Sunday. You are with your overly neurotic girlfriend (who, apart from being overly neurotic, is very nice and cute, yes).
Don't say: "I think I may have forgotten to turn the stove off."
Just... don't.
Don't say: "I think I may have forgotten to turn the stove off."
Just... don't.
10 Reasons Why You Should Not Let Me Browse The Language Section In Any Given Bookstore
1) I will buy something.
2) On a day like yesterday I will also complain about stupid women who are surprised when told by a not-so-stupid bookseller that Langenscheidt indeed has several packages containing CDs for Portuguese. It's Langenscheidt! That's like the #1-publishing house for languages. Get with the program, lady!
And yes, there IS a difference between Audio-CDs and CD-ROMs. A significant one.
3) I will consider learning Czechian.
4) I will tell you at least 20 times how fascinating languages are.
5) I will consider learning Arabic.
6) I will come to you at least 3 times with some language guide and show you how strange that language looks like. And I won't mind that you were just deeply absorbed in some other book. Because my book is more important than yours.
7) I will consider learning Icelandic.
8) I will throw disparaging looks at the stupid woman who is still browsing the portuguese language books instead of just calling her daughter to get the ISBN-Number of that CD she's got. (It's still not clear if we're talking about an Audio-CD or a CD-ROM here.)
9) I will try to find out if there's a job where I can learn languages the whole time and still get paid.
10) I will end up buying a language guide for Romanian.
2) On a day like yesterday I will also complain about stupid women who are surprised when told by a not-so-stupid bookseller that Langenscheidt indeed has several packages containing CDs for Portuguese. It's Langenscheidt! That's like the #1-publishing house for languages. Get with the program, lady!
And yes, there IS a difference between Audio-CDs and CD-ROMs. A significant one.
3) I will consider learning Czechian.
4) I will tell you at least 20 times how fascinating languages are.
5) I will consider learning Arabic.
6) I will come to you at least 3 times with some language guide and show you how strange that language looks like. And I won't mind that you were just deeply absorbed in some other book. Because my book is more important than yours.
7) I will consider learning Icelandic.
8) I will throw disparaging looks at the stupid woman who is still browsing the portuguese language books instead of just calling her daughter to get the ISBN-Number of that CD she's got. (It's still not clear if we're talking about an Audio-CD or a CD-ROM here.)
9) I will try to find out if there's a job where I can learn languages the whole time and still get paid.
10) I will end up buying a language guide for Romanian.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Let Me In! Please...? Pretty Please???
Why do I have to change my login password for my company laptop every time I just got used to the old one?
Guys, we're living in an online-world! I have passwords for nearly every site I visit regularly and I'm not using the same one for everything. I get confused already. So why are you tormenting me with password changes?
I came to work this morning and had to try four times to login. I still can't believe that THIS is the password I chose the last time I had to change it. It was more a desperate try and I was amazed to see that it really WAS my password.
If it hadn't worked I would still see my login screen and most probably be banging my head on the table or talking with the helpdesk guy.
Or both.
Current mood: See previous posts.
Listening to: 5/4 by Gorillaz.
Guys, we're living in an online-world! I have passwords for nearly every site I visit regularly and I'm not using the same one for everything. I get confused already. So why are you tormenting me with password changes?
I came to work this morning and had to try four times to login. I still can't believe that THIS is the password I chose the last time I had to change it. It was more a desperate try and I was amazed to see that it really WAS my password.
If it hadn't worked I would still see my login screen and most probably be banging my head on the table or talking with the helpdesk guy.
Or both.
Current mood: See previous posts.
Listening to: 5/4 by Gorillaz.
What Is That Supposed To Mean?
Last night I dreamed that I was back at my old high school, but not as a student. I was just back there.
Obviously there was some meeting going on inside with a lot of teachers and other people. Outside there was a TV-set with a VCR so for whatever reason I put in a taped Smallville episode and played it.
When the people came out I was asked why Smallville was running and I started babbling theoretical stuff about Smallville. I don't know what I said but it was highly theoretical. Also, I bonded with my old maths teacher.
(There was more happening in this dream, but I don't remember anything and what I remember I can't really put into understandable words.)
Yeah. Am I crazy? Who has dreams like this? I'm dreaming Smallville now? Jeez.
I would say lucky me that I don't remember what episode it was exactly. That would be really scary.
Current mood: Bleh. Back at work. What do you expect.
Listening to: Haven't started Winamp yet. But I did take my new MP3-player with me today. So I had music on the train.
Obviously there was some meeting going on inside with a lot of teachers and other people. Outside there was a TV-set with a VCR so for whatever reason I put in a taped Smallville episode and played it.
When the people came out I was asked why Smallville was running and I started babbling theoretical stuff about Smallville. I don't know what I said but it was highly theoretical. Also, I bonded with my old maths teacher.
(There was more happening in this dream, but I don't remember anything and what I remember I can't really put into understandable words.)
Yeah. Am I crazy? Who has dreams like this? I'm dreaming Smallville now? Jeez.
I would say lucky me that I don't remember what episode it was exactly. That would be really scary.
Current mood: Bleh. Back at work. What do you expect.
Listening to: Haven't started Winamp yet. But I did take my new MP3-player with me today. So I had music on the train.
Oh, Please! Not Him!
Back at work and not liking it so far. Mostly because I seem to be pretty alone here in the office. Andreas is not coming the whole week. Duh.
So, why is it that the first person I meet while shuffling to my office is the biggest company-wide-known loser? Huh?
I have yet to meet someone who likes him. Still he earns a hell of a lot of money and keeps on screwing up.
Not a way to get motivated on your first day at work.
So, why is it that the first person I meet while shuffling to my office is the biggest company-wide-known loser? Huh?
I have yet to meet someone who likes him. Still he earns a hell of a lot of money and keeps on screwing up.
Not a way to get motivated on your first day at work.
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