Tuesday, November 21, 2006
More from Budapest
We are sore and tired from walking, which shows how out of shape we are. Today, we walked up to the Castle District, which is on top of a steep hill. There is a funicular railway you can take to the top of the hill, but it is cash only, and we couldn't find an ATM. I was disappointed, because I have never been on a funicular. Anyway, we climbed the hill. The views of Budapest and the Danube were amazing. The architecture and statues were fantastic too. We have nearly filled up our camera's memory card, so we will have to delete some of the pictures that are blurry or sub par.
After a brief rest, we went to a couple of museums. The Terror House museum is hands-down the coolest museum I've ever seen, if you can call a museum devoted to a truly horrific time period "cool." It is a new museum (opened in 2002) so there is a lot of multimedia involved in the exhibits. But it was very sobering and depressing. I show my own ignorance when I say that I do not fully understand what happened behind the iron curtain, but I understand a lot more now.
After a much-needed coffee and sandwich, we went to the Museum of Fine Art, which had some very nice artwork, particularly Spanish painting.
We have had two excellent dinners here. Last night I had breast and stuffed leg of goose, and tonight I had duck breast. Victor has had seafood and goose too. The food is very hearty and quite well prepared.
My time in the business center is running short, so I will do another update as soon as I can!
We are sore and tired from walking, which shows how out of shape we are. Today, we walked up to the Castle District, which is on top of a steep hill. There is a funicular railway you can take to the top of the hill, but it is cash only, and we couldn't find an ATM. I was disappointed, because I have never been on a funicular. Anyway, we climbed the hill. The views of Budapest and the Danube were amazing. The architecture and statues were fantastic too. We have nearly filled up our camera's memory card, so we will have to delete some of the pictures that are blurry or sub par.
After a brief rest, we went to a couple of museums. The Terror House museum is hands-down the coolest museum I've ever seen, if you can call a museum devoted to a truly horrific time period "cool." It is a new museum (opened in 2002) so there is a lot of multimedia involved in the exhibits. But it was very sobering and depressing. I show my own ignorance when I say that I do not fully understand what happened behind the iron curtain, but I understand a lot more now.
After a much-needed coffee and sandwich, we went to the Museum of Fine Art, which had some very nice artwork, particularly Spanish painting.
We have had two excellent dinners here. Last night I had breast and stuffed leg of goose, and tonight I had duck breast. Victor has had seafood and goose too. The food is very hearty and quite well prepared.
My time in the business center is running short, so I will do another update as soon as I can!
Szia from Budapest!
So, we're in Budapest all of a sudden! We didn't know for sure until Sunday about three hours before the flight. We flew through Frankfurt and then took a Lufthansa flight to Budapest. We got here yesterday around noon. It's really pretty, but very crowded and noisy on the Pest side of the Danube. We walked around there yesterday. Today we walked around the Castle District on the Buda side, and it was very beautiful. It's chilly and damp here, and the humidity is giving me an afro.
We're off to see some museums. We will be here until Thursday, and then our plan is to go to London and visit Ellen for a couple of days before flying home.
So, we're in Budapest all of a sudden! We didn't know for sure until Sunday about three hours before the flight. We flew through Frankfurt and then took a Lufthansa flight to Budapest. We got here yesterday around noon. It's really pretty, but very crowded and noisy on the Pest side of the Danube. We walked around there yesterday. Today we walked around the Castle District on the Buda side, and it was very beautiful. It's chilly and damp here, and the humidity is giving me an afro.
We're off to see some museums. We will be here until Thursday, and then our plan is to go to London and visit Ellen for a couple of days before flying home.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
NaNoWriMoUpdate
Well, I am so far behind in my novel-writing. But I have not lost heart. I started writing again this weekend after a week off. My plot has a pretty large set-up, and I'm almost done with it! And... I just wrote my first make out scene. Yes, it's a chick-lit book, but I'm not planning on having graphic sex scenes or anything. For God's sake, my boss wants to read it when I'm done. Now, whether it will be good enough for anyone to read is another question...
We have decided to try to purchase an auto/air adapter for Victor's laptop (you know, a power cable you can plug into a car cigarette lighter or plane) so that I can take it with me on our vacation next week. His battery is completely shot, so I will have to have a power source to write on the plane. So far, our tentative plans are to go to Budapest and Dubrovnik. But you know us... it could change nine times before we actually leave next weekend. I'm hoping that I'll be able to write on the plane... a ten-hour flight should provide me tons of opportunities to kill boredom by working on my lame novel.
Update: High five for just having used the word "screamo" in my novel!
Well, I am so far behind in my novel-writing. But I have not lost heart. I started writing again this weekend after a week off. My plot has a pretty large set-up, and I'm almost done with it! And... I just wrote my first make out scene. Yes, it's a chick-lit book, but I'm not planning on having graphic sex scenes or anything. For God's sake, my boss wants to read it when I'm done. Now, whether it will be good enough for anyone to read is another question...
We have decided to try to purchase an auto/air adapter for Victor's laptop (you know, a power cable you can plug into a car cigarette lighter or plane) so that I can take it with me on our vacation next week. His battery is completely shot, so I will have to have a power source to write on the plane. So far, our tentative plans are to go to Budapest and Dubrovnik. But you know us... it could change nine times before we actually leave next weekend. I'm hoping that I'll be able to write on the plane... a ten-hour flight should provide me tons of opportunities to kill boredom by working on my lame novel.
Update: High five for just having used the word "screamo" in my novel!
Labels: nerdy
It's like a metaphor for my life!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Things to see and do
So, here's some of what's been going on with me over the past three or so months. Each little vignette will have its own flickr set! What fun!
We saw Sufjan Stevens at the Lakewood Theater back in September. It was a fantastic show, with lots of costumes, instruments, and clapping. He played most of my favorite songs and a couple of new ones. He even played the song about Arkansas! He is really good live, and I feel as if my crush on him increased threefold. I wanted to take him home in my pocket. Click here to see the rest of the pictures. Not all of the pictures are this blurry; I just happen to really like this one. Victor took some short videos with our phone, too, and they turned out really well. I'll figure out how to put them on YouTube so that I can share them. Technology!
Another show we saw was Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. They played in Fort Worth at the Ridglea Theater. Man, Fort Worth is far away when you're dead tired and returning from a concert! Jenny really, really impressed me with her singing. I don't usually care for girl voices, but I like hers a lot. Victor was impressed with how cute she was... I don't think he realized the scope of it until that night. Jenny and the Watson Twins started out in cute black dresses, and then there was a costume change to the sparkly numbers in the pictures. We weren't supposed to take pictures, but we did sneak a few right at the end of the show. Click here to see the rest of them.
More recently, we spent the weekend in Chicago. It was the weekend of Halloween (well, technically the weekend before Halloween since it was on a Tuesday this year), so there was a party to attend. Victor and I went, rather unsuccessfully I'm afraid, as telenovela actors. Neal, Julie, Kelly, and Owens went as the Golden Girls. Kris was Jeffrey from "Project Runway" and had good competition from more friends of ours also dressed as "Project Runway" characters. Jeremy L. went as Death. It was freezing (well, to me and Victor anyway), but we had a good time. Click here for the rest of the pictures.
As I add more things to flickr, I'll try to remember to post here about them as well.
So, here's some of what's been going on with me over the past three or so months. Each little vignette will have its own flickr set! What fun!
We saw Sufjan Stevens at the Lakewood Theater back in September. It was a fantastic show, with lots of costumes, instruments, and clapping. He played most of my favorite songs and a couple of new ones. He even played the song about Arkansas! He is really good live, and I feel as if my crush on him increased threefold. I wanted to take him home in my pocket. Click here to see the rest of the pictures. Not all of the pictures are this blurry; I just happen to really like this one. Victor took some short videos with our phone, too, and they turned out really well. I'll figure out how to put them on YouTube so that I can share them. Technology!
Another show we saw was Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. They played in Fort Worth at the Ridglea Theater. Man, Fort Worth is far away when you're dead tired and returning from a concert! Jenny really, really impressed me with her singing. I don't usually care for girl voices, but I like hers a lot. Victor was impressed with how cute she was... I don't think he realized the scope of it until that night. Jenny and the Watson Twins started out in cute black dresses, and then there was a costume change to the sparkly numbers in the pictures. We weren't supposed to take pictures, but we did sneak a few right at the end of the show. Click here to see the rest of them.
More recently, we spent the weekend in Chicago. It was the weekend of Halloween (well, technically the weekend before Halloween since it was on a Tuesday this year), so there was a party to attend. Victor and I went, rather unsuccessfully I'm afraid, as telenovela actors. Neal, Julie, Kelly, and Owens went as the Golden Girls. Kris was Jeffrey from "Project Runway" and had good competition from more friends of ours also dressed as "Project Runway" characters. Jeremy L. went as Death. It was freezing (well, to me and Victor anyway), but we had a good time. Click here for the rest of the pictures.As I add more things to flickr, I'll try to remember to post here about them as well.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
This one is for Victor
See, I told you.
See, I told you.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
My Own Private Voting Nightmare
Y'all know it's voting day, right? The Spederline breakup hasn't pushed the patriotic thoughts out of your mind, has it?
I left work early today to compensate for a 7:00am meeting this morning, and I drove over to the local polling place, a fire station in my neighborhood. I was hoping to have hot fireman eye candy, but instead I was treated to bloodthirsty mosquitos all over the fire station!!! For some reason, mosquitos love me... I'll get bitten all over while those next to me stay mosquito-free. Today was no different; after one or two minutes in the voting booth, I was feeling the bites on my feet and legs. I quickly finished marking all of my chosen candidates and bond issues (vote yes for Proposition 5!!!!!) and got the hell out of there. Why didn't they spray the fire station?
Stupid balmy November weather. There shouldn't be mosquitos now! Gah!
Y'all know it's voting day, right? The Spederline breakup hasn't pushed the patriotic thoughts out of your mind, has it?
I left work early today to compensate for a 7:00am meeting this morning, and I drove over to the local polling place, a fire station in my neighborhood. I was hoping to have hot fireman eye candy, but instead I was treated to bloodthirsty mosquitos all over the fire station!!! For some reason, mosquitos love me... I'll get bitten all over while those next to me stay mosquito-free. Today was no different; after one or two minutes in the voting booth, I was feeling the bites on my feet and legs. I quickly finished marking all of my chosen candidates and bond issues (vote yes for Proposition 5!!!!!) and got the hell out of there. Why didn't they spray the fire station?
Stupid balmy November weather. There shouldn't be mosquitos now! Gah!
Monday, November 06, 2006
If I am lost, it's only for a little while
I think that it's time, nay, high time, for an update. I can't explain this unwillingness to post. I just haven't been feeling it, I guess. I've been hiding out, internet-wise. Not really posting on the message board I frequent, not updating my blog, barely checking that hellish demon MySpace, and limiting most of my public postings to Netflix. What is wrong with me? In the meantime, Mark's been rocking a new blog and life goes on at everyone else's blogs. I hope you have been reading them.
My new job is going well. I am starting to learn about what it actually entails. The company I work for produces great theater, so I feel good about asking money to support it. My completely ingrained customer service skills, beaten into me by years in call centers, are definitely working to my advantage... but I'm still learning about fundraising itself. I think I've mostly worked out the office politics now too. So yeah, I'm happy there. One thing I had forgotten about the theater... so much drama! I'm choosing to let it amuse me rather than bother me.
Not so my new Spanish class... it's totally bothering me. Jesus, do I feel lost! I haven't felt truly stupid in a long time, but this class is succeeding in making me feel like a complete moron. I don't understand... it's the third part of Spanish I, and I took the first and second parts. Yet somehow the new teacher is "reviewing" stuff that we never learned in the first place! I felt like crying in class... I mean, I felt the little tears forming behind my eyes. I thought about walking out. I thought about quitting. Poor Victor. I called him on the way home from class tonight and just let loose. I think I'll talk to my teacher before or after the next class and ask her what I need to do to catch up on all of the extra stuff she thinks we should already know.
Tomorrow's voting day, don't forget. Those of you in Dallas, please vote for Proposition 5 - it has good stuff for the arts (and my job) in it.
Oh, I'm trying NaNoWriMo this year, which means I'm trying to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30. I got off to a really good start and then crapped out this weekend (I'm blaming questionable dim sum which totally attacked my gastrointestinal system on Sunday). So I have some catching up to do. If it's any good, I'll post it somewhere.
I think that it's time, nay, high time, for an update. I can't explain this unwillingness to post. I just haven't been feeling it, I guess. I've been hiding out, internet-wise. Not really posting on the message board I frequent, not updating my blog, barely checking that hellish demon MySpace, and limiting most of my public postings to Netflix. What is wrong with me? In the meantime, Mark's been rocking a new blog and life goes on at everyone else's blogs. I hope you have been reading them.
My new job is going well. I am starting to learn about what it actually entails. The company I work for produces great theater, so I feel good about asking money to support it. My completely ingrained customer service skills, beaten into me by years in call centers, are definitely working to my advantage... but I'm still learning about fundraising itself. I think I've mostly worked out the office politics now too. So yeah, I'm happy there. One thing I had forgotten about the theater... so much drama! I'm choosing to let it amuse me rather than bother me.
Not so my new Spanish class... it's totally bothering me. Jesus, do I feel lost! I haven't felt truly stupid in a long time, but this class is succeeding in making me feel like a complete moron. I don't understand... it's the third part of Spanish I, and I took the first and second parts. Yet somehow the new teacher is "reviewing" stuff that we never learned in the first place! I felt like crying in class... I mean, I felt the little tears forming behind my eyes. I thought about walking out. I thought about quitting. Poor Victor. I called him on the way home from class tonight and just let loose. I think I'll talk to my teacher before or after the next class and ask her what I need to do to catch up on all of the extra stuff she thinks we should already know.
Tomorrow's voting day, don't forget. Those of you in Dallas, please vote for Proposition 5 - it has good stuff for the arts (and my job) in it.
Oh, I'm trying NaNoWriMo this year, which means I'm trying to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30. I got off to a really good start and then crapped out this weekend (I'm blaming questionable dim sum which totally attacked my gastrointestinal system on Sunday). So I have some catching up to do. If it's any good, I'll post it somewhere.
