So, my birthday is a mere two and a half months away. I've found the perfect gift, should anyone feel like celebrating the day of my birth by showering me with presents.
Anyone who knows me will understand why I would DEARLY LOVE to receive this book.
More exciting posts, involving my electricity being cut off and then turned on again (it wasn't my fault!), to come later.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Slump funk
For the past week and a half or so, I've been in a bit of a funk. Or a slump. I don't really know what you would call it, but it hasn't been pleasant. Breakdown of my slunk (that's the two words combined, in case you were wondering): First, I turned into a raging, hormonal maniac. About two days into this hormonal rage, I realized that menstruation was imminent, and my rage was caused by increased progesterone and estrogen levels in my body. Did this realization help me to calm down, stop terrorizing those around me (including my students), and control my rage? Pah, of course not!! Having been on the baby pill for about two years now, PMS has been a thing of the past. I would think of it and chuckle at how crazy I used to get for that one awful week each month. "That silly Bri from the past! Why couldn't she just chill?" Well, thanks to foiled attempts to illegally import my special brand of baby pill from the US (the Germans caught me red handed and confiscated a three month supply,right before my very eyes), I've been off the pill now for about three months. Slowly, the old small-on-their-own-but-miserable-when-experienced-simultaneously-symptoms began to creep back in. I won't bore readers (ha! readers! who am I kidding) with the gory details of said symptoms, because well, it's just not that interesting. But the whole being the angriest and least patient person IN THE COSMOS thing hasn't been a problem for the past two months. Why it decided to rear it's ugly head this month is a mystery to me.
So, the moral of this story is that last week was the worst week I've had probably in the past eight months or so. It seemed like everything was going wrong, all of the adults- well, most- that I work with were on my case about one thing or another, and all the children that I work with chose last week to exhibit the absolute worst facets of their personalities. Could I have been hyper sensitive to their possibly normal childish capers? Perhaps. But it doesn't change the fact that a few kids just managed to exhaust every last ounce of my patience and compassion, and I was seriously wishing it were legal to liberally employ the use of duct tape in one's teaching practices. I locked myself in my apartment on Thursday night, and used every ounce of my super psychic powers (hey, I might have them) to make time skip ahead a day so I wouldn't have to go to work the next day. Unfortunately, my psychic powers failed me (curses! foiled again!) and I had to do the usual stuff on Friday. I decided at the end of the day to walk home in the sub zero (literally) temperatures, rather than taking the tram. I stopped off at a new cafe that opened near school, and ordered a LARGE hot chocolate, and I have to say, it may have been my first step out of the slunk. It was absolutely delicious, and kept my hands semi-warm on the walk home. Walking through the beautiful buildings in this wonderful German city that I live in cheered me somewhat, and by the time I arrived home I felt less like kicking a puppy.
So, then came the weekend. My mood continued to improve (but we're relatively speaking here people, I was still pretty bitchy), and the highlight of the weekend was rearranging all the furniture in my cavernous living room. I also finally put up the art that I brought back with me after going home in December, and that made me feel much more at home and happy. My living room is much cozier now, and I get to check out a naked chick all the time. Venus of Urbino, greatest painting ever created, one of Titian's masterpieces.....not porn, Dave. I went to bed early-ish in an attempt to stave off Monday morning grumpiness.
And then, on Monday.....AAAAAAAAAALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! Aunt Flo had taken the night train into town! Raging hormonal Bri was gone, and normal Bri was back. I loved my students again (I still loved them last week but sometimes had a hard time remembering it), and was happy to be alive. I celebrated my good mood by purchasing my FIRST house plant. I know, my former housemates are probably shocked I have lived this long without plant companionship, but it's taken me awhile to get over Schlemiel and be ready to move onto other plants. I repotted this plant myself, and decided that it definitely looked like a Charlie.
On Tuesday, I had the BEST symphony rehearsal since I've joined the one here in Dresden. I feel like I finally know the music pretty well, and I actually MADE A JOKE auf Deutsch to the guy who sits next to me. Up until now he's been cold as ice, but he actually laughed! And then he offered me the use of his gummi bear topped pencil. I took it as a gesture of friendship and peace...on par with an olive branch being flown in by a shimmering white dove. And oh yeah.....OBAMA WAS SWORN IN!!!!!!!! Suddenly this town is in love with all things American, which I find rather humorous and ironic. I got to see part of the ceremony and speech at a local pub, it was pretty momentous. Not quite as great as meeting (and SIDE HUGGING) Dan Savage, but an extremely close second.
Now I seem to be sliding a bit into the land of no motivation. Well, in my personal life. I've been catching up and organizing like crazy at school, and am starting to feel better about everything there. I felt so disorganized and anxious all of last week, so the past few days I've been working late and just deep cleaning and planning like crazy. But then I get home, and have abou eight million things I could do.....but I don't want to. Actually, that's a lie. I have two things I have to do. Clean my kitchen and bathroom, and DO MY LAUNDRY. This may not seem that bad, but when one has to venture out of one's place of residence to do said laundry, it becomes a genuine ordeal. When you hate doing laundry as much as I do, and let it pile up for weeks at a time, it then becomes an ordeal of EPIC proportions. So anyway, the past two nights I've planned on hitting the laundromat.....but then I get home and look at the hamper which has been stuffed to the brim and now exploded onto the floor....and lose my resolve. I really HAVE to do it though, because after tomorrow, I can't think of a single clean article of clothing that i have in my posession.
Instead of doing laundry, I do useless shit like this. Oh and I spy on my neighbors. I "took the garbage out" about an hour ago just as an excuse to see my new neighbor, who I ascertained was young and male from the sound of his booming voice echoing off the walls on the landing/hallway. He turned out not to be that cute (rats), but was friendly. Not a total loss I suppose, although he most likely thinks I'm a simpleton. He had an ESPECIALLY Saxony-ish accent so I understood approximately 1/6 of what he said to me while we shared the elevator down to the basement.
And now for the big news, the whole reason I decided to post today...............I'M BACK ON THE PILLS PEOPLE. I just waltzed into a Frauenaertz (direct translation: Woman doctor), told her the kind of pills I'd been taking, flashed my catchall socialized German insurance card, and VOILA! She handed over a three month prescription as if it were no bigger deal than giving me a band-aid for a paper cut.
AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. It's really big news. Also, gloriously cheap. 20 euros for a three month supply. Take THAT, US healthcare system, and shove it up your.....um, system hole?
Now I've realized how late it has become and I haven't eaten dinner yet. Balls. If I'm going to stick to this nine fifteen bedtime I'd better get my rear in gear.
Oh and to end on a JOYOUS note, it was ABOVE ZERO all day today. It would seem that God hasn't forsaken Dresden after all.
So, the moral of this story is that last week was the worst week I've had probably in the past eight months or so. It seemed like everything was going wrong, all of the adults- well, most- that I work with were on my case about one thing or another, and all the children that I work with chose last week to exhibit the absolute worst facets of their personalities. Could I have been hyper sensitive to their possibly normal childish capers? Perhaps. But it doesn't change the fact that a few kids just managed to exhaust every last ounce of my patience and compassion, and I was seriously wishing it were legal to liberally employ the use of duct tape in one's teaching practices. I locked myself in my apartment on Thursday night, and used every ounce of my super psychic powers (hey, I might have them) to make time skip ahead a day so I wouldn't have to go to work the next day. Unfortunately, my psychic powers failed me (curses! foiled again!) and I had to do the usual stuff on Friday. I decided at the end of the day to walk home in the sub zero (literally) temperatures, rather than taking the tram. I stopped off at a new cafe that opened near school, and ordered a LARGE hot chocolate, and I have to say, it may have been my first step out of the slunk. It was absolutely delicious, and kept my hands semi-warm on the walk home. Walking through the beautiful buildings in this wonderful German city that I live in cheered me somewhat, and by the time I arrived home I felt less like kicking a puppy.
So, then came the weekend. My mood continued to improve (but we're relatively speaking here people, I was still pretty bitchy), and the highlight of the weekend was rearranging all the furniture in my cavernous living room. I also finally put up the art that I brought back with me after going home in December, and that made me feel much more at home and happy. My living room is much cozier now, and I get to check out a naked chick all the time. Venus of Urbino, greatest painting ever created, one of Titian's masterpieces.....not porn, Dave. I went to bed early-ish in an attempt to stave off Monday morning grumpiness.
And then, on Monday.....AAAAAAAAAALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! Aunt Flo had taken the night train into town! Raging hormonal Bri was gone, and normal Bri was back. I loved my students again (I still loved them last week but sometimes had a hard time remembering it), and was happy to be alive. I celebrated my good mood by purchasing my FIRST house plant. I know, my former housemates are probably shocked I have lived this long without plant companionship, but it's taken me awhile to get over Schlemiel and be ready to move onto other plants. I repotted this plant myself, and decided that it definitely looked like a Charlie.
On Tuesday, I had the BEST symphony rehearsal since I've joined the one here in Dresden. I feel like I finally know the music pretty well, and I actually MADE A JOKE auf Deutsch to the guy who sits next to me. Up until now he's been cold as ice, but he actually laughed! And then he offered me the use of his gummi bear topped pencil. I took it as a gesture of friendship and peace...on par with an olive branch being flown in by a shimmering white dove. And oh yeah.....OBAMA WAS SWORN IN!!!!!!!! Suddenly this town is in love with all things American, which I find rather humorous and ironic. I got to see part of the ceremony and speech at a local pub, it was pretty momentous. Not quite as great as meeting (and SIDE HUGGING) Dan Savage, but an extremely close second.
Now I seem to be sliding a bit into the land of no motivation. Well, in my personal life. I've been catching up and organizing like crazy at school, and am starting to feel better about everything there. I felt so disorganized and anxious all of last week, so the past few days I've been working late and just deep cleaning and planning like crazy. But then I get home, and have abou eight million things I could do.....but I don't want to. Actually, that's a lie. I have two things I have to do. Clean my kitchen and bathroom, and DO MY LAUNDRY. This may not seem that bad, but when one has to venture out of one's place of residence to do said laundry, it becomes a genuine ordeal. When you hate doing laundry as much as I do, and let it pile up for weeks at a time, it then becomes an ordeal of EPIC proportions. So anyway, the past two nights I've planned on hitting the laundromat.....but then I get home and look at the hamper which has been stuffed to the brim and now exploded onto the floor....and lose my resolve. I really HAVE to do it though, because after tomorrow, I can't think of a single clean article of clothing that i have in my posession.
Instead of doing laundry, I do useless shit like this. Oh and I spy on my neighbors. I "took the garbage out" about an hour ago just as an excuse to see my new neighbor, who I ascertained was young and male from the sound of his booming voice echoing off the walls on the landing/hallway. He turned out not to be that cute (rats), but was friendly. Not a total loss I suppose, although he most likely thinks I'm a simpleton. He had an ESPECIALLY Saxony-ish accent so I understood approximately 1/6 of what he said to me while we shared the elevator down to the basement.
And now for the big news, the whole reason I decided to post today...............I'M BACK ON THE PILLS PEOPLE. I just waltzed into a Frauenaertz (direct translation: Woman doctor), told her the kind of pills I'd been taking, flashed my catchall socialized German insurance card, and VOILA! She handed over a three month prescription as if it were no bigger deal than giving me a band-aid for a paper cut.
AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. It's really big news. Also, gloriously cheap. 20 euros for a three month supply. Take THAT, US healthcare system, and shove it up your.....um, system hole?
Now I've realized how late it has become and I haven't eaten dinner yet. Balls. If I'm going to stick to this nine fifteen bedtime I'd better get my rear in gear.
Oh and to end on a JOYOUS note, it was ABOVE ZERO all day today. It would seem that God hasn't forsaken Dresden after all.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Dragon Lady: Not Just for Nuns Anymore
My current mood is foul. This is due solely and completely to my total lack of sleep last night. I blame this whole "time zone" tom foolery for messing up my body clock. Not that it's exactly a well oiled machine normally, but it's not this messed up most of the time.
Given that my mood is so foul, I've decided to create a list.
Things that really make me want to punch a baby:
1. Insomnia.
2. Expensive boots that start to leak due to a sole malfunction mere weeks after purchase.
3. Feet upon feet of snow. This would probably not be on the list if it weren't for item number 2.
4. Idiotic BLOG SPELL CHECK that tells me I don't know how to spell WEREN'T. I know how to correctly spell simple contractions, OK BLOG SPELL CHECK!?
5. The fact that I speak to inanimate objects.
6. Herds of clueless jokers who get off the tram and then form a pod standing RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK, which has been narrowed considerably by the huge snowbanks piled up on both sides.
7. Said herds of clueless jokers refusing to move out of the way when an enraged looking individual (such as myself) says "ENTSCHULDIGUNG" (excuse me) in a very dragon like voice while charging down the ice-encrusted sidewalk.
8. Almost burning my sad but satisfying dinner of canned chili.
Things that make me feel like patting a baby on it's cute, soft little head:
1. SAVING my canned chili from the fiery bowels of the pot bottom just in the nick of time.
2. Going to bed at 7 PM.
Yikes, folks. It's been a long day. I'm out like an Irish stout.
Given that my mood is so foul, I've decided to create a list.
Things that really make me want to punch a baby:
1. Insomnia.
2. Expensive boots that start to leak due to a sole malfunction mere weeks after purchase.
3. Feet upon feet of snow. This would probably not be on the list if it weren't for item number 2.
4. Idiotic BLOG SPELL CHECK that tells me I don't know how to spell WEREN'T. I know how to correctly spell simple contractions, OK BLOG SPELL CHECK!?
5. The fact that I speak to inanimate objects.
6. Herds of clueless jokers who get off the tram and then form a pod standing RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK, which has been narrowed considerably by the huge snowbanks piled up on both sides.
7. Said herds of clueless jokers refusing to move out of the way when an enraged looking individual (such as myself) says "ENTSCHULDIGUNG" (excuse me) in a very dragon like voice while charging down the ice-encrusted sidewalk.
8. Almost burning my sad but satisfying dinner of canned chili.
Things that make me feel like patting a baby on it's cute, soft little head:
1. SAVING my canned chili from the fiery bowels of the pot bottom just in the nick of time.
2. Going to bed at 7 PM.
Yikes, folks. It's been a long day. I'm out like an Irish stout.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
There and back again.
I hope everyone enjoyed my Lord of the Rings ripoff title. Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I just can't keep the nerdiness in and it bursts forth in an uncontrollable act or sentence...much like the one when I typed in that title.
Well, I did go there and back again. My journey wasn't quite as epic as Sam and Frodo's (I said Sam first because I always thought he was the coolest of the Hobbits, and under appreciated), but it was highly enjoyable. I took off for Oregon on the 18th of December, and arrived in Portland to the hugest and longest running snowstorm that we've had in probably fifteen years. It was fun for a couple of days, and then I got really sick of not being able to go anywhere because all the roads were a disaster. Even public transportation failed me- after abandoning hope of driving from my parents home in Salem to Portland, I decided to invest in a ticket for a trusty old Greyhound bus. Well, turns out Greyhound ISN'T so trusty....I arrived at the bus station ready to go, and was informed that all buses had been cancelled. Well, this was just total balls, that's the only appropriate way to describe the situation. So, I ended up staying in Salem, only leaving the house twice, for about a week. Yikes. It was actually pretty fun to have that much time with my family, who are a wonderful bunch of people, but I was hoping to see more of my friends as well during that time. THEN, the weather finally cleared up enough on Christmas day for us to make the trek up to the Portland area to go the traditional family Christmas at my Grandpa's. After leaving pretty late in the day because my sister decided to start a labor intensive cake at about 2 PM (don't worry Katy, I love you and it was a delicious cake. And it was funny when it boiled over in the oven), we were on our way. Various aunts and uncles started calling our various cell phones wondering where the hell we were, and we assured them that we would be there within the hour. They would wait dinner for us, we were assured.
Well, it turns out waiting dinner for us didn't include waiting for us to sort out a flat tire. That's right, about halfway there, we all heard a rather alarming and extremely loud popping noise, followed by the ever so pleasant smell of burning rubber. My dad steered the family vehicle we lovingly refer to as the conestoga wagon off the freeway, and into a gas station. Turns out, we'd driven over something sharp that had COMPLETELY shredded the tire. And of course, the parking lot was a snowy wasteland and it was cold enough to freeze the quills off a porcupine. (I just made that saying up. I like it.) After about an hour and a half of work, my dad and brother (who very fortunately happens to be in the resourceful/be prepared line of work) managed to get the tire changed. By this point, family dinner was a mere distant memory, and we all decided it was just best to turn around and head back to Salem. Not having much to eat at the house, having planned on feasting at my Grandpa's and all, our dinner options were limited. I was so annoyed with the situation that I started throwing out some outrageous promises, such as "If we have to turn around and go all the way back home, I'm buying everyone dinner!!" Well, I was cursing my own rash words when we actually DID turn around and go all the way back home. It being Christmas and all though, most restaurants were closed. We ended up finding a Chinese joint that did take out, and deciding not to be a total Scrooge, I sprang for that. It really was very Christmas Story-esque. My brother went out to retrieve the food, and after he brought it back, we ate Chinese, watched the Blazers game, and had a very enjoyable evening. It probably turned out much more relaxing than having dinner with grumpy relatives (grumpy due to our tardiness) would have been.
Other than that, it was a fairly uneventful but lovely trip. I did some great shopping for American items I've missed. I got to see some of my MOST favorite people, including Dave, Emily, Chelsea, Anna, Jeff, Amanda, Megan, and Andy. They were wonderful and great fun to spend time with. I especially enjoyed my New Years eve shenanigans with Anna and Jeff, ESPECIALLY because I got a kiss from Jeff (it was super hot) and THEN got to sleep with Anna. Also super hot.
Now, I am back here in Dresden, on an extremely messed up sleep schedule. This would account for my blogging (that word is really stupid, I don't know why I used it) at midnight, when I have to get up at 6 AM and be a bright and happy teacher again tomorrow morning. Oy vey!
Oh, and as fate would have it, after having it dump snow the whole time I was in Oregon, the land of very little snow (normally), I've returned to have it dump snow in Dresden. It would seem that a girl just can't get a break.
I'll end on that note. Let's hope my new coat proves up to the inclement weather challenge.
Well, I did go there and back again. My journey wasn't quite as epic as Sam and Frodo's (I said Sam first because I always thought he was the coolest of the Hobbits, and under appreciated), but it was highly enjoyable. I took off for Oregon on the 18th of December, and arrived in Portland to the hugest and longest running snowstorm that we've had in probably fifteen years. It was fun for a couple of days, and then I got really sick of not being able to go anywhere because all the roads were a disaster. Even public transportation failed me- after abandoning hope of driving from my parents home in Salem to Portland, I decided to invest in a ticket for a trusty old Greyhound bus. Well, turns out Greyhound ISN'T so trusty....I arrived at the bus station ready to go, and was informed that all buses had been cancelled. Well, this was just total balls, that's the only appropriate way to describe the situation. So, I ended up staying in Salem, only leaving the house twice, for about a week. Yikes. It was actually pretty fun to have that much time with my family, who are a wonderful bunch of people, but I was hoping to see more of my friends as well during that time. THEN, the weather finally cleared up enough on Christmas day for us to make the trek up to the Portland area to go the traditional family Christmas at my Grandpa's. After leaving pretty late in the day because my sister decided to start a labor intensive cake at about 2 PM (don't worry Katy, I love you and it was a delicious cake. And it was funny when it boiled over in the oven), we were on our way. Various aunts and uncles started calling our various cell phones wondering where the hell we were, and we assured them that we would be there within the hour. They would wait dinner for us, we were assured.
Well, it turns out waiting dinner for us didn't include waiting for us to sort out a flat tire. That's right, about halfway there, we all heard a rather alarming and extremely loud popping noise, followed by the ever so pleasant smell of burning rubber. My dad steered the family vehicle we lovingly refer to as the conestoga wagon off the freeway, and into a gas station. Turns out, we'd driven over something sharp that had COMPLETELY shredded the tire. And of course, the parking lot was a snowy wasteland and it was cold enough to freeze the quills off a porcupine. (I just made that saying up. I like it.) After about an hour and a half of work, my dad and brother (who very fortunately happens to be in the resourceful/be prepared line of work) managed to get the tire changed. By this point, family dinner was a mere distant memory, and we all decided it was just best to turn around and head back to Salem. Not having much to eat at the house, having planned on feasting at my Grandpa's and all, our dinner options were limited. I was so annoyed with the situation that I started throwing out some outrageous promises, such as "If we have to turn around and go all the way back home, I'm buying everyone dinner!!" Well, I was cursing my own rash words when we actually DID turn around and go all the way back home. It being Christmas and all though, most restaurants were closed. We ended up finding a Chinese joint that did take out, and deciding not to be a total Scrooge, I sprang for that. It really was very Christmas Story-esque. My brother went out to retrieve the food, and after he brought it back, we ate Chinese, watched the Blazers game, and had a very enjoyable evening. It probably turned out much more relaxing than having dinner with grumpy relatives (grumpy due to our tardiness) would have been.
Other than that, it was a fairly uneventful but lovely trip. I did some great shopping for American items I've missed. I got to see some of my MOST favorite people, including Dave, Emily, Chelsea, Anna, Jeff, Amanda, Megan, and Andy. They were wonderful and great fun to spend time with. I especially enjoyed my New Years eve shenanigans with Anna and Jeff, ESPECIALLY because I got a kiss from Jeff (it was super hot) and THEN got to sleep with Anna. Also super hot.
Now, I am back here in Dresden, on an extremely messed up sleep schedule. This would account for my blogging (that word is really stupid, I don't know why I used it) at midnight, when I have to get up at 6 AM and be a bright and happy teacher again tomorrow morning. Oy vey!
Oh, and as fate would have it, after having it dump snow the whole time I was in Oregon, the land of very little snow (normally), I've returned to have it dump snow in Dresden. It would seem that a girl just can't get a break.
I'll end on that note. Let's hope my new coat proves up to the inclement weather challenge.
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