Jetzt hab ich heut im Stammtisch schon wieder eine Kanadierin getroffen, die in der Schweiz war und dementsprechend spricht. Wo kommen die denn auf einmal alle her?

Zum heutigen, bzw. seit 2 Stunden und 15 Minuten gestrigen, Stammtisch wär noch eine Story hinzuzufügen, aber die muss bis morgen, bzw. seit 2 Stunden und 15 Minuten heute, warten, eben wegen dieser 2 Stunden und 15 Minuten die mindestens 1 Stunde und 15 Minuten zu viel sind. Alles klar!?

Aber am Ende geht sich's ja doch immer aus, oder? Ich wart ja nur drauf, dass es mich irgendwann mal voll auf die Schnauze haut und ich dann ein für alle mal geheilt bin. Letzte Hoffnung Schocktherapie..

Bitte, kann mir einmal wer sagen, warum ich immer, aber wirklich immer, bis zum allerletzten Abdruck warten muss, um Sachen zu erledigen? No risk no fun? Selbstschutz des Perfektionisten? Ich könnt mich... Grrrr!!! Ahhhh!!!!

Lange schon erwartet, heute in der Mailbox gelandet:

"Wir weisen Sie darauf hin, dass Ihre Benutzungsbewilligung am 28.02.2007 ablaeuft und damit ungueltig wird. Sie haben bis 28.02.2007 Zeit, Ihre Daten auf Ihrem eigenen Datentraeger (z.B. Diskette, ZIP-Diskette usw.) zu sichern.

Mit dem Ablauf der Benutzungsbewilligung werden alle zugeordneten Dienste ungueltig! Damit werden nach einer Frist auch alle zugehoerigen Daten geloescht, E-Mails an die offizielle Mailadresse werden zurueckgewiesen."

Der Studentenausweis ist bereits am 30. November abgelaufen, nun folgt also E-Mail Adresse und Computerzugang. Bye bye Uni.

Yesterday I thought I'd type like this today: C - Outch! L - Outch! I - Outch! M - Outch! B - Outch! But it isn't that bad. My arms feel a little bit tired but the fingers are fine. I had such a good time in my first climbing session. After the first couple of minutes I thought: Well maybe it wouldn't have been useless if I went to the gym and did some workout before starting this. On the other hand climbing trees as a child and climbing on boulders in the mountains was a good preparation in terms of flexibility.

Oh, and then there was the thing at the end of the three hours when we were secured and climbed to the top of the wall at the top of the hall. Quite high. Did I mention that I actually have a bit fear of heights? The climbing itself was no problem at all but then, in order to shout "Down!" so they lower me down I had to look down first and that was, ehm, oh-oh. because then I had to let loose of the wall and sit back in the rope in order to be lowered which was not a pleasant feeling at all. In fact I felt so uncomfortable that I managed to turn in the rope which was not exactly helpful. But the second time it was better..

In conclusion: fantastic! I enjoyed it sooo much and am looking forward to next week.

Today's episode of the celebrated series "Things I hate about winter":

Electroclothes.

So I put off my coat in the library, and as I switch on the microfilm machine:
Dshh - electric shock. Outch!

Actually I'm still quite hot (maybe because of all the electricity with my body) so I pull of my pullover too, and as I put the microfilm into the machine:
Dshh - electric shock. Outch! Again!

Also it's not so funny if you take off your coat in the washroom and you know already: If I ever want to leave this cubicle again I have to suffer because as soon as I touch the lock I'll get a shock.

Seriously, if I was so keen on indulging in romantic childhood memories of touching electric fences on warm summer days I would get me some wire.

Argh!

I'll be doing some sport! (No, I do not mean "100 litre run" or the like). Today morning I signed up for an "Introduction to Climbing". Each week three hours for the next four weeks. I wonder how I'll manage to do that without any arm or abdominal muscles. But on the other hand my weight-muscle-ratio has always been quite OK so it shouldn't be too bad. Whatever. I'm really looking forward to the course. Something new. I'm sooo excited!

Furthermore, I will audit a class this term again. The history of the native peoples of Canada until 1867. I am sure it will be very interesting because I don't know anything about that topic (Well aside from the rough history of how the French and the English abused the natives for their colonial wars and that it was actually them who introduced the idea of taking scalps to America.) I enjoyed it very much today and am looking forward to hearing more about it.

Actually there would be a whole bunch of interesting courses. The two I'm seriously considering is a history of Alberta and imperial China 600-1911. But as the Natives course they would also be 50 minutes each Monday, Wednesday and Friday - so basically I would be away from work from 11am until 3pm three times a week. And that's just too much to catch up with I'm afraid. On the other hand I could use some of my vacation days for it. Well I have time until Monday to make up my mind..

The campus is absolutely deserted (apart from a few swotters and the snow rabbits of course) which isn't a surprise really, as there's still about a week of vacation until the new term starts. For me it's already the second working day after Christmas holidays - and the first one with my new working tool (i.e. notebook). Hooray! In my first months here I often felt a bit sad that I had to work all alone in the library, away from my colleagues and everything that was going on in the institute. But then, when my notebook broke down I was assigned work which I could do on the office PC and I realised more and more that it's not all that great. The artificial light made me dizzy and tired (it may sound strange but it did so more than the dimly lit micro materials reading room) and it was hard to concentrate because it was never really quiet (not to mention that the office PCs of course have access to the internet - eeevil!) Furthermore, the work itself wasn't very exciting either. You think transcribing 18 century documents is dull? Well, then try transcribing late 20 century notes (from my boss). Seriously, today it was a pleasure to be back in the library again! Also it was good to see that I got into the gothic script quite quickly again. I should show you my new old "office" some time. Hmm, that has just reminded me that in my planned work report from 5 ½ months ago I've never managed to get beyond the introduction. Another day - maybe.

Here it's only 4pm and we still have 8 hours. When calling my granny I could hear the Strauss' Donauwalzer via the phone - and afterwards I figured that in the internet I can listen to it on OE1. Wicked! That's New Year how it should be..

I'm wondering how it will be here. I don't think it will be the bggest party ever. There aren't many people here, Eric and Anya both have to work, but I don't care that much about New Years evening anyway. I dislike those days of artificial happiness. What's the point of becoming ecstatic about the change of one number? Why should something change just because of that? One thing for sure: Once again I'll be boycotting New Year's Resolutions. Sounds a bit like the fox and the grapes now doesn't it? No, no - I do look forward to having a nice evening and hope we manage to watch the fireworks! (And if we return home at 3 am it would be the perfect time to watch the New Years concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - given it's broadcast somewhere! :-)

So again HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007 to all of you!

And of course welcome to the EU, Romania and Bulgaria!

OK people - I'm off for the airport. My flight leaves in 3 hours. And in about 23 hours hopefully I'll be landing in Munich. I'm so much looking forward to see and hug you all (well not all but some)!