The Comforts of Home

One of the things I miss the most in Vienna:

My piano...all the keys sound and it's in tune...wonderful.

Someone's Hero

There's nothing better than being able to come to the rescue of a friend in need. Even when it's small things like bringing words to mind or helping with the appropriate useage of apostrophes.

An Empty Sky Line

Orchards in Dinuba, California

Powerless

There's nothing more frustrating than finding yourself without the proper cords for one's electronic devices.

First as I'm packing to come to Dinuba I find myself without my camera battery charger (and I'm pretty sure I left it in Vienna).

Second as I'm in the car on the five hour drive to Fresno I find that I didn't bring my iPod cord...now I have to look forward to another five hour drive without music. Or worse, five hours of listening to ESPN...

And lastly, as I watch my laptop die last night, I realize that my power cord is still on the floor of my living room. Good thing Dad brought his laptop.

My Superstore of Choice

Unfortunately they didn't have the spandex shorts I was looking for so I can fit in when I'm running in the park.

Yes, Woolly Mammoths do still roam the hills of Southern California

Have I mentioned the dinosaurs that are a couple of acres over?

My Ride

My dad has been generous enough to loan me his truck for the month. It's really fun to drive. The only bad part is (aside from the gas mileage and the fact that it's the size of an U-bahn) is that it's automatic...so boring.

Twenty Four Hours of Sunlight

Some observations on my trip back to the States after a year away.

*you can get a lot of reading done in that time...nearly 500 pages.

*your ears eventually get tired of holding earphones.

*somehow stinky American feet in an airplane is worse than European body odor in the subway.

*one can eat 1 breakfast and 3 lunches and still be starving at sunset.

*I can't imagine how out of place the cute immigrating family from southeast Asia must feel in O'Hare.

*you're not supposed to lug your luggage to your flight checkin after customs...there's a place to put it.

*you can't help but rather disgustedly eavesdrop on every English conversation you hear, and are strangely comforted by the 2 families that speak German.

*why is it you have an aisle seat when you don't need the bathroom, but a window seat when you think you might?

*ordering at McDonalds is amazingly easy in English.
*the stewardesses are polite in Europe and friendly in the US.

*you feel slightly treasonous putting your residence as US on the customs card, but feel that it will simplify matters to do so.

*after 24 hours of sitting there is no comfortable position.

*In-N-Out as your fifth meal of the day is perfect.

*leaving home to go home is weird.

*the sunset on the plane is almost as nice as on the beach.

I've never packed for four weeks before...

do you think it's enough stuff?

In the Middle of the City

Typically Austrian

...or at least from my observations.

An afternoon at the park soaking in the sun.

An evening milling about an outdoor concert.

One way to watch a thunderstorm

is from the library windows.