11
August
2003
On the road soon - my brother will come with me to the airport and help me pass the time until I have to board. Excited, of course, and trying not to let it get to me.
Last night, riding my bike home from meeting Sibylle and the M&Ms (aka Martin and Matthias) in town, I had to think of all the people I’ve met while traveling. I have so many cherished memories of places and times spent alone - but there are always people, too. So many of them, and still vivid in my mind, no matter if we haven’t heard from each other in ages or never even exchanged email addies…
I could make a list, of with all those people I met in 99 in Canada and the US, 2000 on the Isle of Man, 2001 in Namibia and last year on the East Coast, because I still remember them all, their names and faces, the stories we exchanged and things we saw, be it for a couple of hours on a bus or for several days in a youth hostel or on an excursion.
Thinking of the fact that I’ll be staying in NZ with a couple I’ve met almost four years ago in California and that I’ll be meeting up in Brisbane with Willa, who I met last year in Washington, DC, makes me very, very happy - and I can’t wait to see who I will get to know this time…
So this journal will be quiet the next two months - but the travel log will hopefully be filled with tales of beautiful places and interesting people.
Posted: Life
10
August
2003
Slowly I’m starting to feel a bit melancholic, because more and more good-bye emails are arriving in my inbox. As much as I’m looking forward to the next two months — online time will be very limited and there won’t be many opportunities to read my friends’ blogs and LJs.
But I’ll still be around on email, and I’ll try to update my trave log regularly. And of course there’ll be my study blog, of little interest to anyone but me probably, but probably the place that I’ll update the most (daily if possible).
My parents called last night to say good-bye, too, I’ve met several friends, and will see Regina once more later today. Sibylle and I are supposed to meet up tonight for ice cream, and I hope we will.
My bags are packed, the train to the airport tomorrow chosen, and the typical pre-trip mix of dread and anticipation is setting butterflies loose in my stomach. I probably won’t be sleeping very well tonight — I never do. But then, I’m not sleeping well anyway because of the heat… 
Posted: Life
10
August
2003
I’m almost all packed (only toiletries still waiting to be stuffed into my handluggage) and am slowly starting to believe I’m actually leaving tomorrow…
Anyway, here’s this week’s Saturday Senses:
[sight]:: fireworks
Sitting at the Rhine with Sibylle on a warm July 31 night (the day before our national holiday), looking up as colorful fireworks explode over our heads. Gold, red, green, and everyone around us is aahing and oohing. It’s exciting and peaceful at once.
[taste]:: being forced, either by circumstance, situation or person, to eat something you absolutely didn´t want to eat.
My mom made some dried beans once, and they were kind of slimy and generally among the yuckiest things I ever had to taste. Once and never again, believe me!
[smell]:: rain
This summer with its record temperatures was interrupted by strong rain showers sometime last week. It was amazing to open the window and smell the fresh coolness, the earth breathing in relief, after weeks and weeks of stiffling heat…
[touch]:: tickles
My dad tickling the soles of my feet when I was little and had resolved not to be ticklish anymore. I squirmed and laughed, but ultimately actually managed to ignore it. Boy, was I proud! *g*
[hearing]:: (sea) waves
In my mind, the sight and sound of ocean waves is irrevocably connected with traveling around on my own. I always find quiet spots on a beach somewhere, sitting there, taking in the scenery and reading for hours… Some of my favorite memories were made this way.
And the Unconscious Mutterings:
- Miss America:: Nick Carter
- Cherubs:: Sibylle
- Shark Week:: Again, Nick Carter
- Sunflowers:: the postcard my mom once gave to me to cheer me up during a horrible summer job
- Sorority:: no, thank you
- Grilled chicken: yummy!
- 100:: things about me
- Tickle monster:: that’d be me tickling my brother…
- Veronica:: reminds me of some TV show
- Slurpee:: I don’t know what that is, but it sounds fun
Posted: Memes
8
August
2003
From here.
1. What’s the last place you traveled to, outside your own home state/country?
Germany, for a family reunion in Dresden.
2. What’s the most bizarre/unusual thing that’s ever happened to you while traveling?
Getting to know a girl who lived only two streets away from me at home in the middle of Las Vegas.
3. If you could take off to anywhere, money and time being no object, where would you go?
A long (very long) Around the World trip.
4. Do you prefer traveling by plane, train or car?
Train, because it’s not as claustrophobic as a plane and I don’t get car sick, so I can read.
5. What’s the next place on your list to visit?
I’m leaving for two months in New Zealand and Australia on Monday, actually.
Posted: Memes
8
August
2003
I’ve decided not to go to the Streetparade tomorrow. It’s strange - I haven’t missed one since I started going seven years ago, and I even booked my flight accordingly. This would have been my eigth time. But my head and heart are simply elsewhere at the moment, and more and more the Streetparade seemed more like a chore than one of the ‘funnest’ days of the year.
Now I have one day more to get ready and say goodbye to my home, and it feels like the right decision. It was a selfish thing to do, especially on such a short notice, but sometimes being selfish is the only way one can keep on functioning…
I’ve done my laundry this morning and before going to work this afternoon I’ll buy what’s still needed, so I can pack my things tomorrow leisurely. And weigh them, and repack. Several times over probably, until everything is stowed away and doesn’t weigh more than what’s allowed.
(Almost) unrelated to New Zealand: I got my LOTR fanclub membership card and a pretty picture of the Fellowship today. Lovely!
Posted: Life
6
August
2003
Have started lying out what I need to take with me, just to see if it looks as if I could possibly fit it all.
Well - here’s what I have so far:
- three pants (two for cold, one for hot) - but I really want to take my new pretty summer pants, too. Will have to see if they’ll have room, though.
- about six t-shirts/tops
- two pretty tops for going out
- bikini, sun hat, sun glasses
- beach blanket (doubles as sarong)
- two pullovers
- a long-sleeved shirt
- two blouses
- a skirt
- scarf, gloves, hat
- towel
- socks
- panties
- undershirts
- two pantyhose
- lots and lots of toiletries/meds
- travel utilities (moneybelt, copies of passport etc.,…)
- adapters for mobile phone and digital camera
- some stuff for my research
- lots and lots of gifts
I think that’s most of what I need - we’ll see how (if!) this fits… But now I need to call my friend Märrie for her birthday.
Congrats, Süsse! Have the best day! Love you… *hugs*
Edited to add a picture of my junk… The white teddy bear is a gift, the purple one is mineminemine! 
Posted: Life, Photos
5
August
2003
This summer has broken one record after the other - it’s been unbelievably hot for the last two months. Slowly I’m beginning to seriously look forward to lower temperatures in New Zealand…
I finished my paper on Sunday - it’s now in Chicago, with my friend Cindy, who’s proofreading the thing for me during her vacation.
Since then I’ve been domestic - my parents are gone, on a two weeks vacation in Cornwall, so my brother and I are on our own and doing household stuff in between complaining about the heat.
I won’t see my parents again until I get back from down under on October 8, which feels kind of weird. Not because of the time, but because they’re not here to see me off and to get on my nerves while I’m preparing.
I think I’ll start packing tomorrow, making a list of things and getting a feel if they can possibly fit into my backpack and handluggage-suitcase. Looking at the enormous mountain of gifts on my floor, chances are slim… *g*
Posted: Life
3
August
2003
Probably nothing new, but surfing the web (and dmoz in particular) I found a couple of nifty tools, that I might implement one of these days:
For one, there’s blogLinker. It doesn’t have a bookmarklet as far as I can tell, but it’s still better than blogrolling in that it’s not only for blogs. I might start some more link lists with it, for all sorts of stuff.
And myMediaList looks like fun, too. You can create lists of books, music, games and what not and easily implement them in your website.
Posted: Resources
3
August
2003
This week’s Unconscious Mutterings:
- Hook:: line and sinker
- Greg:: Kinnear - and don’t ask my why I thought of him…
- Sixty:: my parents are older than that!
- Breakfast:: in bed
- Dollar:: cent
- Unpredictable:: confusing
- O:: 2
- Bathing suit:: beach
- Inconsiderate:: can’t stand it!
- Marx:: and Engels
And here’s the Saturday Senses:
[sight]:: opening your eyes right after your first kiss
The lights of the disco flashing around us, my girlfriends in the background staring unbelievingly and then cheering.
[taste]:: aphrodisiac food (whatever it was or whatever works(ed) for you ;-))
Eating raspberries always sends shivers of pleasure down my spine. They might not be your classic aphrodisiac, but they sure spark a lot of sensual feelings in me.
[smell]:: that specific perfume that drives you crazy on the opposite sex (or that person with that dazzling perfume that drove you crazy - you get the picture…).
A whiff of what is to me “man smell”. I have yet to find out what it is, or if it’s natural in some men - but just last week I passed a guy and smelled it. It always makes me close my eyes and think of strong arms hugging me.
[touch]:: (feeling) chills
Those few moments before a kiss, when you’re eyes lock and the distance between you becomes smaller and smaller…
[hearing]:: whisper(s)
Me and a friend having a sleep over and talking in hushed voices about everything and nothing. You can never exchange confidences as well as in whispers in a dark room…
Posted: Memes
1
August
2003
For those without ties to Switzerland - today is our national holiday, which means that we all started celebrating (loudly, with lots of crackers and fireworks) yesterday.
I was invited to that party, and since I had an appointment at my hairdresser’s anyway, I asked her to make me a cool ‘do. This, paired with a top I bought last year in Notting Hill and hadn’t had the chance to wear yet, made me feel absolutely wonderfully dressed up, without being overdresssed.
And yes, I had my mom take pics - who knows when I’ll look this good again… 
But the best thing was definitely the back view! LOL
The party was pretty fun, several friends I hadn’t seen in a while and some new nice people, plus a good view of the fireworks over the Rhine. But I didn’t bring my camera, so no proof, I’m afraid. Also, the situation I’ve mentioned, and which had me dreading this thing a bit, was ugly, but not as bad as it could have been. And have I mentioned that I love Sibylle? She really is family to me.
I left soon after the fireworks, because this morning at 8am my presence was required at the reception of my old people’s home. I don’t know, but although I did get almost six hours of sleep, I felt like crap this morning. My eyes are still tired in fact, and I’m only grateful that, thanks to a genrous collegue, I don’t have to show up there tomorrow until noon. NOT looking forward to Sunday, when it’ll be 8am again, and that after a farewell going out with Sibylle and Regina… But I’ll live. Hopefully.
Posted: Life, Photos
