25
November
2005
The first snow of the year came down in the night. Not a lot of it, but I’m so excited anyway - there’s just something magical about it in my eyes. Now, if only it sticks so I can take a walk in it… *twirls happily*
Sadly, I’m still sick, though. Spent yesterday morning clearing out my room for the painter on Monday and overdid it. So now I’m back in bed - in an empty room that looks more like a storage facility than a place where someone lives… But still, I’m proud that I managed to get it all done in such a short time (with my parents’ help). It’s almost worth being sick again. 
Posted: Life, Moments
23
November
2005
Sick at home right now, but trying not to let it get me down, as I’m already feeling decidedly better than yesterday. So, on to the topic of this post: My love for the Gilmore girls is common knowledge by now, I’m sure - what I’ve never mentioned before is how much I always enjoy the soundtrack. Just my taste, and it’s led me to discover a number of really great musicians, like Sam Phillips, whose songs and music are in every episode.
Also, I have found the song I want to dance to at my wedding one day. Seriously, it’s perfect - it’s used when Luke’s sister gets married, and Luke and Lorelai dance together for the first time.
Sam Phillips - Reflecting Light
Now that I’ve worn out, I’ve worn out the world
I’m on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night
And the moon’s never seen me before
But I’m reflecting light
I wrote the pain down
Got off and looked up
Looked into your eyes
The lost open windows
All around
My dark heart lit up the skies
And now that I’ve worn, I’ve worn out the world
I’m on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night
And the moon’s never seen me before
But I’m reflecting light
Give up the ground
Under your feet
Hold on to nothing for good
Turn and run at the mean times
Chasing you
Stand alone and misunderstood
And now that I’ve worn, I’ve worn out the world
I’m on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night
And the moons never seen me before
But I’m reflecting light
You can download the song from Sam Phillip’s website.
Posted: Fandom, Music
19
November
2005
Uploaded the photos from last week, when I drove to the Papiliorama. It was a lovely day, and I drove through some very pretty countryside and villages, reminding me again how beautiful Switzerland is… Should have taken more pictures, but I was totally focused on driving and my mom is almost afraid of my digital camera.
Posted: Photos
14
November
2005
I just had an epiphany of sorts: I am, in fact, a feminist.
I always had only the vague idea that feminism is some sort of political movement, too radical for my taste and smacking a bit of women-that-don’t-shave-and-hate-men. I had feminists for teachers in high school - Latin and German. They both wore chunky jewelry and hand-died cotton clothes, one had a kid and a stay-at-home husband (of whom she talked condescendingly) and had of course kept her name, and both seemed altogether stuck in the 70s. So my 14-year-old self thought, well, that’s definitely not me and decided that I wasn’t a feminist.
Well, I know better now: If you believe in, support, look fondly on, hope for, and/or work towards equality of the sexes, you are a feminist.
Posted: Life, Moments
13
November
2005
Yesterday Sibylle and I had tickets to see Coldplay in Zurich - and for the first time ever, we didn’t take the train, because I have my neighbours’ car at my disposal.
I must admit, I’m surprised every time at how well the driving goes (this is the third time this year that the neighbours let me use their car during their vacation). Of course I have weaknesses due to a lack of practice, but already on Friday I drove for several hours, mostly over curvy country and mountain lanes - and that was with my parents, which always makes me nervous. So yes, driving to Zurich yesterday went okay - we then parked in the garage and went to enjoy the concert.
Goldfrapp opened and Coldplay put on a great show, so we had an awesome time, despite some hick-ups like tall (and smelly) people crowding around us. The real horror came after - sitting in the garage for almost an hour, waiting to be able to leave. A prime road rage opportunity, which luckily no one used, except for some honking.
And then there was the drive back. Luckily for me Sibylle had missed her train because of the jam in the garage, so I had company for my very first nightly highway experience. Not being able to see further than my headlights made me nervous, and I was always glad when there were other cars in front of me. Well, enough of that. Obviously I made it back in one piece - got home around 1.30am.
Now I’m up again already - haven’t been able to sleep very well, so I’m already looking forward to going to bed tonight, truth be told… But I’m glad I had this experience - it’s definitely made the Coldplay concert a memorable one!
Posted: Life, Music
10
November
2005
This sounds like a good project for 2006…
Read 26 books in 12 months by authors you haven’t read before. One for each letter of the alphabet (going by the first letter of the last name of the author).
I’ll add to the list in my reading log as I get recommendations for writers I don’t know already!
In life update news: Yesterday I finally showed my family (and my brother’s girlfriend) the photos from my Japan trip. Afterwards we went to dinner at the only ‘real’ Japanese restaurant in Basel, where the manager was a bit too much of a snob but the food was excellent (and prepared right at the table):
. 
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Tomorrow I’ll get some driving practice in: Our neighbours are on vacation, so we have the use of their car, and my parents suggested that we do a daytrip, to the Papilliorama. Looking forward to it, although I’m a bit nervous, as always when I get a chance to drive.
Posted: Life, Memes, Photos
7
November
2005
There are two things I’m currently playing with - what with not having much to do at uni until starting my thesis in January, this seems like the time.
One is focusing my web activities - I currently own nine domains, just because it’s so easy and cheap to buy them, and it’s just getting too spread out and complicated. So there’ll be some big changes - I’ll even get rid of this domain, in all probability, creating a new one that is just my stuff, blog and all. But that’s in the future, as it’ll take me a while to prepare this move.
The other thing is that I’m thinking of creating a podcast - just somewhere where I ramble about my life in Switzerland, my travels, my interests. I’ve been playing around with Audacity, creating soundbites to use as title, ending and segment music. It’ll be Gilmore Girls themed, matching my new domain. We’ll see how that goes…
Posted: Life, Site
5
November
2005
Tomorrow my second cousin with his wife and daughter are coming for a visit. Our two families get along very well, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again. For the occasion my mom made me bake - a very messy activity when done by me *g* - and since I translated the recipe for a friend anyway, I thought I’d share:
My Grandmother’s Chocolate Cake:
200g butter
250g sugar (we actually take less)
8 eggs - separate white and yolk, whip the white
240g chocolate (mix of cooking and milk chocolate) - grind it
150g ground almonds
100g zwieback (rusk?) - grind it
Whisk the butter until it’s foamy, add egg yolk and sugar and stir for five minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, egg snow last by moving it gently under the rest. Pour it into the buttered baking-tin.
Pre-heat oven 10 minutes to 200°C.
Bake for 45 minutes on 180°C, then test it.
When the cake’s cooled off, add chocolate glazing.
I do hope the cooking talk translates… especially seeing that I’m definitely not an expert, even in German. *g*
Posted: Life, Resources
2
November
2005
…and I have to leave for uni in 45 minutes. That’s just strange. I’m glad that this class (the only one I’m taking this semester, except for the French class at the community college) is normally at 4pm. But a friend of mine is doing a presentation of her thesis, so I’m actually looking forward to going there. I just wish it was still light outside… Don’t feel like cycling, that’s way too active - good thing I have the card for the public transport this month!
Posted: Life
1
November
2005
I’m faking doing the things I’m supposed to do (like French class), I’m faking being up to talk (with other students, with my family - later today with my therapist), I’m faking smiling and being friendly (and think I’m succeeding). Mainly I hope that it will start feeling real if I fake it long enough. No idea whether it’s SAD or just the aftermath of a bad night with strange and uncomfortable dreams. It’s the first time in months that I’ve felt this way, so I’m not really worried. Everyone has off days like that.
It’s not as if I’m really down or sad or anything - just a bit… numb. So don’t worry about me, okay?
Don’t even know why I’m posting this here, except that I haven’t posted in too long again and just want to communicate something, even if it’s not the usual ‘this is going on in my life’… Sorry for the downer.
Posted: Life, SAD
