Graz, and other stuff
Well. It has been a while hasn’t it! My most sincere apologies to all of my avid readers, since I do like to think that some people do read this…sometimes. It has been busy, boring, lazy, stressful and every other adjective you can think of. An interesting time to be sure. A short overview of the adjectives and how they apply to my life at this moment:
Busy - Oh, just the usual. Practicing, studying theory/philosophy/german/french, reading four books in one week (I’m proud of that accomplishment), and writing a new short story. Well ok, desperately trying to write a new short story, it doesn’t seem to let me get past the first page…
Boring - Again the usual. Classes which I don’t understand (ie. Latin and german in the 7th form, same as our gr. 11), and the ones I have already done (ie. Math, English and French with the little kiddies).
Stressful - I am actually getting some pressure from some people believe it or not. I was asked to write an article for the school’s new newspaper project. They were/are having trouble with the layout/production. I thought, “hmmm… that sounds awfully familiar! Where have I heard of that before, layout/production of a new school newspaper”. All those memories of time spent in room 201 in Col. Gray with my favorite Economics and English teacher Mr. Holton. Hounding people to get their articles in on time and spending half the night in front of the computer trying to fix the layout…while still recieving articles by Email. It did work out eventually though, and looked good too if I do say so. Thanks guys, I sure as hell didnt do it myself as it sounds now that I look back on what I just wrote,…good memories. Anyway, I am now helping with the layout of the school newspaper, a challenge in German for sure.
As well I am writing an article, in German, for a paper in Leoben since I let slip to a producer of the paper over a Rotary dinner that Leoben is one of my favorite cities in Austria (that I have been to). Apparently it is not considered so highly by the Austrians and so he was quite….enthused…to say the least. BTW - My host mother just about ripped my face off when she found out that my list of favorite cities in Austria is 1. Vienna 2. Graz 3. Leoben 4. Salzburg Even now she won’t let me live down the fact that I put Leoben before Salzburg. Crazy Austrians!!!
Lazy - Ahem…Lazy? me?!!! Well yes…very. Thursay I woke up with a splitting headache at about 4:30am. Accordingly I took a couple Ibuprofins (sp?), turned off my alarm and went back to sleep. I woke up at about 10 (minus headache) which meant that there was entirely no point in getting up and going to school for a maximum of three hours. With bit of completely rational reasoning I also deducted that since it was too grueling to go to school, and that I really don’t do anything other than school that requires me to get out of bed, that I would just stay in bed for the whole day. And I did. I ended up finishing two books, three chapters in Philosophy, including note-taking, almost finishing all the Chocolate mom and dad sent in the package (which arrived wed. btw), and a little bit of theory too. I felt so grotesque and fat by about 6pm though I just had to get out of bed. So I did. Then I went back to bed at about 9pm. I never knew staying in bed all day could be so exhausting! I was actually quite tired by 9pm. I must admit…a lazy day every once in a while is pretty sweet.
I guess that’s about it for my adjectives.
I have just realized that in my rambling I completely forgot to mention/explain the title of this post. I suppose the “other stuff” is fairly self explanatory, just something to leave me room to ramble. Graz may not be though. I was in Graz last week with a few friends from school. Here are a few pictures. It was really my first time in Graz, the second largest city in Austria. I was there once before, but only to see a Musical (it stank:P), I was only in the city for less than a half hour. This time I got the chance to do what I always do when I get to a new place, usually city. Walk. The best thing to do for the first trip to a new city is just walk. No map, nothing but your eyes, ears and nose (I hope you wouldn’t try licking the buildings to see where to go next). You usually find the most interesting things that way. You’re under no pressure to see the “important” stuff marked on maps, but rather you find your own important stuff. Sometimes you can have a target (for me it was The Royal Garden Jazz Club) but finding it can be a challenge and could turn up really cool things (such as an English book store, a really good record store and a cool sushi bar) on the way.
Graz is a great city..and a lot closer than Vienna. Still doesn’t beat Vienna, although I’m not quite sure anything could. But it could stand in as a sub in a pinch. Good Jazz scene too, although the classical (other than good opera and bad musicals) is kind of lacking.
***Short interlude***
What the HELL!?!?! A conservative minority. I’m sorry, but that’s just ridiculous. Who can say federal vote in a year? And Harper is just plain creepy…you’d think his PR guys would try to get rid of those sunken death eyes in his photos…but I guess they’re going for the creepo look. Sorry, that was low…but still, he is the face of Canada now. We’re not all creepy…are we?
***End Canadian Interlude***
Reading!I love it. I have finished four books as I said somewhere previously. And they are/were:
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
A Debt of Bones - Terry Goodkind
Faith of the Fallen - Terry Goodkind
Philosophie für Berenike - Roland Simon-Schaefer
Review to come on Catch-22.
I guess I should wish Herr Mozart a Happy Birthday. Or more appropriatly Alles Gute zum geburstag. Even in death your genius astounds us Mozy.
I think that’s about it. I was homesick the other day…I think it was the package. I really am kind of looking forward to going home…or somewhere else anyway:P
Love you all,
Nick
