Yeah... I've only slept an hour and a half in the past 36 hours. Damn NASA proposal. I haven't eaten anything of substance since dinner yesterday except for peanut butter (yep, straight out of the jar) honey, and a few chocolate caramel type things I pilfered from the secretary's office.
The good thing is, all the crap I am supposed to know is kinda starting to make sense. The bad thing is, I'm so sleep deprived that I'm not sure I can keep things straight.
Tomorrow will be fun. I really hope I get to sleep. Not holding my breath on that one, but here's hoping.
I'm going to see Hayes Carll with Bridgett tomorrow night. It should be fun, if I'm still conscious at that time. Shit, I wonder if I need to get tickets.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
Gotta love Austin....
Well, the good news is that it looks like my health insurance will pay for most of my adventure in Zermatt.
After spending a week in Switzerland where the temperature rarely got above 40 F, I find it rather amusing when I see sorority girls bundled up with their fuzzy Ugs (aside: I think Ugs are just about the UGliest things on the planet.) a sweater, a scarf, and a faux-fur lined jacket walking around campus when the temperature is a balmy 55 F. Maybe I'm still thawing out, but I think these people are wimps.
So there are a lot of homeless guys who live around my apt... I was walking to the Crown last night when one of them approached me. He had a bottle of something in his hand.
Homeless dude: -jabbers incoherently-
Me: I'm sorry?
Homeless dude: Do you know... Do you know who the fuck I am?
Me: No......
Homeless dude: I'm a Jinjitsu master... I can take you to Area 51 and KICK YOUR ASS!!
Me: .....
At that point, I walked away. He followed for a few steps and then got distracted and went off in another direction...
It may be wishful thinking, but I think there are several (read: 2 maybe 3) girls who may be interested in me... Maybe not... Do not need another relationship anytime soon, but some fun would not be a bad thing either...
After spending a week in Switzerland where the temperature rarely got above 40 F, I find it rather amusing when I see sorority girls bundled up with their fuzzy Ugs (aside: I think Ugs are just about the UGliest things on the planet.) a sweater, a scarf, and a faux-fur lined jacket walking around campus when the temperature is a balmy 55 F. Maybe I'm still thawing out, but I think these people are wimps.
So there are a lot of homeless guys who live around my apt... I was walking to the Crown last night when one of them approached me. He had a bottle of something in his hand.
Homeless dude: -jabbers incoherently-
Me: I'm sorry?
Homeless dude: Do you know... Do you know who the fuck I am?
Me: No......
Homeless dude: I'm a Jinjitsu master... I can take you to Area 51 and KICK YOUR ASS!!
Me: .....
At that point, I walked away. He followed for a few steps and then got distracted and went off in another direction...
It may be wishful thinking, but I think there are several (read: 2 maybe 3) girls who may be interested in me... Maybe not... Do not need another relationship anytime soon, but some fun would not be a bad thing either...
Monday, January 16, 2006
I'm coming home!!!
Yes, this time tomorrow, I will be home!!!
Not Austin, but Garland!!!
I have never been so excited about a trip...
I went to Zurich for the last time today. It was cool, but I am definitley missing home.
I got a real swiss recipe for cheese fondue from my uncle today. I think I will try it sometime when I am back in Austin.
My main worry right now is about my health insurance. I'm not sure if the penny-pinchers at BCBS will spring for a $2600 care-flight off the mountain, or how much of my $1500 hospital bill they will cover. At best, they cover it all 75% after a $500 deductible. That's still a helluva lotta money for a grad student to pay off. I guess I will have to kiss my dreams of homeownership goodbye, at least for a year or so, but I'm not sure if it would be worth it then. Who knows, maybe I'll get a second job. I could always hire myself out as a tutor. I think I can get $20/hr from some of these rich Austin kids. Maybe I'll hit up a frat or a sorority.
My main beef with growing up in insurance. I hate it.
Not many memories have returned regarding my ill-fated day on the slopes. I do remember talking to two guys in the hostel the night before my accident. I think I went snowboarding with one of them, so I emailed the hostel and they gave me the two guys' email addresses. Maybe one of them will know what happened to me. Until that happens, I've gotta come up with a great story.
Not Austin, but Garland!!!
I have never been so excited about a trip...
I went to Zurich for the last time today. It was cool, but I am definitley missing home.
I got a real swiss recipe for cheese fondue from my uncle today. I think I will try it sometime when I am back in Austin.
My main worry right now is about my health insurance. I'm not sure if the penny-pinchers at BCBS will spring for a $2600 care-flight off the mountain, or how much of my $1500 hospital bill they will cover. At best, they cover it all 75% after a $500 deductible. That's still a helluva lotta money for a grad student to pay off. I guess I will have to kiss my dreams of homeownership goodbye, at least for a year or so, but I'm not sure if it would be worth it then. Who knows, maybe I'll get a second job. I could always hire myself out as a tutor. I think I can get $20/hr from some of these rich Austin kids. Maybe I'll hit up a frat or a sorority.
My main beef with growing up in insurance. I hate it.
Not many memories have returned regarding my ill-fated day on the slopes. I do remember talking to two guys in the hostel the night before my accident. I think I went snowboarding with one of them, so I emailed the hostel and they gave me the two guys' email addresses. Maybe one of them will know what happened to me. Until that happens, I've gotta come up with a great story.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Headaches
if I remember correctly, getting a concussion hurts...
I went to Zermatt. I rented a snowboard. I woke up the hospital. Apparently, I even got careflighted.
More to come as I remember it.
Back in Austin next wednesday
I went to Zermatt. I rented a snowboard. I woke up the hospital. Apparently, I even got careflighted.
More to come as I remember it.
Back in Austin next wednesday
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Ich bin von Trub
Fri 06 Jan 2006 08:42:12 PM CET
Mom and I left Basel for Trub today. We drove through several small little towns until we got here. It is TINY! We're staying at the Gasthof zum Lüwen which is a tavern/hotel. Our room is right above the party room, and it's friday night, so I'm not sure how much sleep we'll get tonight.
My mother's family, the Wüthrich's, came from Trub. My great-great-grandfather moved to East Prussia (what is now Poland) and then the family returned back to Switzerland once the Russians invaded during WWII. Apparently a lot of people come from here. According to my mom, over 250,000 people can trace their heritage back to this tiny little village.
Walking around the town at night, we found a list of famous families from Trub and their associated coats of arms. I found the Wüthrich coat of arms, as well as Tanner (the last name of one of my uncles back in the states). A coat of arms of note for all you aggies is Baumgartner. Isn't that one of the yell leaders' names? Or wait... was that T-Baum?
We walked up and down the main road in Trub to get a feel for the town. It's a very small community waaaay up in the foothills. There's still about a foot of snow on the ground, and the clouds cleared off before the sun set. It's so clear up here. Still a bit light polluted, but you can see more stars than I have in quite a while. The moon was waxing about 1/2 way full, but the light reflecting off the snow made it so bright you could see for miles, even though there wasn't a streetlight around.
We walked up to a cheese factory where all the farmers were bringing their milk. Seriously, we were passed by at least 15 cars pulling little trailers with milk cannisters. They backed up to the dairy and a guy with a big tube opened the cannisters and sucked all the milk out. I'm assuming they get paid by the liter or something.
We had dinner in another little hotel down the street from ours. Mom and I had Rostig, which is fantastic. I am so totally making it back in the states. Basically swiss hash browns, but much better than anything you can get at IHOP.
We're going to see Tante Kätie tomorrow morning. Or, rather she's coming to see us. She lives up on top of one of the mountains. We came to see her and her husband Ernst last time we all were here in '98. Ernst and Kätie Wüthrich lived in the Wüthrich family home on this hill up until a few years ago when they sold it. In the Swiss tradition, ownership of the family farm is passed down to the youngest son, when the parents grow old. The parents move to the Stückli, the "Mother-in-law" little house near the farm for the rest of their days.
Ernst and Kätie only had one son, and he could not find a woman who wanted to live with him up on the mountain. Apparently, he got so disparaged that he committed suicide, leaving them with the care of the farm. They kept the farm for as long as they were able, and then moved to the Stückli, and sold the farm. Ernst passed away in the past few years, leaving her. It's kinda sad, really.
Anyway, the roads are a bit uncertain, and we don't have a 4wd vehicle (I think we're lucky to have 4 cylinders) so she is coming down the mountain in her 4wd car/truck/whatever. She's 80 some odd years old, and still quite vivacious. Last time we were here in 98, she was in her 70's, and we went hiking with her. She left us panting in the dust. She said that she was expecting a shipment of heating wood in tomorrow so she was going to be stacking wood all tomorrow, but she will reschedule to come see us. Amazing woman. We're kinda torn between making her come down the mountain in her 4wd to come get us and not seeing her at all. I think it would be in poorer taste to not see her now that she knows we're here, just 10 km away. She seems pretty excited to have visitors.
Sat 07 Jan 2006 12:54:50 AM CET
After dinner, I went out walking a bit further north in town. Once the moon went down, the skies were absolutely gorgeous. I even saw a shooting star, and what I am assuming was the Northern Lights, but I could be wrong.
In the other part of the hotel, there was a band playing tonight. I stopped in and saw them for 12 CHF and had a beer for 5 CHF. The were called the Tornadoes, and on the wall was a promotional poster. It said: Tornadoes: Die Partie Band! They were actually pretty good, for a swiss cover band. Among the songs I heard:
Living on Tulsa Time (Pronounced Tool-saw)
West Virginia
Rock around the Clock
Blueberry Hill
There was a dance floor and there were some couples dancing. Polka and jitterbug, mainly. They were pretty good. If you could mute all the sounds, you would have sworn you were in Texas. You had your preppy beautiful-people table, your bitter 35-ish poker night widows, your crowd of young punks, and even a few lesbians. I guess the world is a pretty small place.
Mom and I left Basel for Trub today. We drove through several small little towns until we got here. It is TINY! We're staying at the Gasthof zum Lüwen which is a tavern/hotel. Our room is right above the party room, and it's friday night, so I'm not sure how much sleep we'll get tonight.
My mother's family, the Wüthrich's, came from Trub. My great-great-grandfather moved to East Prussia (what is now Poland) and then the family returned back to Switzerland once the Russians invaded during WWII. Apparently a lot of people come from here. According to my mom, over 250,000 people can trace their heritage back to this tiny little village.
Walking around the town at night, we found a list of famous families from Trub and their associated coats of arms. I found the Wüthrich coat of arms, as well as Tanner (the last name of one of my uncles back in the states). A coat of arms of note for all you aggies is Baumgartner. Isn't that one of the yell leaders' names? Or wait... was that T-Baum?
We walked up and down the main road in Trub to get a feel for the town. It's a very small community waaaay up in the foothills. There's still about a foot of snow on the ground, and the clouds cleared off before the sun set. It's so clear up here. Still a bit light polluted, but you can see more stars than I have in quite a while. The moon was waxing about 1/2 way full, but the light reflecting off the snow made it so bright you could see for miles, even though there wasn't a streetlight around.
We walked up to a cheese factory where all the farmers were bringing their milk. Seriously, we were passed by at least 15 cars pulling little trailers with milk cannisters. They backed up to the dairy and a guy with a big tube opened the cannisters and sucked all the milk out. I'm assuming they get paid by the liter or something.
We had dinner in another little hotel down the street from ours. Mom and I had Rostig, which is fantastic. I am so totally making it back in the states. Basically swiss hash browns, but much better than anything you can get at IHOP.
We're going to see Tante Kätie tomorrow morning. Or, rather she's coming to see us. She lives up on top of one of the mountains. We came to see her and her husband Ernst last time we all were here in '98. Ernst and Kätie Wüthrich lived in the Wüthrich family home on this hill up until a few years ago when they sold it. In the Swiss tradition, ownership of the family farm is passed down to the youngest son, when the parents grow old. The parents move to the Stückli, the "Mother-in-law" little house near the farm for the rest of their days.
Ernst and Kätie only had one son, and he could not find a woman who wanted to live with him up on the mountain. Apparently, he got so disparaged that he committed suicide, leaving them with the care of the farm. They kept the farm for as long as they were able, and then moved to the Stückli, and sold the farm. Ernst passed away in the past few years, leaving her. It's kinda sad, really.
Anyway, the roads are a bit uncertain, and we don't have a 4wd vehicle (I think we're lucky to have 4 cylinders) so she is coming down the mountain in her 4wd car/truck/whatever. She's 80 some odd years old, and still quite vivacious. Last time we were here in 98, she was in her 70's, and we went hiking with her. She left us panting in the dust. She said that she was expecting a shipment of heating wood in tomorrow so she was going to be stacking wood all tomorrow, but she will reschedule to come see us. Amazing woman. We're kinda torn between making her come down the mountain in her 4wd to come get us and not seeing her at all. I think it would be in poorer taste to not see her now that she knows we're here, just 10 km away. She seems pretty excited to have visitors.
Sat 07 Jan 2006 12:54:50 AM CET
After dinner, I went out walking a bit further north in town. Once the moon went down, the skies were absolutely gorgeous. I even saw a shooting star, and what I am assuming was the Northern Lights, but I could be wrong.
In the other part of the hotel, there was a band playing tonight. I stopped in and saw them for 12 CHF and had a beer for 5 CHF. The were called the Tornadoes, and on the wall was a promotional poster. It said: Tornadoes: Die Partie Band! They were actually pretty good, for a swiss cover band. Among the songs I heard:
Living on Tulsa Time (Pronounced Tool-saw)
West Virginia
Rock around the Clock
Blueberry Hill
There was a dance floor and there were some couples dancing. Polka and jitterbug, mainly. They were pretty good. If you could mute all the sounds, you would have sworn you were in Texas. You had your preppy beautiful-people table, your bitter 35-ish poker night widows, your crowd of young punks, and even a few lesbians. I guess the world is a pretty small place.
Monday, January 02, 2006
SauerKraut
to borrow a phrase from Weird Al's song "Albequerque,"
I HATE SAUERKRAUT!!!
It is a German tradition to eat sauerkraut for new years, sort of the same tradition as Black Eyed Peas, so I partook. They didn't tell me that the American diet doesn't prepare your intestines at ALL for the mayhem which ensues. The Sauerkraut was very good, but I guess it was too good, because I had too much... Seriously, 2006 got off to a very painful start. From 9 in the morning until 9 at night, I was in various states of agony.
After a night of pretty bad sleep, I felt much better. Rather weak, because I hadn't been able to eat anything the previous day.
I'm getting better at the whole driving of a standard transmission. I drove from Ottersheim to 3/4 the way to Basel with basically no problems. On the Autobahn, I drove 160 kmph for a little bit. That's right, my American friends, 100 mph!
European drivers seem to have no respect for the speed limit. I mean, even more so than American drivers. We usually go 5-10 mph over. Europeans go easily 20-30 kmph over the speed limit. I think it's probably because you never see Police cars. I've only seen one Polizei car during my entire trip here. They probably don't enforce speed limits very much here.
We just got back from a whirlwind trip of Germany. We spent a night in Colmar in Alsace in France. A.k.a. Little Venice b/c there is a river going through town. Very pretty. Apparently, there was quite a heavy german resistance during WWII. The american General wanted to call in an airstrike and level the town. The french general convinced him not to because of the historical importance. Saving the town through house-to-house fighting cost over 2000 american lives... Beauty and freedom has a price, I guess.
Colmar is the birthplace of Frederic Bartholdi, the architect who designed the statue of liberty. When we were leaving the town to go to Straussburg, there was a miniature (well, still rather large) model of the statue of liberty. I took pictures.
We went to Straussburg the next day. Very old, very huge cathedral. It was started in the 1190's... not finished until the 1700's...
Went to Ottershiem for a few days to spend time with my aunt and uncle there. Also saw my cousin's kids again. I taught Ricky how to play Spit.
Spent New Years with Tillmann and company. Had fun playing with their dog Jula. She's a giant dog, but an attention sponge.
After eating new years' eve dinner (including sauerkraut) and watching Dinner for One with the Schwabes, Tillmann and I went to Christoph's for a New Years Eve party, where I ate more sauerkraut. God, even thinking about sauerkraut makes my stomach churn right now.
When the clock struck midnight, we all went outside to watch the fireworks. I swear, New Years in Germany must be the most dangerous place in the world. It's like a war zone here. EVERYONE buys fireworks! And not just a few, but armloads! The streets are littered with burnt out bottle rockets the next day.
I HATE SAUERKRAUT!!!
It is a German tradition to eat sauerkraut for new years, sort of the same tradition as Black Eyed Peas, so I partook. They didn't tell me that the American diet doesn't prepare your intestines at ALL for the mayhem which ensues. The Sauerkraut was very good, but I guess it was too good, because I had too much... Seriously, 2006 got off to a very painful start. From 9 in the morning until 9 at night, I was in various states of agony.
After a night of pretty bad sleep, I felt much better. Rather weak, because I hadn't been able to eat anything the previous day.
I'm getting better at the whole driving of a standard transmission. I drove from Ottersheim to 3/4 the way to Basel with basically no problems. On the Autobahn, I drove 160 kmph for a little bit. That's right, my American friends, 100 mph!
European drivers seem to have no respect for the speed limit. I mean, even more so than American drivers. We usually go 5-10 mph over. Europeans go easily 20-30 kmph over the speed limit. I think it's probably because you never see Police cars. I've only seen one Polizei car during my entire trip here. They probably don't enforce speed limits very much here.
We just got back from a whirlwind trip of Germany. We spent a night in Colmar in Alsace in France. A.k.a. Little Venice b/c there is a river going through town. Very pretty. Apparently, there was quite a heavy german resistance during WWII. The american General wanted to call in an airstrike and level the town. The french general convinced him not to because of the historical importance. Saving the town through house-to-house fighting cost over 2000 american lives... Beauty and freedom has a price, I guess.
Colmar is the birthplace of Frederic Bartholdi, the architect who designed the statue of liberty. When we were leaving the town to go to Straussburg, there was a miniature (well, still rather large) model of the statue of liberty. I took pictures.
We went to Straussburg the next day. Very old, very huge cathedral. It was started in the 1190's... not finished until the 1700's...
Went to Ottershiem for a few days to spend time with my aunt and uncle there. Also saw my cousin's kids again. I taught Ricky how to play Spit.
Spent New Years with Tillmann and company. Had fun playing with their dog Jula. She's a giant dog, but an attention sponge.
After eating new years' eve dinner (including sauerkraut) and watching Dinner for One with the Schwabes, Tillmann and I went to Christoph's for a New Years Eve party, where I ate more sauerkraut. God, even thinking about sauerkraut makes my stomach churn right now.
When the clock struck midnight, we all went outside to watch the fireworks. I swear, New Years in Germany must be the most dangerous place in the world. It's like a war zone here. EVERYONE buys fireworks! And not just a few, but armloads! The streets are littered with burnt out bottle rockets the next day.
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