Friends - Making & Keeping, Old & New

Friends - Making & Keeping, Old & New

 Photo Credit: Gwennypics Today is the birthday of my oldest and dearest friend, a friend I've had since I was in first grade and one I only see once every year or two (or three) these days.  With a couple exceptions, it seems that my dearest friends are all at a great geographical distance from me.  This isn't surprising, nor is it even that unusual.  I came across a great blog this weekend, MWF Seeking BFF, the online chronicle of a girl in Chicago seeking BFFs because, like...

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TV Online

TV Online

I just had a sudden thought (and I'm hoping I'm right)....I'll be able to watch The Gilmore Girls via Hulu or the WB or wherever it is I watch it online now when I live in Europe, as long as I have an Internet connection, right!?!?!? You can say what you want about this crazy technological world, but if it brings me to Stars Hollow to visit with Lorelai and Rory on a regular basis, I'm a happy gi...

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Clark, Freud, Edwards and Me

Clark, Freud, Edwards and Me

My alma mater, Clark University, a small, liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, was the site of Sigmund Freud's introduction - and that of psychoanalysis -to America in 1909 .  Freud, the Viennese neurologist who was known at the time in Europe but not so much in the United States, delivered a series of five lectures on his theory of psychoanalysis at the school.  They are known today as the "Clark Lectures."  It was Freud's first and only trip to America and apparently...

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Here's to Mistakes

Here's to Mistakes

I'm foregoing the Friday Five for a bit.  Turns out that I don't actually DO five things each week toward the big move....yet.  Or, I should say that I don't do five NEW things each week toward the move and I can only say "one more German lesson down" or "cleaned another closet" so many times.  Boring! I was all gung-ho about it for awhile and thought it would be a great feature for An American Girl, but it was becoming more a source of anxiety than a motivator for me.  Rather...

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A Glass of Wine and Berry Pie

A Glass of Wine and Berry Pie

I just delivered a presentation to students in the Library Technology program at Diablo Valley College on public libraries and public relations and how public relations can affect public library funding. Exciting stuff! And perhaps not the most exciting topic for a blog, but don't worry, I'm not going to bore you with those particular details.  All I'm going to say is ...... aaaaaah. Aaaaah....I feel such a HUGE sense of relief!  This presentation was the last of a bunch of big(ish)...

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The Friday Five (Freitag funf)

The Friday Five (Freitag funf)

This week's Five....  1) Vienna Visit in May ~ plane tickets purchased and apartment rental secured.  We used the service VRBO to find the rental and so far it has been an easy and pleasant experience (thanks, MJ, for the recommendation).  The apartment is on on Max Winter Platz in District 2. 2) Sorted through books ~ Prior to our move  six months ago, I weeded my book collection (librarian-speak for getting rid of unwanted books) so it was rather difficult to take another...

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The Family that Blogs Together....

The Family that Blogs Together....

My husband has his own blog, Dangerously Hardcore, which talks primarily about health and fitness (yes, we are the Modern Blogging Family).  He posted a story the other day entitled Sacrifice that really struck a chord.   Admittedly, I watch more TV, partied a little harder in my youth, am slightly addicted to Facebook, and cannot make the same connections between quantum mechanics and consciousness, molecular biology and muscle growth as he does, but his post gives a little insight...

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To do: confirm dates & buy plane tickets

To do: confirm dates & buy plane tickets

DONE. It's official. 2 weeks in Europe for our honeymoon.  Vienna here we come (and England, too)!  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! Neither Kiefer nor I have flown internationally.  The first thing he asks me once we've got the flights confirmed....."what the heck are we going to do on a plane for 10 hours?" ...

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Friday, yes. Five, no.

Friday, yes. Five, no.

I only worked 2 1/2 days this week and spent the rest of the time at home on the couch.  I didn't get a whole lot done from my living room perch, but I wasn't feeling so hot so my lack of productivity hasn't bothered me.  It does mean, however, that I don't have much to report today and definitely not a whole Five Things. I did try a bit of German one day, but Rosetta Stone didn't take to my funny, froggy cold-voice, so I deserted that exercise.  On the plus side, I've had a lot of...

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Honeymoon in Vienna

Honeymoon in Vienna

I've been home all day today, feeling sickly.  It's been all around me - at work, at home - and I think I'm finally succumbing, although I am hoping that by laying very low today and most of tomorrow, I'll feel better.  My brother will be in town from L.A. tomorrow night and I don't want to feel bad for the evening he's here! I'm not so good with just lying around so while I did sleep a little, mostly I read and finished the book I've been working through and spent time searching online...

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The Friday Five (Freitag funf)

The Friday Five (Freitag funf)

Yes, you are in the right place!  Yes, I changed it again.  Yes,  I do realize that I cannot, should not be changing the format so often.  I don't want to run you off with impatient thoughts of me as a wacky, flaky girl.  But I just wasn't happy with the look and feel of An American Girl; it didn't feel like me and this is, well, supposed to be all about me and what I'm going through this year.  It's important to me that my blog reflect who I am.  So I changed...

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A Different Approach to Spring Cleaning

A Different Approach to Spring Cleaning

I find that I am looking at everything in my house in a new light, through a new filter.  It's almost as if I'm giving everything a sideways glance.  You, yeah you, Jamie Oliver cookbook over there in the cookbook pile.  Do you have what it takes to make the cut for Vienna?  I mean, I love you and all and it is true that you've been with me for years.  You have fed me well at times, but I really don't use you very much these days. Yes, you're autographed, which reminds me...

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