An American Girl

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) projects I had on my work to-do list this month and at this very moment I feel as though a very large weight has been lifted from my shoulders. At this very moment, as I sit in my living room with a glass a wine and my laptop, a chic flick on in the background because my husband is out and can't make fun of me, dinner in the oven and berry pie waiting for dessert, I feel perfectly relaxed and happy. Aaaah.
Cheers!

Photo Credit: Michele Ferretti

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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 pass. I keep books. I re-read books. I have some books that have sentimental value. Some that I just plain love and with which I can and will never part. All this said, I was able to reduce my collection a bit. I am also consoled by the thought that a friend of ours is willing and able to store boxes of books for us for an indefinite period, so I don't have to weed aggressively. I have also been advised to keep a good collection; that I may long for the comfort of favorite books in English once I'm living in another country, surrounded by another language.

3) The Closet. I also took a first pass at my weeding my wardrobe. This is a very challenging task for me, although I will brag that I have been very good at keeping my clothing collection current for the past few years. Current does not equal small, unfortunately. Thing is...I have a lot of clothes, but I really do wear them. I swear. This is a big one for me. There will be oh so much more on this topic to come, I can assure you.

4) After a 2-3 week hiatus, I just completed another German lesson on the Rosetta Stone. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment, mostly with possessive pronouns and still a little lost on learning/knowing the gender of nouns (it's important to know that to get the correct form of the pronoun). Learning the language will require much more time and attention that I've been giving it as of late. Must work on this.

5) I'm trying to do what I can to get An American Girl out there and to establish a broad, interesting and interested audience, share with others and have a forum for writing and learning. This week, I spent time in the blogosphere, looking for other blogs, commenting, linking, making connections. I've also been thinking about my content and approach and how to not only write the blips and blurts of what I'm doing, but widening my scope, making it more relevant for others. Give people a reason to want to read beyond just wanting to check up on my progress. As I figure it out, I thank everyone who is already here for reading and hope that if you like An American Girl, that you'll share it with others and spread the word.

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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 into our small family, our priorities, what is considered "normal" around our household. And this may give further insight into how it is that we feel okay taking on something so new, making such a huge move.

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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.

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 time to read and have gotten lost in a book in a way I haven't in quite some time (The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova) and that is a pure joy. Also....

**We continue our honeymoon planning. Lo and behold, Kiefer has friends who live in Sussex, England. In a 600 year-old castle. And we're invited! So, the trip is shaping up to be a week in England and a week in Vienna. No complaints here!

** In the midst of all the didn't do's this week, there was one big DID. I submit my first article contribution to DivineCaroline! If you're interested, here's a direct link to the story....have a read.

I am feeling better today, but I think I'll head back to the couch for a bit. Just one more evening. I've got the movie Before Sunrise to watch. I'm hoping I can get over my cellular-level dislike of Ethan Hawke enough to enjoy the movie. It's set in Vienna and that's what I want to see!

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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 for flights to Vienna.

We're going to Vienna!! Not the move, but the pre-move visit to check it out. Our Honeymoon. In May. It's quite soon and we've got to move quickly with our planning, but tickets skyrocket in June, so we decided to go for it. I just got approval from work for a couple weeks off in early May and the planning has begun. We haven't purchased anything yet, but did some good research today so I'm feeling very excited, despite being tired and achey.

We're also thinking about hotels vs. vacation rentals vs. other lodging possibilities. Any recommendations? Has anyone heard of/used CouchSurfing?

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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 it again. One last time. This is it...promise.

And, since it's Friday again (already?), it's time for....

The Friday Five/Freitag funf

1.) Added a feed for the Austrian Times to my iGoogle page to read the news every day . One of the front page articles this week makes me nervous, BZO Calls for Tougher Immigration Laws. More on that later.

2.) Spent Sunday afternoon walking around San Francisco with Kiefer. Bright and sunny, but windy...typical San Francisco. We ventured through a new (to us) neighborhood...Polk Street. We walked nearly the entire length, from City Hall up to Russian Hill, not quite all the way down to the Wharf. Lots of different people enjoying their coffee, their pedicures, their beer and the USA v. Canada Olympic Hockey Game at the local bars. Saw my friend's friend's flower shop, Cherries, but it was closed, so I enjoyed via a peek through the window.

3.) Started a Story Ideas notebook for possible writing topics - keep it with me at all times to log random thoughts, ideas, connections that pop into my head. I've always thought my biggest block to writing was ideas. Now I've got ideas on the page but I have to actually begin the writing.

4.) Left a message for my old landlord in Oakland to see if he has any vacant studio apartments he'd be willing to let us occupy for a few months. No word yet. I'm hoping that's not a bad sign.

5.) Started taking photos of furniture to sell on Craigslist. I wasn't kidding last week.....if anyone in the Bay Area wants to buy a crescent-moon shaped, light-blue leather couch....look no further!

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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 of meeting your author. But there wasn't anything terribly memorable about the meeting, other than how long it took to get through the line at the book signing. So, what's it going to be?

And so it goes, back and forth. The big purge hasn't actually begun yet, but I find that I am spending a good deal of time making arguments for and against things in my mind already. I fear being too harsh, getting rid of too much. My natural bent is not toward sentimentality, but I don't want to tip the scale too far in the other direction and end up in Vienna with nothing of my past.

Then again, I also have a great fear of shipping charges, so I'll have to find a balance somehow.

An American Girl

A Glass of Wine and Berry Pie

The Friday Five (Freitag funf)

The Family that Blogs Together....

To do: confirm dates & buy plane tickets

Friday, yes. Five, no.

Honeymoon in Vienna

The Friday Five (Freitag funf)

A Different Approach to Spring Cleaning

Blogs I Like

Places I've Been