Blog-HimBär

Weihnachten... Bah, Humbug?

2011-12-18T15:54:00.001+01:00

We need a little Christmas

Es ist wohl modern, sich als Grinch zu outen und Weihnachten nicht zu mögen. Ich treffe mehr und mehr Leute, die der Ansicht sind "Weihnachten ist nicht mehr, was es einmal war" oder "das ist alles so gezwungen, da will ich nicht mitmachen". Mir hängen diese Phrasen schon so sehr zum Hals raus, um es mal salopp auszudrücken.

Weihnachten ist, was jeder draus macht. Niemand 'muss' seine Wohnung dekorieren, sein Haus schmücken, eine Woche vor dem Fest in den überfüllten Einkaufsstraßen nach Gutscheinen suchen oder ein verklärtes Lächeln aufsetzen, wenn man den beleuchteten Baum betrachtet und Dinge von sich geben, wie "es ist ja so besinnlich".

Weihnachten muss nicht leise und besinnlich sein. In den USA oder in Großbritannien gibt es Weihnachtsparties und die können durchaus sehr lautstark werden. Weihnachten ist so, wie man sich das vorstellt. Jeder ist selbst verantwortlich dafür, wie er/sie sein Weihnachten gestaltet. Und wenn man es gerne etwas lauter haben möchte, dann sorgt man eben für die entsprechende Beschallung. Möchte man es leiser, zündet man ein Kerzchen an und liest im Schein desselben ein gutes Buch.
Weihnachten kann sein, wenn man sich mit Freunden verabredet, um was zu trinken und später tanzen zu gehen. Weihnachten kann sein, mit einer sympathischen Gruppe einen Ausflug zu machen; abends durch die Straßen der Stadt zu wandern und sich an der Beleuchtung zu erfreuen. Wenn man mit lieben Freunden Kekse bäckt und daraus 'flauschige Lebkuchenpolster' werden. Weihnachten kann auch sein, wenn man mit den Hunden im Wald spazieren geht und die absolute Stille genießt. Wenn man eine Reise bucht, die man sich schon lange wünscht - egal ob zusammen oder alleine, wichtig ist, dass man es genießt und sich daran erfreut. Ebenso, wenn man am Weihnachtsabend Gleichgesinnte um sich sammelt, um gemeinsam zu feiern. Egal was, egal wie. Auch das ist Weihnachten.
Weihnachten ist ebenso, eine Sammelaktion für obdachlose Mitmenschen und herren/frauenlose Tiere ins Leben zu rufen. Weihnachten ist genauso, wenn man in Not geratenen Menschen oder Tieren hilft, jahraus, jahrein.

Und bitte hört auf, Weihnachten ausschließlich in Kinderaugen leuchten zu sehen. Können nicht die eigenen Augen genauso funkeln?! Kann man sich nicht selbst erfreuen, an Kerzen, Düften, einem schön geschmückten oder auch leeren Baum? Ist es unmöglich, Kekse für sich selbst oder die Arbeitskollegen zu backen, das Kleid oder den Anzug, der einem immer zu teuer war, sich selbst zu schenken?

Es ist auch unwichtig, ob der Weihnachtsmann Geschenke bringt, das Christkind, La Befana oder Lucia. Wichtig ist, dass wir uns daran erfreuen, jemandem etwas zu geben und sich der Beschenkte daran erfreut. Was, im Übrigen, auch nicht - zumindest in unseren Breitengraden - am 24.12. sein muss. Ich z.B. werde das einzige Geschenk, das ich dieses Jahr vergebe, sicher nicht bis zum 24. fertig bringen. Aber das ist mir gleich. Ich hoffe, der/die Beschenkte freut sich auch im Jänner noch darüber, genauso wie es mir Spaß macht, es zu basteln.
Und weil ich es eben gelesen habe: Eine hochschwangere Freundin bietet einer anderen an, ein Geschenk zu besorgen, da die Mutter kleiner Kinder selbst nicht dazu kommt. Weihnachtlicher geht es kaum. Es liegt in den kleinen Dingen.
Weihnachten ist eine Einstellung und die ist nicht an ein Datum, an ein Umfeld oder eine Tradition gebunden. Und btw., Weihnachten endet auch "offiziell" nicht am Stefanitag...

Also schüttelt die selbstauferlegten Zwänge ab und genießt einfach das bunte, leuchtende Treiben um euch herum. Lächelt eure Mitmenschen an, wünscht ihnen schöne Feiertage, auch wenn sie euch anrempeln auf der Rolltreppe. Gebt dem Bettler auf der Straße zwei Euro und streichelt seinen Hund. Kauft einen Augustin und dem Kolporteur einen Tee. Knabbert an heißen Maroni und bewundert die gelungenen Beleuchtungen auf Häusern und Straßen. Fresst eure Arbeitskollegen nicht gleich auf, wenn sie dieselbe, dumme Frage zum dritten Mal stellen. Geht nach Hause, lest das Buch, das schon seit einem Jahr im Regal steht, macht euch Punsch und seht euch einen Film an.

Es ist gleich, was ihr tut, wie ihr es tut, ob ihr es alleine tut oder mit anderen. Genießt es. Und lasst euch von Weihnachten durchfluten - immer. So wie Ebenezer Scrooge am Ende der ultimativen Weihnachtsgeschichte "A Christmas Carol" von Charles Dickens:

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.

Ich versuche es auch. Immer wieder. Mal gelingt es, mal nicht. Wichtig ist, dass man es probiert. In diesem Sinne: Fröhliche Weihnachten!

Run

2011-10-31T12:36:00.000+01:00

http://youtu.be/i8as5Ic_3QI

I did run, but my feet no longer run no more
I did kiss, but my lips no longer feel no more
I did love, but my heart it aches
I did love, but my heart it broke
I will love still, but what is there to live for?

Halloween

2011-10-31T11:26:00.000+01:00

It's been nearly a year, since I last blogged... Actually I do have a lot to say but am not sure if I should... anyway, it's Halloween again. The night to leave everything behind and start-a-new. And again, I will try to do so.
Light a candle for your the loved ones that passed away. Throw a silver coin into your house on Nov 1st. And don't let the cats out.

Happy Halloween, Bloggers!

Getting rid of the "wibbly wobbly HimBear-body" part I

2011-08-12T22:54:00.002+02:00

Yeah, well. Being a bit of an older HimBaer and not having done any kind of sports for the past 20 years and being totally fed up with a wibbly wobbly HimBaer-body (hahaa, that rhymes!), the HimBaer decided to do something about it.
Problem 1: HimBaers hate to move fast
Problem 2: HimBaers hate to sweat
Two problems only, you might say? True, but these are the things sport is made of, right? Moving and sweating.
So what is the HimBaer supposed to do? Find a sport without moving fast and sweating as a consequence... not very easy, no. But the HimBaer finally did find something: Pilates !!
And isn't this just the perfect sport for a HimBaer... oh yes, it is. One is lying on the floor or sitting most of the time, moving slowly, no sweating, it is hard to do as you have to concentrate on breathing and keep your muscles straight. But: it.is.so.relaxing. at the same time!!
The HimBaer loves it !

Eurovision Songcontest 2011

2011-05-15T14:30:00.001+02:00

Here are the results of HimBär's vote:

1 point go to Moldova - Zdob și Zdub "So lucky"
just because of the fun-factor :-)
2 points go to Bosnia & Herzegovina - Dino Merlin "Love in Rewind"
10 points to the song, I should have given him more, but I voted for him three times :-) I like elderly men with smiling eyes
3 points go to France - Amaury Vassili "Sognu"
although it was stolen from Vangelis and Bolero, just because he reminded me of Josh ;-) Unfortunately his voice was not strong enough
4 points go to Ukraine - Mika Newton"Angel"
just because of the choreography, everything else was boring (actually I have no idea why I gave her 4 points)
5 points go to Spain - Lucia Pérez "Que me quiten lo Bailao"
Why? I have no idea. Choreography I guess... and it's a summer-song kind of thing
6 points go to Switzerland - Anna Rossinelli "In love for a while"
The song is nice and she did well.
7 points go to Italy - Raphael Gualazzi "Madness of Love"
It all lies within the name ;-) Very good song indeed. 12 points for the song.
8 points go to Denmark - A Friend in London "New Tomorrow"
Ok, parts of it were stolen, but the singer was so cute. 12 points for sex-appeal ... and the song is nice, 8 points
10 points go to the United Kingdom - Blue "I can"
Sorry, everyone else got "outvoted" because of Simon Webbe (world's sexiest coloured man alive). 12 points just for his sexappeal and 12 points for choreography only because I like to watch him moving...
And finally, 12 points go to Iceland - Sjonni's Friends "Coming home"
I guess I just got very generous with giving out points later in the evening. 12 points for the song, which I liked and 12 points for the outfit ... hmm...

Actually my top 3 are:

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Italy

Iceland

and the top loser:

Ireland (wtf?)

Just for the sake of it: Austria's Nadine Beiler "The secret is Love"

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T14:20:00.003+01:00

Happy New Year 2011

We kiss those dearest to us at midnight not only to share a moment of celebration with our favorite people, but also to ensure those affections and ties will continue throughout the next twelve months. To fail to smooch our significant others at the stroke of twelve would be to set the stage for a year of coldness.
The new year must not be seen in with bare cupboards, lest that be the way of things for the year. Larders must be topped up and plenty of money must be placed in every wallet in the home to guarantee prosperity.
The new year should not be begun with the household in debt, so checks should be written and mailed off prior to January 1st. Likewise, personal debts should be settled before the New Year arrives.
The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight will influence the year you're about to have. Ideally, he should be dark-haired, tall, and good-looking, and it would be even better if he came bearing certain small gifts such as a lump of coal, a silver coin, a bit of bread, a sprig of evergreen, and some salt. Blonde and redhead first footers bring bad luck, and female first footers should be shooed away before they bring disaster down on the household. Aim a gun at them if you have to, but don't let them near your door before a man crosses the threshold. The first footer (sometimes called the "Lucky Bird") should knock and be let in rather than unceremoniously use a key, even if he is one of the householders. After greeting those in the house and dropping off whatever small tokens of luck he has brought with him, he should make his way through the house and leave by a different door than the one through which he entered. No one should leave the premises before the first footer arrives — the first traffic across the threshold must be headed in rather than striking out. First footers must not be cross-eyed or have flat feet or eyebrows that meet in the middle. Nothing prevents the cagey householder from stationing a dark-haired man outside the home just before midnight to ensure the speedy arrival of a suitable first footer as soon as the chimes sound. If one of the partygoers is recruited for this purpose, impress upon him the need to slip out quietly just prior to the witching hour.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, not even garbage, is to leave the house on the first day of the year. If you've presents to deliver on New Year's Day, leave them in the car overnight. Don't so much as shake out a rug or take the empties to the recycle bin. Some people soften this rule by saying it's okay to remove things from the home on New Year's Day provided something else has been brought in first. This is similar to the caution regarding first footers; the year must begin with something's being added to the home before anything subtracts from it. One who lives alone might place a lucky item or two in a basket that has a string tied to it, then set the basket just outside the front door before midnight. After midnight, the lone celebrant hauls in his catch, being careful to bring the item across the door jamb by pulling the string rather than by reaching out to retrieve it and thus breaking the plane of the threshold.
Make sure to do — and be successful at — something related to your work on the first day of the year, even if you don't go near your place of employment that day. Limit your activity to a token amount, though, because to engage in a serious work project on that day is very unlucky.
Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of your receiving more new garments during the year to follow.
Do not pay back loans or lend money or other precious items on New Year's Day. To do so is to guarantee you'll be paying out all year.
Avoid breaking things on that first day lest wreckage be part of your year. Also, avoid crying on the first day of the year lest that activity set the tone for the next twelve months.
At midnight, all the doors of a house must be opened to let the old year escape unimpeded. He must leave before the New Year can come in, says popular wisdom, so doors are flung open to assist him in finding his way out.
Make as much noise as possible at midnight. You're not just celebrating; you're scaring away evil spirits, so do a darned good job of it! According to widespread superstition, evil spirits and the Devil himself hate loud noise. We celebrate by making as much of a din as possible not just as an expression of joy at having a new year at our disposal, but also to make sure Old Scratch and his minions don't stick around.
Examine the weather in the early hours of New Year's Day. If the wind blows from the south, there will be fine weather and prosperous times in the year ahead. If it comes from the north, it will be a year of bad weather. The wind blowing from the east brings famine and calamities. Strangest of all, if the wind blows from the west, the year will witness plentiful supplies of milk and fish but will also see the death of a very important person. If there's no wind at all, a joyful and prosperous year may be expected by all.
Holding a piece of silver or gold as the New Year begins is said to increase the chances of prosperity in the coming year...some place a silver coin over the doorway or a penny on the windowsill or have money in your pocket.
The youngest boy in the household lighting a candle at dusk to burn through the night until morning light is another Celtic tradition — that may be a citified version of lighting bonfires or a carryover of the Samhain tradition of lighting tapers in the windows to chase the evil spirits.
Women should wear red underwear to make sure to have a very lucky year in love affairs
Do not leave your laundry hanging during the night. Brings the dirt and bad things from the year before right into the new one.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T10:01:00.000+01:00

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Let the words above guide you and your loved ones

Raphaela

Wishlist

2010-12-11T11:48:00.000+01:00

The HimBär wishes for a few things... Christmas, Birthday, just because...

Perchten

2010-11-27T15:55:00.003+01:00

Perchtenlauf in Hollabrunn tonight at 19:00 !

Read about the tradition of Perchten

Happy Samhain, Happy Halloween, Happy All Hallow's Eve!

2010-10-31T14:26:00.004+01:00

If you catch a falling leaf on Samhain before it touches the ground it will bring you good luck and health for the coming winter.
On the morning of November 1st a silver coin was thrown through the front door of the house. The coin had to remain where it had fallen in order to bring financial luck.
An old belief is that by peeling an apple on Hallowe'en and keeping the peel in one piece, then throwing it over your shoulder you will discover the initials of a future lover.
By candlelight go alone to a mirror and eat an apple before it, whilst combing your hair. Your future love will be seen in the glass over your shoulder. If you will die without being married, a skull will appear in the mirror.
To ward off evil on Halloween you should walk around your home three times clockwise and three times counterclockwise.
To see a spider on Halloween means it is a relative returning from the dead to check on you.
If a bat flies around your house on Halloween it is a death omen.
Single girls should scatter hempseed in a field on Halloween night and they will dream of their future husband.
Light a candle to remember your departed loved ones on Halloween night. If the flame of a candle goes out on Halloween then you are in the company of a ghost. When the candle flame flickers on Halloween night it is being touched by the spirits of dead ancestors.
Lock your cats up on Halloween as an elf could travel on your cats back into your home and create havoc.
Ring a bell (not a doorbell) which would ward off evil spirits for the entire year.
If you see an Owl diving then he/she is coming to take your soul away.
To see a black cat on Halloween is very good luck for the next year. To see a white cat on Halloween is very bad luck for the next year.
**~°~** Use the magic of this time to say goodbye to a bad habit or addication, an old relationship (!!!!!) or anything else negative in your life - Samhain is the night to leave it all behind. **~°~**

Bella Bella Venezia

2010-10-21T15:17:00.001+02:00

The HimBär is off to Venice in a few hours! Yipieeee Yay!

Eat Pray Love

2010-09-12T13:00:00.001+02:00

I need to leave. I don't think I can cope with things staying here. I need to leave. The sooner the better.

Warum

2010-08-23T19:54:00.002+02:00

Wieso werde ich dafür bestraft, dass MEIN Herz mit Füßen getreten wird?

[HQ] Josh Groban - "You Are Loved" - Awake Live

2010-05-09T16:21:00.001+02:00

Damnit, just realised he looks very much like someone I am actually trying to forget...

NENA - IN MEINEM LEBEN (2010)

2010-05-07T23:07:00.002+02:00

Eigentlich mag ich Nena ja nicht so, aber das ist wirklich schön...

Rosenstolz Ein anderes Gefühl von Schmerz

2010-04-23T22:15:00.000+02:00

A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover

2010-04-23T22:03:00.000+02:00

Scotland my Homeland

2010-04-03T21:49:00.002+02:00

The Bear is watching "Braveheart", which she hasn't seen for a very long time and is - as usual - crying her eyes out. It's very pathetic indeed but soooo wonderful! Great scenery, makes Bear crying every time she sees it... and that music is just awesome!!!

Quotes can be find here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/quotes

Best quote ever:
Stephen: [starts laughing] Him? That can't be William Wallace. I'm *prettier* than this man!
[to the sky]
Stephen: Alright, Father, I'll ask him.
[to William]
Stephen: If I risk my neck for you, will I get a chance to kill Englishmen?
Hamish: Is your father a ghost, or do you converse with the Almighty?
Stephen: In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God.
[to the sky]
Stephen: Yes, Father!
[to Hamish]
Stephen: The Almight says, "Don't change the subject, just answer the fuckin' question."
Hamish: Mind your tongue.
Campbell: Insane Irish.
Stephen: [draws a dagger on Campbell; everyone draws weapons] Smart enough to get a dagger past your guards, old man.
William Wallace: That's my friend, Irishman. And the answer to your question is "yes". You fight for me, you get to kill the English.
Stephen: [grins] Excellent!
[removes his dagger]
Stephen: Stephen is my name. I the most wanted man on my island, except I'm not on my island, of course. More's the pity.
Hamish: "Your island"? You mean Ireland?
Stephen: Yeah. It's mine.
Hamish: You're a madman.
Stephen: [nods and starts laughing, then Hamish does as well] I've come to the right place, then.

Erste Sätze

2010-01-18T15:47:00.007+01:00

German only, sorry.

Mögliche Sätze, die in meinem Buch vorkommen könnten. Erste Sätze? Oder welche, die man irgendwo mittendrin lesen könnte? Welche müssen dabei sein?
Wer abstimmen will, bitte per Kommentarfunktion!

Sie erhörte also endlich die Muse, die ihr seit annähernd zwei Wochen praktisch schon ins Gesicht schrie, setzte sich hin, klappte den Laptop auf und begann zu schreiben.
Das Jahr war um und es war bei weitem nicht das so glückliche gewesen, das man ihr prophezeit hatte.
Sie hatte es so unendlich satt, ständig dieselben Sätze, Ausflüchte und Entschuldigungen zu hören, beschloss dem ein Ende zu setzen und abzurechnen - damit wären die Vorwürfe, denen sich sich gegenüber sah wenigstens gerechtfertig.
"Jetzt reicht's", dachte sie und knallte den Laptop zu, der die rohe Behandlung offensichtlich nicht so vertrug und mit einem lauten "ZZZOING" das Zeitliche segnete.
Da war sie: über 30, single, alleine in einem viel zu großen Haus lebend, hübsch - wenn auch ein wenig zu pummelig - das Studium endlich hinter sich gebracht, sich in der Arbeit tagtäglich schlechter Mitarbeiterführung ausgesetzt sehend, aber voller Vorfreude bereit, sich an ihren (vorwiegend) männlichen Lebensabschnittsstolperfallen der letzten beide Jahre zu rächen.

The supposed to be lucky year of the Aquarius

2009-12-27T12:38:00.004+01:00

Let's talk about the year of 2009. The year that was supposed to be *the* lucky year for Aquarius... Bear is an Aquarius. And Bear was supposed to have her lucky year in 2009 - after the really bad ones before. Let's have a close look, shall we:

Beginning of the year, winter: Bear got all messed up by someone who turned out be an asshole (excuse her french) regarding interpersonal relationships. He told Bear she was "oh so different" regarding the rest. He promised to help her with technical things in her thesis. Out of nothing he did not react anymore to Bear. Bear had her car in the garage.
Springtime: Bear's bedroom roof was leaking - Bear was having an email-flirt with someone who seemed really interested and he was really interesting too.
Later springtime: Bear's kitchen roof was leaking - The email-flirt turned out to be in a steady relationship. Even though he realised that Bear thought differently he left her thinking he was single. When Bear found out, she stopped the flirting immediately and told him to bugger off. Quite disappointing though... Bear had her car in the garage.
Summer: Bear's living room roof started leaking big time - Bear got to know someone who was not her type at all but he started flirting and Bear reacted and it went on well. They finally started something. Bear fell in love. All of a sudden he told Bear that he was not in love. Bear didn't see that coming. It took a few months 'till Bear got herself together again - Bear finished her thesis. Bear had her car in the garage.
Autum: Bear had her kitchen roof fixed and fixed part of her bedroom roof herself. Living room roof is still leaking. - Bear tried to study for her last exam. Bear couldn't study as much as she wanted, as her bosses at work seemed to think she was working full-time. Bear was working over-time even though she should have studied more.
Winter: Bear finally did get her study-holidays with a working break. Bear did even do tele-work to keep her bosses happy and still got troubles. Bear studied and finished her last exam. Bear is now a Mag. Bear. - Someone started to msg Bear and Bear did not really react as he was part of Business. But he was very persistent and finally Bear gave in. The minute Bear gave in, he drew back and said "he got frightened"...

So, this was the "lucky" year of 2009. The only thing that really worked was that Bear finally finished her studies. Bear is now a Mag. Bear.
If this was the lucky year, Bear is not keen on having a bad one...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-24T10:43:00.000+01:00

Wishes a very Merry Christmas !

How the heck am I going to get my masters? Part VII - Finale!!!

2009-12-08T10:58:00.003+01:00

The Bear made it!

The Bear is now known as "Mag. HimBär" and very proud of herself!

How the heck am I going to get my masters Part VI ?

2009-11-08T19:58:00.002+01:00

There we go. It's only a few more days until Bear's final exam takes place. At 8am! 8 a.m. !!!!! Damnit.

Bear's subjects are trans- and intercultural advertising, integrated and internal PR and (daddaaaa) Bollywood! :-) Yes, Bear managed to get tested on Bollywood. After all - let's be honest. This uni-course is really not the hardest so why pretend at the end that it is?! That's why Bear wrote about Harry Potter and is gonna have part of her final exam on Bollywood.

But still. Bear is slowly getting nervous. Let's keep your fingers crossed. It's only less than two weeks to go. 8 am ! Did Bear mention that?!

VIPs and Celebrities

2009-10-03T18:04:00.003+02:00

Bear's friend Skippy went to Bayreuth in summer to work there, met Stephen Fry and made him write Bear an autograph - it says "Grüß Gott, Schatzi! *grin*

How the heck am I going to get my masters Part V

2009-09-29T21:23:00.003+02:00

Bear's thesis is done, handed in and got a positive grade.

Next step: final exam. Sometime from mid-November to end-November. Bear's gonna get her exact date at the end of October... Her subjects her advertising and PR and probably new media. Bear still hast to find her exact 2nd subject. Something with new media probably. Social networks. Bear'll see. One month. Pfuh.

Funeral Blues by W.H.Auden

2009-09-21T20:24:00.001+02:00

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Kahlil Gibran on Love

2009-09-21T20:18:00.001+02:00

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Bruised and battered

2009-08-30T13:16:00.007+02:00

Bear was told recently: "I am not as much in love with you, as you are with me - I am sorry."
...
He did not even give it a proper chance...
...
His former girlfriends had serious problems - Bear did not - Bear is too normal - Bear is just a bit jealous but is working on it and is not the kind of Bear to make issues out of it...
...
He did not miss Bear because he was stressed out with his business - Bear thinks that this is quite a logical thing - but he thought not...
...
Bear doesn't understand why - a few days ago it all looked good - at least for Bear...
...
Bear thinks she did something seriously wrong...
...
Bear was the only one around him that understood him and liked him... and got pushed away...
...
Bear was told recently: "I am not as much in love with you, as you are with me - I am sorry."
...

R.I.P.

2009-06-26T00:52:00.003+02:00

So sad, how many people died recently.

A few minutes ago it's been confirmed that Michael Jackson died at the age of 50, Farrah Fawcett lost her long fight against cancer a little earlier. David Carradine mysteriously died a few weeks ago and sometime earlier this year Fritz Muliar died. Just a few out of many.
Bear has never been a huge MJ-Fan, but it is sad to hear that someone you grew up with died. Although Bear must admit that she is even more sad about Farrah Fawcett's death. Is it because of her long fight against cancer and her long lovestory with Ryan O'Neil?! Maybe. They just announced that they wanted to marry. A day later she had died.

So many people.

:-(

How the heck am I going to get my masters? Part IV

2009-06-12T19:55:00.003+02:00

Weeeell, ... time's running out here.
Thesis should either be handed in on 16th of June - which is definitely way too early for Bear. Or last and possibility ever to hand it in and make masters and not bachelor first is 14th of July - this might still work for Bear.
Although!! ... Bear's tutor is gonna go on holidays from 26th of June to 12th of July, so everything must be finished by 26th of July. Hmpf. Bear is not too happy about that but still has to try her best and work it.

Bear has still not started with the empirical part of the thesis and just realised that if she continues writing like she did, her thesis will probably have 200 pages instead of only 120... Bear writes too much and too detailed about things that a probably not so important...Anyway, Bear is gonna make it!!!! Positive thinking!!! This is Bear's year - everything's gonna turn out just fine!!!

Eurovision Lifeball

2009-05-16T20:19:00.005+02:00

Bear is watching the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately the Lifeball is on the same day, so the Austrian broadcasting company is going to send the voting first and then repeat the actual thing. Weird. Anyway. It started off with the 25 participants that are definitely in the final:

Lithuania is boring - a wannabe Justin Timberlake
second ones Bear already forgot
Patricia Kaas for Switzerland (or was it France?) - if she thinks so
Israel has again the best looking women ever - wow
Sweden is pretty cool - a blonde Barbie with a dark voice and opera ambitions
Croatia - boring
Portugal - a fat girl in a horrible costume
Iceland - again a blonde Barbie girl... why did the host say something about Celine Dion? That girl's not even close... ach, boring also
Greece - haven't I seen this guy a few times before?! What a pitty. The song started off quite interesting, but couldn't hold it longer. And who did their choreography??? Buaah
Armenia - That's also a part of Europe? That definitely would have some potential if they weren't singing in English. Bear likes it when they use traditional things like costumes and tunes in their songs...
Mother Russia - For western ears they will always have the problem that the language just doesn't sound like it's singable. It's alright
Azerbaijan - ok, let Bear repeat this: that's part of Europe??? OMG! That's all one can say about this...
the long named countries like Bosnia&Herzegovina - again one of those unsingable languages but it does sound quite cool though...
Moldova - cool! They're using traditional tunes - it's going to go nowhere Bear guesses, but at least they stick to their traditions
What's wrong with Malta? - They *always* send fat women. Sorry, Bear doesn't hear why she is called "the voice" by her fans
Estonia - they are usually quite different and cool. She is cute. And is rrrrrolling herrrr rrrrrrs
Ronan Keating composed for Denmark - Is that the reason why the singer tries to copy him? Not as good looking and Ronan's voice is definitely better. Oh, and look! There is Keith Urban on the guitar!
Germany - ahm... sorry... dunno what to say. Who the hell gave him those trousers??!! And why is Dita van Teese stripping??
Turkey - It's got potential
Albania - again: Europe? Whatever. That skirt! Looks like she comes out of a swan...
Norway - is trying to do a Russion impression? And the dancers trying to copy a "Schuhplattler"? But he's a cute boy! So is the song. If the words weren't so ... stupid
Ukraine - Baby, Baby oh so fine - be my Valentine. I teach you Bum Bum... Does Bear need to say more?
Romania - The Balkan girls they like to party like nobody... So why don't they begin to party then?!
UK - with and Andrew Lloyd Webber composed song! Hmm... usually his musical singers are better, but it's ok. The song's nice, though
Finland - OMG! They never got passed the 90ies Bear thinks
Spain - is doing an oriental impression. Is that Spanish she's singing?!

The Song Contest isn't what it used to be... :-(

Let's get on the Lifeball started then. Elke Winkens and Dirk Bach are the hosts. Elke is bad as usual, she needs to have a look at her cards all the time. Why can Dirk do it without? Carolina Inama and Dorian Steidl are trying to copy the Oscars. Hmmm...
Hahaha Carolina is surrounded by Topmodels she said. Lena, Germany's next Topmodel 2008, Larissa, Austria's whatever Model and Eva Padberg. She is the only realy Topmodel. Is someone already a Topmodel when she is on TV? Hahahaa - again. They did interview all the celebreties... Well, maybe they wanted to. There were no celebreties. We do not have any celebreties.
The Lifeball-Mini seems like it's not working. But it looks cute, though. Bear'd like to have it. And the social spot for the awareness of AIDS is really good. Bear likes that one too.
Ooohhh yesss... very nice beginning! Totally new! Very cool, indeed... WELL DONE! Bear is impressed.

Bear walks the High Society

2009-03-28T00:02:00.014+01:00

Bear had the possibility to join some kind of high society event on Friday, 13th of March in the monastery of Und in the lovely area of Wachau. A friend of Bear's best friend Eva, who is winemaker, invited us to that event.

The monastery did some renovation work and celebrated the finishing with music, a fashion show, some lovely cooking, whiskey tasting, wine tasting, ...

That's what the (german) invitation said: Am Freitag, dem 13. März 2009, präsentiert sich das historische Kloster UND nach behutsamen Umbauarbeiten als frische, moderne Eventlocation. Genuss, Life-Style, Kunst, Kultur sowie Räumlichkeiten mit außergewöhnlicher Atmosphäre und höchster technischer Ausstattung, werden an diesem geschichtsträchtigen Ort vereint. Mit einem ausgewählten Programm und beeindruckenden Inszenierungen – von 16 Uhr bis spät in die Nacht hinein – zeigt das Kloster UND seine vielfältige Wandelbarkeit.

Bear picked Eva up at the railway station in Stockerau and off they drove to Krems. For once in Bear's life they were perfectly on time. When they arrived one could already see that this was going to be a good event. Lots of photographers around and a few TV cameras also. They waited for Eva's friend who arrived a bit later. In the meantime Bear noticed a friend's ex-boyfriend - someone Bear had hated all those years. As Bear realised that he carried a camera and was obviously there to make pictures, Bear called him over just to point out that Bear was invited to that event and he wasn't. :-) Bear was satisfied. Mission one accomplished: make sure to point out that Bear was there.

Eva's friend arrived and they went inside. He knew everyone. Of course. UND is a monastery famous for its wine and wine tasting and this was his area. They went to some wine tasting. Everyone was dead serious and quietly standing around, listening to the explanations and gurgling and spitting wine. Eva drank it. So did Bear. But not much, as Bear wanted to drive home later that night. After about five minutes Bear managed to lighten up the whole situation as she was loudly chatting and laughing with the ones sharing their table. Mission two accomplished: make sure Bear gets noticed.

They then went around a bit, having a look here and there and went to get some food. First thing they found was scallops. Bear never tried those before, but they were really good. And then they found oyster. And champagne. Bear thought: nice! Bear always wanted to try oysters. Bear did. Tastes like.... sea. Fishy. Salty. Nothing exciting. It is a bit of a challenge to actually swallow something glibbery. Wibbling and wobbling around. But... well... Bear was disappointed. Mission three accomplished: try something new.

They went to have a cigarette and talk to some people. Well, actually it was Eva's friend who talked to people as Eva and Bear knew no-one. Not yet. They got introduced. Nice wine makers around there. Friendly, talkative, fun. Bear then asked Eva's friend if he would find it very embarrassing if Bear asked to get a picture later together with Toni Mörwald (who cooked there) and/or some other celebrity. He was not. Not at all. He went off immediately to the kitchen to get Toni to tell him that a friend wanted a picture taken. Bear was a bit astonished that it was so easy and no-one was giving her a look. Bear was satisfied. Mission four accomplished: get pictures taken with celebrities.

Eva wanted to taste some whiskey. So they went to look for the room where the whiskey was tasted. They stumbled into a foto shooting of some of the models for the following fashion show and finally found the room. Good Lord, when opening the door one was immediately drunk just by the smell of the whiskey! The room was far too small for far too many people with far too many open bottles. Bear felt a bit sick. Eva tried some whiskey and then someone came up and told her to try the one he just had in his hands. It was supposed to be very smokey. Eva had a bit of it and nearly wanted to spit it out again. She called out: "UUaaaaahhh! Disgusting!!" Bear agreed. The man who offered the whiskey explained it tasted like when standing in front of a chimney and inhaling the smoke. It really did. That was a good description of that whiskey. It was Austrian made whiskey btw. All of it. Bear doesn't like whiskey. No matter what nationality... Mission five accomplished: get sick just by the smell of something.

It was time for food again. So they went back to the inner court yard which had a roof and was also heated because the food was there, grabbed a table and Eva and Bear looked around for food. A waitress came up with something like goose pastete and some other things, Bear was not keen on trying. Eva and her friend did, Bear skipped that part.
But since Bear was hungry, Eva and she went to the buffet to see what was there to get and Bear got some lovely things to eat. Bear does not really remember all of it, but it was nice. Time for dessert. Off they went again to get some dessert. They stood at the buffet when the waiter asked what Bear wanted and Bear replied: "A bit of everything, please." Eva interrupted and said she wanted to know first, what the things were. So the waiter explained, Eva listened and Bear waited. When he finished he looked at Eva and Eva said she had to figure out first what she wanted, so he then asked Bear again and Bear replied once more: "A bit of everything, please", and handed her small dessert plate over. He grinned and said: "Let's have a bigger plate then, shall we?!" and put a bit of everything onto a big plate for Bear. Eva got a small plate and a little bit of a few things and they went back to their table where a lot of other winemakers stood around and talked and said something like: "So did you get your dessert then?" when Eva smiled and Bear came up with her huge plate. Mission six accomplished: show you're not embarassed by eating too much.

Well, it's been ages, since Bear started this post and doesn't remember quite all of it. Anyway it was a good night, Bear got pictures taken with Toni Mörwald and Florian Scheuba and got to know the PowerPipes.
Interesting night it was.

Pics

How the heck am I going to get my masters? Part III

2009-02-08T20:56:00.002+01:00

Bear tried to make the impression by not blogging for such a long time, that she is soooo busy doing her things... Don't think it really worked, though.
Anyway, Bear managed to find herself a tutor, a subject and finished the concept in time. Now Bear is reading a lot and still postponing the actual work. So, what's the subject: it compares book covers of the Harry Potter books with the filmtrailers of the Harry Potter films as a special way of advertising. Got lots to do with semiotics and such.

Well, back to work now.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T00:25:00.004+01:00

May each day in the week be a good day
May the Lord always watch over you
And may all of your hopes turn to wishes
And may all of your wishes come true

May each day in the month be a good day
May you make friends with each one you meet
And may all of your daydreams be memories
And may all of your memories be sweet

The weeks turn to months and the months into years
There'll be sadness and joy, there'll be laughter and tears
But one thing I pray to heaven above
May each of your days be a day full of love

May each day in the year be a good day
May each dawn find you happy and gay
And may all of your days be as lovely
As the one you shared with me today

May each day of your life be a good day And good night.

Click on the Bear to see the NewYear pictures!

Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night!

2008-12-24T12:36:00.012+01:00

Bear is not religious, but Bear still thinks that the meaning of these words are true and should be in our hearts not only this very day, but always.

Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth,
the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father,
brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother,
in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
let this be the moment now.
With every step I take,
let this be my solemn vow,

To take each moment and live each moment
in peace, eternally.
Let there be Peace on Earth,
and let it begin with me.
Words and Music by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller ~1955

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

(pick the one you enjoy the most)

Have a Beary Christmas!

Have a Bollywood Christmas!

All pictures designed by R(c)M

Let me finish with the words of Tiny Tim:

Merry Christmas! And God bless us, everyone!

Sing along Gospel

2008-12-23T12:00:00.005+01:00

Bear enjoyed the Christmas Show of the Favorythm Gospelsingers on the weekend. Along with Eva, Sandra and Bear's parents. It was great as usual.
Leadsingers Günther Weber, Magdalena Poss, Dagmar Bernhard and Special Guest Louie Austen.

Pictures of a free concert on Schönbrunn's christmas market available here.

Nervous breakdown

2008-12-15T13:40:00.004+01:00

Bear is really close to a nervous breakdown. Bear had to go to uni before going to work to pick up some books. Shortly before Bear arrived at university, Bear noticed the front of her car smoking. Bear parked, opened the front and saw the cooling system smoking. And dripping. No other signs of over heating. Bear couldn't believe it.

Bear had her car in the garage on Friday (today is Monday). Because of new glow plugs Bear needed. Bear's car wouldn't start anymore after resting for two days. Bear had the ÖAMTC coming helping her to start and telling her that she would need new glow plugs.
That was actually the fifth time Bear's car was in the garage. Bear bought that car at the beginning of September. And it had already been to the garage for f*cking five times. First the plug of the front lights melted away. Then Bear had to have the brakes repaired. After that the rear end of the muffler (exhaust pipe) broke. Then the front of the muffler broke. (Both in the middle of the night of course). And last week Bear needed the new glow plugs. And now the cooling system broke down. Bear was close to tears. Well, actually Bear was not close anymore, Bear was in tears. Why oh why does Bear have to have such a wreck?!! Bear had to get rid off her Mini because she couldn't afford the repairs that had to be done. But looking at that wreck of a car Bear now has, she should have just sticked to the Mini... too late now.

Bear had the ÖAMTC coming. Again. At least Bear knows now what she is paying for monthly... He was really quick and really nice. And thank God and every saint that watches over Bear and her cars, it was only a tube to the cooling system that was broken. He could repair that. Bear needn't go to the garage again. Bear was happy. Though still in tears and close to breaking down, but happy that it was so easily done.

Bear hates that car. Next time anything will happen to that wreck, Bear will just smash it into the next wall. And wreck it. Completely. Once for all.

Horns, masks, wild creatures and a happy Bear

2008-12-07T15:01:00.008+01:00

Bear dragged Eva along to a "Perchtenlauf" in Hollabrunn on 29th of Nov. Bear has a Perchten-Fetish she guesses. Bear luuuvs those creatures. Eva doesn't. Eva is extremely afraid. Bear doesn't understand why.

Anyway, Bear dragged Eva along. Lots of people there. And quite some time to wait. Fortunately it was not too cold. Bear told Eva as much as she could about this tradition. They are supposed to chase old and bad spirits of the old year away and bring luck. When they hit you (and they hit especially only young girls and women) you're supposed to find a man in the following year.
Eva got hit a few times. So did Bear.
Bear loved it! Eva didn't! Although she is happy now, that Bear forced her having a picture taken with one of those creatures. Lots of them were there. About five groups. And the really good thing about this in Hollabrunn is, that they run around free. Of course there is Security but they are mainly concentrated on the Perchten. As they don't see much with those masks and their costumes are very heavy along with the bells. One could easily burn them with a cigarette or something... Anyway, they run around free. And that's good. Bear cannot explain properly what she likes so much about it. It's probably the wild, animalic charisma that engages them. For Bear it's very manly. And very desenchanting when they take their masks off. For Eva it's relieving.
And as for the small children. None of them was afraid! Not the slightest bit. And the Perchten were very nice to the children. Stroke their heads, let them touch their masks and carry them around.

Bear needs to get a mask of her own. A cruel, frightening looking and horny one...

Check out all the pictures by clicking on the one below.

Perchtenlauf

Saint Nick, Saint Nick!

2008-12-06T18:33:00.004+01:00

Knecht Ruprecht

Theodor Storm (1817-1888)

Von drauß' vom Wald komm ich her;
ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
All überall auf den Tannenspitzen
sah ich goldene Lichtlein sitzen;
und droben aus dem Himmelstor
sah mit großen Augen das Christkind hervor.

Und wie ich so strolcht' durch den finstern Tann,
da rief's mich mit heller Stimme an:
"Knecht Ruprecht", rief es, "alter Gesell,
hebe die Beine und spute dich schnell!
Die Kerzen fangen zu brennen an,
das Himmelstor ist aufgetan.

Alt' und Junge sollen nun
von der Jagd des Lebens einmal ruhn;
und morgen flieg ich hinab zur Erden;
denn es soll wieder Weihnachten werden!"

Ich sprach: "O lieber Herre Christ,
meine Reise fast zu Ende ist;
ich soll nur noch in diese Stadt,
wo's eitel gute Kinder hat."

"Hast denn das Säcklein auch bei dir?"
Ich sprach: "Das Säcklein, das ist hier:
Denn Äpfel, Nuss und Mandelkern
essen fromme Kinder gern."

"Hast denn die Rute auch bei dir?"
Ich sprach: "Die Rute, die ist hier;
doch für die Kinder nur, die schlechten,
die trifft sie auf den Teil, den rechten.
Christkindlein sprach: "So ist es recht!
So geh mit Gott, mein treuer Knecht!"

Von drauß' vom Walde komm ich her;
ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
Nun sprecht, wie ich's hier drinnen find!
Sind's gute Kind sind's böse Kind?

Nikolaustag, Krampus

Winterschur 2008

2008-12-06T14:57:00.001+01:00

Big or bigger?

2008-11-30T18:30:00.008+01:00

Bear got a new car. Well, old new. A ten year old Nissan Micra. Bear needs to get rid of the Mini. Unfortunately. But that's another story.
So, Bear got a new car. After only one month Bear had to get it to the garage. Brakes worn out. Bear was not very happy. One month later, Bear had to stay at work until about 11pm. Bear started her car and thought to herself: "Wow, well that sounds different!" That once happened to Bear's Mini aswell: exhaust (muffler) broke. Bear thought to herself wether she should just drive home (about 50km) or park somewhere and get the ÖAMTC. Bear decided on getting the ÖAMTC. Bear drove to one of their offices and called them. "It sounds like a Harley", Bear told them - what they thought was really funny. Bear talked to Eva while waiting for them. After about ten minutes one of them showed up and helped Bear. He was actually off duty but nice enough not to pass by. So Bear eventually got home at about 2am.
Next day Bear took the car to the garage. Bear got it back the next day after having to pay quite a lot.
Two days later, Bear met a friend and wanted to go home at about midnight. No. Bear's car again sounded like a Harley. So Bear called the ÖAMTC again and waited for them at her friend's flat. He came, he helped and Bear got home at about 3am. Next day garage again. Bear started to discuss with them about a mistake they probably made since Bear had her car in their garage only two days ago with the same problem. They wanted to tell Bear that it was not their fault. They had only worked on the rear end and what broke now was the front end. Bear did discuss this for quite a while with them until finally giving up since she didn't have any other choice.
Bear had to go to work so they offered Bear a hire car. That girl said that - with an apologizing smile - that they only had and XTrail. Bear said that she had no idea what that was but it is ok with her. So that girl went outside with her, pointed at a car saying:
"This one"
Bear looked at the car, at the girl, back at the car and again to that girl and said: "Be serious!!". The girl apologized again saying that there was no other car available at the moment. Bear was stunned. How was she going to get into Vienna with that monster? Bear was used to driving different cars in different sizes, but never ever a monster sized one like this.
The girl went to see the salesman and told him that the XTrail was a bit too huge for Bear. He handed her some keys, he smiled and told Bear that this one was smaller.
Went outside to show Bear the one right next to monster: Qashqai Bear looked at her trying to figure out wether she was being serious or not. She obviously was. Bear pointed out that this one was only about 10cm smaller than the other one. She apologized once more but Bear had no choice. It had to be either of those. So Bear tried to get the smaller monster into Vienna. Bear didn't even manage to get out of the parking space properly. The car died off for about five times until Bear managed to get it onto the streets. Bear's heart was pumping. Where should Bear go? The parking lot at her office is far too small for that car and Bear didn't feel too well about leaving it on the streets - it was quite an attractive car. So Bear went to the parking lot at Schwedenplatz. Bear didn't feel too well while driving in there, coz the ceiling was low and the car was high. Bear managed.

Bear had that car for two days. On the last day Bear even managed to drive it without letting it die off. But Bear finally was *very* happy to get her small Baby back. The garage called Bear before she went to get her car apologizing for obviously making a small mistake and hence not billing her for working time. When Bear gave the car back she didn't even have to pay for the gas she needed while driving the Qashqai. So everything that first looked like not working out properly did work out just fine in the end. And all of this, just because Bear shook hands with her chimney sweep the day before! Thanks for that luck, mate!

How the heck am I going to get my masters? Part II

2008-11-23T18:05:00.005+01:00

Well, there we are. Some of Bear's uni-colleagues did ask Bear a lot of times recently how far her thesis has developed yet. Bear did waste quite a lot of time in finding the perfect subject. *The* subject Bear would like to work on for half a year. It was not easy. But Bear is quite confident that she found it now. It was Danielle who made Bear realise that one of the former subjects Bear had was not the worst of ideas. Not very special either, but it might work. So Bear started to write a concept now. And her other friend, Tanja did tell Bear to enlarge the subject a bit and Bear tried that. So Bear is about to finish the concept now. Only thing left are the research questions and Bear is working on them right now.

Bears don't do swimming

2008-11-23T17:18:00.004+01:00

Since Bear cannot join Bollywood-Dance-classes anymore because they changed the date, Bear decided to do Aquafitness. Every Tuesday morning. Bear knows how to swim. Bear might not be perfect, but Bear is able to keep her head above waterlevel. Bear did swimming classes in school for two years. Bear even passed the exam for lifeguard-helper.
But, hell, Aquafitness is nothing like swimming! Not at all! One hour without touching ground jogging and pushing and pulling and struggling, ... exhausting!!! ...
Especially if we use some tools to make it even worse. Like those kickboards (floats) for example. Made of foam and supposed to swim. But hey, swimming with this would be to easy. So we are supposed to stand on it. Under water. Not touching ground. Try that! While floating in the water, try to push that foam-kickboard under water to stand on it and then bend knees and straighten them again. Bear tried. Somehow everyone else seemed to be able to do it. Except for Bear. Bear managed to put on foot onto that board. And as she wanted to place the other one on it that kickboard catapulted itself out of the water, swooooshed over the heads of two other swimmer right into the face of a third one... Weeelll... That day, Bear had no problems in making new contacts. Bear had to get her board so often and apologise a hundred times for hitting others... Thank God that thing is made of foam!

Bearly film reviews

2008-11-16T19:53:00.007+01:00

Bear went to the cinema a few times during the last year. These are the reviews:

Happy-Go-Lucky

"Living out loud: Mike Leighs liebevolles Porträt einer grenzenlosen Optimistin ist einer der schönsten Filme des Jahres." (Kurt Zechner, Skip) ~ Living out loud: a fond portrait of a boundless optimist is one of the lovliest movies of the year.

boundless optimist: yes
fond portrait: hmm... probably
one of the lovliest movies of the year: Bear hopes not!!

Bear loves british movies. Above all the comedies are great and the romantic movies. In this case Bear expected something else. Bear expected a funny movie with some love and comedy. But, ok. It wasn't. Unfortunetly far too long (even though only about 1,5 hrs). It was often pretty boring. And Bear would have rather called it a social analysis than a romantic comedy. A social analysis of the british lower middle class. Interestingly Bear did get to know most of the types of people portraied in that movie. Everyone except Poppy. Bear is perfectly sure that people like Poppy do not exist. People like Poppy will be striked to death after five minutes with them. Or they do not have any friends - no-one in their right minds would like to be longer in the presence with someone like Poppy.
Her quick-wittedness is pretty admirable - very good punchlines sometimes. Although Bear doubts that someone like Poppy (Poppy!! What kind of nickname is that?!) is capable of punchlines like these...
Well, nice social analysis but definitely not the lovliest and best movie of the year!!
~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~

Mamma Mia!

Definitely recommendable!!
If you like Musicals and you don't loath ABBA, then this is the easy going, easy listening, easy watching summer comedy to watch. Go, watch it in Original Version (not dubbed) - it's really easy to understand!
One is not you used to Meryl Streep playing a part like this but one buys it completely. Everyone - except for Pierce Brosnan - are pretty good singers or let's say not perfectly wrong. Pierce's singing is so incredibly horrible it just adds to the whole charme...
Interesting how a story could be written around the songs - and it works so well! Pretty often single lines did go along with the scenes - Bear adores it when filmmakers are cabable of that. Almost all of the time one had the feeling that the actores had so much fun while doing the movie. From time to time one also couldn't help the feeling that there was no script, just improvising. Delicious slapstick, wordplay, very good cast.

Bear was absolutely thrilled. One leaves the cinema and wants to dance and sing and go to Greece for a holiday. Bear thinks of it as *the* feel good movie of the year!
~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~

Sweeney Todd

Not really recommendable. Unfortunately.
Tim Burton is usually very grim and funny with his puppet movies - although Bear is not a huge fan, but Bear did like "A nightmare before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride! - unfortunately this was incredibly boring and up from the second half just disgusting. Not even Alan nor Johnny could help it.
Alan Rickman (Snape in "Harry Potter") is a very good singer, Johnny Depp ("Pirates of the Carribean") rather bad. At least he looks good with this hairdo and the leathercoat. Sasha Baron Cohen ("Ali G.") Bear did not recognise. And Helena Bonham Carter (in every Tim Burton movie because he is her lover) is ... well, just Helena Bonham Carter. They all did act very well, but Bear thinks it lacks of content and script. Sometimes - though very rarely - one recognises a bit Tim Burton (rather in the words the anything else); his macabre and funny side, unfortunately not too often.

Bear did watch it dubbed. The words of the songs are not very well translated - sometimes even wrong. Although it doesn't matter anymore. Boring. Disgusting. What a pitty.
~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~

The X-Files (movie)

Bear is an X-Files fan. Only this time Bear was pretty disappointed.
Either it's been too long of a time since the series was on TV and Bear is not so much up-to-date anymore or the movie was simply really bad. Bear fears it's the latter.

Scully is totally weak and Mulder to easy to inspire to do things. Skinner did turn up at the end for... for what exactly? Just to be in it? And Bear could just not understand why XZibit was in the movie (because of the X?). And what kind of story was that?? Frankenstein's monster, the two-headed Cerberus - very original. Billy Connolly (scottish comedian, "Her Majesty Mrs Brown") was good as usual but here Bear also wonders why they did come up with the story of the paedophilliac priest all the time. Just to have something for Scully to fight for or against?! But what was his bond to Frankenstein?
The whole thing did not even make Bear go "Huh". Nothing at all. What a pitty. TV-series should stay to be TV-series and never become movies...

Questionnaire from A to Z

2008-11-09T19:59:00.005+01:00

A - Available
YESSSS
B - Best Friend
I guess that would be Eva now
C - Crush
ooohh that YUMMY waiter at that gorgeous bar in Vienna
D - Dad's Name
Günter
E - Easiest Person To Talk To
my father
F - Favorite Band
dunno... Rosenstolz at the moment I guess
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms
What are worms? I take Gummy Bears (with Red Bull and Vodka, pls)
H - Hometown
Home is where the heart is - but I live north of Vienna atm
I - Instrument
I did learn how to play the guitar centuries ago - but now I only sing
J - Job
Marketing and PR-Assistant
K - Kids
No, thanks
L - Longest Car Ride
Driving myself - From Vienna to Bodensee in Germany
Riding - From Vienna Losinj in Croatia
M - Milk Flavor
well... milky?!
N - Number Of Siblings
0
O - One Wish
done
P - Phobias
I am afraid of spiders but only up from a certain size - I wouldn't call it a phobia though
Q - Favorite Quote
atm: Yes, I know I'm gorgeous - but please, don't stare!
R - Reason To Smile
colours of autumn, misty mornings, just being please with myself
S - Song You Last Heard
Bodyrockers - I like the way you move
T - Time You Woke Up
9:30
U - Unknown Fact About Me
If I tell it won't be unknown anymore...
V - Vegetable
spinach!!
W - Worst Habits
smoking, eating too much, chocolate
X - X-Rays You've Had
breast, lung, knee
Y - Your Favorite Food
anything pasta
Z - Zodiac Sign
Aquarius - age of aquarius, aquariuuuuhuuuhuuus

All Hallow's Eve

2008-11-03T00:56:00.004+01:00

Happy belated Halloween!

Bestselling Bear

2008-10-14T19:23:00.005+02:00

Bear has decided to write a book.

When Bear turns 35 the book shall be published. Bear had so many stories to tell (see Texas-Blogs) and still has so many stories to tell ("The most unusual date ever" might come up once Bear has made up her mind on making this public) and if a girl can sell thousands of books about her cruel boss in her first job.... Hey, Bear can tell stories about cruel bosses in at least two jobs! Bear can top that. So, Bear has decided to write it all down and have a bestseller when she turns 35.

Do you like what you read?! Wait, until you read the book.
Most of Bear's stories are so funny, absurd and still unbelievingly true that Bear just has to tell the world. Of course there will be a few people who might not be very happy with the fact that the word might be out about their behaviour, but well, life's a bitch and Bear is a bitch too and damn good at it (BB = Bitch-Bear). And Bear does not give a second thought about it once the bestseller is out and Bear is a millionaire - a Milli-Bear so to say. (Imagine an evil grin on Bear's face now.) Next time think twice about your behaviour towards others. One can never be sure if one will show up once on the internet in a humiliating video or between two hardcovers in a bookstore.

People might not even remember what they did, but Bear does. Bear remembers it all. Bear is like an elephant regarding this. A Bear-Phant. Bear can recall the smiles, the tunes, the twinkle in their eyes (ok, that was stolen from Dan Brown), the movements, the attitudes, the words... Ohhh, this will be so much fun.

Take a peek: Things you might read about in Bear's book:

the most choleric boss Bear ever had
the most stupid boss and most psycho end to this work Bear ever had
the most unusual and exhausting holidays Bear ever had
the most unusual dates Bear ever had including the weirdest behaviours of men
the weirdest stories of friends experiencing natural herbs
the weirdest break-up Bear ever had

Yes, Bear has decided to write a book.

How the heck am I going to get my masters? Part I

2008-10-13T11:07:00.005+02:00

Bear decided on starting her work on her thesis during the summer holidays.
Bear hast to finish her studies on Nov 30th 2009 to get her masters. Otherwise Bear will only be a Bakk. and will have to do some extra things to get the M.A. Bear doesn't want that. So Bear looked for a tutor by the end of the summer's term and did find one. Bear knows nothing about that tutor. Bear once wrote an essay in a lesson held by his wife - or at least Bear guesses that this was his wife. But Bear has no idea what he is specialised in or what he is like at the final exam... or any exam.
Well, Bear just had an idea anyway about her thesis. Nothing concrete yet. And Bear told him that. He invited Bear to come to the next tutor-lesson and discuss the subject Bear brought up. It is not a very unusual subject, Bear has to admit, but it's not a very concrete one either. Yet.

Bear is not going to tell what it is, yet. Because Bear is not so sure about it and doesn't want to spoil it. Or the idea. Or have someone else steal her idea before it's official. Things like these happen.

Anyway. Bear wanted to go to that lesson. But Bear couldn't. Because that morning, Bear was locked in and couldn't get out. The day before the electricity had gone and that made the door at the drive break down. But no-one noticed. Only when Bear wanted to get herself and her car out, she couldn't. Blocked. And locked. So Bear wrote him an email instead explaining everything she had thought about that subject and he mailed back that it was a very common idea she had, but he liked the idea anyway and could imagine a good thesis there. Since Bear heard that it was a very common idea (Bear has to admit it never crossed her mind, although it was very obvious - since it had something to do with children and violence) Bear was not so happy about her subject anymore. And Bear decided to think about it again during the summer, write a concept or draft and then get back to him as soon as possible.
Well, July passed. The first two weeks of August passed in England and all of a sudden it was September. Bear then did think about it again and did write a few things down but nothing spectacular or breathtaking. Bear just can't make up her mind about that. It has to be a subject Bear is 100% sure of and wants to dedicate most of her time to. And neither of those that crossed her mind so far had that effect.
September passed. Bear had to study for her last exam in communications (got a grade 2 btw! Which is second best) and now is back to thinking.

Dammit! Bear is pretty sure that once she knows exactly what to write about, the rest is easy. But finding something...

Where's the logical part between III and IV?

2008-09-28T21:40:00.008+02:00

Rubbish!
What a whole lot of utter rubbish the new Star Wars Episodes are! Sorry to say that, but where is the logical part? It's supposed to show how Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader and that was it? The chancellor fights against one of the Jedis, Anakin kills him (the Jedi), cries out: "What have I done?" and next thing he does is obeying to the Sith-Lord!? Excuse me????!!! Now, is he sorry that he killed his master or not?! All of this within one minute?!!

And one more thing: Is this supposed to be the future?! Even if not, Queen Padme Amidala's only concern is to get married and have children?! And stands up to her man no matter what happens, even though she is the Queen and should be aware of her universe/galaxy/land?! And, calls him "Ani"... Oh, come on!!!

I did like the original Star Wars series. I was never a fan, but it was ok. I will never believe that George Lucas always had planned 9 parts of it. Parts I-III had to wait because the technic was not good enough at that time?! Rubbish! And where are parts VII-IX then? Oh, I guess he doesn't need the money right now...
Yes, the technical parts and special effects are great and Ewan McGregor is always a sight to see, but be honest: the story is rubbish and it's not logical at all... pity!

But never, never will I understand what's up with small green, big-eared Joghurt-man. Cannot say one sentence grammatically correct, cannot walk upright but jumps around like a rubber ball, has immense powers and happens to know it all - so why doesn't he just make an end to it all for once? Oh... I forgot. It could have never been six episodes then...

Oh man, it gets even worse! I see parts of the "Fivth Element" and that scene now was definitely out of "King Kong" - not to mention "Lord of the Rings"-parts. And now Obi Wan is tough enough to chop off Anakin's legs but watches him burning in lava instead of killing him right away. Didn't he say he was like his brother? Would you want to watch your brother dying a horrible and long lasting death like this instead of making it as short and easy as possible for him?! Deary me... I don't get it.

And Padme? He tried to strangle her and first thing when she wakes up is asking if "Ani" is ok?! And again, it's the future, is it not?! And women get their children still the old way and with lots of pain and they add technical limbs to Anakin's tortured body without any anaesthesia? And all they have is a helmet for his burned face? Where the hell is cosmetic surgery??!!

Recycled Mini

2008-09-11T19:55:00.003+02:00

Bear has got a new car! A new old one, actually - see for yourself: left = new, right = old. The Mini is 14 years now and Bear had it for 6 years now. It did quite well all those years, but now it needs a few more things done and Bear just can't spend all this money. If it was only this year, Bear probably could. But next year there will be something else to repair and the next again and again and again. So, our time is over now.
Now, Bear has got a new one. It's a Nissan Micra and it's already 10 years old but it just got a new license and it's in very good shape. Of course it's not as cool as the Mini, but Bear doesn't really need a car to be cool...

Is this the end of the world as we know it?

2008-09-10T10:02:00.005+02:00

So, is this it? The media keeps talking about the end of the world because of the Cern-Experiment. What if it really is? What would you do? What would I do? (I just noticed that I do not call myself Bear anymore while thinking about my last hours on earth - interesting)
I just thought to myself that if today the world stops existing, should I really go to work? I am at work now.
I do not believe that because of this experiment the world will crash. Although it's not such a stupid idea that we finally manage to wipe ourselves off the planet *by* ourselves... Actually I think we'd rather destroy ourselves with a really bad war, polluting our environment totally or if all of this fails, an exploding sun - or imploding. Whatever.

But anyway. Let's just imagine these are the last hours, what would I want to do?! I would tell my parents that I love them (actually, I just did). I would cuddle my pets once more. Then I would drive my baby up a hill with a lovely view, take some chocolate and wine with me, call a few people to tell them a few things I always meant to say but never did - because it was never the right time to do so or because I just couldn't because you just don't speak those things out loud. (I guess I got a few people out there thinking now...) And then I would wait for the end of the world to come. Hopefully front row...

This has got to be a bad bad day...

2008-09-06T11:16:00.004+02:00

Yesterday started in a real bad way.
Bear was on the road going to work. Bear saw all the cars stopping ahead and heard on the radio about a traffic jam. Great. Bear was right in it. Bear never understood why she always already is in the jam when they just start telling about that on the radio. They are always so slow.
Anyway. Stop and Go. For quite a while. Must have been a bad accident. Bear looked at her coolant and nearly got a heart attack. It was right before the red top! Bear was in the middle line, looked at the huge truck next to her, waved out of the roof while pulling over right in front of him onto the emergency lane. Bear stopped, turned on the warning lights, put on the visibility jacket and opened the engine bonnet. Bear was clever enough not to open the coolant yet as she remembered that it might be f*cking hot! What Bear forgot at first, was putting up the warning triangle.
So Bear sat in her car waiting. Bear didn't need to call the ÖAMTC. She knew she just had to wait for her car to cool down. Unfortunately the traffic jam was really long and Bear was not sure where exactly she was. She could have just gone and see if she was out of it after a few meters, but was too afraid of her car over heating again. So she stayed where she was in the shade under a bridge and waited.

A policeman on a bike came up the emergency lane, turning on his horn, but since it was only a bike it was no problem for him to pass Bear's car with all the trucks right beside her. A little later a small fire engine care came up. And here the first problem came up. Although Bear's car was parked really close to the side of the lane, they just couldn't pass because the trucks on the other lane were too close. Bear was not sure what to do. She couldn't really start her car as it was still too hot, so she just blinked at them hoping for the truck to be able to pull aside a bit. All of a sudden one of the firemen came up to her and told her to get the gear out. He will push Bear's car a little closer to the side. And so he did. Now Bear was extremely close to the wall.
Bear then got out of the car, thinking that the coolant might be a bit cooler now and that she might be able to have a look if there was still some water inside. So Bear opened it. It was not cool. It was still hot. And it nearly exploded with the stinking water running all over Bear's hand and car. Bear jumped but realised that she was on the highway so didn't jump too far. People looked at Bear. Bear was embarrassed. Bear got back in the car. Bear's car was now smoking.
Bear called her daddy, asking wether the police are able to file charge against her because of Bear blocking the emergency lane since they needed to get to the accident. Bear's father told her that she did have a break-down too and if there was the warning triangle out they wouldn't charge her. Bear got out of the car again and put the warning triangle up. Up until then Bear was so stupid to think that having the warning lights on would be enough. And Bear never thought of a connection between warning lights and battery...
Anyway. An emergency car pulled up. Great. They couldn't really pass because of another huge truck right next to Bear. Bear got a bit nervous. But they didn't seem to be angry. When they finally passed all of them looked out of the window grinning at Bear and saying: "Oijeeeeh!" Bear was even more embarrassed now.
In between Bear has already called her work to tell them that she was going to be very late.
A small van passed Bear and the driver gave her a sign that asked wether he should call some help for Bear. Bear rejected. Very nice, though.
Bear still sat in her car, watching the traffic jam getting a bit faster now and wondered if she could try now to start driving again. She decided to wait a little longer until she was sure that there was no Stop and Go anymore. After some more while Bear realised that the traffic jam might be over now because cars were going a wee bit faster now. So Bear got out, got the extra water - thank God, Bear always has that with her - and refilled the coolant (and the oil while she was at it anyway), got the warning triangle and wanted to close the engine bonnet. It wouldn't close. Ok, now how worse could this morning even get?! Bear tried a few times to close it, but it wouldn't properly. It did close but Bear could open it easily again. How was Bear supposed to drive into work with an engine bonnet not being entirely closed?!
A police car came up. They looked very angry at Bear and one of the took the microphone and said something through the speakers to Bear. Bear could not really understand it. But Bear guessed that it had something to do with the warning triangle not being up. Well, Bear just got it out of the street a minute before the police arrived!! Bear wanted to tell them, but Bear was still busy with her engine bonnet. She finally closed it but it was still not really locked. So Bear decided to drive very carefully.
Bear got to work without anymore distractions.

When Bear wanted to drive home in the evening she took some adhesive tape with her to stick her engine bonnet to the rest of the car. Bear tried once more to close it properly and all of a sudden it did. Good. Bear would have been very embarrassed if she had to drive home with the tape sticking on the front of her car.

On the highway Bear realised that her lights were not as bright as they used to be and then suddenly her radio stopped playing. That was usually a sign of an empty battery. Bear thought: "Oh, obviously the warning lights do empty the battery...". Yes, sometimes Bear is a bit blonde...
Bear got home finally. Although she hardly saw anything anymore because her lights were close to not working at all anymore and it was really dark.
At home Bear said to her father: "Do warning lights being on for more than one hour empty the battery?". Bear's father started laughing and wouldn't stop for the next ten minutes. Bear had enough of that day. Bear went to bed.

Dhadak - A wet Sari scene for the BollyDanceBear

2008-07-20T14:23:00.011+02:00

On July 1st this terms group of Bollywood-dancers from university met on the Jesuitenwiese in the Prater to do their choreography on "Dhadak Dhadak" .

Bear was not too sure how to get there by car and did go wrong at one point, but made it anyhow just on time. Not just on indian time, no: really on time. The Jesuitenwiese was big and Bear did not know where they wanted to meet. Her instructor Lisa Lengheimer just said "Jesuitenwiese" and not exactly where. And Bear, being very lazy, did not want to walk a lot before she had to dance a lot. So Bear eventually stopped a horse carriage, asking the coachman if she was allowed to go into that street. He replied: "Not with your car, no." So Bear took another street and then called Lisa. Fortunately it was the right street and Bear parked her car right beside Lisa's.
Lisa wore a Salwar Kameez and looked very cute. Lisa does always look cute, but a Salwar Kameez does suit her very well. She told Bear that so far only three people were there and that she was not sure, wether she posted the exact location to meet or her telephone number. Bear said she did neither. When they arrived where the other two were waiting, Bear's friend Chandni hopped happily to Bear and hugged her. She wore a Salwar Kameez aswell in bright orange. Suited her well. Chandni's stuff always looks gorgeous.

Chandni wrapped Bear into her Saree. Bear's not very good at that. Too much fabric. Too long. But Bear definitely looks good in her Saree. Very dark lilac with golden pattern. Suits Bear. Anyway, Chandni borrowed Bear her petticoat (two things Bear needs for her Saree and doesn't have yet: a blouse and a petticoat - both preferably in black) and then wrapped the whole thing ar0und Bear. Chandni knows how to do that.
Bear couldn't move properly. Only small steps. No hopping. Bear wondered how she would be able to dance. While Bear walked around a bit, trying to hop back and forth, Lisa went back to her car getting the sun protection. It was going to be a hot, sunny day and Lisa's skin is pretty white. In between a few others turned up and got dressed. A funny looking bunch it was. Only nine people (in the course they were up to 30 at times), but a good bunch. A group that got along very well.

A few put on some sun protection - others didn't (and got badly sunburned). And while fixing a cloth here, putting on some creme there, trying to get the Laptop playing the music and chatting away, our cameraman Peter turned up. Peter is a friend of Lisa's who agreed to film the whole thing. A very nice chap.
Peter put up his camera and the Bollygroup did their greeting ritual: greeting each other, greeting the god of dancers, greeting our dance instructor and then warmed up a bit. The muscles that is. Although one could have thought that this was not necessary as the sun was very intense already...

At first Lisa said that the whole choreography was to be danced within one piece, someone's going to film it and then only two/three cuts here and there and that was that. Fortunately she changed her mind on the set. Beginning the clip on the meadow in the sun doing a few moves, then changed location into the shades underneath the trees doing some other moves, then changed location again... and so it went on and on. Not only did the dancers change location pretty often (well, location still *on* the Jesuitenwiese), but also the dance formation. And doing only few dance moves, maybe twice or three times and then stopping and doing other moves somewhere else. Which was very good. Especially for Bear. Coz Bear could never remember the whole choreography. But Bear can always recall parts.
While for the first hour the dance group tried to get away from the irrigation plants, they then decided to add some wet Saree scenes to the clip aswell. It was just too hot to avoid the water nozzles all the time. Geezus, was that good fun!!!

Well, all in all the Bollydancers spent four hours there. Dancing, hopping, clapping, chatting, singing and basically just having fun. At about midday it was time for "back up". The whole thing was done. Neither the group nor Lisa had any more energy to think about some new formation or anything. And it was so hot.
Chandni helped Bear unwrapping again. Lisa said that the video might be finished in September, as she is going on holidays first and then it'll take some time until it is done.
The group said farewell and wished each other a great holiday and everyone went home. And everyone is so much looking forward to the video.

That was the best way to end a term of Bollywood-Dance-Practise!! Thank you!!
~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~
Click on my picture to see more photos on Chandni's album.

Heatwave, heatwave go away...

2008-06-22T19:18:00.011+02:00

Bear has some exams the following weeks and also needs to see her tutor for her thesis and should also do some work on this... But Bear can hardly concentrate. It's too hot. It's 35°C outside and 31°C in Bear's living room. Bears don't like the heat. Bears rather freeze than sweat. Same applies to HimBears.
Bear just had a cold shower and as soon as stepped out of it starting sweating again. Yuck!!

But there are some exciting news aswell: Bear will do Bollydancing in public soon! This term's students of Bollywood-Dance will dance their choreography out on a field and it will be filmed. Not for audience-purposes, just for private use, but if one is interested in seeing some fun having students trying to follow a Bollywood choreography in Saris, Salva Kameez and other Indian outfits - feel free to watch them. Bear is not really on a loving basis with this therms choreography - it's too difficult for Bear feet. But Bear will try. And Bear will also wear her Sari for the first time...
Where: Jesuitenwiese, Prater. When: Tuesday, 01.07.08 at 9am.

Back to Psychology now. (Maybe having another shower first?)

Oh, and btw: as stated down below, you can leave a comment to Bear's Blogs if you feel like it! Just click on "comments", write what you want to say and choose your identity. You don't need to be registrated, you can also comment with your name or anonymus if you're a coward/chicken. :-)

Austria lost big time vs. Germany

2008-06-16T22:53:00.006+02:00

Ok, so finally Austria has lost against Germany - of course! What else did we asume? (For those who don't know: it's the European Championship in soccer/football hosted by Austria and Switzerland)
It was a bit exciting first time, after the break getting pretty boring - BUT what HimBear definitely enjoyed was the ads running on TV right after the game and the stupid question of the interviewer and the fact that Austria was the worst team ever to lose the European Championship with only one point. (Not that HimBear knows anything about that, but that's what they said on TV...)
Right after the game they showed TV ads where they assumed that Austria had won the game - so funny!!! And also the ones where all of Austria (including other sportsmen) supports the Austrian team on their way *to* the Championship. Very well planned!! HimBear couldn't stop laughing - though this is also somehow embarassing... :-)

The coaches (both of them!) had to leave the field/pitch because they were arguing too much and were too far into the field/pitch. After the game the interviewer asked one of the Austrian players if they thought that the coach was missing when he wasn't on the field/pitch anymore. And he just looked at him and frowned! Hahaha, what a stupid question!! One could see that he fought himself not to say: "Noo." :-)
Anyway, now Austria has to hang on to the Cordoba stuff for another 30 years and just live with the fact that we suck in football (soccer). We should stick to skiing. Could Austria please realise that and take that fact for granted?!

~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~
Zitate des Abends:
"Ein Spiel in dem man keine Tore schießt, kann man nicht gewinnen." (Stickler)
"Fußball ist ein einfaches Spiel auf Rasen mit 22 Spielern und am Ende gewinnt doch Deutschland." (Gary Lineker)

Thank you! :-)

Lost bugs only at Mayfest / Finally leaving on a Jetplane

2008-06-12T21:56:00.017+02:00

Sunday, May 4th 2008

Before Bear went to Texas she (yes, *she*! Bear was told that Bears are sexual creatures and therefor should be adressed with the correct sex) surfed the net for information about Fort Worth and stumbled across something called "Mayfest" which took place from May 1st to May 4th at the banks of Trinity river. Bear told OP that she would like to go there and so they went on Sunday. OP told Bear that this was something mainly for families and children - and so it was. Lots of things for children to do and play with but also lots of booths with food or handcraft things or souveniers to buy. Unfortunately nothing what Bear would have liked to get, but at least lots of people around.
It was a bright sunny and warm day and so OP told Bear that they would be going there in his VW bug which is a convertible. OP behaved very gentleman-like that day with that car. He would always open the doors for Bear - maybe he thought Bear didn't know how to open them?! :-)
So, when Bear was finally ready to go they hit the streets. Bear felt pretty uncomfortable at first in the buggy. Bear has an old Mini (not for long anymore - and no, that's not Bear's in the picture, but it looks the same: Mini Sprite, British open, British racing green, 94) and there is not a big difference in driving an open bug or a Mini. Both have only 4 gears in both one is seated pretty low and both are pretty loud. *But* it is a big difference if one drives a small car like this on Austrian streets with lots of normally sized cars around or on US highways with lots of trucks and pick-ups around! And Bear must admit that at first she had not a lot of faith in OP's driving abilities with a gearshift as OP's other car was automatic and most US cars have automatic. But of course OP was a very good driver and handled that gearshift just as well, though Bear could not help but try to tell OP that he should go into neutral when waiting at stop signs or red light. Obviously OP did not have a lot of faith in Bear's driving abilities either :-).
Anyway, they made it safe to a parking-lot where they left the car and got onto a mini-train which went through the park along the river right to the Mayfest. It was a huge area. Bear got the tickets and they went inside. It really was not that exciting after all, but it was nice. Lots of families around. Bear and OP wandered around the whole thing, Bear always looking for some presents to bring home or maybe a Cowboy hat which Bear had wanted all the time. But Bear couldn't find anything that really attracted her. And most of the things were too expensive anyway.
There were lots of booths with food and OP made Bear try nearly everything. They always bought one thing together - otherwise they couldn't have eaten so many things and they were also invited for dinner at OP's dads. So Bear got some hotdog on a stick (Bear remembers that in Austria they had something similar), some roasted corn, and a few other things. OP also wanted Bear to try a certain ice-cream but the only booth that still had it, was way back and they were too tired - and there was also not enough time anymore - to go back.
At one point they met Niki, OP's sister, and her family and said Hello. And while queuing for some food, Bear saw a very small fenced in part with a sign that made Bear laugh for at least 15 minutes. Actually this place was meant for children that had lost their parents somewhere in the park and parents could pick them up there. But as a parent you were not allowed to put your child in there when you wanted it to be guarded by someone else, because you needed to do someting alone or whatever. But what made Bear laugh so much was the huge sign that read "Lost & Found - Lost children only" - don't you dare to put in some other child! - and the place itself which was so small that it was more like a cage. It probably was not so funny for native speakers as a woman standing behind Bear just looked at her a bit confused until OP explained: "She is from Europe." And Bear stood there for another ten minutes laughing her head off.

Well, that was that. A nice Sunday outing but not as exciting as Bear hoped it would be. So at about 6pm they headed back to the train-station to get the next mini-train back to the car park. OP's dad had invited them for dinner and he and his wife were already waiting for Bear and OP. Back on the mini-train to the car park, back in the buggy and onto the streets. This time Bear felt more comfortable in the bug. On one hand because they never went on the highway and also because Bear got used to driving in the bug.
OP's father was only ten minutes away living in a house that looked like the house Niki lived in. Small on the outside but bigger on the inside. With a small garden at the front and a bigger one at the back. Very American as Bear thought. OP's father and his wife were very nice and welcoming. Bear got some sweet tea (there is a difference between ice-tea and sweet tea!) and they sat down at the table where there was some sweet corn waiting and something that looked like a potatoe fritter but with tunafish and some green beans and salad. When Bear saw the sweet corn she thought: "Wow, it's getting even more American." :-) Before they started eating OP's father said grace including Bear in it. Bear was so touched!! He said Thank you that they got to know Bear and wished for a good journey home for Bear and that Bear and her loved ones will stay healthy and happy. Bear thought that this was so nice!!
While having the dinner - which was really lovely - they talked a bit about the usual things Bear got asked when she was there. If it was her first time in the U.S. and what she thought about Texas and what she thought was the big difference and what she liked most and also they wanted to know how the Austrians made their lovely salad dressing. OP's father and his wife have already been to Austria and they said that she just loved the salad dressing and that they tried to do it at home but it just wouldn't taste the same. So Bear explained it - which was really easy as it is only oil, vinegar, water, salt and pepper - but they decided that it might be the oil which made it taste so different.
For dessert they had coffee, some ice-cream and home made cookies. Then they watched a hockey game and finally OP and Bear went back home. It had gotten dark already but they stopped at a supermarket because OP remembered that Bear hadn't seen a proper American supermarket yet. It was a Wal-Mart and it was huge! They had everything there from food to clothes to CDs and DVDs, ... just everything you can think of. Bear finally got to see the rows of cereal and milk - as long as a whole supermarket in Austria would be and one could choose from cereal and milk only! Well, everything is bigger in Texas...
Bear got herself some chocolate chip cookies a chocolate bar and a country-music CD by George Strait, OP some sunglasses as he left his at Amber's flat and then they finally went back home. Bear still had to pack her suitcase. The plan was actually to leave early Monday morning for Dallas and have a look around Dallas - since they never managed to go there for the last ten days - and then go to the airport. So Bear had to have her things ready by Monday morning.

Monday, May 5th 2008

Bear's holiday was over. It was Monday. The day to leave Texas. The plan was to get up early, go to Dallas, walk around a bit and then go to the aiport. Bear's flight was due afternoon. That was the plan. The alarm went off early. Bear and OP switched it off, turned round and went back to sleep. So much for the plan of leaving early. Finally they did get up. But too late to go to Dallas before Bear had to be at the airport. So OP went to get some breakfast for Bear - he realised that Bear hadn't have any doughnuts yet. And Bear finished packing her very last things.
OP came back with lots of doughnuts. More than he actually asked for. Obviously he told the grocer that he had a visitor from Europe who had never had a doughnut before (which was not quite true, as Bear did have a doughnut before, but not a real American one) and so he got more for the European visitor to try. Bear did not eat them all. Bear gave half of them to OP, wrapped up another half of hers for later and ate the rest. Very sweet. Both, the grocer and the doughnuts.
So, it was their last morning coffee, cigarettes and newspaper out on the patio (!) before they finally hit the streets to Dallas airport.

A few days before Bear tried to confirm her flight details on the internet, which did not quite work. So OP called American Airlines and they said that the times were still the same. Bear just hoped that they were right. When they arrived at the airport, Bear handed her tickets to the AA-lady who told Bear that her luggage will be checked right through to Vienna, which made OP say not to lose it in the U.K. and the lady replied that this will happen with BA and not with AA with a grin on her face. Then she told Bear to check the luggage in at that guy who was right across the room. Weird that they do not check it in where Bear got her boarding pass. Bear went there and handed her luggage to that guy who asked Bear if she had any fire arms in her suitcase. Bear looked at him puzzled and stumbled "no". What a funny question to ask. On the other hand, Bear was in Texas and did not everyone in Texas have a weapon at home?! Anyway, Bear did not. They had one more cigarette outside the building - Bear's last cigarette for another 24 hours. Then OP and Bear said goodbye as Bear queued for the security check. Bear promised to text OP when she was safe back in Vienna and off OP went.
One more time shoes off, and everything getting checked and Bear was through security. Bear headed right for her gate, passing a few souvenir-shops, looking once more for a Cowboy hat or another present for Danielle (Bear promised to get Danielle something from Texas for her birthday) but couldn't find anything proper. Bear did see a funny T-shirt which had the horns of a longhorn cow on front and a line saying "nice racks" which Bear liked a lot and wanted to buy for Danielle, but unfortunately they didn't have the correct size. So Bear got a small stuffed horse that said "Texas" instead. Danielle is into horses a lot.
Then Bear saw Roosevelt. Bear fell in love with Roosevelt. Roosevelt was a bolster shaped with a Bear's face and Bear always wanted to have a bolster. Bear looked at Roosevelt but then decided not to spend money on it and went on. But Bear couldn't help it and went back to have another look at him. The lady watching Bear coming back said something like "You know you want it" and Bear decided to get Roosevelt. He is so comfy. Bear and Hamish will take Roosevelt on every trip from now on. Why is he called Roosevelt, you may ask. Well, it's a Teddy... so Teddy Roosevelt...

Anyway... Bear was at the right gate waiting. Quite boring. So Bear took a pictures of Roosevelt, Hamish and the pony. Finally the passengers were allowed to board. Bear got to her seat. Quite a lot of people were on that plane. Bear's seat was a middle one. Bear was not happy about that. She sat between two Irish ladies who were very quiet indeed, but Bear doesn't like to be in the middle.
The plane got onto the runway and stopped. For 1,5 hours. The captain told the passengers that they themselves were ready to leave, but obviously there were too many other planes ready to leave and so they had to wait. For 1,5 hours. On the runway. A lot of people got nervous because they had to catch a connection in Chicago and would obviously miss it. So did Bear. Bear had a connection leaving 45mins after landing in Chicago which made Bear nervous in the first place as Chicago was a huge airport and Bear was not too sure where to go to. After half an hour it was sure that Bear would miss her connection. Bear had never missed a connection before and was not sure what to do then. So Bear went to talk to a flight attendant telling her that she would miss her connection to London and what to do and the lady told Bear that she would find out as soon as they were flying as she couldn't get a hold of the airport in Chicago now. She also told Bear that she had a gentleman in first class who also had a connection to London and Bear told that man (who came up to them now) that she would appreciate him waiting for Bear in Chicago as he was English himself and could get the information easier as Bear could being nervous and all that. He said he would wait for Bear.
There was a man behind Bear who talked to another lady very loudly about him missing his connection - obviously again - and that they thought of maybe leaving the plane now and staying in Dallas as this would be the better option. The two Irish ladies next to Bear said that this was the most stupid idea they every heard before. So thought Bear. One couldn't get off a plane anymore once one were on. Security reasons. Well, obviously those two people thought they were the only ones missing their flights, when a few others - including Bear - turned round and told them to calm down since more people had connections they were going to miss. Didn't really shut them up.
Finally, after waiting 1,5 hours on the runway and a pretty annoyed captain who told the passengers every ten minutes how incompetent the tower seemed to be, the plane was allowed to take off. On the way the flight attendants announced new connection flights for the ones missing theirs, except the ones to London. So Bear once more went to that flight attendant lady and asked what she was about to do when landing in Chicago and that lady told Bear to get right to one of the officers and ask them. They would handle that. Bear once more made sure that the first class Englishman would wait for Bear in Chicago.
So, when Bear finally got off the plane - everybody was in such a rush - Bear looked for someone who looked important enough to tell Bear what to do and saw the Englishman waiting for Bear. Bear thought that this was really nice. He already got hold of a lady who dealt with his new flight and told her to handle that for Bear aswell. Very nice, Bear thought. That man also waited until Bear was told by that lady where to go and what to do. Really really nice, Bear thought. That lady, who was an elderly and very charming one, told Bear that she couldn't take the same flight as the Englishman as Bear had to get another connection to Vienna then. She said Bear would have to go to Frankfurt instead. And from Frankfurt get a connection to Vienna, which meant that in Frankfurt Bear would have to tell them again, to re-board Bear. That was easy, Bear thought, they speak German in Frankfurt. Bear asked about her luggage as she was told in Dallas that this was going to be checked through and that lady re-assured Bear that it still would be. Bear was not so sure, but was mainly happy to be able to get home within a day (more or less, regarding the time-difference).
Ok, so Bear was told to go to another gate which was only 5mins away and show them her ticket and tell them to let Bear on board. Bear said thank you, said fare well and thank you to the Englishman and off Bear went. Wrong direction. Bear realised after a few minutes and asked some flight attendant for the right direction. Bear finally found that gate, gave her tickets to the lady at the counter and told her that she was re-booked onto this flight. That lady, who had a french accent, was pretty rude and unfriendly. She looked at the tickets and asked what she was about to do with those. Bear looked at her and asked how Bear was supposed to know as she was only the passenger, missed her flight because of the airport and was told to come here and board the plane to Frankfurt. The lady gave Bear the tickets back and told her that these were the old tickets and Bear needed to get new ones. Bear asked how and that lady replied she didn't really know (nor care) and Bear should ask the officer who told Bear to get here. Bear gave her a look and went back to the other charming lady, told her how unfriendly that person was and asked for help. That lady shook her head, said that all Bear needed was a new ticket printed and that this woman probably didn't know how to do that. She printed a new ticket (only the one from Chicago to Frankfurt) for Bear and told Bear to tell that unfriendly woman to go to her counter after work and she will show her how to print tickets. Bear grinned, thanked her and went to the other gate again - this time in the right direction.
Bear handed that unfriendly, french accented lady her new ticket and said: "I am back." She hardly took any notice, did her thing, Bear got her boarding pass and boarded. Bear went to her seat and frowned. A baby right behind Bear! Bear sat down (window seat in the two seats row) and prayed for no more babies. Another young mother came up with a baby and sat down in the middle row, next to Bear's row. And one more in front of Bear. Bear was close to tears. The whole plane from Chicago to Frankfurt was full of young families with babies!!! Only a few elderly people, lots of babies and Bear. Bear thought of faking a hysterical attack to be able to get off the plane... but Bear settled for praying for no Baby sitting beside her instead. And so it was. The plane was not completely full to the last seat, not very empty either, but here and there were a few empty seats and Bear was lucky indeed. She had the whole set of two seats all for herself. Bear was happy. At least something. Bear was still afraid that the babies would cry and be loud during that looong flight, but Bear was lucky. The babies did behave.

Again it took some time until the plane finally took off but eventually it did and off Bear went into the sunset heading for Europe. Bear watched the sunset for quite a while, took a lot of pictures and watched TV. It was some not very funny TV-series on. Bear also tried to read but that didn't workt too well either, so eventually when lights went out everywhere on the plane, Bear tried to go to sleep. Although Bear did have two seats on her own, it was still not very comfy. Bear just can't sleep sitting up. And two seats were not enough to lie down. So Bear hardly had any rest. At some point Bear must have been sound asleep anyhow (if only for two hours) because Bear rememberd having the blinds of her window half way up and when Bear awoke they were down. But Bear felt like having no rest at all...
When Bear woke up, she looked outside the window and saw dawn breaking ahead. That was quite a nice sight. And quite a fascinating thought too. Leaving the US in the sunset and arriving in Europe at dawn. It's like flying away from the night...

Frankfurt. Finally german speaking people. German german, but german at least. Bear was dead tired. And fed up. Frankfurt airport is horrible. Not very well signposted at all. Half of her way Bear was not even sure that she was on the right way. Bear did ask when she left the plane where to go and was told to get to some hall to get her new ticket. Obviously that hall was at the other end of the airport. Bear walked for quite a while. When Bear passed passport control, the two - pretty bored - men looked at Bear and at Bear's passport and told her that Austrians are actually not allowed to pass anymore. Bear gave them a look and the other one said that Austrians are quite some naughty folk, that's why. And they also said that Bear did not look like on the photo. Bear was definitely not in the mood for jokes. So Bear replied: "Listen guys, I just had quite a trip coming from the US, I am tired, pissed off and my luggage is probably somewhere in China. No wonder I don't like my picture. I need to get a new ticket and find my way through this bad airport and am really not in the mood for jokes. So give me back my passport and get on someone elses nerves."
Ok. It was probably not a good idea to say that while they had Bear's passport and Bear being in nowhereland at the airport. But Bear couldn't help it. Anway, it worked. They just grinned at Bear, handed her the passport and wished Bear a good trip home.
Finally, after walking the airport like three times Bear found the hall Bear needed to find. Bear headed right for security, but that woman told Bear that she was not allowed through without her new ticket. Bear feared that she might have to walk the whole airport again, but that woman told Bear that the counter was right behind Bear. Thank God!
A very charming young lady printed the new ticket for Bear. Bear asked about her luggage. Bad question. If Bear could give her the sticker, the young lady asked, so she could scan the number. Bear didn't have any sticker. Bear never got any at Dallas airport. Together they searched every single ticket, old and new ones, boarding passes and Bear's passport. No sticker. Well, that was not too good, the lady said. Bear should have gotten a sticker. Bear explained to her that Bear got the boarding pass at one counter and handed over her luggage at another one, so Bear was not sure where she should have gotten that sticker. Bear also figured that OP who was chatting to the lady at Dallas airport, distracted her a bit from her work. Anyway, no sticker.
So, the young girl tried to find Bear's luggage in the computer without the sticker. No luck. She called American Airlines and asked where Bear's luggage was. Bear's luggage was not there. Bear's luggage was not in Chicago nor in Dallas. Bear didn't have any luggage, the computer said. And American Airlines said so too. The young lady was pretty contrite and asked wether Bear had her name and address on or in it. Bear said that she had both on the suitcase. That was a good thing, the girl said. So, the suitcase will be back eventually. Probably within the next week. Or two.
Bear didn't care too much about it anymore. Bear thanked the girl, headed for security and got on the plane. For some reason the journey from Frankfurt to Vienna is wiped off Bear's memory. Bear was probably knocked out then. Bear just remembers getting off in Vienna and heading right for the next possibility to have a cigarette. Bear talked to a young woman who wanted to go on holidays with her family and got stuck in Vienna in between. And then Bear looked the right luggage belt, hoping that her suitcase might have found its way to Vienna anyhow. And what a surprise, it was right the first one that came out. Bear was happy.

Bear's father picked Bear up. Bear was home again. Bear looked at her house. Dirty. Disgustingly dirty. Bear started to hoover. After nearly 24 hours of travelling, and quite a trip this was, Bear started cleaning her house when she came home. Bear didn't want to unpack in that dirt. After cleaning Bear started to unpack, put in the George Strait CD and downloaded her photos.
Bear had an unusual holiday. Bear had a different holiday. Bear had a good holiday. Bear took home a lot of good memories, and experiences. Bear was happy.

The end

Bad boys, bad boys...

2008-06-08T21:39:00.006+02:00

Saturday, May 3rd 2008

Bear will not tell everything in detail as this was Andy's work and not just a tourist attraction. It was definitely a highlight of Bear's unusual holiday - if you want to know what happened, Bear will tell you personally.
~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~

10am, OP dropped Bear off at Sansom Park police station. Andy already waited in the car and told OP to pick Bear up again at 6pm. Bear got in the car and looked around. Lots of stuff in there.
At first Bear was pretty quiet and silent. Andy told Bear a few things of his work and said that Bear could ask any time and any question it would have. Bear thought it would rather not interrupt Andy at work, but Andy was pretty cool about that and after a few hours they got on very well. And Bear was not too shy any more.
Bear and Andy talked about quite a few things: about Bear's holiday, about OP, about Andy, about Bear's life, about Andy's life, about lots of things.

Bear and Andy also did quite a few things: most of the time they were on the road checking cars. In the US the police is not allowed to stop a driver without a reason. In Austria they stop cars just to check them - that would be the reason then. But in the US they won't just stop a car to check on it - there has to be a reason and in that case the reason could be a sticker on the wrong side of the car or the plate hanging lose. Reasons that in Austria would cause the driver smiling at the police :-) and the police probably grinning back. Anyway a lot of cars got stopped during that day, quite a few people had to get out and Bear could not believe it, but the things about not moving, getting checked for weapons, having to put your hands above the head... all those things the Europeans only see on TV - it's true!
Bear also got to play with the speed camera - Andy explained it and Bear tried it. Was good fun. Unfortunately Bear didn't catch any speeders. First of all Andy wouldn't have been allowed to stop them because Bear had the speed camera and secondly they were all openly standing at the highway - everyone could see the police car. One would have had to be very stupid to go too fast then. Later Andy and Bear hid somewhere and Andy did catch a speeder.
At one point Andy also tried to get some drug-dogs (or whatever you call the dogs that sniff for drugs) but since it was a Saturday some of them were on the weekend and the others occupied.
Andy showed Bear a video of his last car chase and Bear hoped that a thing like that wouldn't happen that day. (It didn't and Andy wouldn't have let Bear join it anyway) Bear also got invited for lunch by Andy. It was Mexican food and Bear let Andy order it as Bear had no idea what to eat. It was something with refried beans (?), something Burrito- or Taco- or whatever-style ... but it was very good. Bear liked it.
Andy also showed Bear around that area a bit especially a hill where one could look across Fort Worth and where couples would come at night to make out :-)
When they had a small break at the police station, Bear talked to the firemen (volunteers) and made some nice pictures of them and the police cars and fire engines.
Lots of things they did that day and Bear was getting pretty tired, though it sat in the car most of the time watching Andy working and listening to him as he always turned some speaker in the car on when he left it. So Bear could follow (or try to) the conversation he had with the drivers he pulled over (which were quite a lot actually!) At the end of the day someone even got arrested! And Bear was right there watching it all and not getting for a whole hour why that guy was arrested and put in jail. Bear was pretty frightened about that but it all turned out to be quite harmless at the end. Still Bear thought that this was an extremely exciting day and was *very* happy when OP finally showed up at 6pm to pick Bear up again.

~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~
Ok, Bear is definitely not into soccer at all but still watching the Europe championship at the moment: Austria vs. Poland and Bear must admit: it is not boring at all! And Austria really tries hard, though it's 1:0 for Poland atm. That goal was more an accident than really meant to be, but still. Even Bear gets that.
~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~~*°*~

So what is the big difference between US-police and police in Austria? First of all the US-police has a whole different attitude and appearance than Austrian police and US citizens react to the police with a lot more respect than Austrians would towards Austrian police. Which does not mean that Austrians don't have any respect for the police, but well... it's different :-) Bear thinks that the uniforms and weapons the US-police wear also makes a lot difference. Do Austrian policemen carry a gun around all the time? Bear doesn't think so.
Well, to sum it all up: it was a great day and Bear thanks Andy a lot for taking it with him that day!!

Evening
After that tiring day OP, Andy and Bear went to the Texas Steakhouse for dinner. They stood outside for quite a while and the guys talked until Bear at one point asked why they didn't go inside and eat. Andy told Bear that they had to wait until there were free seats and Bear asked how they would know that there is a free place when they stand outside all the time. Andy pointed at a display outside showing numbers. Bear felt a bit blonde. But hey, how should have Bear known?!
Finally they did get a table and their waiter was very nice and talkative. Bear asked OP and Andy to order for Bear as Bear - again - had no idea which would be a good steak to have. Bear had not had steak before. Andy orderd for Bear - again. And a good order it was. Bear had a lovely steak, medium, with vegetables and also did eat Andy's green beans. First day that Bear had food twice. But that working day with Andy made Bear very hungry. And very tired. Bear slept so well that night.

Billy Bob's lazy day

2008-06-03T14:38:00.006+02:00

Friday, May 2nd 2008

Morning - Afternoon
Friday was an extremely lazy day. Bear and OP got up very late, had some breakfast on the patio (*patio*patio*), read the newspaper, talked and basically did nothing that day. Later on OP had some friends a visiting - a nice young couple who also sat down on the ... PATIO... and talked while Bear had a shower and freshened up a bit. They then decided to go to Kincaid's Hamburgers where Bear had a bacon burger, of course and for the first time realised that one gets free refills of every drink in Texas. Clever thing! Buy a drink and refill it as often as you like. Bear only discovered one McDonald's in Vienna on Mariahilfer Straße where they have free refills also.

After going back home, OP and his friends played on the X-Box and talked while Bear caught up on its emails and did tell a few people that it was fine and enjoying itself. Bear only sent one text after arriving in Texas to its parents and then sent nothing up until this Friday. Bear got a text from its daddy Thursday night asking if it was still alive. And some of Bear's other friends also texted asking if Bear was ok since they hadn't heard anything for a whole week. Well, Bear was enjoying itself so much that it simply forgot that there might be some people in Europe worrying... Anyway, Bear wrote some emails, sent some textes, tried to blog (which did not really work as Bear was too lazy to write in detail), surfed the web for a while, wrote some postcards, tried to write in its diary (did not work either), listened to music on its mobile and sang along. Oh yeh, and most of that on the patio of course. Bear did not really pay attention but saw some more people coming and leaving aswell. But Bear liked doing nothing, just sitting on the p.a.t.i.o. and listening to music.
So, this was really a lazy day.

Evening
Later that night Bear and OP went out to Billy Bob's Texas. Billy Bob's is a huge place in the Stockyards with bars, live bands, pool tables, mechanical bulls and real rodeo and one can do some country dance there. Bear read about that on the net and also the Texan guys Bear talked to at Heathrow airport told Bear to go there. So OP got his cowboy-y things out: jeans, white shirt, Cowboy-boots and Bear dressed up a bit and off they went to the Stockyards. Bear thought that OP looked really yummie - and a few other girls at Billy Bob's thought so also - Bear saw their looks when they passed them.
They had to pay 10$ each for entrance because of some live band playing there, wandered around a bit, looked for a sticker they saw on a car when getting there: "Welcome to Texas - Now go home!". Bear thought this was really funny and would have wanted to have a sticker like that. But at that souvenir-shop they only had Billy Bob's-things. So they got themselves a beer and sat down at a table close to the dance floor and watched people dancing. It was Friday night but there were not really a lot of people. Unfortunately. But that was probably also because the whole place was so immensly huge, that it would have taken a lot more people to crowd it up. Anyway Bear got to hear some folk/country music and got to see some Cowboys and Cowgirls dancing. Now the Texas Two Step really is a funny dance to watch. Especially for someone who is from a country that claims it sort of invented ballroom dancing. What was the funniest thing, Bear thought, was the way the dancing couple held each other. First of all you bend your body forward towards your pardner, so that the chests are pressing against the other one. Then the girl has her left hand on the man's shoulder and the man grabs the girl with his right hand around her neck! This is obviously the way they lead the girls. It sometimes looked as if they were about to strangle the girl instead of leading on the dancefloor! Well, the whole dance looked really funny, sometimes as if they were not so sure what they were supposed to do but kinda knew theoretically how to do it.
OP left Bear for a short while and Bear was really frightened that one of the Cowboys asked Bear to dance, because he was looking at Bear all the time. But fortunately he didn't. So Bear continued watching and making a video (which will be online as soon as Bear figures how to) and OP did come back with some Tacos which Bear had to eat with its hands as OP did not allow Bear to use the fork. He also offered Bear another Jalapeno, but since Bear never got the 150$ from the first Jalapeno it ate, it refused to try that one.
There was a female couple dancing where one of the girls obviously knew what to do and she showed the other girl. Bear watched them for a while and suddenly the girl fell on the floor. Or at least that's what Bear thought, but it was a dancing figure where that girl threw herself onto the floor, landing on her butt, turning round and during that turn stood back up again. Now that looked cool!

Bear and OP watched for a while, but at one point OP obviously got bored. OP is not that much into country music. So he asked Bear if they wanted to leave and since Bear had to get up quite early (for a holiday that is) the next morning to be on its date for a cop ride the next morning, Bear decided that it was time to leave aswell. Off they went back home. Bear liked country music. Bear also liked to watch country dance. Looked funny. But the next day was going to be a real highlight.

Texas Rangers shopping at a private party

2008-05-26T00:08:00.011+02:00

Thursday, May 01st 2008

Midday-Afternoon
Again another slow morning. This day was going to be a special day for Bear. Bear and OP were invited to a suite at the Rangers ballpark in Arlington to watch a game of the Texas Rangers. OP has a friend, Jonathon, whose father ownes a suite there and sells Baseball Diamonds, custom made jewelery. This is why Bear and OP were allowed to come in that day and so Bear could watch its first live Baseball from a suite. It was a big suite with huge comfy chairs and sofas and a big telly. One could either watch the game on that telly or go out onto the balcony and watch the game from there. Or one could go around in the stadium and watch it from anywhere. Bear and OP also got some free food and drinks there. Bear thought such a suite is a nice thing. OP's friend Jon was very gentleman-like and asked Bear if it needed anything and if he could bring Bear anything.
Everyone told Bear to be prepared for a very long game - probably about 3-4 hours or even longer. Also did they tell Bear that the Rangers had not won for quite a while and maybe won't this day either. So, actually everyone did tell Bear that it might not enjoy itself. But Bear did. Bear likes Baseball.
So they sat on the balcony for some while and OP tried to explain the rules of the game to Bear. Lots of rules in Baseball. Bear did not understand them all but tried. Bear did understand one rule: stealing the base. And suddenly Bear realised: *That is the reason for the really long games!* Bear just wondered why nobody else had that idea before?!
Jon also gave Bear and OP binoculars and they talked to a nice couple who were sitting next to them. OP always told everyone that it was Bear's first time in the stadium. The whole ten days everything was always the first time for Bear... Anyway, after watching the game for a while from the balcony, OP asked Bear if they wanted to wander around a bit. So they got their free tickets (if you're in a suite, one needs to get some tickets to be able to leave the building - where the suites are - and re-enter it to be able to go to the tiers), Jon asked OP once more if he remembered the rules ("be back before some inning" - forgot which one) and off they went. Before re-entering the building on the other side, they had a cigarette and then went around. Underneath the tiers there were booths with food and drinks and souveniers. Bear quite liked the earrings with the Texas Rangers' "T" on them, but Bear thought they were too expensive. On the other hand, Bear should have bought them, they were really nice and Bear couldn't find them anywhere else anymore. That's what OP called the "Vatican Syndrome": if you see something you like, get it and don't think you might come back or get it somewhere else, because you won't. True.
Bear and OP went around, Bear took some pictures, until they were at the seats right behind the catcher. They asked a security guy if they were allowed in and have a seat (as there were not too many people around anyway) and he told them he would make a picture of OP and Bear if they wanted to. After that picture Bear and OP sat down and Bear wanted to take some more pictures as everyone around suddenly stood up. So Bear decided to take some pictures of the audience instead when OP suddenly told Bear that the game was over. The Rangers scored and so the whole thing only lasted about two hours. And Bear hadn't payed attention! Because Bear was watching the audience instead. BUT the Texas Rangers won. Actually the Rangers did win for the whole week Bear was in Texas. Call it what you want, but Bear seemed to be a good luck charm for the Rangers...

Bear and OP went back to the suite where Jon was already cleaning. They stayed watching Jon working, talked to his father, had some more food and decided to get Jon to the garage to get his car later.
At the garage they had to wait for some time because Jon's car was not ready yet. So OP decided to let them do something on the Mystery Machine aswell - there was time enough. Jon showed Bear a gameboy game called "Pita Pong" or "Pongo Ping" or "Pita Pata" or whatever - Bear can't remember. When Bear read some magazines in Spanish about Texas' men and women (No, Bear can't read nor speak Spanish), OP played that game. Bear was a bit bored. Then three friends of Jon's arrived. And so it was six people waiting for the car getting ready.
All of them were OP's ex-students and all of them 18-20 years old. The girls first were a bit uncertain and reserved towards Bear, but not for a long time. They did then ask what nearly everyone asked Bear when they found out that Bear was European: if there was a big difference between Texas and Europe, if Bear liked Texas, if Bear could live in Texas, if Bear had already been to the US before, ... And they also told Bear that it had an accent - kinda British but not quite. Bear took that as a compliment. Better than having a German accent.

Finally the cars were ready. Jon and the girls asked wether Bear and OP would like to join them going to the mall. Bear wanted to visit a proper American mall anyway, so they decided Jon would lead in his car and the girls and OP would follow in their cars. Well, that was the plan. Jon obviously did some illegal turn somewhere and of course the girls and OP did not do that too, so they lost him. The girls turned round, OP followed - and lost them. But of course OP did find his way and arrived wayyy before the girls did. When Bear and OP arrived at the parking lot, Jon sat in the rear of his truck, eating the pasta he brought from the ballpark with chopsticks.
They had to wait quite a while for the girls who had obviously lost their way completely. Finally they arrived, having a few bites of the pasta aswell and then they all went off to the mall. There was an ice-rink inside and the whole mall was pretty huge. It was not very different to the malls in Austria, but of course a lot bigger. If Bear had been alone, it would have lost its way after the first turn. They went into a funny shop with lots of punky and gothy clothes in it and Bear found a T-Shirt that said: "I don't have ADD, I just ... oh look, a bunny rabbit". Bear loved that shirt! Bear should have bought it.
They wandered around a bit more until they found a souvenir shop for Bear called "Texas Treasures" where Bear bought some magnets and postcards. Later on Bear got caught by a girl that had a booth for cremes and things and who put some creme on Bear's hands and did something to one of Bear's nails which made it really shiny. Of course that girl wanted Bear to buy one of these things, but Bear didn't. Although Bear just couldn't say "No, thank you" and leave. That girl also told Bear that Bear had very beautiful eyes. Funny because that girl itself was extremely pretty and had lovely black eyes. She was from Israel which OP guessed within the first minute, so while she caressed Bear's hand they talked about Israel. Finally Bear had the guts to leave.

Evening
Bear was told that the plan was to go to Amber's place because she had just got her own flat and wanted to show it to them. So they all went to their cars and headed off to Ambers. Amber had two cats, a huge fury one called "Fuzzy" and a small one called "BeeBee". Bear immediately fell in love with Fuzzy. Bear loves huge cats. Bear also got to see some real yearbooks and when a few others arrived Bear managed to take a picture of someone carrying a beercan wrapped in a brown bag. Since one is not allowed to drink alcohol in the American public, one has to wrap it in a brown paper bag. Just like you always see it in the movies. Well, it's true. It was a long night. People were really nice. There was a lot to drink and a lot to talk. At one point in the night they got really philosophical. But at that time Bear couldn't follow the conversation anymore. It was way past Bear's bedtime. But it would take a lot more time until Bear and OP finally did drive home... But that's another story :-)

Chuck Norris winning pool billard

2008-05-22T11:31:00.008+02:00

Wednesday, May 30th 2008

Morning-Afternoon
Another slow morning. Bear and OP spent quite some time on the patio (p.a.t.i.o. - Bear is in love with that word) talking about life and God - literally.
In the afternoon they made their way back to downtown Fort Worth to walk around the other part of it. Bear needed to see the court house which is always in the opening scene of the TV-series "Walker Texas Ranger". Actually Bear wanted to see some real Texas Rangers but OP told Bear that it was more likely to see Chuck Norris himself than a Texas Ranger... Bear saw neither. Only the court house.

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Check out Chuck Norris facts in German and in English. - Enjoy!!
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Bear and OP wandered around a bit in that area and again Bear wondered where all the people were. Deserted streets. Very rarely a car and here and there one could spot a person. It seemed as if they themselves were not sure if they were allowed to walk on the streets or not. Ok, it was Wednesday afternoon, so people might have been at work, but hey, everywhere else in the world one would still see other people out on the streets. Not in Fort Worth. Fort Worth is deserted.

OP took Bear to a bar which some time ago used to be a different place where OP once played with his band. It does look a bit posh now, but very nice. It had a nice bar on the roof top which lots of plants around and Bear thought this was a really nice place. Bear and OP had a beer. Of course. And OP told Bear about the place. They also started to talk to their waiter - it's very easy to start a conversation with people (waiters, salespersons, any staff,...) in Texas. First of all they always greet you with a "Hi, how are you?", which of course is a phrase, but it makes it so much easier to start a conversation. Especially if you have someone like OP with you who does talk to everyone :-) . Bear and OP had quite a nice chat with that waiter, he was nice and talkative.
After that beer Bear and OP got hungry (or rather OP as Bear hardly ever seemed to be hungry in Texas) and OP took Bear to a Mexican place where Bear again had a salad (probably with some bacon in it) and OP had something with shrimps - something he said he always ate there. OP made Bear have a bite. OP said it was not hot, Bear could trust him. Bear did. Bear had a bite. Bear's eyes were watering. Bear drank a lot of its beer. Of course it got worse. OP found it quite amusing. Bear didn't. Bear told OP that it would never trust him again. It hurt. And so it did for quite some while. That is what Texan people considered not hot.
After the meal OP found someone he knew and went talking to them while Bear waited outside had a cigarette and took some more photos of the nice surroundings. Then they went on strolling around a bit and then headed back home.

Evening
Later that night Bear and OP went out. There was a Hockey game on TV and OP wanted to watch it in a Bar. Unfortunately it was nearly at the end when they arrived at the bar. But OP could at least watch a bit of it. They had a beer. And something potatoey. They then decided to change bar and have a couple of pool games. And a couple of beers. Bear was not very happy that day and told OP that it needed to get drunk. And so Bear did. And Bear also won five games out of six. Approximately. But Bear definitely won a few games and OP just one. Ok, Bear sucks at pool billard but enjoys playing it. And Bear only won because OP made some mistakes. But Bear didn't care. Bear won. Bear was tipsy and Bear won a few pool games. Bear's day ended fine.

Logan's running with a gun

2008-05-22T00:12:00.013+02:00

Tuesday, May 29th 2008

The only sightseeing-things Bear and OP did, they did on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since it was Bear's and also OP's holiday they started every day slow and relaxed. Also they went out a few times and Bear got to know lots of OP's - really nice! - friends and drove here and there around Fort Worth, so that there was not really lots of time to get out of Fort Worth. Doesn't matter. Bear will definitely come back! (Bear should maybe tell OP about that...)

Afternoon
So on Tuesday OP decided to take Bear downtown Fort Worth because Bear wanted to see the Water Gardens.
Bear read that the movie "Logan's Run" (in German: "Flucht ins 23. Jahrhundert") was partially filmed in malls in Fort Worth and Dallas and one of the last scenes in Fort Worth Water Gardens. That's when they finally make it into the outside world and meet their first elderly person.

Bear and OP rode in the Mystery Machine to downtown Fort Worth; OP explained the buildings they passed to Bear and they parked behind the Water Gardens. Before going into that urban park OP wanted to show Bear a bit around that part of downtown. Fort Worth only has about 5 sky scrapers and Bear likes sky scrapers. That's why Bear took a lot of pictuers of the same ones - it seemed to look different from every angle, though...
Weird thing they realised was that there were nearly no-one on the streets. Well, it was during the week and it was afternoon but still, streets were deserted. Where was everyone?
They wandered around a bit, OP pointed out the convention center and a fountain that had a statue of a lying panther on it. In the 1870ies Fort Worth was economically run-down for various reasons: no cattle, no railroad, decreasing population, ... it was a drowsy place. So drowsy that it made a panther lying asleep in the streets. When Fort Worth recovered economically many organisations called themselves "Panther" - hence "Pantherville" or "Panther City".

OP saw something on the telly that noon about a Cowboyhat-maker in Fort Worth and since Bear was looking for a Cowboyhat for itself and its friend Danielle, he decided to take Bear there. It was a very small store with loads of hats hanging around and at the back one could see how they were made. OP told the woman at the counter that he saw the store on TV earlier and that Bear is from Europe (exotic-Bear). She was very nice and explained things to Bear and OP and let them touch various hats made of various material and Bear was also allowed to take some pictures. Unfortunately Bear thought that as a holiday-pressie that will probably never ever be worn again even the cheapest hats were too expensive and decided not to buy any. Though one must admit that Bear did look good with that pinkish Cowboyhat - a Cowbear!
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Btw: it cooled down to 11°C here and my heating is back on - in May! Just thought I'd let you know...
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Bear and OP got hungry and went into some sandwich-bar. OP wanted to act a bit healthy and ordered a salad, Bear was as usual not too healthy and had a BLT-Sandwich with crisps (Bear didn't know about the crisps before!!) and a smoothie. Bear just loves bacon, that's why Bear always had a bacon burger or bacon sandwich or bacon... It was a good BLT-Sandwich. OP told Bear that the ones he does himself are the best. So the next day he made one for Bear and of course it was *so much better*!! (No, honestly! It was really good!! But just give Bear anything that contains bacon and Bear'll love it...)
Anyway, after having lunch (what do you call lunch when you have it at about 4pm? dunch? as in dinner+lunch?) Btw: for the non-British-American-food-knowers: BLT-sandwich = bacon, lettuce, tomatoe-sandwich. *yummie*

After that they went on towards the convention center, passed (again) some Methodists (Bear thinks... and is definitely not sure if this is the correct link) who had a ... convention! there. They sold some things in the center - Bear and OP walked through - and they had a preacher somewhere outside preaching (first time Bear saw something like this!). But since this was not too exciting, Bear and OP went on to the Water Gardens and wandered around there. Unfortunately they didn't have all the water running, which would have looked a lot cooler, but it was nice anyway. Apart from being made of concrete. Which is rather unusual for a park. But it was an urban park. So maybe that's why. And there was supposed to be much water running various ways. (Well, down of course, but coming from various sides...) And that would probably be not easy if the park was made of grass and with bushes and trees... anyway. Bear wanted to see it and Bear saw it. And Bear made a lot of pictures. After all Michael York and Peter Ustinov once stood there. Somewhere in there.
After climbing the highest spot, sitting down and looking around a bit for 5mins, Bear and OP headed back to the Mystery Machine and went home. There was a game of Tennis waiting for OP and he didn't want to be too late. Bear watched it for a short while, but got cold at one point and went back to the flat. So Bear never really got who won...

Evening
Later that night Bear and OP met Andy the cop for dinner. Andy wanted to take them out for dinner. They went into some place that did look a bit like a diner. Though Bear thinks it wasn't one. But it reminded Bear a wee bit of those. Unfortunately Bear was not very hungry. Bear had only eaten the BLT-sandwich that day (and of course breakfast, since OP made breakfast everyday for Bear) but still. Bear was not hungry. But Bear agreed on having a potatoe soup which was so good!!! Bear loved it. And then Bear decided to go right for the desert. Which was ok, since Bear would not eat a lot anyway during that week. It was some cake-y, white chocolate-y, vanilla-ice-cream-y sort of thing. The white chocolate being in, on and around the cake. It was far too heavy for a dinner desert. And far too much for Bear. But Bear stuffed itself. It was just so good. Bear loved it.
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(Another hint to catch a HimBear: bacon and chocolate - not necessarily together)
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Bear felt a bit sick after eating that huge thing. Bear couldn't move properly anymore. But on they went to Andy's flat. Where they met Andy's newborn baby. And someone else who shortly afterwards left. It was a relaxed evening. Some beer, some cigarettes, some talking. Until Andy decided to show Bear his gun. Bear first was not too keen on that, but Andy insisted. So Bear followed him to the kitchen where Andy showed Bear a "glock", made in Austria. Andy explained it to Bear and wanted Bear to hold it. Bear didn't want to. Andy told Bear to relax as he had taken every precaution and Bear didn't have to worry, so Bear hold it then. Bear felt uncomfortable. It was heavy. Bear didn't like to hold it. Bear wanted to give it back, but Andy wanted to make a picture what Bear nearly freaked out and Bear said: "No way. Imagine anyone in Austria seeing this!" Bear gave it back and then went back onto the patio (that word!!) had a cigarette, being quite tense and telling OP and Andy's girlfriend that Bear just held a gun for the first time in its life.
So that was that. Another unusual ending for one of Bear's holi-days.

C'mon cattle! Have a Jalapeno!

2008-05-18T21:14:00.029+02:00

Monday, May 28th 2008

Afternoon
Bear wanted to see the cattle at Stockyards. Fort Worth Stockyards is the national historic district where there are lots of Western Stores, a Rodeo place, Billy Bob's Texas and where they drive cattle along the streets twice a day. Hamish the Scottish Highland Coo wanted to see his Texan relatives - and so did Bear.
So Bear and OP headed off to Stockyards in OP's Mystery Machine. Not very many people on the streets there, but at least Bear saw its first Cowboy (or rather someone who wore a Cowboy-hat). They went around a bit, Bear took lots of pictures, read a few signs, talked to OP and then they sat down at the street to wait for the cattle.
There was a Cowboy-cop strolling along - it seemed the cattle-drive would start soon. And then they came. A few Cowboys on horses in front, behind and in between and a few Longhorns . Not many though. But there weren't many people on the streets either.
The Cowboy at the front always said: "Come on, cattle. Come on." And the cattle came. Slowly. Not looking left, not looking right they went along that street - Bear took pictures, Hamish got excited - and that was that. Bear imagined it a bit different. When Bear read about that it sounded like a real exciting thing: Cowboys galopping along, yelling "Yeehaww" and cattle running and mooing...
But anyway, Bear and Hamish got to see their cattle. And impressive horns they do have, Bear (and also Hamish) must admit!

After watching steaks on feet, OP suggested lunch (which was actually an early dinner, as it was about 5pm already). So they went to a place that looked like some Austrian Heuriger on the outside and ordered steak-burgers with French fries. And beer. Of course. Frosted. Bear is not really a fan of how the English (or British) serve most of their beer - warmish (not too often anymore, but still in some places), but *this* was ridiculous! The glasses - that looked like goblets - were frosted. Ice-cold! Bear could not even properly touch the glass.
The steak-burger was not incredibly good but ok. But along with it came a Jalapeno! Bear has seen those on TV already and knew what it was gonna taste like. And Bear is not really a fan of hot or spicy food. Definitely not hot. But Bear is also very curious (and a bit stupid). And OP said: "If you have a bite I am going to give you 50$." So Bear did have a bite. And another. And another. Bear's mouth hurt. But Bear was so brave and took three bites! The 150$, Bear never got...

Evening
After that meal, they wandered around a bit looking for Cowboy-hats, postcards and fridge magnets for Bear and then went back to the Mystery Machine. OP wanted to show Bear some really nice houses and a place he once wanted to buy. They drove around a quite nice area with pretty posh houses here and there. Bear was impressed. There was even an area where mostly students lived. OP told Bear that their parents bought the houses for them, they lived in it as long as they studied and then sold them. Incredible what kinds of cars Bear could see in front of those houses. Ok, nearly everyone in Texas has a pick-up-truck, but for heaven's sake these were only students!! Actually, what was really funny: one could see two to three huge cars in front of nearly every house. The house being not so big at all, rather small and it looked like the cars were bigger than the house!
Anyway, Bear and OP drove around that area for some while, Bear took lots of pictures and a video (which is not online yet) and then home.

For some reason Bear and OP were so incredibly tired that they went to bed instantly. It was only evening, but they felt like they couldn't keep their eyes open anymore. After only two hours or something, Bear woke up and saw the digital clock on the radio blinking. Bear watched it for about 30mins until it realised that this meant that the electricity was back on! Bear woke OP up and told him. OP was so glad about it that he went around the flat turning everything on and trying every electrical thing. Bear started to unpack its suitcase and have a shower.
Later that night they went to have another burger, a corny dog and bought some ice for the fridge. Bear learned that it is an American thing to carry ice around in a cup and eat it all the time. Bear thought that this was quite an annoying habit. *gulp*crack*crack*gulp*

Electricity is actually a good thing!

2008-05-17T22:43:00.012+02:00

May 26th - May 27th 2008

So, this is Texas.

Bear saw OP for the first time in five or six years again. OP has been to Vienna visiting friends and Bear then.
They put Bear's luggage in the car and off they went to his sister's house. OP told Bear that for the first weekend they will spend their time there, as his power had been turned off and he figured that Bear wanted to take a warm shower after this long trip.
Bear saw American highways for the first time. Bear has been to San Francisco ten years ago, but has only seen the city at that time and not much of its surroundings. Different. Totally different to Austria's highways. So much wider, straighter and bigger. Well, everything is bigger in Texas, Bear has been told. As far as this was concerned, Bear agreed. And then Bear saw also American suburbs. Exactly how Bear imagined them and has seen them on TV. Actually, nearly everything Bear saw and experienced in Texas was exactly as Bear has seen on TV before...

They arrived at the house of OP's sister and Bear met her three dogs Snickers, Gidget and Whistle. Bear likes dogs - Bear also has dogs. But bigger ones. OP showed Bear around and told Bear that they were invited to a friend's birthday party later on, but would only go if Bear thinks it wouldn't be too tired. Bear took a shower, felt refreshed and not too tired and so they went to the party. It was in a bar one had to drive to. Bear realised that everywhere you wanted to go to in Texas, you had to take the car. Or at least everyone did.
Bear met the birthday girl and some other people who all were very friendly and talked to Bear a lot. Especially a young man who asked Bear a lot about Europe and the difference to Texas. Bear had some American beer (Bear drank only beer in Texas as obviously everyone thought Bear had to try American beer) and a cup cake which tasted quite similar to some Austrian sweet - though Bear can't think of which one.
All of a sudden the girl's toilet door opened (which was right beside their table) and two girls were in there fighting! Shouting and hitting each other. Bear just stared and thought: Wow! Everyone around ran in and tried to get the girls out of the toilet and seperate them. Bear has seen one or two fights in Austrian bars aswell, but at that time it was men who fought and never girls. *And* a big difference was that in Austria only friends would go in between and seperate the fighters or maybe call the security at the entrance to seperate them, but never has Bear seen others or nearly everyone going in between such a fight.
The people around Bear said: "Wow, your first night and you already witness a chick fight. Welcome to Texas!" Yeh, well if that is the way Bear's holiday would continue... It didn't, but it still was a very unusual but lovely holiday for Bear.
Bear is not sure when they left the party, but it was late. At least it felt like that. Bear and OP talked for another two or three hours until they finally went to sleep. Bear slept pretty well that night.
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Don't you just *love* the smell of summer rain?!!
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The next day Bear and OP slept in and had a slow day recovering from the journey (well, it was Bear recovering and OP probably wasn't too sad about that either). OP made some breakfast, they had coffee and talked on the patio (Bear loves that word! *patio*).
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Ok, now the power has been off for the fifth time because of the thunderstorm. This can't be a good thing for the computer - apart from being very annoying - it took two hours to write the three lines above...
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Bear and OP did nothing that day apart from talking, watching some TV, relaxing, Bear did some trampoline-excercise. They did go to OP's flat at one point, so Bear could have a look at it in the daylight - which was a good thing for orientation later.
In the evening Bear and OP went to pick up Niki's (OP's sister) kids. Bear thought they were really cute and nice - not very shy either. Niki's daughter introduced Bear to her guinea pig and her son told Bear everything about the X-Box- or Playstation-game (Bear knows nothing about this) he was playing. Later on Bear and OP went to Dallas airport to pick his sister up who had been away that weekend (and that's why Bear and OP were able to stay in her house). Bear liked Niki - she was really nice and talkative.

Ok, so Sunday evening Bear finally moved into OP's flat. In the dark. Pretty difficult to find things then. Good thing OP told Bear before that they were going to go out with a friend later that night, so Bear was clever enough to put on make-up in the not-powerless house of Niki... *But* Bear did see a bit in OP's flat, because OP's friend - who they went out with later on - arrived at the flat before Bear and OP did and was so nice to put some candles on.

They went away in Andy's (OP's friend) car and during that ride they told Bear that tonight's plan was going to a strip-club!! Only if that was ok with Bear. If Bear didn't want to go, they would do something else. But Bear didn't mind. Bear has been to a strip-club in Vienna before. Not on purpose though. Bear's "friends" bought a male stripper for Bear's 30th birthday and that happened in a strip-club in Vienna. Bear did not really like it. But that's another story. So Bear said, it's ok to go to a strip-club.
Arriving there Bear learned that Andy used to work in that club as security and works now as a cop. At the entrance they had to show their IDs. Pretty stupid, Bear thought, as one could easily see that OP was older than 21 and Bear was also. But anyway. Bear showed its driving license which made the girl at the entrance nearly freak out because this Austrian driving license was "soooo cooool". Ok. Bear later got used to people freaking out by looking at its driving license...
The club was really nice. Bear liked it. Huge, with lots of stages, one main stage and lots of small tables around with extremely comfy chairs. Again Bear got some beer and they sat down at a table not too far away from the main stage. There were more guests than in the Viennese strip-club and also some female ones. The girls on the stages did really perform. Not like in Vienna. The girls in Vienna looked bored and hardly ever moved, but those girls in Texas did something! They danced, they performed, they moved and they didn't look bored. There was one very tall girl who danced at the pole did some moves Bear has only seen on TV so far. Wow. Bear was really impressed. So were OP and Andy. Bear sat there, mouth open and just watched. OP and Andy tried to get Bear to go to the stage and give that girl some dollars. They even gave Bear the dollar notes. But Bear refused. At one point they told Bear that if Bear wouldn't do it voluntarily, they would force Bear to do so. Andy was pretty tall and strong. Bear was afraid they would really force Bear to the stage. But they didn't. Though they did try to talk Bear into it for some while. But Bear was too shy and too afraid at that time. After all it was only Bear's second night in Texas! Later that week, Bear would have probably done it...
Anyway, they themselves did give that girl the dollars then. Bear was reliefed.

After another few beers for the guys (Bear had only one or two - Bear is a slow drinker) off they went back home. On the way back, they stopped at a gas station where OP got out to buy some cigarettes and so Andy and Bear could talk. Andy asked Bear if Bear was interested to go with him on a workshift during Bear's stay (reminder: Andy is a cop!) And Bear said "YES" without really thinking about it. Bear just thought: "Wow, riding with a cop in Texas. Who else could tell about an experience like that?!" Bear thinks that even Andy was a bit surprised that Bear agreed instantly. So they told OP about that and Andy said he would check with his boss and then Bear would have to come to the station before and sign some papers and getting checked on the computer - if Interpol or Scotland Yard was looking for Bear, Bear - of course - couldn't come. Good thing they never found out :-).
Back in OP's flat, Bear found it a bit hard to brush teeth and getting its lenses out without losing them in the dark, but Bear managed. Bed again. Bear thought that this was probably going to be the most unusual holiday ever: chick fight, strip-club and maybe riding with a cop... Wow. Bear was happy.

Thank you for flying with HimBärchen and Hamish!

2008-05-16T14:01:00.003+02:00

Saturday, May 26th 2008

Ok, so this is how the story goes:

Bear has known OP for 16 years now. They met in Vienna, Austria 16 years ago, when OP studied here. During all these years Bear and OP stayed in touch. Bear had quite a hard summer for various reasons in 2007 and OP invited Bear over to get away from Bear's thoughts and fears. When Bear finally decided on the right time for a holiday, it told OP and booked a flight. Bear's parents were so nice to pay half of it for a Christmas and Birthday present. The countdown started.

Bear's flight was due on April 26th at 8am. Since Bear had to go to work on the day before, it already started to pack things two days before. Very unusal for Bear, since Bear *always* packs its thing the night before. But this time Bear was a bit nervous - well for a change it was not GreatBritain Bear was going to. So Bear thought of that holiday, so far away, a bit different and was afraid to forget something important or being not ready on time. And since Bear is also a bit older now, it needs its goodnight-sleep and didn't want to think about getting to bed at 2am and having to get up again at 4am - not a good idea! So Bear finished packing on Thursday 24th. Bear was proud.

April 26th!! Bear had to get up at 4am, packing the rest of the stuff (toothbrush, make-up,...), gulping down some coffee and trying to have a bite or two of breakfast. Bear's father was so nice to drive Bear to Vienna airport - they had to be there at 6am. Bear's flight was due at 8am. They were there on time, looked for the correct Check-In-desk, found it and Bear handed over its e-tickets.
Bear's original flights should have gone from Vienna to London Heathrow, then Bear should have changed by itself to London Gatwick and get the connection flight to Dallas. Four days before Saturday, Bear was told that American Airlines had changed their flights and Bear did not have to go to Gatwick - connection to Dallas would be at Heathrow. Bear was glad and not too happy at the same time. Bear was not too keen on changing airports but not too keen on London Heathrow either, as Bear does not really like that airport...
Anyway, Bear handed over its e-tickets and that nice lady told Bear not to forget to change airport in London. Bear was a bit confused and told her, that Bear had been told not to change airports and handed over the mail that said so. The nice lady looked at it, checked her computer and told Bear that Bear was right, but unfortunately the computer-system still said the wrong thing and that she didn't know how to change it. She told Bear to wait there and she will get the American Airlines lady who should get Bear the new ticket. Bear waited. And waited. And waited. And watched others checking in, while Bear's father went outside to smoke (he didn't want to leave before he was sure, Bear was safe on its flight - nice, eh?!). While Bear waited it tried to figure out which ones of the passengers who checked in would be flying to Texas aswell. Bear guessed right nearly all the time... Bear got pretty nervous now. Bear had waited for 45mins when the lady noticed that Bear was *still* waiting there and said, she'd check with the American Airlines lady. Unfortunately they hadn't managed yet to change Bear's tickets. Bear was really nervous now. After all it was only 6am and this is how Bear's holiday should begin?!
A young man came up and told them that this couldn't be *so* difficult to do, made two, three clicks, grinned at them and handed Bear its new tickets. Bear was happy. Bear said goodbye to its father and off Bear went. No more problems at Vienna airport.

On the flight to London, Bear was surprised how nice the BA-flight attendants were. And how funny the captain was. When the plane flew over London, the captain told the passengers about the sights they could see and the flight attendants went around and pointed them out. The BA-flight was on time. But Heathrow wasn't. Bear had to stay on the plane, waiting. The captain was already pretty pissed off and also told his passengers! He said that it was pretty frustrating that we had to wait here on the runway for our gate to get ready and that it was Heathrow's fault and he didn't know why they weren't ready. They had known before that the flight was on time, but still weren't hurrying up. After quite some time, the passengers were allowed to get off.
At London Heathrow, Bear had a bit of time, went around, looked for some place to have a cigarette, couldn't find any (no more smoking in GreatBritain's airports!) and waited for the monitors showing the correct gate to go to. It took ages to do so. Bear was bored. And Bear got nervous again. Even the flights due after Bear's flight were boarding already. But not Bear's flight to Dallas. Bear asked a bunch of men who looked like they were going to Texas aswell (yes, it's possible to spot them!) if they knew anything about that flight. They assured Bear that it still had to wait. While waiting they chatted about things to do and see in Fort Worth and then - finally - the gate was displayed. Off they went. And had to wait again at the gate. Bear was bored - again. So much waiting. Bear doesn't like to wait.

At last, they were allowed to board the plane and finally headed off for Dallas. AA-flight attendants were pretty old. Bear had never seen elderly flight attendents before and neither had it seen so many male ones. Bear was seated next to a man. At first they didn't talk. Bear tried to sleep but couldn't quite. Bear can't sleep sitting. The man next to Bear could. Bear was tired.
They finally started to talk when they had to fill in the green and white documents for being allowed to go to the US. He was Mexican and was going home now from a friends' wedding in Scotland. Bear is a big Scotland-fan, so they talked quite a lot about Scotland, then about themselves and Bear told him about its friend OP and visiting him and so on. When they were about to get into Dallas, Bear and that man exchanged email-addresses and said that they would visit each other.

Dallas, finally. Bear was tired but happy. But there were still the new restrictions on going into the US that Bear had not experienced yet and Bear was curious. The Mexican Gerardo waited for Bear and told Bear what they would do: taking fingerprints, taking a picture and asking funny questions. The questions on the white green document were quite funny already and Bear wondered how they would be able to top that. Gerardo was through already when Bear finally got to the security checks. The questions were not so funny. Normal questions: where do you come from, why do you come here, what will you do here, who will you visit, ... things like that. Funny was, that the guy at the security check started to chat with Bear. They chatted for quite a while when he handed Bear its passport and whished Bear a nice holiday. Bear looked at him and said: "What? No fingerprints, no picture?" The man looked at Bear, swore silently and asked for the passport again. He had forgotten it! So they took fingerprints, which was not so easy as it was too light and then they took Bear's picture and Bear asked wether it could see that one to check if it's ok. He turned the screen round and Bear approved.
Gerardo was waiting for Bear. Bear's luggage arrived pretty soon (good, because Bear was worried that its luggage would be stuck in Heathrow), they said goodbye to each other and off Bear went. OP was already there, reading a newspaper waiting for Bear. Bear has made it and was finally in Fort Worth, Texas with OP. Bear was happy.

Texas Photos online

2008-05-12T23:29:00.001+02:00

Finally. After three nights at the computer I finally finished working on the Texas pictures! Check them out and enjoy! Good that I suffered from jet lag for the last week - kept me up long enough to do that stuff... But since I am pretty tired now - finally - my holiday story will be published here a bit later. Check back. And do also check out the pictures again, as comments will be added soon.

Bear and Hamish go Texas

Click on the picture to see the whole album - Enjoy!!!
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This night at 3am Bear finished adding the comments to all 365 pictures - enjoy!

Celebrity Lookalikes

2008-05-10T20:06:00.002+02:00

Bear is still working on its 400 photos of Texas - that'll take some time!

Check out Bear's Celebrity Lookalikes on Bear's myspace-site. Bear is pretty unique (as if we hadn't known that anyway), but unlike some others Bear's highest percentage of sharing looks is only 76% - and that is Uma Thurman! Unfortunately Bear also shares looks of about 50% with Sharon Osbourne and some Japanese guy...

Home sweet home

2008-05-07T16:28:00.000+02:00

Bear is back home.
Bear is back at work.
Bear is back to uni-things.
Bear doesn't like it.

Bear and Hamish did enjoy themselves in Texas. Bear and Hamish liked it there. Bear will add the pictures soon.

Howdy in Texas

2008-05-04T20:43:00.000+02:00

Bear has simply no time to blog - so many things happening here. This has got to be the most unusual holiday-trip of all times for Bear!
Texas is different - so much different to anything Bear has ever seen before. People are very friendly towards Bear. Bear is enjoying itself.

Too much weight

2008-04-25T22:47:00.001+02:00

Bear is exhausted. Bear finished packing and has definitely taken too many clothes along. The suitcase is as full for ten days as it would be for two weeks... Though Bear's suitcase is only 18 kilos (and allowed are 23), Bear thinks its too much. But Bear - of course - does want to look as gorgeous as possible in Texas...
Anyway, Bear has to get up at 3:30am to leave the house at 5am latest (flight leaves at 8, goes to London and should be in Dallas at about 5pm), so Bear should now have a shower, get the last few things ready and go to bed.
Good Night - read you in Texas!

Texas-Dreaming

2008-04-24T10:50:00.000+02:00

Bear does not always like to dream. Tonight's dream was not one of the nicest - not a real nightmare in the classic way, but it definitely has thrown Bear off its track today...

Anyway: preperations for Texas have to be done! Bear has already put its clothes out to have a look today wether they still fit or which combinations won't work (like Danielle said: do NEVER match pink trousers with a red shirt - o.k.!) Bear needs to buy a few things (suncream, it's f*cking hot there!), has to take its baby to the garage and sort out what uni-stuff to take along.

For the first time in baer's holiday-life, baer has started to pack (at least in her mind and on paper) a few days before the actual take-off! Bear needs to get up at 4am on Saturday and still has to go to work on Friday, so it might be a good idea to pack now and not - as usual - Friday night. Though it does add a kick to the preperations...

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Deary me! Bear nearly had a heartattack now. While trying on the clothes and packing them (are seven pairs of trousers too much for ten days?) Bear had a look at the tickets and realised that there is a note on them saying: "Important - all onward/return flights have to be reconfirmed min. 72 hrs prior departure with the local airline office." and it's already Thursday midday! Bear imagined itself sitting in London and not going any further because it has not reconfirmed its onward flight to Dallas!! Geeeeezus!
Fortunately it only means that Bear has to reconfirm the TIMES of the flights... Phew, Bear's heart is pumping...

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Okidoki, baby is safe in the garage now - just hope it won't cost too much... Bear was shopping: bits and pieces Bears need for trips abroad. Tired now. Bear will have a coffee now and later a cool beer while getting the suitcase ready.

Der Bär bloggt jetzt auch!

2008-04-22T22:16:00.003+02:00

Bear has decided to blog aswell.
What will there be: you can read about "Hamish on tour" which is about its highland-coo-bag "Hamish" doing sightseeing - for example: Hamish did the Illuminati-tour in Rome, Hamish has been to Amsterdam and Hamish will go to Texas soon!
All of these and more pictures will be shown on flickr and picasa - links will be posted.
You may accompany Bear during its daily (weekly, monthly...) activities and read about what really matters to Bear...

So be curious and stay online!