Firmly Established??

Greetings from Vienna for those of you still checking in to see if we are posting.

Finally, we are reconnected with the rest of the world!! The internet technician came and installed service. So, no more lugging the laptop around town looking for wifi service. Another nice thing was that the installer did seem to fulfill every techno stereotype. The only thing missing was that he did not leave Dorito crumbs on the computer.

We have been in town for exactly two weeks now and are becoming acquainted with life in Vienna. Last week was familiarizing ourselves with the subway system and the Ikea knock-off store around the corner. One really gets familiar with the language when you can ask for a shower curtain and curtain rod. One really becomes quite familiar with cursing when you are a large man that must squat in a bathtub with a handheld shower fixture. Hence, the shower curtain was a necessity.

The upside to life in Vienna is the virtue of neighborhood life. There is quite an appreciation for walking. We have a bakery just a few doors down so fresh bread for us when we want it. Plus, I think the sales people find my accent funny so they give me a free pastry each time. My Pavlovian reaction is to buy bread more frequently than needed as I really like pastries. There are three grocery stores within just a few blocks so we go once or twice a week. I don't even really mind as opposed to the sense of dread with which I enter the Rainbow Foods mega store back home.

Due to an interesting class schedule format, I don't have classes yet. So, scheduling is now a rare occurence. We catch ourselves answering simply "Sure" when people ask us if we have time to do such and such. But that has really allowed us to explore the city. Which is good. And to also think about travelling. We believe that Prague is first up and will hopefully happen soon.

That is all for right now. Hope to hear from you all that are still checking in on the blog.

Cheers (we've been watching a lot of BBC)!!!!

Auf Wiedersehen

The bags are packed. Curt's washing sheets and vacuuming one more time for the house sitter. Loyd's being clingy. It must be almost time to go. We're not sure how long it will take to get the internet connected in the apartment, so we may be quiet for a bit, but we'll post when we can from the other side of the globe.

1 week from today...

...we'll be there!

And my journals are ready.

Just need to go buy some Kool Aid for dying yarn to give to my Vienna contact and I'm ready! (ha!)

2 weeks to departure

Yikes!

In the last week:
- I made a good dent in vacating my desk (but it doesn't look like I did a thing) and my co-workers put together a really nice happy hour. One more week of work. What a surreal concept.

- Our visas came!

- I cut the bookboard covers for 15 journals. I'm working on tearing down the paper for the pages inside. 15 big sheets don't look like nearly as daunting as 30, 60, 120 and then 240 pieces of paper stacked up. All of a sudden that looks like a lot to do, despite my resolution to draw EVERY DAY. Maybe it really looks like a lot of time. I regret not photographing each step, but my studio doesn't make much of a photo shoot location, especially when most of my work happens without daylight. I promise a shot of the lot before they're packed into suitcases and boxes (some will have to be mailed separately so there's weight left for clothes and shoes and yarn).

- k1p1p1 (my long-running knitting group) met tonight for a farewell to Heathers party. H.D. is moving to Berkeley, CA to pursue a dream job. If you're reading this, you know where this H. is headed. Great friends, great food, a little knitting, a lot of chatting and some passing of the baby. What better way to say 'so long'?

Hot Dogs

I learned from The Flying Apple that in Vienna (Wien), hot dogs are called "Frankfurters." In Frankfurt, they are called "Wieners." What sort of a cultural war are we getting ourselves into?

Visa Update: I got home tonight to see the message light blinking on the phone. There was a message from the Austrian Consulate in Chicago. This means: the package arrived! The nice gentleman who called said he had one request and asked that we return his call on Monday. I hope it's an easy one. At this point, though, even a day trip to Chicago won't seem too difficult.

It's in the mail...

The Schengen visa applications proved harder than I expected to complete. My health insurance company didn't help. I was supposed to receive a letter within seven days and it's been three weeks. My Mac allowed me to print the pop-up windows that describe my coverage (including that I'm covered "anywhere in the world") and I'm crossing my fingers that they'll be sufficient. I purchased my first money order at the Post Office today and sent the monster package. It will likely get to the consulate in Chicago tomorrow, but they couldn't guarantee it. Now, I guess I just hold my breath and hope that we have enough in order and they don't demand that I appear in person or reject our applications.

We're still here

Less than a month to go until we take off on the big adventure. We have tickets, an apartment, and acceptance at the University of Vienna (meaning official acceptance not that of the fellow students). The visa process is still eluding us. Hopefully that will fall into place soon. Will write more in February.