You don't need to be a psychologist to figure out this one

As many of you know, I somehow survived Yiddish class hell this summer in Bloomington. The complaints I have cannot be printed in this nice, warm and friendly place. Email me if you want to hear the story, including adult language and curses on one man's existence.

Anyway, it was 6 of the worst weeks of my life and, at the end, I packed up my little Indiana life and prepared to return to Vienna. I packed one suitcase full of books and another full of clothes. Guess which one I left behind in Alex and Jeannine's garage???

ALL my books were in there, including the school books I planned on reading this summer. I won't get them until I return to school. So I have been forced to read a lot of fiction this month. Oh, damn...

The Giant Pool of Money

I heard this episode of "This American Life" and immediately wanted everyone
I know to hear it.

It explains the mortgage crisis in a "...for Dummies" style and is very well
done, although disturbing.

I recommend it to everyone.

Go to:

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Archive.aspx

and listen to May 9, 2008 - "The Giant Pool of Money"

And, FYI...if you don't listen already, "This American Life" is a great
weekly NPR program you can podcast.

Escape from Bloomington

I'm in Chicago, finally seeing "Wicked" with Wicki!

2 nights in a real city with real air conditioning!! And a real good friend!

Procrastinating

Anything to put off what must be done...going through old pictures.

This one is kind of funny.

Based on your responses...

Based on your responses, or lack thereof, to my previous posting...

I can only conclude that my blog has become a device for communication
between husband and wife.

Are we 21st Century, or what?

Is anyone even reading this?

If you are, send me an email. I'm just curious.

I've been so bad about keeping up with this, and am embarrassed about having
announced, "I'm blogging again!" And then, not.

So, I am not going to announce anything, unless I get into some sort of
rhythm.

So, is anyone out there?

Because everyone studies Yiddish in Bloomington, Indiana, right?

Blogging from Bloomington.

I am four-weeks into an intensive Yiddish reading course and can say, with a little hesitation, that I can read Yiddish! I say "hesitation" because it's slow-going, and this class has been disappointing. It was supposed to be just what I needed to pass my second foreign language exam, but now I'm not 100% sure.

Add being away from Roland and Vienna for what will be a total of 6 weeks out of the few short months a year we have together, AND the cost of airfare and now luggage (!!), and, well, I am not in the best of moods.

A heuriger and a tafelspitz will help that - less than 2 weeks!

Love to my adoring public

I was just reviewing my posts and realizing that I have ignored you all! How mad are you??

Well, there's not too much to say, other than I am reading a lot about the worst of humanity. Do you want me to expound?

I didn't think so.

Life is good. I enjoying time with new friends, otherwise known as Holocaust Geeks. We are all equally dedicated and immersed. I know, you are all dying to come party with us. Sorry - invitation only!

My most exciting news is that I got a RT ticket to Amsterdam for $459 (including taxes!) and will see Roland soon.

Here's a picture of Elly Georgules, for those SMC guys keeping up with the Georguleses. (Exactly how does one pluralize "Georgules?")

Holidays in Vienna!

I can't believe the month is almost over! I flew to Vienna after finishing the semester at Clark on Dec. 12th and return to the US on Jan. 10th. In the meantime, we had Christmas with the Engels...



...and New Year's Eve with Angie, BIrgit and Erik...

Pictures to come...Blogger not working today...

Nate's here!

Leah gave birth to my nephew, Nathan Charles Geiger, last week! He was born on Monday, October 8, 2007 and weighed 8 lbs, 4 oz. Here's a picture of him only a few hours old and another of him with his proud big sisters!

New specs

Evidently, I had to move back to the US to get funky Euro-glasses. Check 'em out.

Back in the U.S.S.A.!

No, that's not a typo but a shout out to the ladies of HIAS. It's a reference to my favorite personal statement from a potential refugee that began with, "God bless the U.S.S.A!" Um...better fix that before you meet the DHS officer.

And since I am talking about the girls...here are some of them. Looks like a magazine shoot, no? We're only missing Tamanna! Where are you, Tamanna?



But that title also refers to the fact that I'M BACK and fully immersed in American life, complete with owning a car, driving everyday and paying for gas. Yikes!

All this comes with road rage and my poor parents had to experience it the other day.

I was driving home from school and was leaving them a nice, happy message on the machine when someone cut me off and I screamed, "What the f&c%!!!" into me sweet mom's ear! I started to apologize and then began laughing hysterically and hung up on the machine. I called back a few minutes later to explain that some sailor had stolen my phone and screamed obscenities but that I had luckily gotten it back and was just calling to explain. We'll see if they buy that one.

Anyway, this is the new me. Road rage! Remind you of Paul Rose?



And, yes, OF COURSE that was a Beatles reference. I'm not stupid!

Proud Child of Green Parents!

I know I have a lot to catch up on but I want to procrastinate a bit longer and brag about my Greenie parents. Not only is my dad driving a Toyota Highlander Hybrid...



...my mom is driving a brand new Toyota Prius!



I couldn't be more proud!

On vacation til Aug. 13th

Dear Loyal, Faithful Reader,

I'm out until mid-August. Annoying vacation pictures to come...promise!

Bets

Boring Betsy Update

Tonight is my going-away party at work! We're going to a Heuriger, one of my favorite Wiener things to do. (Sort of like a biergarten, but a WINEgarten!)

I also have a Going Away Happy Hour on Monday...Markus F. asked just how many going away parties one can have...as if!

Roland likes to tease me about how I love any and all parties in honor of ME! And I'm not too ashamed to admit it, either!

One more week of work and then we're off to Velden. I can't wait to sleep and read and eat and sleep and read and eat and sleep and read and eat......

Big, fat, hot wimp!

I am not too proud too admit it!

I miss air conditioning!

I miss wearing a wool sweater at work in July. I miss my glasses fogging up when I enter a building. I miss wearing long pajama pants to bed.

All of it.

Highs today of 102.

Leo's family commemorated with Stolpersteine

On Thursday, June 28, 2007, three Stolpersteine were dedicated to Leo Bretholz's family members who were deported from Vienna and murdered at Izbica in 1942. Roland was able to go to the dedication and take photos.

Leo and his family lived in the 20th district in Vienna, which is right next to our district. I can walk to Leo's former home in about 10 minutes. Brings it all home, literally.

New internet obsession

http://www.goodreads.com

Join! Search with my email and "friend" me.

Thanks, Christine! It is Myspace for nerds!

Germanic Stuffed Animals

I really don't want to fall into stereotypes or make fun of strange senses of cute and loveable, but this is a picture of Roland's childhood kuscheltier.



Kuschltier = "Cuddle Animal" = Security and love for little Roland.

It's a wild boar, folks. It even has itchy fur.

It is actually this, in "cute" form.

I got nothin'

I have nothing to say but feel that I owe it to both of my readers to post something. Um...it's hot here...

To answer everyone's questions in one place, though (what a novel idea for a blog...duh.) --

I finish work at HIAS on July 27th and then Roland and I go on vacation. First, a few days in Velden (southern part of Austria) at the lake, reading and sleeping. Then, we'll fly to Berlin to see Constanze and Jascha AND Björn and Katharina and the kids! They are in Berlin for a one-year sabbatical, starting July 1st or so. Roland has still never been to Berlin - can you believe it?! Must be remedied.

After Berlin, we will go to Krakow for a few days and to a friend's wedding in a nearby town. I have always wanted to go to a Polish wedding and I finally have my chance! Last I heard, the total number of guests equalled the total number of bottles of vodka ordered! I will be sure to bring the Excedrin.

I fly back to DC on Aug. 17 and will spend a long weekend with the fam, and then Leslie will drive up to Wuh-stuh with me. I'll move in with my Mass-hole host-family (AKA: Liswa and Sebastian) and am hoping for a cookout on the back deck upon arrival!

Orientation for school starts Aug. 21 and on the 27th I will officially be in the full swing of things with classes! It's been 10 years...when I was last at a university, they were just introducing email! In addition to the classes, I have to learn electronic blackboards and networking and things. (By the way, I am already on top of Facebook! "Friend" me if you are, too!)

I am really geeking out about school and even got a reading list for one of my classes ahead of time and started reading. Who is this person, you ask? I'm not sure, either. Never met her before and certainly not at St. Mary's or UMD! I just can't believe I will soon be sitting at a table full of people eager and willing to discuss the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising for hours on end! I know - dork.

Hmmm...Vienna is amazing, the closer I get to leaving, the less I want to go. But it's really friends and Roland that I will miss and - as I have learned - friends are there, even if you are far away. Roland and I have done long distance before, so it's do-able. Not preferable, but do-able.

Hmmm...anything else you want to know? Oh, I met Roland's Japanese nanny last night! She said he always talked a lot and was stubborn...hmmm...not much changes, eh?