Operation Tubetop

Now, I am not sure why people read my blog. O.k., there are some reasons that people read my blog... they are interested in autism, they like my use of gifs, they are my friends and want to support me, sometimes I make them laugh, they want to see if they are mentioned in it, they live in Vienna and want to know where I go so they can avoid bumping into me... I don't have a sophisticated stat counter on my blog. The only thing I can really see is the number of page views, which countries those page views are coming from and what people search for and somehow end up on my blog. So I decided today to post the most common terms that bring people to my page. And some of them are amusing. Pros and cons to living in Vienna : This one is pretty understandable. I did a whole "pros vs. cons" post a while ago. I think if I had to move to a new city I would most likely type in the same thing. As well as, "average price of alcohol". Salma Hayek naked : I have abso...

It is almost the weekend! I cannot wait! This week hasn't been super hectic and yet I have procrastinated slightly. I know I should be going over my business plan and revising some figures. I know this. Do I do this? No. One friend pointed out the other day "I saw you were making bracelets for your center... how's the business plan coming along?" Dammit! He caught me! Damn social media and my incessant need to update people ALL THE TIME on EVERY LITTLE THING I DO! Just be grateful I wasn't on Instagram when the Kid was born. There would have been a ridiculous amount of pictures of the Kid sleeping and farting. I will get some work done this weekend and hopefully in a week or two, I will start sending off a preview of my business plan to ministries. Fingers crossed. On Wednesday I met some friends in the afternoon at Fassldippler. They were kind enough to come out to my hood to try out a great little craft beer place around the corner from my place. I showed up...

Hello Wednesday! I stayed home today because our nanny had some good and scary news and couldn't come in the afternoon. She is in our thoughts and prayers! Our awesome nanny has been with us for over 4 years and is part of our family: we would be lost without her! She has struggled alongside us through the bad times and has seen how much the Kid has developed and has celebrated all the small milestones with us. We are so grateful to have her in our lives!!! Usually I would have gone to work for a half day but the Kid's sleeping habits have been craptastic (for lack of better term). I think it has a lot to do with my trip a couple of weeks ago. I think he is going through some post-traumatic stress and is just making sure Slave Number One is still around for snuggles and chocolate bribes. I was going to make some Ike and Tina joke but realized that is totally inappropriate. Like that has ever stopped me before. The last 5 nights he has been sneaking out of his room at bedtim...

Stop the presses! Or actually, RUN THE PRESSES! I was in the Salzburger Nachrichten! Thanks to a friend, I was interviewed to be part of an article in a newspaper. She wrote me and said "A friend of mine is journalist for the Salzburger Nachrichten and she is doing a piece on foreigners..." and I wrote "I'M A FOREIGNER!" and well, that was settled. I did a phone interview which was difficult because I'm better in person because I gesture a lot... sometimes inappropriately. Some friends have started turning their back when talking to me because of some of the gestures I do. I am doing one now. They would be disappointed in me. Anyway, yesterday we took a walk to Karlsplatz and I grabbed the last Salzburger Nachrichten and felt very Carrie Bradshaw. It was a big paper so I couldn't do the whole, shaking it open trick and looking at the picture of myself in the shop. That would have been obnoxious... but I would have still done it. So exciting!!! The gr...

I wanted to finish up this post a couple of days ago but the Kid got sick and I wasn't able to. He had a cold and seems to be on the mend. He also is going through some post-separation anxiety... on Wednesday night, he kept bringing me back to the sofa to sit beside him. It was adorable. I am back at work and still fighting a bit of the jet lag but by Monday I should be back to my old self! This past week involved some catch up and errands: Monday afternoon I met a friend for drinks. Tuesday I stayed home with the Kid and then the Nanny came and I went for a walk around town and then met a friend for drinks and dinner. When we met she said "We are not drinking a lot tonight." and I nodded in agreement and then we acted like sailors during fleet week. But it was a hilarious evening so the pain I felt on Wednesday morning was worth it... kind of. I went for a spray tan in the afternoon (Oompa Loompa) and then met a friend for drinks and to eat myself into a coma. I head...

Cannot believe I am back in Vienna! What a whirlwind trip! I am so happy that I was able to do it and I am not doing another 4 years of no Canada. On this trip, I realized that Canada is still such a huge part of my identity and makes up so much of who I am. I spent most my life living abroad but Canada is in my blood and, wow, do I have a crush. I forgot how incredibly friendly people are. Not, that kind of friendly because of customer service skills, but real salt of the Earth kindness. I also noticed that Canadians don't like awkward silences. THEY MUST FILL THE SILENCE! I had countless conversations in the hotel elevators: Random stranger (after I have pressed the button for my floor): Oh, there's a thirteenth floor? Me: Yup! R.S.: That's interesting. 13 is my lucky number. Me: Mine too! R.S: Oh wow! Me: Mmmmhmmm. Random stranger 2: Where you visiting from? Me: Vienna, Austria. R.S. 2: Oh? I used to live in Baden Baden! Me: Oh wow! Thank God it was a fas...

Hard to believe that I am back in Canada! I am in Toronto and it has been 9 long years since I was in this awesome town. This is going to be a short-ish post because a) I'm a little jet-lagged and b) going to go and get me an affordable mani and pedi soon. Woot! Yesterday morning I headed to the Vienna airport (many many tears were shed when I said good bye to the Kid. He just high fived me and turned back to his stories). I told friends at work on Tuesday that I had ordered a car at 8 for my 10:35 flight. She, who shall not be named, S.R. (yes, named you) said "WHAT?!?! THAT'S TOO LATE!" and then I started to hyperventilate because I am one of those people who likes to get to the airport super early. This time I decided to not be so safe and booked my car for 8. Well, I was more than on time, S.R. I even got bored! And, unlike what you said, I did not move up the pick-up time! Ha! Victory is mine! Sigh. Hollow victory. The Vienna airport is ridiculously efficient...