That’s more like it!

I think you get the idea.

We had a few days there last week when it was disappointingly cool,  but today makes up for it.

Of course,  if you didn’t know what time of year it is, the following might be a bit of a hint.  At least to our “western” way of thinking at least. 

 

This was at one of the stores down on Mariahilferstraße, and was actually only part of the display.  I didn’t ask the clerks what the deal was, other than the obvious,  since I didn’t really care to start with,  and they were having a fine chat.  I didn’t want to interrupt or anything.  Besides, I don’t think I really came across as someone interested in one of these eggs.  Only the possibility of taking a picture.   I asked.

 

It’s interesting to note by the way,  that’s there none of that “political correctness”  crap going on here when it comes to holidays and celebrations.  Christmas is Christmas,  and Easter is Easter,  and you can take part or not.  Suit yourself,  but nobody’s going to tell the Austrians to call Christmas something else just to please anyone who thinks they’d like to immigrate.  Oh,  and by the way, if you’d like to immigrate,  you need to learn German. 

Kind of refreshing actually.  I don’t even know what the German equivalent to “Happy Holidays”  is,  and I’m sure the average Austrian would think your brain was fried if you tried to explain it them.   If you want to celebrate Hanukkah,  or Eid,  or Kwanza,  then go right ahead.    But that big green tree they stuck up in front of city hall there back in December is called a Christmas tree.  Don’t like it?  Tough beans.  Stay home.  Don’t look.  Whatever.

Of course,  the only reason I know about these other celebrations,  is because I used to work in a school.  Oh yes,  we have to be “all inclusive” in our schools! Talk about confusing.  No longer did we do “Christmas Concerts”.  No no,  that would never do. It would have to be called an “End of Year Concert”  or some such bullshit.  Honestly. 

Mind you,  as for my part,  they could have given the whole idea a pass anyway,  since then it wouldn’t have meant having to set up three or four hundred “nylon rippers".   Such fun.   I sure don’t miss that part of life as a Caretaker.

Didn’t mean to get off on a rant there.  Truth be told,  I was just getting started,  but that’s not really why were here,  is it? 

 

 

Today’s offering:

 

There,  that’s a more positive thing.

Travelling Companion does indeed like her banana bread each morning for breakfast.  I usually dole out two slices.   She has them with that fancy schmancy coffee that comes in the little pucks.   I’ve actually lost count of the number of times I’ve baked one of these.  Seems to be just about a weekly occurrence.   Of course, T.C. can smell it as soon as she comes in the door,  which I suppose is a nice thing to come home to.  Better than looking at my ugly mug.

 

Not a whole heck of a lot else going on.  Slowing getting ready for the hoards that will be staying over night here on Friday.  Seven bodies!  Gah!  I have it figured out though.   This is the “Grind/grunge”  group that is presently touring Europe,  and one of the kids in the band is the son of one of our long time friends.   The things we do for our friends some times.  Should be interesting. 

I seem to recall when I was about 22,  I was willing to sleep just about anywhere.  If it happened to be indoors,  that was a bonus.   We won’t talk about that one morning when I woke up in a farmer’s field outside Freiburg,  way back in ‘78.  I was having a fine sleep too,  until the silly farmer drove by on his aging Deutz.  The nerve!   See,  if it had been a gas powered Massey-Ferguson,  I probably could have slept in a little.    Well maybe not,  there’s always that annoying sunlight to content with.   Ah,  fun times!

 

So in keeping that particular concept in mind, I’m sure all seven of them will be quite delighted to have actual mattresses to sleep on.  I know I would have been.

 

There will be photo evidence.  Trust me.

 

With that,  I’ll bid you a “fine day”.

 

Thanks for coming by.

Don’t flush!

Well,  those weren’t his exact words,  but when a dude came to the door this morning at eight,  I had the distinct impression that he was, 1) A plumber,  and 2) dealing with some serious shit.   He didn’t stink or anything (not that I really wanted to find out)  but I could tell from the condition of his cover-alls that he had been getting into it.

We had a very brief conversation in which he asked which side my toilet was on,  (huh? oh) and if I could basically refrain from letting ANY liquid of any kind run down the drain pipes. 

No problemo.

We’re kind of at the top of the heap here,  so any work below us involving ripping out pipes means carelessly forgetting about that simple request would really be a bit of a shitty deal all around.  Pun intended.

What followed was about an hour and a half of serious pounding,  which would indicate that this messy thing below was buried inside a concrete wall.

I somehow doubt that it was all that easy to get at.

This is yet another one of those things I reflect on when it comes to house ownership over being a “cave dweller”  such as we are at the present time.   I realise there have been issues with the house over the years,  but it only ever means having to dig something up,  patch something or replace something,  without having to go to everyone in the house to make sure they don’t flush the toilet.   Just an example.  No need for any interaction with my neighbours whatsoever.

 

Not much else happening.   I do think though that I could simply go out for a walk every day,  and odds are that I’d come up with photo evidence of people doing something stupid.

 

Saw these retards yesterday morning.

 

So,  the chick in the silver VW was backing into a parking spot,  and the Dude behind her either backed into the guy behind him, since he hadn’t given her enough room,  or simply got hit from behind.  Not sure which.   But judging by their antics,  there was contact.

And no,  there was no sun in anyone’s eyes,  and I couldn’t tell if anyone was talking on the phone, although that’s entirely possible.

 

Here’s the aerial view.

 

I realise I could have taken more pictures,  but I got tired of looking at them.  I expected at any moment one of them to haul out a magnifying glass!   Honestly!

 

The thing too is,  they decided to sit right there,  and block traffic for a good half hour.  Maybe more.  I really don’t know. 

I’m not sure what the “deal” is here in Wienerland,  but I see this sort of thing a lot.  Not just the stupidity either.   I mean this whole business of having a fender bender and then sitting there while it all gets sorted out.   Meanwhile,  traffic becomes just a flippin’ nightmare.

Take a picture!   I did,  and I don’t even give shit.

I vividly recall getting rear ended once upon a time on a damp fall day by a lady who somehow thought her car didn’t need to follow the laws of physics,  only to be told by a passing OPP officer that,  if neither of us were injured,  we needed to get off the road.  That was OK with me.  Only thing was though,  her car wasn’t going anywhere,  since there were liquids coming out from the front end.  Never a good sign.  I was driving a big ole Bell van,  so there was very little damage on my end of things. 

 

I think that’s about it for today.  A little groggy here,  since Travelling Companion had us both up kinda early.  Something to do with month end and expecting a certain measure of silliness regarding a bunch of numbers.  I think the beads fell off someone’s abacus. 

Something along those lines.  
I can’t really say much more or I’ll be in trouble.

 

Keep those sticks on the ice.

 

Thanks for coming by.

 

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A “run” on beans.

That’s the only explanation I have for it.  It would seem there’s a shortage.  Not sure if it’s temporary.

 

I had let my “stock” get low,  and was therefore unprepared to see the empty space where the beans used to be.  

 

Don’t laugh.  Beans are good for you. 

 

Had to go to a couple different stores on Saturday to come up with those.  T.C. wants to make “Bean soup”.   Next weekend presumably.

While I realise there are a lot of cute and cool things to see and do in Europe,  the one thing I do find I miss here is the consistent supply of “stuff”.   That’s the only way I can put it.   That picture above is of a product from Billa,  that represents their “store brand”.   So how is it even conceivable that the Store Manager could say that they can’t always get these things?  

I would be more inclined to believe that,  due to incompetence on the part of said Store Manager,  this item wasn’t put on the order sheet this time around.   Some of them don’t strike me as being the sharpest tools in the shed.

Mind you,  there was another brand that was missing as well,  so maybe there really is some sort of shortage of kidney beans.   But seriously?

 

The only short term and notable by-product of this minor annoyance was a slightly more aggravating hip that decided to wake me up a few times in the night.  Not sure what the answer to that one is.  It actually feels better if I’m up and about,  but then it proceeds to get sore if I’m up and about. *sigh*  Maybe I need to hang upside down or something.

 

And that,  Ladies and Gentlemen,  was the highlight of the weekend.    Lame.  I know.  Kind of like my hip.

I had even started writing some of this on Saturday night,  and at one point I just couldn’t get my fingers to move any more.  I figured that,  if I wasn’t even interested enough to look at the screen,  what the heck was I trying to accomplish?

Oh,  and the “some of this”  that I had been trying to write?  Gone.  Drivel.  Wiped it out.   It can be painful enough to lose an entire post if I’ve forgot to “save” it as I go along  (we’re talking Windoze Live Writer here,  so it’s not automatic)  but to summarily  “cut”  and then not “paste”  again?   Some times these things can be necessary.

 

Before I go,  I would just like to add this one below to the “doggy in the window”  collection.

 

He seems totally as ease.  Most dogs will be looking intently inside to see when their owner is coming out again. Not this guy.  Maybe he has some cat genes mixed in there?

 

Then of course I couldn’t help but notice the heels on the woman just a little farther down the street.

Hm,  it’s Saturday morning.  Are these “Ladies of the Evening” who are just getting in after a late,  late night?

Um,  no.

 

I had seen these two ladies before,  on previous Saturday mornings, heading for this one particular doorway a little farther down the street.

This is some time around 9:00 a.m.  They’re going to a church service.   

It’s true.  Trust me.  

I guess I’m a little out of the loop when it comes to lady’s shoes,  but I never really figured high heels were something one would wear to church.  Especially stilettos.

 

Only since I couldn’t for the life of me come up with just what KIND of church this might be,  I went back and had a gander at the notice board at the entrance.  I had a suspicion that it was Croatian,  and with the help of some internet snooping,  it turns out I was right.  Sometimes I can make a good guess.

 

Right along with that, they’re “Seventh Day Adventists”. 

Click the picture and read the notice board.  I’m not kidding.

Now there’s a combination for ya!  Croatian Seventh Day Adventists.  Where apparently stiletto high healed shoes are “de rigueur”.  

Awesome!

If that’s not an incentive to join up,  I don’t know what is.

 

I think I’ve made you move your eyes back and forth quite enough. 

Enjoy your day, wherever you are.

 

Thanks for coming by.

 

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