I’ve recently started to make more of a point to get regular exercise. I’d love to lose the rest of the “baby weight” (from being pregnant with Liam, but also still from being pregnant with Benjamin) but even more just because I feel better when I move around — it’s good for my body and my brain. After years of being active regularly without having to think too much about it (riding, dancing) it’s amazing how crappy it can feel to basically stop moving except when you need to. (Even that’s an exaggeration — we don’t own a car, so I walk a lot, and I chase two kids around all the time, so that’s a lot of activity, but it just isn’t the same as moving for the purpose of moving.)
Archive for October, 2011
Breaking a sweat
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011Being American
Monday, October 10th, 2011Living abroad, I thought I’d be a lot more embarrassed about being American (and more reluctant to admit it). It turns out that (to my face, anyway) I haven’t encountered a lot of anti-American sentiment. People are much more likely to react with interest, rather than derision, when they hear where I’m from. (So far, the only people I’ve met who make me embarrassed to admit that I’m American are other Americans who are behaving badly – but that is the exception, rather than the rule, as well.)
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Sunday, October 9th, 2011It was cold and rainy this morning in Vienna. I quite liked it. My weekly Sunday trip to Starbucks was ill-effected, though, because since it was rainy and cold, everyone wanted to drink hot coffee, everyone wanted to sit inside and drink their hot coffee, and (literally) I think a tour bus dropped off an entire load of people while I was there. Which is all fine, but made for a rather loud and crowded Starbucks visit (I got the last seat at a table when I arrived, and then people started cramming into small, odd spaces — I had one woman standing over me for a significant portion of my white mocha).
It still served my purposes — an hour out, on my own, not worrying about the kids — but I decided to leave a bit early and go on a stroll.
On my way back home, I came upon a chestnut vendor. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire — for real — served in a little paper cup. So, I got some (12, to be exact). Oh, so yummy. And warm. And happy in my tummy. Just the thing for a cold, rainy, autumn day.
I brought them home to share with Dan and the boys. Benjamin did not care for them. Liam thinks they’re fantastic (or so I interpret his persistent toddling up to me, pointing at the paper cup and shouting, “Da!”).
Score another point for Vienna: chestnuts roasting on an open fire. There are things I really love about this place.
Big boy bed
Saturday, October 8th, 2011Last night, Benjamin asked if we could change his crib into a “big boy bed”. I was surprised to hear it — it’s not something we’ve advocated for and I wasn’t sure he’d even been paying attention the couple of times we had explained to him, months ago, that his bed converts into a “big boy” bed and that he should tell us when he wants us to do it. (When will I learn? This kid is ALWAYS listening.)
The elements
Friday, October 7th, 2011I’ve always considered myself to be an outdoorsy person. I like to be outside. I’m a horseback rider, and have been for over 25 years. I’ve taught riding, on and off for years, too. I like to walk outside, go camping and swim, too. So, it has come as a bit of a shock to me that now, with no outdoor hobbies, I am more in touch with the weather and it’s slight permutations than I ever have been before.
Six months, part two
Thursday, October 6th, 2011Yesterday, I wrote about having been here for six months, and the homesickness I’m feeling. It’s hard to be away from everyone, to be sure.
But, at the same time, it’s a major accomplishment. Six months ago today, we arrived in Vienna. We had rented a place for 10 days, but had no way to pay for it. We had no Euros, spoke no German and had no phones that would work here. I don’t think I will ever forget the moment we wheeled ourselves, and our stuff, out of the airport and stood on the curb, waiting for Dan’s friend to come and pick us up. It was cold, it was gray. We had ourselves, one stroller, 5 suitcases, 3 backpacks, two kids and a dog.
Six months
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011Six months ago today, just about now, actually, we were on our way to the airport. Most of my family escorted us — everyone helped us prepare for our trip in some way.
What are you doing?
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011Benjamin came out of the tub, just now, walked up to me sitting at the computer and asked, “What are you doing?” “I’m writing my blog.” (He has some sense of what that means — most days I write after he’s in bed, but some days, like today, I write when he’s in the tub and he gets to see me writing when he comes out.)
After nearly six months of religiously daily blog entries, I’ve struggled against writer’s block, I’ve struggled with figuring out which stories to share, where to draw the line at “too much information” and I’ve struggled with divulging some difficult times, in order to make this an honest description of this experience and not an overly optimistic, “everything is great all the time” tale.
The return of the pirate ship balloon
Monday, October 3rd, 2011The day before Liam’s birthday, Benjamin and I purchased a pirate ship balloon that, rather than sailing home with us, sailed away, up into the clouds, on our way home. Benjamin was heartbroken. I was pretty upset myself. I walked all the way back to the shop to see if they had another (they didn’t).
Picnic and pumpkin cake
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011Another beautiful Sunday here in Vienna. The last few weekends have been like this, and each time, we think it’ll probably be the last one.
I’m holding out hope for yet one more, because I was sick again today and missed out on enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. I didn’t leave the house. I didn’t do anything, except sleep and occasionally attempt to keep my children from meeting an early demise.
Dan did a great job of wrangling everyone, but I’m also incredibly grateful for our downstairs neighbor. She called up earlier and invited us all to join her family for a picnic in the park and some of the cake she was baking. I was too sick to go, but Dan and the boys took her up on her offer. From all accounts, they had a great time (and they even brought some cake back for me — yummy!). They ate cake, my neighbor’s oldest daugher played endlessly with Benjamin (and a little with Liam) and Dan got to chat with our neighbor.
It’s always a bummer to be sick. Worse for it to be on the weekend. Worse for it to be on a beautiful day. Worse for it to interfere with plans I have with the kids (we were planning to go to the zoo today). It was really nice that my kids got to get out and enjoy the day, even though I was stuck inside. With any luck, I’ll be feeling better tomorrow! And with an extra bit of luck, next weekend will be beautiful, too.