Libretto

Well not quite, but the story of Rigoletto I have to find out before going to Verona (yes, we got tickets!). It goes: Rigoletto-story Somebody said that Shakespeare had already written all the stories there are to write. All others are just followers on the same themes. That might be true. Nevertheless, I shall enjoy the opera. And reading the story beforehand is a good idea, my Italian is a bit rusty actually. And Verona is not la Scala, where they after the renovation have displays in front of every seat, so that you can follow the story both in Italian and English. Mind you, the tickets to Verona are a hell of a lot cheaper...

Automatic updates

Oh I don't know about this new computer thingie. I opted to get informed about upgrades of this and that. What I didn't opt for was when I press "postpone" the friggin thing postponed only 10 min (instead of 5) and shut the damn pc off in the middle of Dr House. No manners whatsoever. Then after rebooting it refused to connect to internet. What kind of upgrades were those? Indeed a good thing I can go back to my old and reliable pc...

High blood pressure

I escaped going to the doctor for the leg trouble, but I was advised by the blood donor place that I should go and check my blood pressure at the doctors, since it's always quite high. After todays drama I think she may have had a point. An acquaintance of mine started to feel bad, pressure over his heart, sweating profusely (mind you, we were all sweating like pigs since it's 30° and very humid) and feeling bad in general. After being checked by paramedics it was decided to take him to hospital. I went with him (my first time in an ambulance!), so today I can honestly say that I had my fill of men in uniform. Nothing bad that doesn't bring any good etc. I left him at the emergency ward where they took an EKG and lots of scary tests to be monitored for at least 6 hours. The blood pressure and pulse went down from 188/98 resp 99. I hope he'll be fine. And maybe next week I'll go and see the doctor...

Spiders and bats

While waiting for the bus some woman told me about the spiders she'd seen at that particular bus stop a year ago. She must lead a thrilling life. She then proceeded to inform me that bats were common around there too. Gee, that is certainly information I could've lived without. Took a pic, does it look threatening to you?

Router or roooter

Sometimes I don't know which way to turn. The Brits complain when I use American expressions, and vice versa. This time I was explaining the router problem to a Brit, and was told that it wasn't a router, it was a 'rooter'. A router in British English is apparently something that saws through things. A tool of some kind.

I'm going to pay as much attention to this important lesson as I do to well I don't know, maybe somebody who tells me the importance of having a Porsche vs a Maserati. They're both cars, right?

But the guy I was having the discussion with had a cool t-shirt. Think it says Oxbow. Whatever that means...

Through the Alpes

So got my ticket and everything set for Friday. Only I am really disappointed that the Cisalpino train has no restaurant wagon. It was great when they still had, sitting next to the window, nibbling on an excellent cheese plate and drinking not so excellent wine but still, and see the Alpes flow past. Ah well, guess I have to pack my own food and drink now. On the positive side that'll be way cheaper (the prices they charge on the train! You would think you ordered a Brunello di Montalcino and some very very rare cheese from an almost extinct race of sheep or similar!). Can't wait!

250 bucks

When computer man was asking me to provide the Swisscom details about the modem, I had to really think and then dig in to piles of all-sorts-of-things. Very dusty in there I tell you. Shall have a serious talk with Putz-Peter next time. But the good thing is I finally found the voucher worth 250 CHF for the Zürich opera I received as a birthday gift almost 4 years ago. I knew I still had it, but couldn't figure out where it went. It was issued 2004 and is valid 5 years. Excellent. So a worthwhile evening. A half-programmed new computer AND 250 bucks. Not bad for a Monday.

Wanted: A Honda man

As mentioned before I have to go and do the compulsory 3-year-check of my boat in August. Which I've managed to ignore quite successfully until now. But when computer man was fiddling about with my pink Dell I thought I'd give it a go. Especially since he doesn't speak German, and I'm not fond of publicly displaying my inability. Any inability actually, except for maybe my "technical skills". Anyway. Called the company who did the renovation of the boat last year. They asked which engine I have (at which time I said "don't you have it, you renovated it last year?"). Why am I supposed to know this? Well, it turned out it was stated on the boat-license. Ok, Honda it is. Honda BABE to be exact. Which is quite intriguing. For an engine. Turns out this company doesn't do Honda's. So he recommended a "one-man-company", which I'm sure is his cousin or something. Never mind. He didn't answer today, so will try tomorrow. I just hope he can come to Zürich, because I cannot see how I would transport the boat just to have the "Honda" checked.

Computers are like men

At first sight so easy to handle, and the more you get into them the more difficult they get. Hang on, that only applies for computers. Men I think are the other way around. Never mind. That's for discussion another time.

So got a computer wizard over this evening to sort out the uncooperative router. Turned out I'm not so stupid after all. The modem I have (only 3 years old for chrissakes, shouldn't it still work?) is not compatible to the router. What a surprise.

He managed to get me online though through the cable, and installed the security thingie, the Microsoft package (did you know that the home/student-pack doesn't look anything like the standard package? Different toolbar and everything. Nobody told me this!). And more importantly, the online messenger tool plus the player to the website where I can watch Dr House for free. Excellent!

However, I'm still blogging from my old computer. It'll take some time to get used to new features and navigation tools. Yeah, yeah, old dogs and all that, but I tell you what. My old mouse feels just like that after trying out the new one. So I'll get used to it. Eventually...

Wireless router

I am a simple person. I would've thought that a wireless router would include NO wire. How stupid was that? Here was I instructed to plug first a thingie in, connect it to the computer, then to plug my cable for the internet in into a plug called WAN (with microscopic letters). Yes I know it means Wide Area Network, but I don't know what it means. Really. They should know this, so that there could be an instruction. There are friggin instructions for everything else (none of them make any sense though), like "please only deposit in allowed areas" for batteries and stuff. So got as far as setting the computer up with name, time et cetera but got into a loop with the installation of the router. Also, it said on the router in big letters on a sticker" STOP, INSERT CD FIRST". It took me ages to understand that the router itself had no place for a cd, but that I was to stick it into the computer. Now I cannot get it out. Seems to be no button to extract the cd. Frankly, I cannot be arsed to spend more time on it. These things should just WORK!!!! Immediately. If not sooner.

Rest and relaxation

Wasn't Sundays to be all about rest and relaxation? My ass. I just spent 2 hours going through all the new flat papers, sorting them in folders, signing and summarizing in email to the architect. I had no idea it was gonna be so much work. Despite that, all I seem to do is pay.

Then I spent another half hour unpacking all the Dell stuff. I cannot believe how much it all is. No less than 7 cd's, around 10 manuals of various kinds and strange devices. Didn't they understand that I'm a user, not a techie. If only they would've offered a little man coming to install it all, I would've bought it. Can't decide whether to give it a go myself, or wait for somebody to come along and help.

Ideas

Was out today and had so many ideas what to blog about. And guess what? They kinda disappeared. All by themselves. The one I remember is meeting this couple who had been on vacation in Mallorca. Every year for 20 years. How boring does that sound? Before I moved to the best city in the world, I used to travel too. But never to the same place. Short attention span. That's me people. I want new things, new people, new situations, new everything. Like a new flat. I'm big on commitment. For an evening :)

Children annoy me

I have to admit (although this shouldn't come as news for those of you who know me) that children annoy me. Unborn or born. Like yesterday when I was on the tram and a family consisting of man, woman, huge stroller and a dog half the size of me (what a friggin cliche btw. I just wish they have had a car too!) came on, forced me to sit in my seat with my bag firmly on my lap instead of the floor, blocking my way out. Finally off after trying not to step on the dog I was waiting for the bus, seeing this heavily pregnant woman. Why is it that pregnant women have to wear a tight top, so that you can see absolutely everything that goes on with her body including a disgusting protruding belly-button? I realize that a body changes during pregnancy, but must I share it? Cover yourselves, pregnant women! If there was a parade for a child-free world, I'll be marching first! Mind you, I'm pretty fond of CG who's if not my child, behaving like one :)

Education and pleasure

In my continuous strive to become as good a faghag as I can be, I have now purchased Brokeback mountain. For my own pleasure I also bought Oceans 13 (Brad Pitt and George Clooney, need I say more?). A leisurely afternoon with good food, the movies and some chocolaty dessert is the plan. Carefully ignoring the mounting pile of new flat papers I'm supposed to go through, sign and then no doubt being required to pay an ginourmous amount of money. There is always tomorrow...

Rigoletto

Am going to Italy in a weeks time to visit little bro. He asked what I wanted to do when there. This is it! Verona Have been twice before and it's absolutely fantastic. I just hope we can get tickets.

Today in Zürich

And trust me. He was much happier than he looks on the pic. We had picnic, drinks and enjoyed a whole day on the boat. Why can't every day be like this?

Blogbutton

CG is a tad weird at times. Yesterday he told me that he had been dreaming about my new pc, that it had a blog-button (why haven't anybody thought of this? Excellent idea!) and a foldable keyboard. How weird is that on a scale?

And here it is!

Hello beauty...come to mama.

Ikea-like

Ok, so Dell has obviously adopted the ikea-style. Put it together yourself kinda thing. Well, wait until you see the finished product, that CG couldn't wait to unpack.

Like a kid at Christmas eve...

Delivery

So instead of letting me know that my pc delivery took place by, well I don't know, email, sms or even phone call. You know, like most people communicate these days. I got this, written on an old envelope lying on the hall floor when getting home.

Well, I guess all ways of communicating are good!