It is so odd to be back in L.A. I'm not sure I've fully grasped it yet. I left a whole other life back here, so it's like another world. And everything is just so... I can't put my finger on it. Like the huge freeways, or the brown mountains with their typical shrubbery, or the suburbs (we had a layover in NYC and I was glued to the window, gazing at suburbia and I had the Weeds theme song stuck in my head), or random stuff like the smell of bologna and how the TV commercials bombard you with ads for insurance and medicine.

Initial oddness aside, we're having a lot of fun. We went to Malibu beach and even though it was a bit too cold and windy, I just had to go swimming in the Pacific again. We went to Pavilions and I spent like an hour wandering around and just grinning and exclaiming over like, Lucky Charms and Jell-O and string cheese. We went to Sizzlers and gorged ourselves at the salad bar and at Baskin Robbins we got free ice cream (Rocky Road!) when the cashier heard we'd come back after so long. (Not that we go around telling people our life story but some ask when they hear us conversing together in such a strange language. And it turns out that surprisingly many Angelenos have been to Switzerland!)

It was so odd to be back in our old neighborhood. And our old school was so much smaller than I remembered it! Tomorrow we'll vist our old church, and I have mixed feelings about that because while I'm looking forward to seeing the building itself again, I remember feeling sort of freaked out the previous time we visited when I actually paid attention to what was being said in the sermon.

We had a rather annoying mishap last week, we got into a wee car accident. We were on Sunset Boulevard when the car behind us ran into our pretty red Chevy when we halted at a red light. The damage was minimal and nobody was hurt, actually the fuss with the rental car company was almost worse. And now we have a gray Chevy instead of a red one. We named him Ralph.

Even so. This is such an awesome vacation. I think I made myself forget how much I loved California and it's good to be here again.



Current Mood: happy

Tiana and I are only leaving for SoCal on Thursday morning but I'm going to be so busy tomorrow that I'm posting the obligatory "Goodbye, see you in three weeks" post now.

So... Goodbye, see you in three weeks!

PS I'm munching on cherries for the third time today. I hate that we have to leave right now in the middle of cherry and blueberry season!


Current Mood: stressed

Happy Independence Day to all those who celebrate it!

Tiana came home yesterday night in tears, it seems that there were two 16-year old guys in the train compartment next to her who were making derogatory and vulgar remarks about her all the way home. For half an hour she was stuck with them and came home incredibly frustrated for not reacting and just ignoring them when it was making her so uncomfortable. At first she wasn't even sure they were talking about her, then she thought they'd shut up soon and she'd be best off ignoring them, and when they didn't let up she (being of an extremely fretful disposition) worried that defending herself might just be an unnecessary risk, that that situation might escalate and that she might get hurt, even though there were other people in the well-lit train, and they were only boys...

She's so angry with herself for allowing them to put her down like that and making her feel so helpless. She keeps telling herself she should have acted differently and that she's blaming herself makes her angrier at the boys.

She asked me what I would have done in her position. It's a good question, and I don't really know the answer. It would probably all depend on the mood I had that moment, whether I'd feel at ease enough to just smart-mouth back, or whether it even would have bothered me that much (not that I want to downplay the whole situation, maybe I would have hated it as much as she did. I don't know). I mean, my gut reaction to 16-year-old boys is eye-rolling, they're just full of shit. Tiana can be quite thin-skinned though, and she's going to have a hard time letting go of this, I can tell.


Current Mood: irate

I've been wanting to do adayinmylife for a long time and I finally got around to it recently. This is my Monday, 30. June 2008 in 65 pictures.

( Sushi, shopping, swimwear and possible reinforcement of Swiss stereotypes within. )

X-posted to adayinmylife, obviously.



Current Mood: refreshed

I seem to have made plans with four different people in two different places simultaneously for tonight. Oops.

This past week has been one crazy celebration after the other. I've been really busy and happy but everything has a sort of bittersweet tinge because it'll all be over soon.

Yesterday I stood on a scale and realized that I'm now 56 kg. How did that happen??

Also, ( a book meme: )

I have incorporated Die Ärzte into my exercise routine. More specifically, I had "3-Tage-Bart" on repeat and whenever the "geili, geili Supertyp" part started, I did jumping jacks. Really though, I have a very energizing playlist ready for my next jog.

Then I actually ventured out into the sun because my legs are about eleven different kinds of pale and something just must be done about it. So now they're sort of pink. Nice.

Tonight I'm going out for drinks and dancing, and tomorrow night we'll be watching the Holland - Russia quarterfinals in Bern. I realize I haven't mentioned the Euro 08 much, even though it's actually taking place here but I've been otherwise preoccupied and thus haven't quite been able to take advantage of the biggest party that's been going on all over Switzerland and Austria for the past month. Damn. So I plan to rectify that tomorrow and Sunday will be spent recuperating.

And yesterday I learned the opening chords of "Nothing Else Matters" on guitar. I rock.

ETA: The jokerization going on at ONTD is awesome.


Current Mood: amused

Yesterday evening Die Ärzte played at the Greenfield Festival. Of course we went and naturally it was awesome, except for when the guy behind me started getting too friendly and I felt compelled to point out that I was here with my boyfriend. To which the guy behind me replied that my boyfriend shouldn't have just left me alone, and that if I were his girlfriend he'd pay more attention to me because girlfriends are more important than concerts.

Blasphemy! Girls shouldn't expect their boyfriends to watch over them at concerts and besides, nothing is more important than a Die Ärzte concert! No really, I've never experienced anything better than their concerts - yesterday was the fourth time and they never disappoint. They are consistently fantastic.

Due to various RL engagements we were unable to spend more time at the festival (I'm mainly upset about missing Beatsteaks) and so it turns out that we ended up paying 180 CHF for just one concert. Then again, I can't think of a better band to invest it in.



Current Mood: optimistic

On Saturday Dani and I went to Bern to watch the beginning of the Euro 2008, the Switzerland - Czech Republic match at the Bundesplatz. Even though Switzerland lost and there were too many drunk jerks tumbling around, the atmosphere was quite exciting and we had fun.

Later however... ugh, I wouldn't even know where to start. Men are so frustrating! And I don't like myself when I get so besotted with them.

To distract me, a meme:

1. go to www.google.com
2. type in your answer to the question in the "search" box
3. choose one of the first page image
4. copy the html and paste for the answer

( Answers )

Also Religulous looks like it could be an amusing film.


Current Mood: anxious

Some songs currently on heavy rotation:

Jan Delay - Für Immer und Dich (Rio Reiser cover)

Tricky - Hollow

Regina Spektor - Better

Saul Williams - Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2 cover)

I have trouble even switching from song to song because I love each one so much, I get stuck listening to the same track for hours.


Current Mood: jubilant

My father returned from SoCal last week and of all the things he brought back (almond butter, english muffins and Twinkies) I think I'm enjoying the bubble wrap the most.

This weekend was voting weekend, and luckily all three proposals were flat-out refused. I am relieved! Also I'm still feeling the after effects from last night's partying but it was so very worth it. I haven't had such a fun night in a long time.

I have such a craving for sushi lately, I can't get enough of it!

ETA: The Lost finale was excellent. So much crazy shit went down that I can't even remember all the awesome. January 09 is so far away!


Current Mood: ecstatic

I broke my cell phone on Saturday, it slipped out of my sweater pocket as I was leaning over and fell into... the toilet. *headdesk* I retrieved it as quick as I could but it's probably still waterlogged and anyhow I'm afraid to check because of how upset I'll be if it's truly ruined. I'll have lost so many pictures and texts and videos!

They say it'll be around 30° today. I need new tops, I am not yet fully equipped to deal with summer.

Today I realized that whenever I'm writing a verb in the third person plural of imparfait, plus-que-parfait or conditionnel in French, I always mentally chant "A-I-E-N-T". In German though, so it sounds like "Ah Eee Eh En Teh". Aheeeehenteh! (LJ suggests I change this to "Unhinged" or "Overhand".)

I'm afraid I like the Guns n' Roses version of "Sympathy for the Devil" better than the original. I blame you, "Interview With The Vampire".

This post has too many quotation marks for my liking.



Current Mood: groggy

The calender on the sidebar of my LJ looked empty to I thought it must be time to post again.

The current LJ writer's block suggestion is "What's your nickname, and how did you get it?" Well, the newest one is Nädu. G. came up with it, along with Müüsli and Nädeli but Nädu was the one that stuck. I'm not that fond of it, to be honest... at least Müüsli (mouse) was at least sort of cute, if unfitting (IMO)!

I can't stop playing Traveler IQ Challenge on Facebook. It's addictive! Currently I'm at level 12 with an IQ of 126 but I am determined to get better.

How is everyone doing?


Current Mood: mischievous

Tiana made me register on Facebook. So if you know my real name then feel free to add me there.

I know I'm sort of late about this but I'm so happy that in California the ban on same-sex marriage has been struck down. I love you, California! (At least right now. I'm fickle.)

Lost was so good. On one hand I can't wait until we see the next parts in two weeks but on the other hand (further proof of my shilly-shallying and fickleness!) I don't want these next to weeks to go by at all. I hate it when eras have to end.

Dollhouse is looking promising. The little clip of BtVS they snuck into the trailer amuses me!

On Friday we intended to go see Open Season play at the Reithalle. The concert was due to start at ten and we both needed to get up early on Saturday. After waiting an hour and a half for the just the opener we said fuck it and left. We've seen Open Season a mulitude of times already and it was a benefit concert so at least the money spent wasn't a total loss.

It was hard getting up the next morning though. I miss sleep!


Current Mood: confused

Yesterday I actually ventured out into the sunshine. The weather was just too nice and I figured I could do my studying outside just as well as inside. And I could, for a while at least. Then I briefly went inside to slather on more sunblock and when I came back outside, the sun had completely disappeared. Half an hour later it started raining. And hailing!

Today is pretty again. Perhaps I will try once more.

Tonight I go see Shine a Light with G. It's all very platonic but the butterflies in my stomach won't exactly listen.


Current Mood: nervous

Today was a good day - 24°C, cute new clothes, sushi with Sibylle for lunch, Dani and Richu in the afternoon, then some window shopping and running into lots of acquaintances, and Lost 4x11 waiting for me when I got home. ( Semi-spoilery remark. )

I think I'm going to make cherry-chocolate truffles for my mom on Mother's Day. It's sort of a cop-out, since I've been constantly making ganache lately anyway, but maybe Tiana and I will take her out for a movie or something as well.

I would love to go clubbing tonight but Dani is working, Alain needs to study, Sabs has plans with her boyfriend and BM is currently at the airport in Zürich, embarking on an 8 week trip through Cambodia and India. I'm going to miss her something awful!



Current Mood: relaxed

Yesterday I went to the BEA (an annual exposition-y fair in Bern) with Dani. It was fun, although I got sunburned. Of course. In the evening I watched Lost, which still manages to be fairly awesome even when it's not that good.

Normally I look upon cell phones pretty favorably, despite their aptitude for addiction, but today I am beginning to loathe mine. I don't want to see the cute wallpaper, I want to finally receive that text message! This gadget is turning me into a whiny teen.

G. loaned me Hotel Rwanda in which Joaquin Phoenix has the best line: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "Oh my God, that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.



Current Mood: aggravated

I just dropped off a very important item at the post office. I'm sort of nervous about that but another part of me is walking on air because of something completely unrelated which I won't be talking about either.

...my posts are just full of detailed information, aren't they??

Now I go back to crossing my fingers and jumping around the room.

XD


Current Mood: giddy

More taking advantage of LJ's writer's block suggestions, namely ( Describe your different personas ) and ( What do you want to be famous for? )

It's warm warm and sunshiny here, spring suddenly seems to have sprung up upon us. I bought some spring clothes yesterday and found the cutest top ever - now the weather just needs to stay warm enough to wear it!

Lost 4x09 was... I do even know where to start. It was awesome.



Current Mood: impressed

I'm taking advantage of LJ's writer's block suggestions, and I'm going to start with ( How are your Saturday nights different now than they were five years ago? )

Then there is also What's your least favorite chore? which doesn't require an LJ-cut because the answer is so simple - cleaning. I like cooking and I don't mind doing the laundry but I hate cleaning.

Also, ( Geographie Testchen Ergebnis. )



Current Mood: guilty

It's not that I have too much free time but that I'm stressed and needed a break which led to making ganache. Multiples types per day, such as mint, coffee, walnut, butterscotch and orange (orange-flavored and coffee-flavored were the best), and that's just with the plain cooking chocolate. Imagine the possibilities with Toblerone, Lindt 85% or white chocolate (although someone else would have to eat those).

In less delicious but equally good news, Tuesday night was the Serj Tankian concert. We arrived pretty late and we'd resigned ourselves to hanging around in the back but two songs in I was mushed up against the first row. I wasn't even trying that hard, it just sort of happened and I'm definitely not going to complain about it. Serj was... short! I never noticed that before, I always thought of him as tall and gangly, sort of like Adrien Brody. A vocally hysterical activist Adrien Brody on crack showing more musical range than the US missile system. Such a great concert.

Now Tiana wants me to cut her hair, I sincerely hope I won't do a horrible job of it.


Current Mood: good