I can best describe the weather based on what you need to wear outside to be comfortable. At least 2 months ago, I began wearing gloves for the morning bike ride to church or work. A few weeks later I busted out the uncomplimentary scarf and hat. Last week I decided the season for long johns/long underwear was here. And even though it isn't snowing yet, the time for wearing my sleeping-bag-winter-coat is NOW. Last time I needed the coat was on Easter Sunday when it all of a sudden snowed, but I still insisted on wearing my new spring outfit to church. (yes you may call me stubborn)

The following are parts of a poem read at our Thanksgiving lunch last week which I felt ring particularly true for me to consider sometimes.

If I Had My Life To Live Over by Erma Bombeck
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. (I am more aware these days of when I interrupt someone in our conversation.)
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. (I haven't had a proper housewarming party at my new humble-abode because I want it to be sparkling clean and I want to have the perfect meal or finger foods to offer.)
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. (My reason for not wearing a helmet when biking, or worse not wearing a hat in the now freezing weather.)
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. (You don't want to know what all I have in storage i.e. at Grandma's.)
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. (I'm learning the importance of rest when I am sick, but the main statement is also true.)
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ... (Just 10 minutes ago I said the latter, it felt good to be honest and humble about a time when I was wrong.)
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

My new nickname by some friends here in Salzburg is Mary Mack because I read children's stories at a local bookstore and one day I got the kids to sing-along as I read this popular story.

Which holiday is it?

Photos include Commentary/Captions

Fall in Austria

This week schools are closed on Thursday and the university officially recognizes Friday as a holiday as well. What holiday is it this time you may ask?
A. Halloween
B. Thanksgiving
C. St. Nicholas Day
D. Independence Day
E. Memorial Day

If your answer was:
A. Cool Austrians celebrate Halloween too! The most common outfit to dress up in is the traditional Lederhose/leather pants for men and Dirndl dress for women. No, this holiday is still not widely celebrated but it is slowly catching on.

B. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving at the beginning of Nov. Americans celebrate at the end of Nov. So maybe the Europeans just start earlier at the end of Oct. This weekend I cooked Thanksgiving Dinner for my old roommates and some new friends (see photo) True it is earlier, but even sooner in mid- to late-September.

C. It snowed this weekend in Austria giving the feel of Christmastime to come. And it's true St. Nicholas comes with Krampus to give good children fruit and nuts weeks before Santa Claus jumps down your chimney. But not yet. We'll save that holiday for December. And beware of the Krampus who take care of the bad children.

D. As Americans the ideal time for Independence Day is when it is still warm enough to grill outside, have a parade and sit comfortable under the stars and watch fireworks. An Independence Day in Austria looks exactly opposite. The cold weather has set in and grills have been packed away and fireworks are being stored up for New Years Eve. If you guessed D. you are close. Independence Day is October 26, so we also had schools closed last Friday.

E. If I say E. is wrong then it was an unfair multiple choice and NONE OF THE ABOVE should have been included. Technically there isn't a Memorial Day, but I will accept E. as the correct answer because it is a good way to describe what takes place. The actual religious title is All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Austrians will go to the cemetery and decorate the graves of their loved ones who have passed away.

Do you also celebrate All Saints' or All Souls' Day?

July 15 2012

In the 21st century we have so many technological advances to be thankful for.
- Today a friend of mine here in Salzburg was able to watch a church service taking place LIVE via the internet from her home country of Nigeria.
- I am currently sitting on a train from Salzburg to Vienna and have wireless internet with which I am writing a long-awaited blog post.
- I can call numerous family members directly from Skype to the Smart Phones and see them wherever they are.

Granted technology doesn't always work in our favor with hackers, slow connections, power outages or tedious updates to install. But in general I'd say it is a good thing.

The picture above alludes to the fact that I am on a train right now. I am headed further east of Vienna to the country where this photo was taken already 3 years ago. Kinga is the little girl in the photo and I met her when I was in Romania teaching English during February 2009. She was absolutely adorable and I have no doubt that she still is. Unfortunately I haven't had an opportunity to return to Romania until now.

For the next two weeks I will be working at Roma (gypsy) Children's camps with friends from America ... Katie (http://valleysfillfirst.blogspot.co.at/2012/07/first-couple-of-days.html) and Bonnie (http://teleiosministry.blogspot.co.at/2012/07/catching-up.html).

I have been on the go quite a bit lately but I hope to return to blog posting in the coming weeks.

You could win 100 million monopoly Euros if...

...you can correctly guess what my current illness is.


One of my biggest fears is being called a hypochondriac by the doctor. Luckily, or unluckily, that did not happen last week at the _______ doctor. I have been experiencing a problem*, not really painful* just a bit annoying*. I talked to a few people about it, and with the school nurse's recommendation I went to see a specialist*. Unfortunately there is no real solution for this problem. The doctor did a test and a check-up but my illness was not alarming* to him, "in fact it is a common problem," he said. If it is really so common, then why have I never heard about it before now? Seriously!


*key words


Another clue is that the doctor did give me a prescription for something that could help me sleep if it becomes too disturbing. He also tried to make a joke which I didn't find funny, by saying that unlike a typical American doctor he can't just tell me to take a few aspirin to feel better.

So do not Google search what this is, either you know it or you don't and I will know if you are cheating. Please comment on this blog if you have had Tinnitus or if you know what Tinnitus is. I wasn't sure how to spell it at first because how it was pronounced in German sounded like Teenytuse.

Do I have a problem with my:
1)head and shoulders
2)knees and toes
3)eyes or
4)ears or
5)mouth or
6)nose?