December 2007 Archives

For your viewing pleasure, here is the link to set of pictures taken while on vacation in Vienna last week. And oh yeah, Merry Christmas to those of you out there who celebrate this blessed day!

Forgive this self-indulgent post. I have time on hands. So I find myself looking through my photo archives. In the process, I come across the picture below taken of me at a friend's wedding during the summer of 2004. I really like the way I looked back then.

Thus, I have decided to post picture here as motivation to get off my tooch and do a bit more exercise. Goal is to fit back into this dress by summer.

I come home to a cold dark house. In fact, the whole street is dark. Why, I am not exactly sure. And unlucky for me, the heating system requires electricity. So I decide to jump straight into bed. I don’t even take my clothes off. I am tired and cold. Really cold. My teeth are rattling. Not the welcome home I had imagined, but oh well!

The next morning, I wake to find that the electricity is back on. However, as the heating was off for 6 days, the house remains frigid for some time even though I crank it up. So cold in fact that I stay under the covers for much of the day and night.

Things finally improve this morning. However, I am now fighting a sore throat. Just my luck!

My flight is not until 5pm, so after checking out and storing my luggage, I spend a few hours browsing the antique shops on and around Dorotheergasse Street. I am tempted to buy something, but everything I see that I like is obscenely overpriced, so in the end I walk away. I don't even buy the obligatory Christmas ornament or chocolate to take back. I leave with just wonderful memories.

Ok wait, that's not entirely true. I did buy a box of Lychee. A colleague introduced me to the fruit a few weeks ago, and while in Vienna I eat loads of them. They remind me so much of Genips native to the Caribbean (including Montserrat) which I hadn't eaten in donkey years.

Today was my last full day in Vienna. So after mid morning breakfast, I headed to The Belvedere a baroque palace complex built by Prince Eugene of Savoy using money he received as a reward for victories during the Spanish Succession.

Apparently it was quite the reward as there are actually two palaces -- Lower and Upper Belvedere. Both palaces today hold yet more priceless artwork, perhaps the most famous being Gustav Klimt's The Kiss.

After The Belvedere, I head to Naschmarkt which is apparently Vienna's most popular market. Even on a Wednesday afternoon it was quite busy, so was kicking myself a bit as I hadn't come on Saturday for the flea market. During the week the stalls sell mostly fruits, vegetables and other edible items. There are also a good number of restaurants.

Moving on from Naschmarkt, I spent the rest of the afternoon at Kunsthistorisches Museum. Much to my disappointment, two key pieces in their collection (Summer by Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo & Virgin and Child with Pear by German artist Albrecht Durer) were on loan to other museums. Nonetheless the collection in view was quite remarkable and had I not been on my feet for much of the day, I probably would have been more appreciative of its splendour. Worthy of mention is the Egyptian Collection. I hadn't really planned on spending any time in this section but I am glad I did as the collection was quite impressive.

With the museums now closed, I headed back towards Karntner Strasse Street for dinner. I really would have like to have gone back to the hotel for a bit of a rest but stayed out as the main event for the day was yet to come. You see, I had managed to score a ticket to L'elisir d'amore being performed at the State Opera. This was quite the challenge as the production was sold out. But my persistence in checking their website paid off and I managed to get a decent seat at a reasonable price. So thankfully no need for a ticket scout. More importantly, the production was beautifully performed.

So here I am now, counting down the hours before I go home. I’ll miss Vienna with all its grandeur and my room at the K+K Palais Hotel but after 5 nights, I am ready to sleep in my own bed again.

Have I mentioned how cold it is here? Seriously, I haven't been this cold since living in Chicago and as a result I am starting to second guess my decision to take a mini-break to a wintry city. Don't get me wrong, Vienna is lovely but as someone who likes to spend much of my vacation time outside exploring whatever city I'm visiting -- I am finding it quite the challenge even though I'm bundled up.

In any event, on today’s agenda was a visit to Stephansdom, a gothic Cathedral in the middle of Vienna and only a short walk from my hotel. Once within the magnificent structure I was overwhelmed by its beauty and felt moved to pray. I know! I know! I know! I haven't really planned to but once I started, it was a bit difficult to stop.

A short while later, I noticed that the guards weren't letting people in anymore as they were preparing for noon mass. So I decided to stick around and take part in the service. Now, I don't understand German, but that almost didn't matter. The music was quite recognizable and so I sang along quietly in English! Same for the prayers. Then there was an opportunity to take holy sacrament. I won't say whether or not I partook, since I am not Catholic -- but the whole experience was just beautiful!

Feeling energized, I then headed to the MuseumQuarter where I immersed myself in the Austrian artwork at the Leopold Museum for most of the afternoon.

Later, I spent time at Karlskirche, which my travel book describes as a baroque masterpiece. That my friends is not an overstatement. Even with the structure currently under renovations, the church is just breathtaking. And thanks to an elevator and some treacherous looking stairs which they installed to allow for panoramic views (for a fee of course!), I got to see the very top close up. Just gorgeous!

More importantly, visiting these two places of worship made me feel a little bit closer to God! So I guess a little bit of discomfort with the weather is a small price to pay.

Since most of the museums in Vienna are closed on Mondays, I spent much of the day at Schonbrunn Palace.

As I took the grand tour which included 40 rooms each one more magnificent than the next, I knew without a doubt it was the most extravagant stately home I have ever visited. Everything from the silverware, furniture, chandeliers, paintings and murals on the walls were simply gorgeous if not a bit over the top. I couldn’t help feel a wee bit jealous. I mean, I would be happy walking away with just one of the chandeliers for my much more modest home. Since that wasn’t going to happen without setting off alarms, I quickly wiped away that thought and went outside and walked around the expansive garden. Even in winter, it was quite picturesque and I could imagine myself in warmer days marvelling at the various plants and flowers and even having a picnic with a loved one! The place is stunning.

For the first time in a long while, I feel alien. There are no black people in Vienna. If they are, they are in hiding as since arriving on Saturday, I have seen three. That my friend is not a good number considering that I've passed thousands of people on the streets. And while this normally wouldn't bother me, I am suddenly feeling rather self conscious. Maybe it's the cold weather that has made me extra sensitive to these matters. Maybe its because I’ve noticed children and adults alike staring at me! Whatever the case, I have not been in such a homogeneous city in a long long time. Of course, this doesn't detract from the architectural beauty of the city.

I had fun today randomly walking about and then taking tours of the Vienna State Opera, the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Palace Apartments within Hofburg Palace. I also managed to visit three seperate Christmas markets -- the most famous being in Rathaus Park. After the last, I stumbled upon a store near Freyung Square that would bring a smile to any cat lovers face (see store window below). This made me think of Choo-Choo and how much I miss him. Pathetic huh? Well, blame it on the one too many glasses of hot punch I've had today.

In the next few days I plan to check out a few of Vienna’s top cultural sites, visit a few of the Christmas markets and try my darndest not to put on any weight. I am off to a not so great start with the last goal, as I had a slice of cheesecake from Café Demel this evening that I am sure resulted in me gaining back all the weight I lost earlier in the week. It was so rich but ever so good!

Grüße aus Wien, Österreich. Ich werde hier für die nächsten Tage absorbieren Wiener Kultur und Gastfreundschaft. Mit leichtem Schneefall derzeit fallen, die Stadt ist einfach schön.

In englischer Sprache/In English:

Greetings from Vienna, Austria. I will be here for the next few days absorbing Viennese culture and hospitality. With light snow currently falling, the city is just beautiful.

Yesterday was my Best Guy Friend's 36th birthday. The typical man that he is, he never seems to remember to call me on my birthday -- just sometime around the actual date. So every year, I try and one up him and text and call on his birthday.

And last night after discussing his birthday plans, we talked about religion, politics and then eventually got around to discussing my love life -- because really, even though it was his special day -- the selfish me is front and centre.

The not so interesting fact is that Best Guy Friend never really supported my relationship with Airport Guy. He thought it was all wrong. On the other hand, even up until the very end, he encouraged me to work through things with Racquetball Guy. Oh how I wish it had all worked out.

Because maybe, just maybe, after 15 years our conversations would be less about me whinging about how difficult it is to find Mr Right!

And maybe, just maybe, in his ever need to help, he wouldn't suggest that I look into such off the wall ideas like polygamy. Now he wasn't suggesting that I go join a cult or anything, more so that I need to be more open because there are lots of successful black women like myself that want to marry a successful black man and there just aren't enough of them to go around.

Apparently he had read an article titled The Economic Case for Polygamy, written by Financial Times columnist Tim Harford which basically argues that if used correctly, polygamy can be a "boon for women." That may be, but I am not at the point where I am willing to consider a non traditional relationship.

I am only interested in being in a relationship with one man (who has yet to make an appearance) and one woman (me!).

Preference is definitely to find someone who shares the same cultural heritage. However, at this stage, I am more open to him being from a different cultural backaground -- he however still needs to be tall!

I have been home for the past two days.

Why? Well on Monday night I barfed in a major department store on Oxford Street. I had felt light headed all day, but hadn't really thought much of it. So I decided to meet up as planned for an evening of window shopping.

However, once I got off the bus on Oxford Street, I knew it wasn't the best idea. I felt like I was going to pass out.

So I decided to go into the nearest department store to sit down and have a drink of water. However, I never made it to the food area. In fact, once I got inside, I realised the better option was to head for the bathroom. However, I just couldn't get there fast enough.

I got as far as the cosmetics counter where I left a present spread out on the sparkling white floor. It was so embarrassing. A customer rushed over to hand me some tissues and a worker helped me to the bathroom to clean up.

The whole episode was just so surreal.

Freaked out by the symptoms that continued well into the night, I went to the doctor the next morning. Apparently I was the fifth patient she had seen that morning with similar complaint. Apparently some sort of bug is going around. So she suggested lots of rest and fluids.

Then this morning, even though my symptoms hadn’t fully disappeared, I got ready for work. However, once I came downstairs I realised that going to work wasn't the best idea. Basically, the mind was ready but the body wasn't.

So, I'll try again tomorrow. The silver lining in all of this is that I've lost about 6lbs. Not the hardest thing to do when you are on a liquid diet.

The search for genuine love, comes at a price, but I'm not sure that $1,995 was the price point I had in mind. Not even if the company genuinely has a proven scientific way of finding true love. Oh course, never say never right? I never thought I'd be still be single at 37. Of course, that my friends, does not mean desperate! If it's the cards, it will be. I just need to continue getting out there and living my life to the fullest.

Yet another story by an expat who insist on slagging off the women in the country he calls home. Seriously, what is with these people? Clearly the author is seeking attention for himself, but this takes things a bit too far.

From The Times, December 11, 2007
American beauty? By Tad Safran

Having observed females on both sides of the Atlantic, our correspondent claims British women are unkempt and lazy about grooming

In the iconic chick-flick Bridget Jones’s Diary, the title character is a sad, lonely, overweight, posh-sounding chain-smoker in her thirties with a drinking problem and no dating prospects. She then, one day, goes to the gym for an hour or two, spends £200 at Topshop, reads a self-help book and, lo and behold, she finds herself in the delightful position of having to decide between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.

Women of Britain: Bridget Jones’s Diary is not a documentary. It’s a work of fiction, a fairytale. The fact is that control-top granny pants are simply not a substitute for regular exercise, thoughtful grooming and a healthy diet. Certainly not if you’re single and interested in men.

Although I am American, England has been my home since I was three years old. I now split my time between Los Angeles and London and regularly visit New York. There are many, many differences between the British and the Americans, but none more glaring than UK women’s approach to their own upkeep.

I am a massive fan of British women. UK girls, in my opinion, are the greatest natural beauties in the world . . . when they’re 17 or 18 years old. The girls I was surrounded by when I was a teenager were sublime roses with lustrous hair, flawless skin, bright eyes and lithe, athletic bodies. They dressed as if there would be a prize at the end of the night for the girl wearing the least. I then went away to Philadelphia for university. Four years later, I came back and wondered: “What the hell happened to all the beautiful girls I knew?” My first assumption was that one half of them had eaten the other half and washed them down with a crate of lager. These girls looked phenomenal when looking good took no effort. But when British women get to the age where they have to make an effort, they appear unable, or uninterested, in rising to the challenge.

My blog is 5 years old today.

Will I be here in another 5 years? I'd like to think so, but in that blogging has become more mainstream and corporate, I am more conscious of what I share for fear of being dooced or simply unintentionally hurting people.

Thus, if it gets to the point where I can no longer be authentic, I'll give it up. In interim, raw fear is still what I feel.

My first date post break up with Airport Guy went relatively well. Will there be a second date? He -- Burkina Faso Guy (he was born there) hinted that he would like that. Would I like that? Not so sure. He is a professional/ambitious/ intelligent/attractive guy but he comes with a lot of baggage. The kind of baggage that I would have been ok with maybe two years ago, but now it just makes me want to run. Particularly as having worked through my own issues, I would prefer to date someone who doesn't have complications with ex-girlfriends/wives.

So am I disappointed? Not really! The purpose of going on the date, was just to get myself back out there. I know I have much to offer a potential boyfriend/husband however when you are in a dysfunctional relationship your confidence and self esteem is not what it should be. So it was good to have someone stroke my ego and confirm what I already know. I got it going on!

I am a bit removed from American politics now that I live in London, but I am going to go out on a lim and make a prediction. A prediction that I thought 6 months ago, would never be a reality. However, even from a far, I see a change in the wind. So barring a major disaster, I call Iowa and New Hampshire for Obama.

Will he then win the Democratic nomination and White House? Not sure. Only time will tell whether or not America is ready for its first African American president.

The deed is done. Airport Guy and I are finished. So finished in fact that I now have a date lined up.

The situation with Airport Guy is deteriorating again and so I find myself consulting my astrological chart for relationship clues. Truthfully, nothing has really changed since we got back together and so I think I need to end it -- this time for good!

Granted I tried over a month ago but I foolishly allowed myself to be drawn back in because I really like him and as pointed out below -- "Leos sometimes cling to bad relationships because their egos will not allow them to admit they may have made a mistake. Also, being forever optimistic, it is impossible for a Leo to see any problem as insurmountable." And that my friends, about sums up my last two romantic relationships.

So moving forward, I've got to cut the cord faster. I don't care how much potential someone has, if my needs are not being met, NEXT! Cold, but I think that's the only way to avoid being trapped in an unhappy relationship.

Leo: Jul 23 - Aug 23

Generous, Warmhearted, Creative, Enthusiastic, Broad-Minded, Expansive, Faithful and Loving
Pompous, Patronizing, Bossy, Interfering, Dogmatic and Intolerant

Leo's charisma and innate ability to lead guarantee they will almost always be at center stage--a place where they love to be. Leos are so full of warmth and optimism it is impossible to not find their company pleasurable. Fearless, powerful and dignified by nature, Leos make great leaders. The force of their will guarantees any task they tackle will be completed.

While they may seem domineering, even despotic at times, their goal is always to ensure the well being of all those in their kingdom. Ever-confident Leos are also creative, idealistic and have an indefatigable lust for life. When leadership is required, a Leo is what is needed. They will get the job done right and on time. Leos also have a talent for bringing the very best out in those around them.

Warm-hearted Leos love to have fun, and will go out of their way to make sure those around them are having fun too! Leos love games of all kinds. They are risk takers and will plunge into new ventures on impulse, confident their talents will ensure success. Strong and honorable, optimistic and fun, few will find the Leo's charms easy to resist.

The Leo In Love:
When in love, Leo's love of fun is only outdone by the romantic in them. They are faithful lovers with a passion that may seem too hot to handle! Leos may not always be willing to try new things which did not spring from their own fantasies, but a clever lover may slowly introduce new methods of expressing love to their relationship. Once the Leo realizes they are fun they will be won over.

Leos sometimes cling to bad relationships because their egos will not allow them to admit they may have made a mistake. Also, being forever optimistic, it is impossible for a Leo to see any problem as insurmountable.

Overall, the Leo will prove to be a wonderful mate. Their love of children makes them a natural parent. They are generous, warm and truly want the best for everyone. Their loyalty and sense of honor makes it unlikely they will be indiscrete.

Famous Leos Include: Mae West, Napoleon Bonaparte, Andy Warhol, Simon Bolivar, George Bernard Shaw, Maxfield Parish, Omar Khayyam, Peggy Fleming, Carl G. Jung, Stanley Kubrick, Mick Jagger, Jackie Onaissis, Charles Schwab, and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Ideal Jobs Include: Leos are well-suited to be managers, architects, inventors, teachers, athletes and presidents.

Lucky Numbers: 5, 14, 13, 32, 41, 50

Planet: The Sun

Star Stone: Ruby

Element: Fire

Most Compatible With: Sagittarius or Aries

Yet another fine example by the American government on how to make friends and influence people. Not! Look, I am not suggesting that people shouldn't be held accountable for their crime(s). However, there are procedures that need to be followed when dealing with foreign nationals and kidnapping should never enter into the equation. Superpower or not, it's just not good foreign policy.

From The Sunday Times, December 2, 2007
US says it has right to kidnap British citizens
Reporter: David Leppard

AMERICA has told Britain that it can “kidnap” British citizens if they are wanted for crimes in the United States.

A senior lawyer for the American government has told the Court of Appeal in London that kidnapping foreign citizens is permissible under American law because the US Supreme Court has sanctioned it.

The admission will alarm the British business community after the case of the so-called NatWest Three, bankers who were extradited to America on fraud charges. More than a dozen other British executives, including senior managers at British Airways and BAE Systems, are under investigation by the US authorities and could face criminal charges in America.

Until now it was commonly assumed that US law permitted kidnapping only in the “extraordinary rendition” of terrorist suspects.

The American government has for the first time made it clear in a British court that the law applies to anyone, British or otherwise, suspected of a crime by Washington.

Millions have died and millions more are suffering. Thus, we all should do what we can to help.

You get into bed with the devil and you know you are going to get screwed -- and not necessarily in a good way. Case in point, I decided to go with Sky instead for Virgin for cable services since they have more channels with American programming. This was ordered and installed at the end of October. At the time, I choose to stick with the regular free box instead of paying £100 for a Sky+ Box. Mainly because the major selling feature -- being able to record programs to watch later didn't really appeal to me.

Then around mid November, I start seeing advertisements indicating that new customers would get a free Sky+ Box. I decide to give customer service a call to see if I could get one since I had only missed out by a few weeks. Not because I suddenly wanted to start recording programs or pausing live TV, more so because the remote that came with the standard box has limited features. For example, if I want to bounce back and forth between BBC2 (102) and Fox News (510), I have to keep remembering the numbers. There is no feature that allows me to easily switch back and forth. Apparently, these are on the Sky+ Box. F8ucking outrageous if you ask me.

Thus, the call to customer service where I was basically told by both a customer service representative and manager to go f8uck off in a nice way. The offer was only good for new customers and I was not a new customer. This just enraged me!

Why? Well, I not only have cable, but I also have broadband and phone services. More importantly, while I understand that I need to pay more for various channel packages, I think it is outrageous to force customers to buy pricey equipment that they can only use if they sign up for your services. Services I might add, that are not exactly cheap.

So what are my options? Well first step is to blog about the madness. Next step is to write a letter to management. Third and perhaps the most important one is to seriously consider switching to another provider after my 12 month contracts ends because companies like Sky are only interested in screwing you out of your money instead of delivering good products and excellent customer service.