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Friday, December 31, 2010

Celebrating the New Year


The last day of the year...
time to think about 2010.

I have good news- I finished writing the first draft of my assignment!
Now I can focus on my novel.
Í made the dips for the fondue, cut the meat and vegetables, cooked the soup,...wrote e-mails,...so, time to have a party!

But I want to wish you a happy "Silvester", that´s how the last day of the year is called here. I´ll waltz into the New Year at midnight. There all radio stations will play the Waltz "On the blue Danube" and hear the sound of the Pummerin,the largest bell in Austria, third largest in Europe.

Quote-corner:
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce


Music-corner: Irish blessing-May the road rise to meet you

and a well known song for this time.
Vienna´s New Year´s Concert´ll start at 11.15 a.m.(Central European Time)-watch it online
Have a good night and a great start into 2011!!!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Countdown till the end of the year.....

Belvedere+ baroque park
Spent the last three days with my friend in Vienna, was cold, but funny. We visited Belvedere, once summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The two main baroque buildings are now museums- with many exhibits- newly renovated. The 2 current ones are great- Rodin (Yes, I saw the thinker;)!) and finally I admired Klimt´s Kiss- one of my favorite Austrian painters, a member of the Vienna secession. I love his work- especially the late one.

Back home again, after celebrating X-mas with everybody, I have started writing again.
My plan:
#1  --finish the first draft of my assignment this year;) - this should be possible.
#2 -- write the end of my novel-- possible end 31 Dec. 2010

well, that´s a plan. Something fictive. But I have to write a lot today- better tonight, because tomorrow night I won´t find the silence. Then it´s time to prepare the fondue, yummy!!!

Food corner:
Check out the  fondue page
and enjoy the last days of this year!

Music-corner:
Watch the New Year´s concert live online!!! Here, on January the first;)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a merry Christmas!


Happy holidays and have a wonderful time with lots of joy, good food and great music!



Music-corner:

Stille Nacht! (Holy night) -Vienna Boys Choir- the famous X-mas song made in Austria ;))! (F.X.Gruber+Mohr)

Still, still, still-Vienna Boys Choir- X-mas song from Salzburg

O holy night-C. Church, P. Domingo

Oh, Tannenbaum! (Oh, christmastree)- 3 Tenors

FELIZ NAVIDAD! 3 Tenors


I could post and post X-mas music, but now I have to prepare for the evening;)

Enjoy your celebrations and I wish you a wonderful Christmas-night (24.12.)/ Christmas day (25.12.)!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas in Austria- my program for the holidays;)

Reason for posting:  Introducing "Christkind";)
December 24th - Christmas Eve ('Heiliger Abend')

As a rule Christmas is a holiday with the family. Christmas Eve is mostly celebrated with close relations only. Preparations for Christmas Eve start during the afternoon with adorning the Christmas tree ('Christbaum'). Some families use colourful toys, straw stars, small bells and crystal balls, self-made items and even chocolate, sweets and fruits. Lit candles finish the design. Some prefer a less colourful assortment and use crystal balls, silvery or golden adornments and candles. The Christmas crib ('Krippe'), a figurative depiction of the Holy Family in the stable where Christ was born, is erected. Afterwards children are out of the room, so that the 'Bescherung' can take place: the 'Christkindl' (Austria's equivalent of Santa Clause) brings presents and places them below the tree.

When the children return the Christmas tree is lit. Christmas carols are sung and Christmas stories are read. Strictly speaking Christmas Eve is still part of the fasting season with Christmas carp or sausages being the traditional meal. But again, it is not unheard of that Christmas cookies are nibbled on this occasion. Finally, the presents are opened and the evening is spent in happy contemplation of the gifts until it is time for Christmas services ('Christmette'), which take place at midnight.

December 25th - Christmas Day ('Christtag')

Christmas Day is the day for visits and receptions. All relations in the vicinity come together and - as the fasting has officially ended - food is of no little importance. The rest of the day, if any, is spent in happy contemplation of the presents.

After that, festivities do not really stop till New Year's Eve.
(Source: http://www.aboutaustria.org/culture/christmas_in_austria.htm)


X-mas in Vienna


Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Pre-X-mas Music

 No time for much  writing;( but I just want to share my pre-x-mas music with you;)

Frank Sinatra & Cindy Lauper - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
My much- loved tenor- Placido Domingo with the other 2 great singers-Carreras and Pavarotti
Jingle Bells!
Enjoy the days till Christmas- just 2 ( for some countries that ´ll celebrate on December 24!!)
Have a great time!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Recipes for X-mas All Year Long

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long



Take a heap of child-like wonder

That opens up our eyes

To the unexpected gifts in life—

Each day a sweet surprise.

Mix in fond appreciation

For the people whom we know;

Like festive Christmas candles,

Each one has a special glow.

Add some giggles and some laughter,

A dash of Christmas food,

(Amazing how a piece of pie

Improves our attitude!)

Stir it all with human kindness;

Wrap it up in love and peace,

Decorate with optimism, and

Our joy will never cease.

If we use this healthy recipe,

We know we will remember

To be in the Christmas spirit,

Even when it's not December.

By Joanna Fuchs




Music Corner to relax, calm down,....
 Do they know it´s Christmas time?

Drummer boy:

Have a nice day;) and enjoy the music!
X-mas is near!


Sunday, December 19, 2010

Classical Sunday- Bach´s Christmas Oratorio




J. S. Bach - (1/3) Christmas Oratorio- Kantate I
                 
part 2                 



part 3

Take some time, relax, stop wrapping gifts and enjoy the music;)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Lebkuchen, The Three Tenors and Flashmob;)

Music, dance and lebkuchen as reward for today´s 8 hours writing marathon.

Music-and Dance -Corner:
CARRERAS DOMINGO PAVAROTTI - Let It Snow







Food- corner:

X-mas, time for baking "lebkuchen"- traditional kind of cookies (origin from Germany)
Here a good Martha Stewart recipe-enjoy!


Lebkuchen
                       (http://www.marthastewart.com/)

Happy weekend!

Friday, December 17, 2010

What a Week!

Very cold, windy, full of work,...
Hallelujah, it´s weekend!!!So time to relax with some music.
Today I was reminded of the following song- thanks;)


Music-corner:

Must see--a great flashmob concerning Händel´s Hallelujah!!! I love flashmobs;)
And Bon Jovi´s-Hallelujah



X-mas Market in Vienna (Altes AKH) You won´t understand the language, but you´ll get an impression. Enjoy;)


Sunday, December 12, 2010

Holiday On Ice - Energia Premiere Berlin 2010



Enjoy the video about the world´s greatest ice-show;)

Had a discussion with B. about my assignment, was interesting;) but exhausting as well- had to explain every chapter, because he really was interested in it...only problem: : I was too tired for thoughtful explanations. Have to talk about it another time.

I haven´t finished my novel yet, but I´m on my way. My aim is to write the final scenes this year;)) But my MC are too stubborn sometimes and don´t want to join the setting, I have prepared for them...my o my...but I´m looking forward to printing the first draft;)) Love to read real "books". So , time for bed--good night!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Playing time!

Finally! My friends and I managed to find a day to play cards;) We haven´t played for a long time due to different circumstances. But today is the day when I ´ll win one game after the other;) ok- I love to make jokes;)- I´ll be happy to win some games that time. Lot´s of cookies,cakes, hot punch (I won´t drive;), ...well, lots of food and talk and fun. No writing-except blogging for today.
Just meeting friends-lovely!
I hope, you all ´ll have a great weekend!
Maybe we´ll come up with that! Or that lol!!!! That´s my game today;) (boring explanation, but I couldn´t find another one in English, because it´s a typical Austrian card play- don´t mix up with reading tarot cards! I´m not interested in that.

Friday, December 10, 2010

December 10,

My focus is on two events today:

#1  International Human Rights Day! Speak up, stop discrimination!
Time to check out the UN- page.

#2  Peace Nobel Price 2010 for Liu Xiaobu.


Music-Art- corner:

Stand up for World Peace!

"Give peace a chance"


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

I used my spare time for..

guess, what? Yes, you are right- for writing. I used the holiday here to get something done. But it´s hard, and I can´t remember my last real holiday - a whole day for me. I´m so looking forward to X-mas, time for family and relaxation! At least I won´t write nothing for 5 whole days.
But now I have to stay focused on my work at the moment. The job´s a challenge, the course is one as well, of course completing my draft is another one, handling the baking with the little ones will be the next one...phew...too many challenges at one time.
So, that´s all.
Ah, have to post a Lennon song today-
and have a good week, enjoy life-even, when it´s hard sometimes.
Remember, often it´s a challenge;)

Music-corner:

J.Lennon "Stand by me"

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Writing and baking with music ;)

"Baby, it´s cold ouside." Yes, it is. (-22° C/ -7 ,5 °F in the night!!! BRRR! But now it´s warmer-just -13°C ;))) But what an earworm! I could not stop hearing that song...now it really is enough! Have to get it out of my head and listen to Robbie Williams´ music. He is a great entertainer and musician, don´t reduce him to songs of the group "Take That".

My novel is coming to an end -at least the main story. It is interesting, how my MCs have changed the story;) Well, I´m not crazy, but sometimes I have the feeling, that all I have to do is to lend them my words and then they create interesting scenes.I know, it sounds weird. But somewhere I read that the aim of each writer is to create MCs, who come alive and "develop" the plot. So, I seem to be a lucky person- although my writing is poor;)
So, I just let them do, whatever they want to do. Wow, I´m such a generous person:) lol!!!! I let them do my work, writing it´s a lot easier this way:)
Why haven´t I thought of that 50.000 words before? Then I´d have had more time for other things, like baking!

BTW, I just baked a cake, created a new recipe. Well, I just took 4 eggs,a bit of sugar, floor, some chopped nuts and "Mozart liqueur" (= white chocolate liqueur).
So easy to make and sooooo delicious! And the smell of the cake, hmmmm.

I wrote 2 pages in the morning, now I have to write some more. Then it´s time to see fam and friends...

so, wish you all a relaxing Sunday;) Enjoy your spare time!


Music corner:
Robbie, singing a Dean Martin song:Ain´t that a kick?

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Take a break!

I decided to do so, and it´s Saturday. I wrote 3 pages in the morning for my assignment, went to the city to get some chocolates for the little ones for St. Nicholas day, came back and wrote again- this time for my novel. I try to find an end for the story, but I think, I have to write a lot more than suggested. But I made a decision whether to let my MC die or not. But no more about that now;) Have to create some tension for my readers;)

Now, after cooking and eating, I decided to make a break.
A friend gave me a video from Yann Arthus -Bertrand- a photographer, whose exhibit I have seen first in Sweden, then later in Vienna. He is famous for his photos from all over the world, seen from above.
Here is the trailer to the movie "Home".

Movie-corner:
Check it out and enjoy. If you are interested in nature and our world, you´ll be amazed!
Yann Arthus -Bertrand, Home.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Winter-Songs

********************************************
************Winter impressions************** ********************************************


Music-corner:

Dean Martin - Let it Snow!

Jazz-version-same song
Diana Krall - Let it snow


Dean Martin - Baby It's Cold Outside
He has a great voice, hasn´t he?

Newer version-same song:
Willie Nelson ft. Norah Jones - Baby It's Cold Outside

 Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan

BTW, compare this photo with the one before....much more snow**************

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Advent-calendar

This kind of advent-calendar used to be mine in my childhood- had to share the chocolate with my sister- seems to be old fashioned compared to the next one.

I have an online Museum´s Advent-calendar for you;) 
many of you would need a 25th window, sorry, I haven´t seen one;( 
There also is no chocolate inside, but you might enjoy opening the windows!
Have a good day!


...and take care, if you have to drive through the snow as I ´ll have to do in some hours again;(

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Time to stop writing

Think, I have written enough today. The funny thing is, I couldn´t stop writing;) The story is nearing the climax, so I have to write that down and find an end. I can´t write a novel without climax and end, you agree with me, do you? It´s so thrilling at the moment, my MC is in troubles, problems are solved now, so no time to stop. Even my cold doesn´t slow down my writing. I need an satisfying end for the draft, I don´t want to stop because NaNo is over. I need it;)
But I have to focus again on my other writing, my assignment. Have to start the 3 chapter at the weekend. Maybe I also want to write and write - and finish soon. NaNo helped me to get prepared for my next challenge as well. And another good thing about writing is--besides the fun and reflections--,  you forget about problems.


Doesn´t want to give up and dares the cold.

Enjoy you day!
                                                                                                        

Monday, November 29, 2010

Good news:)))))))))))))

Yes!!! Hooray! I did it again- just crossed the finish line!
Nearly 27 hours earlier than expected:)) I wrote faster than last year!!(Thanks B., for the extra motivation today;)
What a feeling!
As participant of this writing marathon, I was so happy to have great writing buddies on my side. Special thanks to Citycyclist and Beth TH;) Without you it wouldn´t have been such an thrilling and funny experience;))
It´s great to win a challenge, so satisfying;)

    It´s unbelievable, what you can achieve with great friends on your side and believe in yourself.

    Thank you all, who made it possible for me to win and have fun;)

This photo-taken today- is just for you;)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

First Snow!

Writing weekend

Writing some hundred words is not difficult at the moment. I am drifting from one scene to the next amd the next,...
But a problem is to find an end for my novel... have to see, where I ´ll go.
My MCs are difficult to handle sometimes, and it turns out that I have more MC than just one.
Writing surprises not only the reader;), just try it out!

Music-corner:

no musical today, promissed;)
Austrian group-Safer Six and Keb' Mo' - Life is beautiful


                                                                Enjoy your day!
     
                                                                                

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Music for Writing

The more I write, the more I love it.

Really fascinating, my development as a "writer". The last 1 and a half years I´ve spent parts of my free time on writing. Writing assignments, writing blog-posts and writing novels.

I have never written that much in my whole life before.And if you had told me that before, I wouldn´t have believed it. My writing euphoria is a mystery for parts of my family and sometimes I can´t explain myself, too. But it is fun and enriching.
Today I spent my day at home, writing and writing.

For winning NaNo I have to write my last 3800 words. This year I think, I can do it.
Although I haven´t found an fitting ending yet, I am optimistic.

My MC still is alive,  I just found names for 2 characters!
Success, finally, after 45.000 words;-) better now than never!

So, keep enjoying your life!

And therefore some music- this time it´s all about musicals. Beginning with the first musical song I learned in my singing lessons;) oohh, so nice! Then I posted the songs in the order I´ve learned them.

Musical-corner: Enjoy!!

# Musical My Fair Lady

# Musical Chess
Susan Boyle duets with Elaine Paige - "I know Him So Well"

#Jesus Christ Superstar

#Musical Elisabeth
Pia Douwes - I belong to me

# Musical West Side Story
Natalie Wood- Tonight


Friday, November 26, 2010

Flowers for your Soul

So, back home again. That early! What a short Birthday-celebration;-) The main person had to cancel the dinner, because he wasn´t able to get there within the next hours, and because of the flue we were just 3 friends to celebrate the b-day child- in his absence. What a day! But we´ll meet again next week. I and my 2 friends had a lovely dinner there, lots of good food.

But, good for me, I have now time to write the missing 800 words or so;-)

In Brasil it is raining a lot-as I ´ve heard- here we expect snow tomorrow. So I´ll post some flowers that reminds us of warm and sunny days, have a good day and relax a bit! Just click on the photo to enlarge it, much better.


Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Make the best out of your day!
And enjoy some music:)

Music-corner:
all about Tchaikovsky´s dance of the sugar plum fairy. If you have never heard a glass harp before, check it out!

#1) first The original version

#2) Glass harmonica-Tchaikovsky, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ,interesting;)

the same piece, just with a

#3) Glass harp-Tchaikovsky , great!!
Have fun!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Just 6 days left

Yes, I´m on my way. I just need to write about 10.000 words, they are doable. I hope so.
After the last three days I realize a little bit of tiredness.
No, I´m not tired of writing, I went to bed too late and had to stand up at 6 in the morning. So, my fault;)

Wrote my daily work, went to work,met MD to celebrate again, next b-day celebration is on friday, again I´ll go out,..at the moment my life is just working, writing and celebrating 1-2 b-days a week.
So, think ,  that explain  why I´m so tired now.

And that´s one explanation why I haven´t finished reading my newest book.
Well, not so new anymore, one of the banned book collection,"Life is Funny"- anyone read that before? I needed some time to get used to that style of writing,...many cursewords, but it deals with real teenager problems (pregnancy,..)

Just 6 days left of NaNo, just 6 days and nights for finishing the novel.
Is that too much time? Or do I need more to find an end?
I don´t know. I hope to be able to write about 1700 words that week to finish with 50.000 words.

It´s  so cool to realize that writing 1700 words in some hours doesn´t feel impossible anymore.
If that is the only thing I have learned through NaNo, I´ll have learned a lot.
Good to know what is possible!

So, try to be a lifelong learner, never give up, believe in yourself, and see what will happen!
Enough wise words for now, have a good one;)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Second post today-

my writing really flows;)))
reason for posting is the work of P. Glass. The first time I have heard from this musician : nearly one year ago. This week, because of a dancing event with his music, I found out that he wrote  a soundtrack to a movie, and today I learned, that he composed many soundtracks. For a movie "The Hours" as well- I love that one. Then I read on his homepage about his other works-impressive!

Music corner:
Here some music of Philip Glass
Check it out and have fun;)

Yes!

Finally I found a way to get unstuck! Hooray!!! Thanks to my writing buddy!
Now I have many ideas and ways to finish the story. Today I wrote hundreds of words and with luck they´ll lead my MC to the final scene;)
My elbow hurts- who cares! I finally write -write with joy and that is all, that counts at the moment .
Have to catch up, but now I´m sure, I´ll do it.
NaNo will be over in some days, time to write, write and write! Just about 15.000 words, not worth mentioning;))))
Have a happy week!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

S (o) T (errible) U (nsatisfying) C (haotic) K (aput)

.
The last pumkins of the season seem to have more fun than I have at the moment.
I´m stuck, still. :(
No ideas for the story- have to stand up, go out, walk a bit..maybe I´ll find a way to go on with my writing.
So frustrating,  and my MC really turns out to be no hero, just a boring person. Think, I ´ve chosen the wrong theme, the wrong MC:(
You have an idea how to get unstuck?

 Music corner:

Lucinda Childs Dance-performance in Vienna at the end of the month, music by Philip Glass. Just found out that Glass wrote "Truman sleeps" of  the movie the Truman Show. Enjoy!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Lost in Words

I am stuck. Today I had to stop writing because I got lost in my MC´s world. I don´t get an idea how to move on. Of course I can throw in other new characters or not expected events...but I can´t. No flow of writing anymore. Maybe I shouldn´t have done so many "time jumps", to many flashbacks, so that I have no idea, how to move on....at the beginnig the flashbacks were fun to write, but now I cannot create other flashbacks, .....so demotivating:( It´s like sitting in a black whole- nothing around you, no ideas, no ways to discover,...just the knowledge of being stuck.)
Ok, maybe I have to be happy about today´s effort- 210 new words, just boring sentences. I came home from a meeting earlier to write my daily pensum, I cancelled another date- and now! Just 210 words!
Shouldn´t have come home so early! This post is as boring and demotivating as my 210 words.
Should have spent the next hours with my friends:((((
Ok, the 2nd week is the hardest...............................................................maybe I ´ll find some words to write down tomorrow. How I hate to be behind my daily goals! This means I have to write a lot more tomorrow than planned.
OMG, should get to 33.500 words tomorrow! I know, I can stop writing at all. But I don´t want to give up. So, maybe a good sleep brings back some ideas.
Sorry, sometimes I have to moan here, because some friends don´t understand my daily writing challenge...
Enough rubbish for today- hope you had a more successful day.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Help! Why am I doing this?

Why does a person try to write 1699 words daily?
Hope to get to almost 30.000 words - would be such a nice and satisfying number! But after work, after all the other daily life stuff it is soooo hard! And about 600 words are missing.

So, why the hell all this torture? (And trust me, writing can be hard, especially the last days.)

Focus again on my intetions for writing 1699 words a day/night -
Hope to achieve fluency in writing! Learn to write through writing
Challenge myself, conquer my weaker self and finish that project!
Have fun!

OK, I want to have fun. Well, have to keep that in mind.
But writers can have good and bad days, not every day is made for having fun in writing.

Music-corner:
Monty Python"Always look on the bright side of life!