Well, back from Austria. Had a fine time; good food, good weather, lots to see.
I'll write up a full report soon, with pictures and all. Of course, before I do that I really need to get our Mongolia travel pictures back up - when I switched republic.org from the old server to the new server, the Mongolia section was overlarge so I left it. Then, during the cross-country shipment, the old machine was damaged and is now seriously handicapped to the point of barely functioning. So rescuing data from it, using only a floppy drive, is difficult at best. But I'll try, so I can move on.
Anyway, Austria. Neat country. Not very large - eight some odd million people - but neat. Makes me wistful for a country with a good government and a responsible media. We visited Vienna for a few days, then went to Graz (the second largest city, with a population of two hundred eighty thou), and then toured around the countryside. Visited a few castles. Stayed in one - the very castle once inhabited by Elisabeth Bathory. Didn't see her, though.
So, back at work, and not feeling particularly inspired. Ramping up for a relatively busy period, lots of important things coming up, but I'm just sort of stricken with ennui.
I think that's the first time I've ever used that word in relation to myself. Not that it's the first time I've felt ennui, I've just never used the word before.
Trying to eat a little better - after resisting the "newly at work" extra ten pounds for six months, they hit in March/April. Too much junk food while sitting around. So no more Mickey D's, gonna switch to Subway and/or other salad-proffering places for a while. Adding a few minutes of cardio to my noon workouts which had heretofore been all weights. Taking the stairs, not the elevator. (We're on the fifth floor).
My sister graduates from law school this month, the day after I turn thirty-three. Which will give her a higher degree than mine, albeit from a lesser school. I'll have to consider whether or not I want to let that stand. Of course, I'm not going to be come a doctor or an engineer, which leaves me with the choice of a law degree, which smacks of imitation, or following my heart and getting a PhD in history, which smacks of the poorhouse.
So I dunno. Tough to make any decision headway on a grey blah sort of day like today anyway. Guess I'll just get back to work.
- Sun Ra