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December 30, 2005
Skiing
I just came back from a mini vacation with Monika. This is one of the only photos I took and it was with my phone because I couldnt risk bringing my camera on the slopes with me. We went skiing for 4 days. I had only gone skiing once before last February. You can see pictures and some videos of me falling all the way down the slopes if you -->click here<-- and --> here <--So that being said on day one of this weeks trip I was scared and going down the slopes very slow but after some tips from Ramona and Monika I began moving a little faster and feeling a little more relaxed. By the end of Day two i was feeling really comfortable and begining to feel like I was in control of the skiis. Day three Heinz and Babsi joined us for the day and I was able to show off my ski skills. After Heinz expressed his amazement I decided to show him that I was as skilled a faller as I was a skier and I did a full flip forward and landed on my ass. I couldnt repeat this move if i tried. Heinz had to fish my hat out of the deep snow for me. After a break Heinz, Babsi, Monika and me decided to try our luck on the "Black" courses. These are supposed to be difficult and one is an unfinished course. These courses are realy steep !!! That just means that they don't smooth out the snow and it gets really bumpy and wild. Well we did these a few times and I have to say any fear that I felt involving skiing vanished. The only fear I had was that this mini vacation was going to end. Day four brought Monika's parents to pick us to take us home but not before Papa joined me and Monika on the slopes!! It was a nice day of skiing , eating and laughing then a long drive home. We stopped at MariaShutz for the best and biggest Krapfen in the world. You can see photos of this place when I first visited in February also if you --> click here <-- I had the best time on this trip and I'd like to thank Alex and Ramona for taking us there and spending the first day skiing with us and Robert and Brigitte (Mama and Papa, Monika's parents)for picking us up. and of course Monika for going skiing when she wanted to go to the hot springs. ;-) We did have a sauna in our hotel and we used it every night after skiing all day. I can't wait to ski again!!!
Here are Alex's photos from our first day of skiing. --> Alex's Photos <-- He is such a good skier that he can bring his camera and not worry about falling and breaking it. Of course his camera isnt as big as mine. ;-)
Posted by Victor at 12:09 AM | Comments (1)
December 25, 2005
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
Posted by Victor at 02:08 AM | Comments (1)
December 02, 2005
Mr. Chips
Mr. Chips, aka "the star of the show", is part of Circus Oz. Circus Oz is an Austrailain circus troop. I went to Festspielhaus St. Polten on friday with Monika to see this show and boy was it amazing. They had everything from the Strong woman to a swordswallower. They even shot a man out of a cannon! I had a wonderful time, full with surprises and excitement. For more photos
-->click here<--
Posted by Victor at 03:31 PM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2005
Morning Commute
Click here to view image larger.
Posted by Victor at 01:48 PM | Comments (1)