Der Mann wit dem Shnurrbart

Disclaimer: Very long post. Don't read it if you're not going to read it all.
It's Freitag, Freitag, Freitag- German version of Friday, courtesy of Rebecca Black.

Today was a momentous day. Perhaps the biggest moment since I arrived in Vienna. I did the most incredible thing. After what seemed like ages of pushing, pulling, twisting, and shoving, I did it. Offnen das Fenster. Open the window. I can't remember the last time I was so overjoyed. Even more thrilling is the fact that it's stormy outside. I can't seem to get enough of this cool breeze. I'd never thought to be grateful for a breeze until now.

My oh my. So much has happened in the last three days. That being said, I hope you'll forgive me for using a bullet list for some of the events. On second thought, I will use a dash after several minutes of searching for bullets to no avail.

--Mittwoch (Wednesday): Dinner with Geraldine
Dinner was absolutely lovely. Orange vegetable soup, bread, salad, pudding, and some sort of Viennese dumpling/ gnocchi with creamy chicken sauce. You just can't beat a free meal, especially if it's homemade. Though it was delicious, I ate a lot. Geraldine kept saying, "You finish this, yes," and I simply couldn't say no. As you very well know, eating too much is an area I should never venture into. When I was near the point of explosion, she brought out not one, but two bowls of pudding for each of us. I had to put a stop to that one. After dinner, Geraldine showed us pictures of her daughters wedding. Now, this was the wedding of all weddings. I'm being completely serious. I've never seen anything like it. There was clearly mucho mula given up for this one. It was held at this incredible ranch/farm that had about 30 or so horses. The best part was the costumes. Apparently there is a special attire for weddings here. At the dinner beforehand, everyone was dressed in the old fashioned German outfits- yes little dresses and Lederhosen. This was also the case at the wedding, though the bride was wearing a fabulous champagne colored dress with a long veil. The couple was married in a small church by the ranch; they even had a complete program that was passed out for the actual wedding ceremony. My hopes were dashed when I came back to reality and realized that I will never have a wedding like this. I don't have one specific heritage to incorporate into my wedding plans. I'm 100% American and I'm alright with that, especially after my new found love of the Constitution. I might even tear up a little when I read it on the 4th.

--Donnerstag (Thursday). Geben Sie!!!!
Humanities, German quiz, concert. Forgetful me. Of course I had to leave my wallet at home on the day I needed it. This is problematic when your house is 40 minutes to and 40 minutes from school. I had an hour and a half between classes to scurry home. I am a nervous nelly and always have been so naturally, I was more frantic than I needed to be. I managed to make it home, dash back to the house, and make it back on the bus in a jiffy. I got to class at exactly 1:00, just in time to start. I was quite a sight; a small girl running madly through the U-bahn (subway) station with an awkwardly large backpack swinging wildly around her back, clutching her straw hat to her head. Not to mention the awkward run in a skirt or the beads of sweat dripping down the forehead.
Concert: We attended a wonderful music concert in the Golden Hall, which has the best acoustics in the world. Or so I've been told. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra plays at the Golden Hall and their New Year's Eve concert is broadcast on PBS. I expect to watch this at the New Year's Eve party for 2012 and everyone to look at me green with envy, or yellow here in Vienna, when I say, "oh yes, I've been there." While the music was amazing, I was surprised to see Dad in the orchestra. I must be coming down with an extreme case of homesickness because there was Dad's twin, playing the cello. The mind is a mysterious thing. I didn't spot any other family members there so perhaps it's alright.

--Freitag (Friday) Museum
Today we spent ages at a museum- Mom, you will love this one, we will have to go there. After this, we went to the Silverware Museum. And I thought my mother had a lot of dishes. I've truly never seen anything like this. Golden silverware, and lots of it. It was interesting but a place that could be missed. After dinner at a cafe was LDS institute to play games. We played Never Have I Ever. Each person has ten cards and everyone says something they've never done, if you've done it, you lose a card. The most boring person who's never done anything wins the game. Secretly, I'm quite proud I usually get out at the beginning. A new church investigator was there playing too; he couldn't think of any questions so we offered to help. I said, "Say you've never had long hair." His response was something like, but of course I have. And he pointed out that it was once all the way down his back. People never cease to surprise.
As four of us headed home, we stopped in at a small restaurant with booming disco music. Best taste of culture I've experienced yet. There were only about 5 people there and they happily invited us to join in on their dancing. When I asked the name of a song, the lady popped the cd out of the player and handed it over. "Our gift to you," she said. Lovely. Her and her husband, the man with the mustache are on the cover. My first heartfelt souvenir.

And now, I'm going to have to close the window a bit. I've gone from sweaty steve to the little pig that gets his house blown down. The walls are literally rattling. It could be dangerous to leave the window open.