Züri G'schnätzlets
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Thinly-sliced bits of web-logged goodness (as I see it)
from Downtown Switzerland and beyond. |
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Sunday, October 05, 2003
Memories of Home Well after a few days every corner nook and cranny of the house is occupied by an aluminum can filled to varying degrees of full with flat Coke Light. As much as I like the aluminumy taste, I think I'm going to switch back to the 2.5 liter plastic bottle. Quotable "This is as if a bald eagle attacked the president of the United States," Frank Danielsohn, a longtime Las Vegan, said referring to the tragic tiger incident at the Las Vegas Mirage on Friday, as reported by Steve Friess in the Boston Globe. Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Just for the Taste of It The local supermarket just started carrying Coke Light (that's Diet Coke) in a can. I just love that slightly aluminium taste that only comes from a finely aged can of Coke Light. Friday, September 19, 2003
Tomorrow is Always a Day Away What is it with this Blog? Every time I promise an update on a certain day, or on a certain subject, the cook's block or something hits the kitchen and you're left with stale month old Züri G'schnätzlets. Thanks for all the cards and letters. I am still here. And still well. However, I've spent the last month engrossed in the new Amy Grant album, living life and showing my beautiful sister the wonders of Switzerland by bus, tram, train, and bicycle. Oh, and I started a new blog too, called Züri by SMS (the beta site can be found at http://zurisms.blogspot.com). It's another view of the tasty-goodness of life through the SMS SENT ITEMS on my handy*. Here in Europe we have decided that it is easier to type messages on the keypad of a small mobile telephone then using the same telephone to call someone (as long time readers will remember). My handy helpfully keeps a store of the last 20 odd short messages that I've sent to others. I decided to transpose the same messages to a blog so you can get a surreal glimpse of Zürich even on those days I'm not updating! (Remember you are only seeing my SENT ITEMS not my INBOX). A note on some of the more surreal spellings and word choices. The handy has a built in dictionary that recognized the most common word from the numbers. For example the numbers 4-6-6-3 spell out both HOME and GOOD and if I'm spelling fast I sometimes forget to choose the correct alternatives. Here's a little cheat sheet of some of the common errors in my SMS: OF / ME GOOD / HOME IN / GO *handy = Swiss for Mobile Telephone
In case you're wondering what I thought about a few select songs here you go:
But ... If you're still whining about the length get out your CD burner and combine the non-hymny songs from Legacy with the tracks from Simple Things for one maxi-CD. Are you a Friend of Amy? Remember, back in the queer old days when there was a secret code to ask if someone was gay? The discreet question (which may also have ben a tribute to diva-icon Judy Garland) was "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" Well early this summer I became a friend of Amy. Oh I've always been a friend of Amy, ever since the family stereo's needle dropped onto Straight Ahead (my first full album purchase as a teenager), and I performed every song (to perfection) in front of the big mirror in the hall. But early this summer, I finally joined Amy Grant's official fan club which is called Friend's of Amy. Much to my surprise, many people on the fan club's message boards are surprised to find that Amy Grant has a large gay fan base. Why I always figured everyone realized that young queers of a certain age, certain bible belt region, and certain religious upbringing could never be a friend of Dorothy's but were just waiting to find a friend in Amy. Oh yes. Think of Judy, Barbra, Marisa, Bette, Madonna - gay boys do need their diva's. And think of Amy. She had great hair. She was strong and outspoken, yet timid and a bit frightened at the same time. She was ostracized by some for making flamboyant decisions. She danced with polka-dots and puppies. She performed barefoot at the grammy's, and she wore lime green leggings with a hot pink blazer. Not to mention in her concerts she changed costumes every two songs (those were the days). Who else would we choose. And, once in love with Amy - always in love with Amy. Cher's promoters saw the potential when they approached Amy to tour with Cher recently (according to Amy on one to the Friends of Amy live chats). Sadly the talks fell through. Someone must have realized the chaos that would ensue when the Cher-queens met the Amy-queens at intermission. Wigs would fly. But really aren't you glad that all us gay boys had a diva like Amy to be a friend of? Misheard Lyrics ... according to the lyrics on the CD liner notes it's "chit chat in a street cafe" (and by the way) ... I am NOT - and never have been - a drag queen. I am an occasional semi-professional Amy Grant impersonator.)
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
I Believe in Simple Things The wait is over. Today is August 19. But I spent so much time on my AmyDay Flash Tribute (which was designed for me to practice my flash skills and have a bit of promi-geil fun ... not to annoy you) that you'll just have to check back tomorrow to see why today is different from all other days ... (watch the AmyDay Flash Tribute again, while you wait for the tomorrow's entry) Friday, August 15, 2003
So Giggle, Giggle If You Want To Have you ever had one of those days that were so bad you had to listen to more than one Amy Grant song just to get by? Have you ever had one of those days that was so good that you had to listen to more than one Amy Grant song just to get by? Well, I have. Today is a full on five baby baby day. Saturday, August 09, 2003
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Higher Up and Futher In My grandmother, Hilde Espeland - who is my Mother's mother - has been living with Alzheimer's for more an 10 years. She died Thursday night. I think It was relatively quick in the end. She stopped eating and drinking around Monday and developed some kind of infection. She mostly wanted to sleep all the time last week. My Mom found out and told me by email that Grandma had taken a bad turn on Wednesday. They gave her oxygen to help her breathe, but no other heroic measures. Luckily she didn't develop pneumonia or starve slowly. She slipped away with Grandpa and half of her children gathered at the hostpital with her on Thursday night (Mom was booked on the first available flight the next day and her oldest sister, and her youngest sister were also trying to get to South Dakota). The funeral was today, but it is over by the time I am writing this. I chose not to go home. Which is something of a disappointment for me and my family, but also understood I think. (My oldest cousin Mark and I are the only ones missing.) Mom and Dad and my sister are there now. I remember people saying that Grandma would have a crown waiting for her when she gets to heaven. I'm sure she has her crown now. Monday, July 28, 2003
Integration Rock When I moved to Zürich two and a half years ago, I did what all Americans do. I freaked out. I freaked out about many things. I freaked out about everything. Of course now that I'm achieving that Swiss ideal of integration, I don't freak out anymore. And when I do freak out, I don't freak out - I aus-flip. One thing I used to freak out about alot, as all Americans do, was shopping. Of course I was spoiled by the American malls that stay open until 10.00 PM and the Target which stays open until 10.30 PM, and all-night grocery stores, and, and, and ... Here in Zürich the shops all close by law at 8:00 PM during the week and at 4:00 PM on Saturdays. On Sundays, all the stores are closed except for gas stations and stores located in train stations. Some of the more traditional stores even close at 6:30 except on Thursdays, and the most traditional stores still close over lunch. In those first months I remember running around in a tizzy on Staturday nervously trying to complete all my shopping by 4:00. And many nights I shouted (with my quiet Swiss voice), "Why can't someone shop at 9:30 PM in this country?" I thought, surely the Swiss must be especially uncivilized. Au contrair, as I assume they say west towards Geneva, I realized - after sometime - it's the Swiss who are civilized in this regard. Really now, who needs to be so driven by commerce as to need to buy groceries at midnight? And hey, all those store clerks have homes and families to go to too. I realized that with a little practice, it's possible to achieve a balanced life, and have a peaceful Saturday, within the allotted shopping hours. My life is better for it. That's why I was a little distressed to read a month, or so, ago that there is a new law which will allow stores in the train stations to remain open until 9:00 PM starting in the fall. Sunday, I was doing some shopping in the main train station. Incidentally, I generally try to avoid shopping in the station on Sunday, as Sunday is my day of rest (or recovery) - but an emergency potluck barbeque called. (Oh, I was also just a little disorderly and let myself run out of shampoo.) While I was treating myself to a bottle of Paul Mitchell Tea Tree at a little salon in the station, I noticed a petition against the 9:00 PM extended hours. The petition pointed out that surely people can get their shopping done in the already allotted hours. It pointed out that the shop workers needed to go home to their families. And it closed it's pitch by asking, "First, stores open until 9:00 PM? WHAT'S NEXT? Shopping until 10:00?" What's next indeed? I signed my name to that petition right away. And I was glad to do it. Friday, July 25, 2003
Last Monday, when we all went out unto our balconies to see the night skaters pass, I looked down from my balcony and was just at the correct angle to catch all of the naked zombie at his window trying to see what all the commotion was about. It apears that the skaters interupted him making those famous "squeaky-bumpy" noises in our house (though I couldn't tell if they were "social" or "anti-social" "squeaky-bumpy" noises). While he may just be rotting slowly away from the inside, I realized that night that he is all there, functionining and healthy on the outside! Sunday, July 20, 2003
Let's All Go To the Movies I finally took in the new Matrix film Friday with Bengle-Boy Thomas. While I was staying tune through the long ass credits for the "scenes from next week" all alone in the kino (Bengle-Boy Thomas had to go to the WC), I wondered, "How many people really said, 'Matrix I was cool an' all, but what a Matrix film really needs is a high speed car chase ... and motorcycles'." Saturday, July 19, 2003
Skate She Said
 Zürich (by webcam) has I write this ... The Sun That's Shining On My Face ... is shining down on you (too). Which reminds me that August 19 is only one month away. And something tells me it's going to be the best "August 19" ever. Sunday, July 13, 2003
The Kino am See is a completely cool event for a film geek. It's like a drive-in - except it's on the lake. You go with your picnic and your wine (and you try to get a seat inspite of all the pushy seat-snatchers ... but I know a secret about that) and then at the appointed hour (dusk) a giant silver screen rises up out of the lake of Zürich and the feature begins while everyone enjoys the beautiful night air and the lights reflecting on the water. This is my fourth Kino am See believe it or not. I wonder if the canoers that I have seen every year row quetly up to see a free picture show every night after the screen rises from the water will be back this year. Handy Answer in the Class Room And since no one in my German class can ever remember when to use the dative article and when to use the accusative article with See (lake) we are always being asked to use See in a sentance with a dative article ... for which I always have an answer ready "Das Kino am See ist einfach schön!" Win a Date with the Züri G'schnätzlets But of course, I bought extra tickets for every sold-out screening. So if, dear readers from all over the world, you think you can find your way an den See (look, I know when to use the accusative article as well ... ) send an email to me and explain in 500 words or less why I should win the movie night am See with the Züri G!
Original Contents Copyright 2002 - J. Stephen Holyer. All Rights Reserved.
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