I'm an compulsive counter. I count the number of stops until we get off the u-bahn. Or strassenbahn. Not usually on the bus because the bus doesn't stop at every bus stop so it's hard to keep up. Sometimes I find myself counting while waiting for the signal to turn at a crosswalk. I don't think I'm counting to determine how long it takes, but merely to pass the time. When I notice that I'm counting, I usually make myself stop. I usually start back a few seconds later.
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Not only do I count, but I also list. When I'm on the U1, I list the names of the stop from where ever I am at the moment to the stop where I get off the u-bahn. Grossfeldseidlung, Alderklaar Strasse, Rennbahnweg, Kragraner Platz, Kagran, Alte Donau, Kaisermuelen/V.I.C, Donauinsel, Vorgatenstrasse, Praterstern, Swedenplatz, Nestroyplatz, Stephensplatz, Karlsplatz. That's all of the U1 stops that I have memorized and it's also the route we generally take to school. Our stop is actually on the U2 line, so we either switch to the U2 at Karlsplatz or switch to the U4 at Swedenplatz and then to the U2 after one stop on the U4.
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I'm not a compulsive speller, so I may have misspelled some of those u-bahn stops. But do you really care? I didn't think so. Sometimes I mix up a few of the stops in the middle. But again, I doubt you care. You probably didn't even read all the names. I would have skipped over them.
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We had chicken nuggets for dinner tonight. The box said there were 12 nuggets, but there were actually 13. This isn't the first time there has been more nuggets inside the box than indicated on the box. Once there were 14 and maybe even 15. Perhaps the number on the front is the minimum number inside. Perhaps they don't expect the consumer to count the nuggets.
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I hate writing that we had chicken nuggets for dinner because I feel like someone out there is judging me for it. I feel like I should justify it by telling you that I'm in school all day and don't have the energy to make a proper dinner. But that's just an excuse. We ate chicken nuggets many evenings before school started. Brian will tell me to get over it. That I'm too prideful and that's why I feel like people are judging me. He's probably right.
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Last Sunday we visited the English-speaking congregation. This was our second visit. We sang "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus," but we didn't stand to sing the song. In fact, we have never stood to sing a song at any of the congregations in Vienna. I like it for the most part. I never understood the standing to sing. If it's convenient, of course. When I was having all of the back problems I liked to stand because it was better than sitting. But I didn't like the standing up and sitting down part, so sometimes I would stay sitting. It's not really appropriate to keep standing after everyone else sits down.
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It's been raining a lot the last two days. And it's been very cold. Today I wore my coat, scarf (hand knit with love), and gloves to class. The teacher said that tomorrow and Saturday will have much nicer weather. The weather forecast says we will have rain with a high of 60 on Friday and rain with a high of 65 on Saturday. The Viennese must have a different standard for "much nicer weather" than Oklahomans.
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The pope is arriving in Vienna tomorrow. Maybe he will bring the nice weather.
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I hope to have some photos for you sometime this weekend. Not of the pope. There are some other things I want to show you. But I'm waiting for the rain to stop.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
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5 comments:
I think the U1 ended at Kagran when I lived there, if I remember right. We lived near the penultimate stop at the other end (Raberbahngasse).
Don't be ashamed for eating chicken nuggets for dinner. I like chicken nuggets well enough to eat them even when I have the time and energy to make something else.
When I was little, I counted the dashed lines on the road . . . out loud . . . every time we got into the car . . . and I started where I had left off the last time . . . I had to start over a few times when I forgot where I was . . . I got to 70,000.
I read the street signs in my neighborhood every time I pass them driving alone until I have them memorized.
Whenever people can spend more time with the people (and dog) they love because they decide to eat chicken nuggets (or another meal prepared by others) I think they've made a good choice.
Gina - Yeah, you're right. Sometime in the last year (I think), the city completed a extension of the U1 line further into District 22 and into 21. They're working on extending the U2 line now. It should be finished next summer.
Ty - Okay, you're a bit more compulsive than me. :) I'm glad you both support my dinner menu.
I compulsively count stairs. In our stairwell, three of our staircases have nine stairs each, one staircase has ten stairs, and the one leading to the back door has five stairs. That's 42, which is the answer to life, the universe, and everything. I remain, therefore, convinced that counting stairs (and other things) is a worthwhile pastime.
And if I step on a crack in the sidewalk with my left foot, I have to step on a crack with my right foot, too. Otherwise, I feel unbalanced. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable psychological explanation for this, but I haven't found it yet. ;o)
Ed and I ate pizza tonight, so don't feel bad about your chicken nuggets.
Court - It looks like I'm in good company with the compulsive counting and such. I know what you mean about the unbalanced feeling - I don't have the issues with cracks, but there are other things that I have to balance.
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