Christmas is coming...!

I had my first punsch of the season... yay! Christmas Markets might be one of the best parts of living in Vienna. While the first ones don't open until next weekend, I met a girlfriend of mine at the MQ where there were a few stands/restaurants and it was like a "fake" Christmas market. Orange punsch served with a slice of orange and a sugar cube lit on fire. Delicious. I'm not a huge fan of punsch or gluhwein, but it is hard to resist. I'm super excited for the markets to open next weekend, and while it seems a bit early, I think I will get out my Christmas decorations next weekend. The weather is unseasonably warm, it was difficult to make myself work on Thursday and Friday, as it was gorgeous out and our school was hosting a soccer tournament. I found lots of reasons to "monitor" the crowds... I did manage to get into my swim class, I really almost had to laugh. There I was, sitting at work, glued to my computer, logging in and refreshing the page every other second, trying as hard as I could to pay €300 to do something I can't stand doing for 90 minutes a week on Friday nights. Oh, I feel so lucky that I got one of the coveted spots. I hope it helps. There has got to be some way to learn to like swimming. Ugh. I have been running a ton, especially in the trails, and loving it. Today a girlfriend and I met to do a hilly run, it was pretty brutal, but totally worth it. We ran up to Kahlenberg and sat looking out at the gorgeous view and drinking coffee for a while afterwards,such a nice start to the day! This week starts the running club at work, it's super fun to have a group of HS boys literally run circles around me, it's nice they come back around to make sure the last runner is with the group... I rode outside in the rain this weekend, I wrote something on facebook about needing to buy some winter riding gear, someone sent me a link to some battery powered feet warmers. I'm just not that hard core. I've been watching too much tv lately. First it was CSI or NCIS, then finished up Private Practice and now I'm back into The Good Wife. Must be winter...

Sunday Blues...

Sunday is just not my favorite day. Well, actually, Sundays are fine, it's Sunday nights I don't like... The week was fine, nothing too exciting. I am going back and forth about if I should be really looking for a new job, or just be content with where I am for now. There is about a zillion things to love about living in Europe, but not quite so many things to love about Vienna. While I really could list off all the reasons to stay and all the reasons to go, I just wish I felt really strongly one way or the other. It is making it slightly easier that there are literally NO middle school jobs that are open in a city that I want to live in. So, maybe that means the decision has been partially made for me?! But, not making a decision is the same as making one. So, maybe I do want to stay? Hm, can't seem to decide. Halloween was actually fun. Normally I detest the holiday because for some reason, Halloween = normally smart women dressing up as slutty somethings and thinking it's ok. It makes me crazy! I went to an Americans in Vienna and YELP party at an Australian Bar. Besides the fact that the DJ just couldn't quite figure out the music, it was fun! It reminded me that it really isn't that hard to meet people and make friends here, it's just the Viennese themselves that are difficult... I realize that is stereotyping. I'm just ok with that at this point. The weekend was great, lunch at my favorite French place, Prosecco outside in the sun, long bike ride, Dr. Falafel, great run in the Prater with a girlfriend this morning and then coffee at her house. Then, a birthday massage, which was awesome. Really, it was a perfectly relaxing weekend. I do though, need to learn to separate tv from reality. I was literally sobbing while watching about a zillion episodes of Private Practice. I've also somehow got sucked into watching CSI and NCIS. Maybe it is better when I'm traveling every weekend! I also spent some quality time cleaning my entire apartment, from dusting picture frames to cleaning the inside of my kitchen cupboards. I even mopped the floors, that is my LEAST favorite chore. It makes me crazy. Almost enough to justify hiring a cleaning lady. I actually really enjoy all the house stuff, cooking, cleaning, etc. Makes me feel like I've accomplished something. I also did my typical cooking and prepping for the week, it takes forever, but I'm always glad that I did it. I made meatloaf and cauliflower mash for dinner. I think I am back on my Paleo diet for a while. Not sure why. Just seems like a good idea. Well, minus my new theory that fruit should only be eaten in cobbler or crisp form. It's delicious... I was trying to work out my training for the next week. I can't remember if I wrote it last time or not, but I decided to take a break from my trainer, just until December 1st. Then I'll start up again. I'm going to try to sign up for a swimming class online tomorrow morning. It's a very stressful experience. The website is in German, opens at a certain time and literally, as you are online trying to sign up, little people are disappearing as the spots disappear. I hope I can work it all out fast enough! This hasn't been the best start to a year, but, it seems like it's all at least moving in the right direction right now. I'll be happy when Sunday nights don't feel so miserable. I need a Sunday Funday night time plan...