went to training today and have been told afterwards I could take two belt tests at once in two weeks if I like to since my skills are quite advanced and my first belt test of my system doesn’t count. sheesh. stayed there longer and had some one on one training to get ready for the test. its quite a challenge since the moves are more advanced and complex in this kind of takewondo. well, lets see
on my way home the street was flooded by a giant disco ball light because they were shooting a music video for James Morris just in the middle of the street. Went straight home, grabbed my big camera and took about 270 pics, quite impressive, I can tell. (I will post some of them here, after I got my macbook.)
uh uh, just had some nice twilight zone encounter. went down to starbucks to get some peppermint hot chocolate, looong queue, and when I looked up to pay suddenly a friend of mine from vienna was standing behind the desk and I was so surprised my jaw literally dropped. but it wasn’t her although the similarity was extreme, almost like twins. the next big surprise was when she asked me if I am from germany and I said I am from vienna and she said, she is, too.
how big are the chances that you meet someone in NY who is from vienna and looks exactly like a friend of yours (but without having any connection to that friend what so ever). Its a strange world sometimes.
had my first lesson today, was a private 1on1 training to check my skills. to my big surprise I did quite well, seems like I didn’t forget that much ;). and seems to be a good school, although a little bit pricey ($1895/year). but whatever, walking distance, door to door 5 minutes! (its starting to get really cold outside *brrrr*)
Posted by markus, filed under whatever. Date: January 18, 2007, 9:20 pm |No Comments »
my beloved notebook (Samsung X30, maybe the most beautiful notebook ever built) died yesterday after 3 years of heavy duty. kind of a melt down, blank screen showing garbage when powered up.
I was really seriously pis*ed, because I really liked it, it was almost perfect and is still superior compared to all the other junk notebooks (although it was quite pricey, but worth every cent).
samsung notebooks aren’t available in the states and the only other notebook that comes close is a Macbook Pro. luckily draftFCB employees get 8% discount in the apple shop, which IS quite some money if the notebook is $3000. which it is. unfortunately. (personal note: there is no such thing as too much salary).
next problem: I (obviously) want this notebook as soon as possible, but I need an upgraded¬† version (bigger harddisk). after configuration in the online shop it says shipping is delayed by 3 days due to harddrive upgrade. so I thought MAYBE the apple flagship store can just swap in another harddisk if I buy it there. and surprise surprise, they can’t. they have to send the notebook in to get the harddisk changed (WTF?). so I spend almost 3 hours by walking around, looking in computer shops for comparable notebooks (no, nothing found) and other stuff. well, at least I got a new cap and saw some park avenue princesses :D.
so my blog activities will be a little bit reduced until my macbook arrives.
Posted by markus, filed under whatever. Date: January 14, 2007, 4:33 pm |2 Comments »
while browsing craigslist on sunday I stumbled over a quite amazing offer, seemed almost perfect (pics). not too expensive, perfect commute (Nolita, next to chinatown/soho/east village), big 1600sqft (factory) loft with high ceilings and a/c and all of the roommates (2) and in the building working in the creative industries. as soon as I saw this ad I wrote them an email, waiting eagerly for an answer. which didn’t come.
until tuesday. when I was invited to stop by on wednesday to some kind of “future roommate” screening => very big smile on my face.
next day I stopped by at the requested time and there were already a bunch of people, looking around. Ivor, one of the guys in charge showed me everything and since I had a splendid time talking to them I didn’t leave when the others left and had some extended chitchat.
while standing there I suddenly noticed a bunch of game consoles in the corner (xbox, …) but no Nintendo Wii. since I wanted to buy a Wii anyhow I told Ivor I am going to buy one. His reaction was … very positive on this one to say at least, guess this was the perfect bribe, since I got an email next day that I got the share. :D.
sooo my next logical step was to buy a Wii. BUT imagine my surprise when I saw the price, around $460 everywhere, being maybe the first piece of equipment thats in the states more expensive than in europe (Wii sells in europe for about $330, which is a huge difference). luckily found one on ebay for $360 including shipping, but since I had to pay with a check (still no credit card for me) it won’t be shipped until friday.
So its another birthday and I had the most nice surprise by being waked up by a phone call from my family (parents, brothers, grandma) wishing me all the best.
my voice however was totally fu*ked up, because I just had slept 4 hours. discovered “forbidden planet” the day before, probably one of the best comic stores worldwide, with a HUGE alternative section (so no superhero crap, instead carefully told novels). bought some quite interesting stuff, e.g. “Blankets” from Craig Thompson, a terrific graphic novel and finally “The Sandman“, one of the most awarded and influential book in comic history.
so that’s why I kept reading until 4a.m., this stuff was just too good.
sadly, got some terrible news, too. my grandma has fallen and broke her shoulder two times. fortunately it was a “clean” break so it will heal perfectly IF she doesn’t move, which is quite hard for her, always busy as she is. love you granny, take care!
discovered to my BIG surprise after finally getting up, that it’s extremely hot outside, bright sunny day, about 20¬?C / 68¬?F (in January guys!), so after a very nice hot and long bath to get started I went over to Central Park.
And guess what? Met there two girls from Germany, working here in New Jersey as Au Pair. Had a lovely chitchat, obviously comparing Germany, Austria and the States
This day was really like spring, everyone moving around with just a T-Shirt (and jeans ), and of course there was also some action going on, as you can see on the next video.
and here’s the mandatory video of Central Park for you folks back in Austria
but the absolute highlight of the day was a response I got to my posting on craigslist, searching for a flat, with a description and a couple of pics of myself. it was just a one-liner, but maybe the most charming compliment I got for a very long time: “if you were gay I’d marry you!“. Hit me like a surprise and made me smile :).
although very highly appreciated, I am there just for the ladies, so no wedding today, I guess
later I discovered the most amazing supermarket I have been so far, bringing art of wrapping to a new level, and its a Japanese one and in Chelsea, obviously. named “Garden of Eden“. imagine big piles of fruits, each one half wrapped in paper and perfectly aligned. terrific selections of goods of all kinds, and an incredible chocolate section. I decided to give the (awfully expensive) hand made chocolates in a box a try and when I tried the first one back at home I almost fainted. I really had to sit down, totally overwhelmed by the sensations going on in my mouth.
and the day ended with some crazy long night dancing in the meat pack. unfortunately I didn’t take a picture of the club, hope I find it again. they played the best music mix I have heard for quite a time.
most funny thing today: the plush(!) cap of one of the guys in the club, mimicking a wolf head
note: I really have to think about a way to get my pictures organized here (in worpress), there is so much stuff I collect everyday but I just don’t have the time to post/edit/organize. so any suggestions highly appreciated.
Posted by markus, filed under whatever. Date: January 7, 2007, 2:42 pm |2 Comments »
I am a really laid back guy, and usually don’t complain about people in my blog, but today I was so pissed that I just have to make this small exemption.
Today I thought I give Brooklyn a try and check out a couple of flats in Williamsburg. I know that it has to be tempting to charge for a share more than it is worth on the lease, but come on, get a grip. All turned out to be small dumps, one of them a rip-off scrooge would be proud of: a stair I was afraid to put my foot on, no working lock on the front door, 4 bedrooms with only one tiny bath and charging $875 for the share. WTF? this place NEVER rents for $3500 total. have a look on craigslist what I can get for $3500 in Brooklyn and get serious.
Guess I will continue my search in the West+East Village/Union Square area. Still a week to go until I have to leave my cozy studio so lets give fate a chance .
There just has to be someone out there who has a decent place, at least 10″ by 10″ and below $1600.
most funny thing today: my face when I wanted to close the door of the “flat” after leaving and it just didn’t work
Posted by markus, filed under new york. Date: January 4, 2007, 1:27 am |3 Comments »
so its a new year. again. big surprise. spent the night with terrific Heidi and friends at the knitting factory, listening to mates of state. quite nice, quite charming band.
so what’s the difference between Vienna and NY when it comes to new years eve? well, NO fireworks on the street at all and coming home non-smelly due to ban of cigarattes (in bars/pubs/..). which is quite a good thing, like it. but I am a nonsmoker. felt a little bit sorry, for all those guys outside, having a quick smoke and freezing like hell.
oh and the time you have to wait for the subway kind of sucks (compared to Vienna). on the other hand you can use the subway during night the whole year (in contrast to Vienna). so I guess its better in New York .
the only thing that pissed me strongly off a was me being ill again the last couple of days. someone in the plane must have had a severe cold and so I got it, too. *fuck*. so maybe not the best start into a new year.
What is your primary goal for 2007?
oh, and btw, checked out two flats today, one being the first “real” New York experience. located in Tribeca, scary door, incredible locks, but very kind and interesting people inside.
unfortunately the room was a little bit too small for me, thinking at the first moment, I was looking at the closet, not the room. pity. especially because I loved the chitchat with the people there (and have been told a very funny story of an Italian friend, who wanted to import to Germany a little bit more than the allowed amount of cigarettes, and after a while of arguing trying to convince the German customs officer by saying “come on, don’t be such a Nazi” … which was rather insensitive. well, he spent three days in jail.
the other flat had a lovely view on the Broadway in Soho in a quite interesting loft that occupies the whole floor. so here it is, a video of a true New York experience.
the only thing which puzzles me about Soho is, if this is really such a nice area for living. shopping, yes, truly, absolutely, totally. but there is almost no “normal” infrastructure, compared to other places .
most funny thing today: these two charts of haircuts I discovered in the window of a barber in Chelsea today. this variety, just incredible! each and everyone so totally unique. guess this kind of chart would be slightly bigger for women ….
fortunately it was a “clean” break so it will heal perfectly IF she doesn’t move, which is quite hard for her, always busy as she is. love you granny, take care! 
