Alles Gute

Picked up my altered dress for
The Gathering today.


CONGRATS to John and Kristen Chew on the birth of baby Jamie at 7:52 a.m.!

Apologies for the scarcity of Blathering lately. In an effort to speed recovery of my arms, I've been placing priority on my paid writing assignments, telling myself that I would post a Blathering if my arms were feeling up to it at the end of the day.

Physiotherapy is going well, and my recovery is slow but steady. I found out that I was mispronouncing my physiotherapist's name, which is Mikal (sp?), not Michelle. Interesting chats while she is zapping my tendons; apparently she used to be a professional swimmer in Israel, had to give it up when she joined the army, plays the flute and guitar, is thinking of starting up a band with friends, is a huge Genesis fan.

German studies also progress slowly but steadily. My friend Anita (who lives in Vienna) and I have started a correspondence in German which I'm thoroughly enjoying. After she sends me a short e-mail, I print it out and make notes in the margin as I look up words I don't know. Then I compose my reply, which is a mishmash of English and butchered German. I'm hoping that over time, my e-mail messages will contain more German and less English, and that my German will gradually improve.

German grammar continues to bewilder me, but I am determined to figure it out eventually. It became clear to me early on that there was only so much I could learn without also mastering some of the basics of the grammar. I adore The Goethe Institut; they let me take out huge armfuls of books and videos, and I can keep renewing the ones I want to keep. Right now I'm working my way through the Alles Gute video series, which was originally broadcast on television, and comes with a workbook.

Only three weeks until we leave for Vienna!

November/2003 comments: Read | Post | LJ