January

Arrived in Vienna and Austrian Airlines managed to ruin my bag, so I went to complain and got two bags as a compromise. So i went home with three bags and carried them up 20 stairs to my apartment (20 something kilos, really heavy). But I was happy to see my boyfriend and begin my life in Vienna.

However, I got sick again. Started with a throat ache, then stuffy nose and coughing, typical and was suffering for a weak. I blame the cold weather (it´s different than in Iceland...way colder in vienna). I used the time though, i created the website www.brighten-your-day.com , where i post fun videos, photos, blog and quotes.Check it out...it will definitely brighten your day :P

I met my best friend (she lives in Berlin these days)...it was so great but too short. I also met Sandra for drinks, always great to catch up with old colleagues.  Then I met my friends (we call ourselves the cashmere mafia) but it ended in a fight. Roomate problem. Can´t blame them, if you push your feelings down they will come up eventually. So much for movienight.

It got me though thinking, the cashmere mafia is all going away. This is what I hate about living in a city like Vienna, you meet people and then they leave. What´s the point? But then again, when we meet people we never know who is going to end up being your lifetime friend. Most of my friends back in Iceland are a mix of that, childhood friends, those i met as a teenager and then college. It also depend on your place in life. Some loose touch, not because they want to but because they are busy with work, family, etc. I wish i could gather all my best friends and move them to Vienna because its a great city but I find myself missing my family and friends. Then again...it was my choice to move here so I have to accept it and try to look at the things i have.

I had two job interviews, in both they said I needed to improve my German. I agree with them so I am beginning my german class in beginning February.

I met Angelika, a pianist that lives Tulln (right outside Viena) and we had a jam session.... so much fun and what a talent...check out her site: http://www.myspace.com/angelikahaas

I suggested to the dance studio that we would offer Ball workshops (to those who attend the balls in Vienna) and the phone hasn´t stop ringing...LOVE IT. I also have my jazz classes so plenty to do. For those in Vienna who are interested in dancing, aerobics, belly dancing, yoga or pilates, visit Casomai

Thanks to Tom and Alex at my old company for their help with my computer. The battery was completely ruined so they got me a new one. You gotta love knowing tech guys.

The only thing nice about being sick and unemployed was spending time with my boyfriend. He took such good care of me but then again he always does. Just laying in his arms always makes me feel better. He also cooked for me, I love his cooking, it is the best. We are hooked on Scrubs, then again, its one of the few shows that is good in German. I can´t believe this summer we have been together for 6 years. How time flies. I´ve been living in Vienna for 5 years. Unbelievable.

 

 

Ps. Congratulations to the Icelandic handball team, they were in 3rd place in the European handball championship. I am so proud when Icelanders are doing good, we are only 320,000 but we are definitely talented! GO ICELAND!

Radio Interview FM4

I was interviewed regarding Icesave and its referendum in beginning March on the Austrian radio station FM4 (in English) by Steven Crilley.

Listen:

http://sites.google.com/site/annaclaessen/radio-interviews

Note: i also talked about what would happen, why people would choose each one

YES: To get this Icesave over with, get loans so we can focus on rebuilding our economy. Avoid financial isolation.

NO: It´s not fair, UK and The Netherlands get 1.5/2.0 percent profit out of this deal and control over our natural resources. And as Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson (Iceland Ambassador in Washington) said: "saying yes to icesave is like a victim saying it was ok that they did this to us."

If the Icelanders say no, a referendum from August 2009 will take place (apparently better than the one we are voting for now).

We, the Icelandic people, will pay, its just a matter of how.

I also mentioned that the Icelandic government should take responsibility, move forward and act in the best interest of the people.

Golden Globes

So let´s talk about the Golden Globes. I was so happy when I saw the live broadcast on Prosieben…in ENGLISH!!!! (that´s a record, because the TV is always in German). Needless to say, I pulled an all nighter and watched both on Tv as well as the internet. Yeah, that´s right.

On the Facebook site of the Golden globes you had a video of a couple of interviewers live on the red carpet as well as the hotel of where the ceremony took place and you could on your facebook ask the reporters to ask the stars some of your questions. So it was very interactive. The same was shown on the Golden Globe site, Nbc.com and then there were two other sites live only on the red carpet (e-online and tvguide)

Ricky Gervais opened the ceremony. I´m a big Gervais fan but I have seen him better, which I think is his point. He´s not into the whole black&white gala, big ceremonies type of thing, he mocks them, so if you know ricky, you know he was mocking the whole thing. Talking constantly about the actors being most important (mock), before introducing the actors he mocked them and of course he mocked himself. People loved when he mocked Mel Gibson


http://www.youtube.com/v/X8mmrMIDrhE&hl=en_US&fs=1&

But my favourite was the Angelina Jolie one

“You could be in the third world and you get a glimpse of a Hollywood star and it makes you feel better. You could be a child, a little Asian Child with no possessions and no money, you see a picture of Angelina Jolie and you think …. Mommy”

and referencing NBC quarrel with Conan O´Brian

“let´s get on with it, before they replace me with Leno.

and the interaction between Steve Carrell and Ricky. Steve signaling “I´ll kill you”. They´re hilarious.

Ricky then showed off all his products The Office, Intervention of lying and site, saying  “I don’t care, I wouldn´t do this again anyway.”  So funny.

http://www.youtube.com/v/qbe2dtRt0Ik&hl=en_US&fs=1&

Below are the lists of movies/TV series that won and for which category.

MOVIES

Avatar 2

Best motion picture

Best director

Precious 1

Monique (Best supporting actress)

UP 2

Best motion picture: animation

Best original Score

The Weary Kind 1

Original song motion picture

Julie & Julia 1

Meryl Streep (best actress in a movie, comedy/musical)

-was also nominated for  It´s Complicated in the same category

Up in the air 1

best screenplay motion picture

Inglorious Basterds 1

Christoph Waltz (best supporting actor)

Hangover 1

Best Picture Comedy

Sherlock Holmes 1

Robert Downey Jr.

The Blind Side 1

Sandra Bullock

Hurt Locker 1

Jeff Bridges (best actor-drama)

The White Ribbon (Germany) 1

Best foreign Film

TV

United States of Tara 1

Toni Collette (Best Actress TV Series Comedy/musical)

Dexter 2

John Lithgow (Best supporting actor in TV series)

Michael C. Hall (Best Actor in TV series-Drama)

Glee 1

Best Television Series

30 Rock

Alec Baldwin (Best Actor in TV series-comedy)

Mad Men

Best TV series Drama

The Good Wife 1
Julianna Margulies (Best Actress in a TV series Drama)

Grey Gardens 11

Best miniseries

Drew Barrymore (Best Actress in a TV miniseries/movie)

Second Chance 1

Kevin Bacon (Best Actor TV miniserie/movies)

Big love

Chloë Sevigny (Best Supporting Actress)

Cecil B. DeMille Award 2010
Martin Scorsese

Best speeches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sQmyj1zIhE

“Avatar asks us to see everything is connected, all human beings to each other and us to the earth and if you have to go 4 and a half light years to another made up planet to appreciate this miracle of a world we have right here , well you know what,  that´s the wonder of cinema right there. That´s the magic” James Cameron

“Thank you God for this amazing ride that you´re allowing me to go in” Monique

They didn´t however show this (my favourite part of Monique´s speech)

”i´m in the mist of my dream and when I look into the eyes of the man that I stood next to at 14 years old and I said to him one day we are going to be stars, he said you first. And we walked this red carpet tonight."

“I´ve in my long career ,played so many extraordinary women that basically I´m getting mistaken for one. No really, I´m very clear about that I´m the vessel for  other people´s stories and other women´s life." Meryl Streep

But they missed a few:

“Animation is not only for children, its also for adults who take drugs”

Paul Mccarthy

“I like Ricky Gervais, will not be asked to do this again” Felicity Huffman

(jokes after having screwed up the text twice)

“what was I suppose to say? Yeah I love Nora”
(Meryl streep when winning for Julie&Julia)

“I once was in this ballroom room when I was younger… it was a Bar Mitzwah”
(Mad men winner mocking Drew Barrymore speech)

"If I may steal from Michael Oher, I may not be the most talented, but I've been given opportunity," Sandra Bullock

“Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press And miss Barbara Streisand”

Said Ryan Murphy, creator of Glee and concluded: “this is for anybody and everybody who got a wedgie in high school”

So the winners…. I was not surprised but I wanted Neil Patrick Harris and Matthew Morrison to win. And I´m sure the actress from Precious will win the Oscars, Sandra Bullock won this time. I was so happy that Glee, The Hangover  and Christopher Waltz (he stole the show in Inglorious Basterds) won. I thought though that the movie Nine was screwed at this ceremony (ok I haven’t seen it but to have so many award winning actresses and not win. Scandal).  I was a bit upset with the golden globes for leaving Grey´s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and The Big Bang Theory out of the running. I would love to see behind the scenes, who actually vote for it.

Anyhow, congratulations to the winners, to the losers=there´s always next year :P

My favourite icelandic commercial

Sick

I´m sick... yes the typical flu, throat ache, coughing and stuffy nose.

10 things I hate about being sick:

1) you look and feel dreadful.
2) medicine tastes horrible
3) food doesn´t taste good
4) only drink allowed is tea (too bad i don´t like it)
5) can´t see other people (they don´t want to get sick too)
6) can´t talk or sing (if you have a throat ache )
7) ache all over
8) can´t sleep
9) chills (and not the good kind :P)
10) can´t really do anything

The only thing i like is that my boyfriend takes good care of me and i have excuse to stay inside and lie in bed all day :P

When I was younger there was a plus side to it. I didn´t have to go to school or do other activities and could lie in bed, watch tv and eat candy. Plus my parents would take extra good care of me. However, as adult, you have a lot of responsibilities and you can´t do them while you´re sick.

The only medicine I actually liked was the cough medicine in Iceland. Unfortunately, they don´t have that in Austria. The cough medicine tastes horrible.


Not the most fun way to start the new year. But then again, what goes down most come up again, so there must be something good in store for me.