Vasquez Rocks - West Flank

Today I decided to take Daisy for a hike to Vasquez Rocks. Well it had been some time that she went for a hike and today was supposed to be one of the cooler days for this week. When I was getting ready it was about mid 60's and that's pretty perfect.

We left around 11.30 am and got to Vasquez Rocks by noon. They made us park at the first parking area, since the where shooting a movie in the second one code named 'Usher Films'. That wasn't an inconvenience, since I had planned on leaving the truck in t

he first parking area anyways.

Daisy and I headed up the first part of the West Flank. It was quite warm actually...felt way more than upper 60's but the strong breeze made it quite comfy. Daisy had a great day she really enjoyed herself and you would have never guessed that she is 14. We got to the main junction of the West Flank trail and for some reason I couldn't find the small side trail, that would have brought us down to the 2nd parking area... and after the rain storms the grass and weeds growing all over the place, wasn't helpful either. So I chose one of the other side trails. I figured, that if I don't find an option to cut across, the worst thing that can happen is, that I have to hike down to the junction with Pacific Crest Trail.

This side trail is pretty much a roller coaster: up and down and up and down. But on the positive side it's mostly grass and partially muddy soil and Daisy really enjoyed herself. It's one of those trails where you will meet people very rarely. We got to a overhang, that actually would qualify as cave and that was the perfect spot to take a break.

After the break we fairly soon meet Pacific Crest Trail. We followed it for a cou

ple of minutes and then I choose to take a trail north back to the truck. I usually don't take that trail during summer, since the that valley is shielded on 3 sides from any breeze and therefore very hot. Yes it was quite warm but with the temperatures being in the upper 60's it was fine. If we hadn't taken that trail we would have never seen that there is actually running water at Vasquez Rocks. We had to cross the creek several times and Daisy was so distracted with all the smells and scents, that she didn't even care if she walked through the water! Halfway up the trail, while I was taking some pics, Daisy just chilled out in the middle of a tiny creek... so much for her being water shy!! Once Daisy had enough of the creek we continued on the trail north and about 30 min. later we got to the truck.

All in all it was a great hike and Daisy had tons of fun!

Check out the Photo-Album 'Vasquez Rocks - West Flank' on my Facebook Page.

My 40th Birthday

Today is my 40th Birthday. It has become a tradition to celebrate it at one of my favorite restaurants, Outback Steakhouse. We've been doing that for the past 7 years and also marks the end of an tradition, since I will be heading back to Austria in late summer.

Besides Kenny and I were joined by our friends Bruce, John and Moises along with Mike (Kenny's brother), Lora (Kenny's sister-in-law) and Kenobi (Kenny's nephew).It was good dinner.. great food and fun company. Thanks everyone for joining me on my birthday!!

I want to thank Kenny's Dad for the 'Cash' birthday present, Mike & Lora for helping with the restaurant bill John & Moises for the birthday card and Bruce for the 'MASH' & '501st Air Cav' T-Shirt.

Today I joined one 'fun' club!! The 40+ Club: Overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and borderline diabetes... It really doesn't get any more fun than that!!

Happy 40th birthday!!

VET and Relocation Quotes

Today I took Daisy to her semi-annual VET exam. She must have suspect that there is something fishy about that trip, since she wasn't that exited as she normally is when she gets to ride in the truck. But after some time she calmed down and didn't realize where we were going until I pulled up in front of the VET's office. We got there about 1/2 hour early and so I stayed in the truck and checked my text messages and emails, as I really didn't want to wait with Daisy at the VET's waiting room for 30 min... as she really dislikes the place!

So we went in 10 minutes before the appointment and she actually calmed down fairly quickly. Yes she wasn't particularly a happy camper, but she deals with it. Her current weight is 41.7 lbs and that's fine. Shortly after the weighing we were called into the examination room. The checked her and there's absolutely nothing wrong with her and her teeth are in perfect condition as well. I was definitely very happy to hear that. The Fish-Oil and the Gluccosamine supplements are really doing their job, as I've seen a huge improvement in here mobility compared to 3 month ago. Definitely very happy about that!

Today I got 2 relocation quotes as well, in case I should decide to relocate Daisy to Austria. Before I asked for the quotes I had researched both companies and they have an excellent track record. Both quotes are in the ballpark of about $ 3.000. That's not something that really scares me.

Well I think of Daisy as part of my adopted family. And you don't leave part of your adopted family behind. If she were and adopted kid I wouldn't even entertain that discussion. But with Daisy being a senior dog I have to consider what's best for her. Not what is easiest solution in the short run, but what is best for Daisy in the long run. If I decide to relocate her she will be spending at least 8 to 12 month at my parents where she has a pretty big yard. She is at an age where, if you don't motivate her she rather sleeps on here doggy bed. If you don't muscles have a way to be quite vindictive. And at her age that would be a really bad development. If I were to leave here behind, she would be by herself for at least 12 hours per day and when my ex-husband comes home after a 12- hour work day, he probably isn't particularly in the mood to motivate the dog for a longer walk...and I really don't blame him for that. Every time Kenny wants to go to an event, and convention or wants to go on vacation there's always the question on what to do with the dog. That would certainly not be fair to the dog or to my ex-husband. Besides all of that I do have a way more personal relationship with the dog than Kenny. That's just based on the fact that Daisy spends way more time with me, than she does with him. I know that Daisy is going to hate the relocation part itself. But in the long run I think it's a more fair and better way for all 3 of us.

Skype Call with my Brother-in-Law

Today I got a hold of my brother-in-Law, since he wanted to chat with me regarding the situation in Japan and he also some questions about their upcoming visit in general.

About Japan I told him the same thing, that I told my parents a couple of days ago. That the media blows the entire thing completely out of proportion. The radioactivity is currently absolutely no problem at all. So I could put his worries at ease.

I explained to him how I think that we best 'house' them at our place, and that I don't see any problem with that. There are several 'configurations' possible and in the end we will got with what works best... and of course no configuration is set in stone. I mean our house is 2000 sqf, and that's more than enough to 'house' 7 people. Our Living and TV-Room taken together is about the average size of a european 5-person apartment. So we shouldn't have much issues here.

They still haven't decided what route they want to go regarding the rental car... but he told me, that they would decide in the next few days and let me know.

I brought him up to date on what kind of relationship Kenny and I are currently having. And he let me know that they were really looking forward to hanging out at our place and spending time with Kenny and I.

Skype Call with Family

Today my parents tried to get a hold of me. But for some reason I missed their call. By the time I saw the missed call it was about 2 am their time, and I wasn't going to call back. Later in the evening I called them back.

They just wanted to congratulate me early to my upcoming 40th birthday. We also talked a little about the situation in Japan and what the deal with the radioactivity is like. I managed to put their worries at ease. We also talked about their upcoming visit in April (if it actually happens). My sis and brother-in-law are a little concerned about the situation with Japan and are not entirely sure what to do and will decide by the end of the upcoming weekend. I explained in a little more detail to my mom, how I think that we can 'house' all 5 of them. Apparently I don't see that as such a big of a deal as she does. But I managed to put those worries at ease as well.

We then talked about my upcoming trans-continental move and how far the preparation for that move has come. I laid out the approximate timeframe for the move. I think that a time frame for the move to happen of 4 to 5 month if feasible. Of course that's an rough estimate and eventually I will have to pick a date when the move is going to happen and back calculate from their and set the deadlines for each step of the move.

I also got to hear how many people are actually 'totally' excited of me moving back to Austria. And I will become a 'Uber-Geek' so to speak... as it was absolutely my life long dream to move with 40 into my parents basement! LOL... but besides that I definitely looking forward to spending lots of quality time with my family!!

New Glasses...

Today Kenny and I headed out to Santa Clarita to our local LensCrafters to get new glasses. I haven't gotten new glasses in over three years and Kenny hasn't gotten new ones in over four years. I really didn't expect my prescription to change at all, since I haven't been having any issues with my glasses. But sometimes things are not what the appear to be.

So we got to LensCrafters around 3:30pm and they were packed and I also noticed that they Eye Exam place took their last appointment at 4:20 so I figured we'd have to make appointment for tomorrow but when I asked if there was any chance of getting two appointments today they said yes and booked us for 4pm and 4:20pm. So as we waited we walked around and looked at different frames. It's crazy how expensive frames can be, but we stayed in the $99 area, but were frames there for over $200. A few minutes later a Carlos came up to us and took us both into a back room to do the pre-exam. We answered questions, filled out a form and then he proceeded to do some eye test.. ie. read letters, take pictures of the back of our eye, blow puffs of air in our eyes... not sure how all that works but they are suppose to be able to tell how blind we are by all those tests.

You can read the details of Kenny's eye exam on his personal Blog!

Next was the doctor visit, he puts that thing over your eyes and says.. #1 or #2 over and over and you tell him what's best. That test only take a few minutes and then he tells you what's wrong

Most parts of my eye exam were fine. No damages for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, from the HIV Meds or from having become a borderline diabetic. That certainly was good news! The Opthamologist wanted to take a second sets of pictures since there was something going on in my right eye. They dilated my eyes and we went out to find some frames. After picking out a few we asked Sarah (another associate) which ones she liked on our face and she picked out the two that we liked for ourselves. We paid the bill, I was expecting a $1000 but it was only $600, which isn't bad for two pairs of glasses and the exams.

I went back in for a second set of pictures and a second eye examination and it turns out that I have a cataract on my right eye in the very early stages. I will be taking care of that once I get back to Austria and have the Austrian HMO pay for it.
Not quite sure what it is about turning 40, but apparently I'm slowly falling apart!!

Phone-Call with Family

Today I finally called my parents back. I had a message on my voice mail on Thursday, but didn't call back since I had already had 4 beer... and talking about an issue when you're intoxicated is just a bad idea. Later that night my sister go a hold of me and I pretty much just gave her a short summary of the entire issue and told her: "I will explain things in more detail once I'm sober again".

Today I had a quite long phone conversation with my parents about their upcoming visit and of course I explained the issue about Kenny and I separating in way more detail. I also explained what direction I intend to go in a professional matter. I also explained in more detail in which timeframe I expect the move to happen.

Apparently I could make the reasons for my decision clear, since my parents did understand my reasoning and are actually looking forward for me moving back. That's right it's the dream of every 40-year old: moving back in with your parents. Guess I'm really living up o my role as a geek!! LOL!!

I expect that to be only an short term solution... but on the other hand it will be quite nice having the chance of spending some quality time with family. The last time I got to do that was over 8 years ago.

All in all it was a very good conversation about that subject. Of course we will talk more about the issue, when my family comes for a visit in April of this year.

Apartments in Vienna

Today I spent a couple of hours checking out rental apartments in my hometown of Vienna (Austria). It has been more than 15 years since I last looked for an apartment for rent in Vienna... and I was pretty sure that not only the prices, but the market as well might have changed considerably. Turns out that there currently is quite some rental inventory available. Being used to the US West Coast prices, the rental prices in Vienna are still quite decent. You can still get 700 sqf apartment for about 700 bucks. Of course you can get 600 to 700 sqf apartments for about 400 bucks as well, but they're either in less desirable districts or you would have a long commute to downtown.

Turns out that if I'm really lucky I could even afford a 600 sqf apartment in the 6th, 7th or 8th district. If I were to consider a studio apartment around 500 sqf I should definitely be able to live in the 6th, 7th or 8th. Those are the districts more 'in-districts'.

It turns also out that my personal criteria for an apartment search are quite different now. When I was in my mid-20th the district and the apartment size wasn't that important. The Price was the most important thing...and I wasn't that much at home anyways.

Today things are entirely different. 600 to 700 sqf is a perfect size. Not too small, but not to big either. That way you don't spend an awful lot amount of time keeping things in order and cleaning things. I'm still not a big fan of studio apartments and would probably only consider it as a last resort effort. The kitchen size is another thing that has changed. I definitely need a decent sized kitchen, as today the kitchen size has a way higher priority, than it did in the past. I rather would compromise on the apartment size. Of course the top priority is the feeling that I get from an apartment: I have to be able to see myself living there and it has to feel comfy as well. After all it has to be way more than an apartment...it has to be a home!!

I pretty much have nailed down the districts that I would be actively looking at: 4th, 5th, 9th, certain parts of the 10th & 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th.

Then there is of course the choice between 'Altbau' and newer construction. Both have their benefits and their downsides. The benefits of the 'Altbau' are the increased ceiling heights and the thicker walls...and an 'Altbau' apartment takes way longer to really heat up in summer. The downside of course is that it is an old building and that you usually don't have the amenities of newer construction buildings. The benefit of newer construction are the amenities, better constructed walls and isolated windows...thus reducing the overall heating and cooling costs. On top of that most newer construction buildings come ready with Cable-Internet and that's a huge plus in my book!! Some of the newer construction buildings offer outdoor living space (balcony or roof terrace) and in an urban setting that's another huge plus!! I guess currently I'm leaning a little more towards newer construction building. But of course the neighborhood, the actual location of the building and the way how I feel about the apartment will have a huge impact. An apartment without broadband internet connection is definitely a deal breaker for me!!

The location that I take into consideration aren't that clear cut either:

Urban, but not quite Downtown. Green Spaces in reasonable close proximity, but not Suburban or on the outskirts of the city. Close to public transportation, but not necessarily on one of the main-streets. A small to medium sized apartment building, but definitely not a 'Apartment City'. And last but not least: a reasonable commute to downtown.

I guess it's definitely going to be an interesting journey!!