The end. I saw it coming right from the start.

15 days ago I had a choice, I had other things to look forward to. Now it's all gone. It's just me and the end.

Before your eyes get wet and you start checking your pockets for a tissue, let me tell you about the last 3 of my 15 vacation days. I spent them with my wife Anja in a Spa & Wellness Resort "Eurotherme" in Bad Schallerbach. This is a place where everyone of you is allowed to spend their savings on a shorter or longer vacation. It is worth every cent! The variety of food, the friendly people, the atmosphere, the facilities and all the first class services they offer, make us go there every year.

This time, while Anja went for the pregnancy procedures and treats, I decided to try something new: the traditional Hawaiian Lomilomi Nui massage. It does sound weird and felt so, too. A Prayer was read to me, before the massage begun. 100% naked, just like I was when I was born, I had to lay on a bed, covered in warm oil with my head pointing in the direction of the window. When the masseuse was finished with the prayer, she performed a small dance around me and exactly then I thought:

Ok, my feet are pointing to the exit door, my head is pointing to the window - neither is a good sign. I am a fried fish now. This is the end. 

And I was right - this was the end of my stressed, "under pressure", "ever worried" kind of life. One hour a.k.a "60 minutes" later I left the room with a totally different smile on my face and look in my eyes. The first thing Anja said when she saw me was:

My God! She has massaged two years of stress away from you, she must be really good! 

Oh, you bet she was. Using warm oil she did some real nice things to me back there. And this wasn't everything. Once it was over I went straight and booked me another one. I just couldn't get enough ...

Here are some of the photos we took during our stay:

(download)

Click here to download:

the_end.zip (1.89 MB)

Now back to life on Earth. The weekend is around the corner, followed by Monday - my first working day in the new office. I am excited. Besides the challenges of a new job, I am also looking forward to meet new, interesting and open-minded people ... 

Before I finish this post, I would like to thank all of you, who supported the idea of my "15 Days Off" blog. Everyone who encouraged me to do it and was there to read my dose of nonsense every day.

Of course, I couldn't meet all the people I wanted to meet, I couldn't lose all the weight I wanted to lose and I couldn't shoot all the photos I wanted to shoot. But taking the time to do a bit of everything I love to do, has certainly left me with a great feeling for time well spent.

For the next few days I will be on vacation, out of the town. It hurts to leave you alone, but that's just how life works sometimes. Here I am posting a photo of me, so you don't forget me.

I promise to tell you about each one of my days as soon as I am back home.

Love you, miss you and kiss you,
Tony.

Sent from my iPhone

Buah!

Blogging is an extreme sport and a very time-consuming activity, too! One should always blog with a helmet. Almost every time I want to blog, I sit down, open a blank text file and I don't know what to write about. Usually after staring at the screen for a couple of minutes, I am dozing off, sliding down my chair until I hit the edge of the desk with my head and then I am awake again.

This happened to me a few times last night. It took me more than 4 hours to write my article about the weekend. Managed to finish at 3 o'clock in the morning, then I hit the bed and fell asleep immediately. When I woke up in the morning I realized that I am sick - feeling weak and having a sore throat. Not a very pleasant feeling, I am telling you - blogging is a dangerous sport! Before you do it, please consider its side effects!

After breakfast I did a bit of work, then we made some space on the floor of the living room and Anja undressed herself because it was time for ... 

wrong answer!

... another Belly Painting Session! Unlike the last time, this time we wanted to keep it rather short. 2 hours event max. Else it is too tiring and even painful. Using a make up pencil I quickly made my scribbles on her tummy. Then I mixed up my paint and "one playlist of favorite songs" later - voilá: the picture was there! 

(download)

Click here to download:

Belly_Painting_Monday.zip (3.01 MB)

See all photos on Flickr.

Hoping that it will make me feel better I went for a hot bath afterwards but unfortunately nothing changed. We had to do some shopping so we both went to Shopping City for a quick race and an early dinner at the Steak House. Then we came back home, because I wanted to write my article and go to bed before it's too late.

... aaaaaand cut!

Thank you everyone! Good night!

If anything, Photography has taught me how to look at the world around me with different eyes. Properly exposed we can turn every moment in our life into a beautiful photograph. The more I am thinking about this, the less frustrated I feel when the weather is bad, for example. There's actually no such a thing as "bad weather" for me anymore. It's just a different scene, different amount of light and different exposure settings.

It doesn't matter if it's windy, snowy or cold - I always get a warm feeling when I see that I have captured the moment exactly the way I wanted to. Without missing any details. In this case - the beautiful snowflakes:  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigov/4411562678/

A few hours earlier.

Our weekend started in Parndorf - the outlets village, located 20 min away from Vienna if I am driving and 42 minutes if Anja is driving. Half awake, half asleep we got there at 9 o'clock in the morning, parked the car and before heading for the shops we stopped for breakfast at the Coffeeshop Company. Over time this has turned into something like a ritual for us. They make the best tomato-mozarella bagels and the Barista Special is on the top of my list with favorite coffee drinks.

We didn't plan to "shop till we drop", so we went quickly through. I needed new jeans, but all I got back with were 4 new t-shirts. In my drawer there is always some space for a couple of new t-shirts. I usually don't need them, I simply want them.

At noon I had arranged to meet with Stefan Mey for a drink at Café Leopold in Vienna. Time was passing quickly and we were slightly late, so I took over driving on the way back to Vienna. Somewhere along the way, Anja called me a "Wild-gewordene-Party-Maus" .. I think she meant that I drive like crazy, but I am not sure because obviously she had no problem with it.

We made it to Café Leopold a few minutes later than agreed. Stefan a.k.a Max Power was there, waiting for us. We spent 2-3 hours talking about life and what happens to you, while you are busy making other plans about it. It was interesting to listen to his story. He is actually German and came to Austria when he was 15! Very bright and funny, young lad. Both with Anja really enjoyed his company and we hope to see him soon again. 

(download)

Click here to download:

weekend_again.zip (1.8 MB)

For the rest of the weekend we had no other plans but to meet and catch up with more friends. And so we did. The last ones we visited were Andy, Eva and their lovely, charming son Christopher who showed us that besides lovely and charming, he can also be very chewy and loud. Especially when he runs out of buttered bread ... 

Just read, don't do anything else!

It's Friday. My vacation has been keeping me busy for 10 days now. It's contagious and I feel like I am infected - have been avoiding stress, work, tasks all the time but today was planned different. I had to confront myself with one big challenge: go to Vienna, drop my watch for a service check and also get the battery for another one replaced. And then come back home. Somewhere along the way I lost a bit of my lip (remember this, because I will come back to it later).

Trying not to disturb other passengers while riding the train back home, I discreetly gave my mom a call to see how she's doing. 

Now make sure your sound is on. Then press the big yellow button and continue reading. 

Glasgow Love Theme by Love Actually

(download)

Click here to download:

14 - Glasgow Love Theme.mp3 (4.81 MB)

She was very excited. Having seen the article* Luca wrote about me, she was curious to know what it was about. I translated it over the phone and here's what she told me:

"You may not be lucky to have your mom be always there for you, but you have definitely been blessed to be surrounded by true friends in your life .. " 

In a fraction of a second I realized how true she was. I really am blessed to have my friends around me ...

Now there is something cheerful coming up, so you can stop the music if you like. With the yellow button.  

At 18:00 o'clock we had an invitation for dinner from Harald and Eva, together with Luca and Heinz (who unfortunately couldn't make it). We were supposed to meet at a place called "Bodega .. bla-bla something" - a Spanish restaurant. I knew it. Been there before. No need to check for the address, because I know how to get there. So we pack up everything, we sit in the car and we drive to Vienna. Considering that it's a bit of a rush hour and it could be difficult to find a parking spot, we decided to leave earlier. Just to be on the safe side that we are not late. 

Everything was alright, we got there a bit earlier, found a parking spot and then decided to go to the restaurant and wait for the rest there. While entering my phone rang. It was Harald to tell me that he is also there. I said we are there too but I had to hang up, because the waitress came and asked if we have a reservation:

Me: of course we have
Waitress: what's the name?
Me: i dunno
Waitress: ??!
Me: doesn't really matter, because the guy is waiting for us - I just talked to him
Waitress: there is nobody in the restaurant
Me: ??! I just talked to him .. 

Then her phone rang, which gave me a chance to run around the restaurant and check for Harald under each table. He was nowhere to be found. Slightly embarrassed, heavily confused we left the place and I called Harald again.

Me: where are you?
Harald: here! where are you?
Me: here!!
Harald: where!? I can't see you!
Me: "Bodega Vinos y Tapas was wos i .. " and you are not here!
Harald: I am at "Bodega Espagnol" .. which address are you at?
Me: I am in the center, first district - you?
Harald: Belvedere, forth district .. 

We hung up. It was bloody cold. Cursing and laughing in the same time, we went back to the car and drove around the center to get to the other place, where Harald wasn't hiding under the table but was actually waiting for us. Luca and Eva joined us shortly after we arrived. Once we were all set the feast begun ... When I say a feast - I mean a "heavenly feast"! Delicious tapas and superb wine more than 4 hours long ... Actually it was my painful lip, which reminded me that we are still on Earth and not in Heaven, every time I put food in my mouth .. 

Here are some photos from the guys. Feel free to press the yellow button above again if you like. We had a great time together! 

(download)

Click here to download:

Bodega_Night.zip (502 KB)

*Luca Hammer's article.

Did you know?

I always wanted to write a blog. But I couldn't, because my German is not that good.
So, here is what I did instead: I put all the thoughts, which I wanted to share with you,
in e-mails. Then I sent the e-mails to my mom. This is how I did it for the past .. say, 5-6 years.

Now fast forward to today. Nothing special, just an ordinary day. The alarm goes off and with it begins the journey through the different stages of my waking-up procedure: starting by practicing "good morning" curses in different languages, then refusing to get up, then eventually I am either getting kicked out of bed or my blanket disappears - in both cases the window is open and it's freezing cold. The best option I am left with is to run to the kitchen and boil some water for a tea. Or make coffee.

Today I took it rather easy. I had another meeting for lunch with a friend in Vienna. Although finding a place to park wasn't a simple task, I still managed to be there on time. The meeting point was a restaurant called Albert Schweitzer Haus and the friend I met was Luca Hammer.

Who is Luca Hammer?

Recently I was telling someone about Luca and the words I could describe him best with, were those: A Social Media Experiment gone Wild

Luca is not an ordinary guy. Give him one cable - he's gonna connect the whole world. Give him food and before he tastes it - he's gonna share it with the whole world (online, of course). I don't know who set the University of Vienna on fire but it was Luca who was there to broadcast first. It was also Luca who made it on the same magazine cover with the president Obama. Luca in Austria is like Harry Potter in England. Only Austrians haven't found out about this yet. He is a magic kid and I truly admire him.

So, we met for lunch today. He was already waiting in the restaurant and when I approached him, he is suddenly stood up, shook my hand and told me that I am his personal hero! How cool is that? I am the hero of my own hero? Yes. It seems like we inspire each other by doing the things we both love to do. It's so simple. And it's such a great feeling!

I can't tell who had more fun - me or him, but the lunch was very pleasant and as it happens with good company I believe we could have easily made it into a dinner ...

Following are some of the photos I took from him:

(download)

Click here to download:

Luca_Hammer.zip (1.41 MB)

Today it turned out that I have lost my membership card for the fitness center. I went through the whole flat over and over again, sorted all the mess but still I couldn't find it anywhere. This has happened to me before, so I knew that I could still go there but then I had to explain what exactly happened, had to fill out forms, ask for another card, bla bla bla - just didn't feel like going through all the fuss. Instead I grabbed my camera, got my yellow rubber duck friend, put him in my pocket and went out for a walk. Brilliant idea - blue sky, sun, me and him - two cool dudes, nothing could stop us!

We went up to the hills of Mödling, did a bit posing and took a bunch of photos. Here are my 8 Reasons why I think that hiring a Rubber Duck for your photo shooting session instead of a Photo Model is a better deal:

1. Cheap to hire - or you can simply buy a whole flock of ducks
2. Always smiling - you don't have to talk them into anything
3. Not capricious - they never ask for a lunch break or a glass of water
4. You can just put them anywhere - or throw them
5. They don't need make up - yellow goes well with everything
6. Can't get hurt - e.g. when falling off a tree
7. They don't argue - you can tell them anything
   
8. Always a good company - they may not talk a lot, but they surely listen to you!

Here are some of the best shots today, hope you like them!

(download)

Click here to download:

rubber_duck.zip (1.74 MB)

Good night!

Time for confession: 

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Click here to download:

Cold_Feet_Day.zip (778 KB)

In the later afternoon Anja and me had an appointment for another ultrasonography. We were both looking forward to seeing the gender of the baby, but unfortunately this didn't happen. The doctor however, assumed that it will be a girl. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigov/4402336540/

Whatever it is, we won't return it :-)

Like every other day, this Saturday we got up at 07:00 o'clock in the morning. The reason for this was a business meeting I had to attend to. Since I didn't want to go on my own, I asked Anja to join me by promising her that she can play with my camera while the meeting is over. More than excited, we both drove to the location where it all took place. Right on time, we were warmly welcomed, seated and offered a glass of water. Anja however, didn't sit much. Just like a small child with a new toy, she was running around the room, snapping shots while I was busy ... with my meeting.

It was so productive and I felt so comfortable that about 30 minutes after it started I was already thinking of blogging about it:

But then again - would it be ok? What would other people think if I told them? Isn't it embarrasing?

"No, it isn't!", the cosmetician said. "Many businessmen come here and do the same. They totally enjoy it. If their phones are ringing they always say that they are in a business meeting and they can't talk right now .. "

By the time I finished laughing it was time to go. Here are some of the best shots of this unforgettable and very pleasant experience, which I would recommend to any of my business friends :-)

(download)

Click here to download:

Weekend.zip (998 KB)

When we got out, we sat in the car, played our favorite songs and following the sun we drove to Vienna for a nice cup of coffee at Coffeeshop Company.Then we went for a walk through the city, did a bit of shopping and enjoyed the nice weather together. We had plans to cook and meet with friends for dinner, only in the last minute they called and cancelled the appointment. This left us with quite some food we had to eat alone. Or not.

I made a few phone calls, pulled some strings and our dinner dudes Eva, Harald and Heinz were all there for us! 19:00 sharp! We had a nice time, paprika chicken, ice cream, up-beat music and lots of fun.

On Sunday our day began by meeting my friend Werner Ranner for lunch at Vapiano.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigov/4394810687/in/set-72157623526803988/

Werner's day job has something to do with computers and support, but apparently he is a good photographer, too! Although he chose for the wrong brand, he seems to be quite quick capturing those little accidents, which happen when two people want to be in his photo in the same time ..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigov/4398351622/

It was nice, peaceful, the food was good and it would be wrong if I don't admit that we had a lot of fun together. After we were done, we moved over to Starbuck's where we met Heinz for a coffee. We spent another hour, walking along Mariahilferstraße and then we drove back home to have some rest before the new week starts ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigov/4395604624/in/set-72157623402316097/