I'm Still Standing

Hello everyone-

Several things have happened since I last posted. Sorry to all for the fact that I've fallen into a hole for the past month or so.

In chronological order:

1. Christmas- I had a nice quiet Christmas in Eisenstadt. I spent it with my dear friend Alexa, with the usual evergreen pyrotechnics and gift exchange. I remembered that it was exactly this time last year that I finally came out to her- A sign that I had lots of trust and understanding with her (my colleague), and at this point our professional relationship developed into a full-blown deep friendship. She noticed that I had been a bit depressed (she would, with her intuition), mostly due to my quickly expiring and not easily renewed residency permit.

2. New Years- What fun! I had the privilege of being in Carinthia to celebrate the holiday at 2000 meters with good friends. This was in the same cabin I had visited in August. When we first arrived, there was an activity in store for us. Being eight gay men in a small cabin in the mountains, creativity is to be expected. No, this was no porno. We had to divide ourselves into two groups (couples separated) for a scavenger hunt in the woods. Each station contained a sack of liquor and sweets, and then on to the next- first group to make the round won. Naturally, the two teams met each other along the way, and I had the sophomoric yet brilliant idea to hide in the trees and scare the other group (eeeee!), which worked fabulously. All in all it was a great time. I was also happy to see that my terrible "omen" from last year was a fluke. Have I told this story? If not, here it is: I was in Dijon, France, last year for New Year's, and as the man on the TV was counting down (trois, deus, un...) I had a terrible nose bleed at the stroke of midnight. Coincidence, indeed, but who wouldn't question the portentousness? Anyway... I lived through the year and was happy to ring in 2007 without any unnecessary bodily fluids flowing.

3. My Grandmother- Jan Cornwell, bless her. She died unexpectedly of a stroke on 10 January. This was completely unexpected and unfair. Happily, she had had the opportunity to visit me here in October. The funeral is to be held tomorrow, which I will be attending in spirit from the Stefansdom in Vienna- a quintessential old church that she had particularly enjoyed. I got the news at a hectic moment between classes- not the best moment to hear of such a thing- but in the meantime I am doing the best I can to support my family and honor her. My brother will be reading a statement from me at the funeral tomorrow, and, as I said, I will be in the place that gives me the best physical approximation to her here in Austria.

So... sorry everyone that I've been so distant lately... This is why.

My love to all
-Arthur