Born and Raised

Since my dear friend Pina and I have acquired cameras, we make it a point to bring them along everytime we meet to practice. It was a beautiful sunny day today, perfect for showcasing the loveliness of Stuttgart - my hometown. I know not everyone feels this way about Stuttgart, but I just love living here.

Schlossplatz, Königsbau

Schlosspark, Landtag

Lovely Pina

Schlosspark, Großes Haus

Kunstmuseum Stuttgart

Kunstmuseum, Stuttgart

Pina took some fantastic portraits of yours truly:

Check out my extremely cute shoes, Reeboks for 60 € -yup *taps self on shoulder*

Me with the usual stick up my ass.

Songs For A Free Woman

1. Oldie but goldie, Jessie Ware - If You're Never Gonna Move

Is the guy singing "This is to delicious for your forehead"?

2.
Unmap - Pirates

3. Very fond of the cover Lorde did for Swinging Party by  Kindness

4. Here the original

Done and Almost Done

Thesis and defence are done! Done! Done! DONE! Yessssssss!

No more procrastinating - or so I thought... my room is as usual - a mess. I haven't packed yet either. I hope my tourist visa comes through soon enough.
Note to self: if one stays more then 30 days in the Philippines, one must apply for a tourist visa. Following items are required: flight dates, recent passport picture, filled out form. These are to be sent at least 6 weeks before travel date and not 10 days before as I have done. Also, always make an appointment at the consulate, don't turn up without one.

I have a lot of catching up to do, so many friends have been neglected. Yesterday was a fine day for catching up. I helped a friend move her matresses into my old appartment. After a nice cup of coffee and a chat I went to a friends birthday party. Sample? Why of course!

There's more where that came from.  I took some pretty amazing portraits. I didn't ask for anyone for permission and don't want to blob anyones face out.

Moment of Truth

I haven't fared perfectly in my perfect week (formerly known as perfect day). But I did manage quite a bit. As I write in my little bloggy a tourist visa application lies on the desk of an embassy employee, a thesis has been printed, bound and awaits signatures, last but not least little old me is lying in bed typing away, three hours away from my defence.

I am scared, not so much of the defence but of what awaits me next. Apart from my long needed six week vacation to the Philippines, I need to be preparing for my final exam in July and applying for a job. I am also dissapointed that I have not managed to lose weight. I am terrified of possible comments. I love my figure, but I can't deal with the elevator eyeing and comments.

Goals after thesis:

• hair cut
• tidy room (throw away vast amounts of paper)
• organise trip to Düsseldorf
• start packing and buying gifts and gummy bears
• wash dirty shoes
• clean windows
• excersize - daily!

Why don't I spice things up a little and add clean eating into the mix? Yes, that sounds good. But beer totally needs to be a flowing. 

Perfect Day? Close enough!

I didn't manage to do the shred, pedi and manicure. But still I am mighty proud of myself, for I have just finished my defence presentation, minor corrections for my thesis and sending a sample to my professor.

source: tumblr

I am for once not pulling an all-nighter and you know what that means... guilt free tv-show (Veronica Mars) watching and SLEEP! If I want this lovely feeling again, I need to make tomorrow a perfect day as well. So tomorrows goals are:

• apply bosses corrections to thesis and defence presentation
• fix the temperature graphs (the colours are off)
• have a photo taken for tourist visa for my six week vacay to the Phills
• do a shred session

source: tumblr

For an even more perfect day:

• fill out tourist visa form and gather all documents
• manicure and pedicure
• tidy up my room
• take book back to library and pay debts (7€!!!) 
• sun bathe

Aren't perfect days the greatest? 

Making Today Perfect

To make this day perfect I need to do following

• fix the quotations in my thesis
• send one part of my thesis to my supervisor
• finish my defence presentation (defence on friday, practice tomorrow)

• do one set of 30 day shred
• take a walk
• manicure and pedicure

If I manage everything by 8:00 p.m. this will be the perfect day.

Meanwhile, on a day filled with procrastination (friday), following pics were taken:

by my sissy wissy - c'est moi on the most ineffective crosstrainer ever

my sister in fab pose at the local duck pond

Miss Anika cuddling with Dame Rosie

Pictures I Took

I have a new wide angle lense (Samsung 20mm /f2.8). It arrived friday morning after I ordered it thursday evening. Amazon is the best. The lense cost a mere 120 €.  I took a walk around dusk, when colours are apparently more saturated.

 This is a self portrait. Thesis time ain't over yet. I hate it so much. I hate my stupid thesis.

Songtime

Songs that I like right now:

She Lives In My Lap - Connan Mockasin (Outkast Cover) Song from outer space in a more alien version. Love the disharmonies.

Diamond Day - Vashti Bunyan

How Did We Forget - El Perro Del Mar

I need to figure out a better way to post songs. But now I must continue with my Goddamn thesis. AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhrg.

Slowly But Surely And Not At All

The Weight Issue

No progress here. Been eating whatever I want. My mum has filled the fridge with yummy vegetarian treats, that trick me into thinking I am eating so healthy that the food doesn't count as WWpoints.
On a positive note: I have been out for a long run this week, went climbing and I am trying out Bikram Yoga. It is a special deal for beginners: 10 days for 20 €. Sister and I were sweating puddles. It was fun though, tomorrow I go again, YAY! Borrowed Gillian Jacobs 30 day shred from the library. I ought to start tommorow as I  have got 30 days to look smokin' hot before I fly to the Philippines (more on this in a future post).

The Dreaded Thesis

I should have been done by now... Yikes. Am working on the Excel Tables while listening to BBC Radio 4 extra. I love radio shows. Here a list of some of my favorites:

1. Knowing Me, Knowing You - fictional talk show hosted by an ignorant host: Allan Partridge (played by Steve Coogan)
2. Clare in the Community - Radio sitcom about a social worker who is always trying to be politicaly correct and is anything but.
3. The Boosh - Whimsical radio sitcom in a bizzare alternate universe. Not restricted to audio as this is tv-show as well, that I binged on two years ago.
4. Miranda Hart's Joke Shop - Miranda Hart is the most endearing protagonist who owns a joke shop. Also a great TV-show.
5. Comedy Bang Bang - not a show on Radio 4 extra, but a podcast. Always pleasant to listen to.

The New Hobby

Practicing hard. Still need to work on my craft. Also I need a wide angle lens. With what money though? Moneyyyyyy. Already spent most of my last pay check. I need a proper job.

Rosie - I am a crazy cat lady. As are my parents and sister.

Friend typing into her smart phone

My Mum

God knows why I did that with my hands. Note to self, don't do stupid things with hands when being photographed.  Photo credit goes to my dear sister Anika.