Hello, how are you? It’s great to see you at this week’s Weekend Coffee Share!

If we were having coffee today, I would probably meet you at the local café, simply because I need some fresh air and I need to get out of the house for a while.

I’d greet you with a hug and then I’d order a “Pharisäer” (engl.: Pharisee), a hot coffee with rum and whipped cream that’s a national drink from the Nordfriesland region of Germany (where I spent many a childhood holiday). The name does not derive from the Bible, though. It was the name of the homestead (Pharisäerhof) where it originated.

If you’re not into coffee, I would recommend a Tote Tante (engl.: Dead Aunt), basically the same, just with hot chocolate instead of coffee.

It’s the sort of day today that warrants warming up a bit more – the windy is bitingly cold, and the weather changed from snow, slush and freezing back to snow. Needless to say, it’s cold and nasty out.

If we were having coffee today, you’d notice quite quickly that I’m sleep deprived. Unfortunately, I had another call-out to my grandparents’ house last night at 10pm. Granddad had managed to pick open his head wound and needed to go back to the hospital to get stitches again. I had to keep gran company, but first of all, I had to clean up the blood (and other bodily fluids). Granddad’s home again and has been told to leave the wound alone. As my mother parked her car behind mine and blocked me in, I had no choice but to wait and help until they were both changed (not something I’d have wanted to see, like, ever) and in bed. As neither mum nor myself had had any dinner before the call, we drove to McDonald’s as it was the only place left open. At 2am, in heavily falling snow.

I’d tell you that last night’s emergency completely screwed up my plan to finish an assignment on time, as Friday night is usually my main study night. And yes, that’s how I party. Obviously I’m glad that granddad’s fine, but I’m getting a bit annoyed that I always seem to be the one on call, never my sister. I really need to get some serious studying done for this course and I hate missing (self-imposed) deadlines. It stresses me out when I fall behind again, and at the moment, I don’t think I’ll get back into the rhythm I set myself, as the study material that is available is quite complex. My Study Binder Organization downloads came along nicely, though. At least I’m organized now, so that’s something.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that I’m still annoyed at my university. The dead URLs issue has still not been resolved. I emailed them again, asking for alternatives and this time I copied my student advisor in and told him that half the core reading is no longer available. I first got only reply saying “We offer hundreds of courses, we can’t check them all the time” (no, but just a quick check whether the syllabus is still up to date before you send it out would help), and then one from my professor saying “the university os now revising and will be in contact shortly.” I’m sorry, but you’re the professor of the course, everything is in your name and you put together the syllabus. Shouldn’t it be you checking these things?!?

I’d better switch subjects here, as you probably wouldn’t want to hear the rest of the rant.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’ve signed up for the A to Z Challenge in April. This year, April will have 26 days (not counting Sundays) so the challenge is to write a blog post per day, each post having something to do with the corresponding letter for that day. I found this thanks to fellow blogger and coffee sharer Gene’O.

I’d also tell you that I just watched The X-Files episode “Deep Throat” from season 1 and I’m about to review it for Emily Ecrivaine Reviews once I’m done writing this post. I’m scheduling in a review per week though that might get pushed to fortnightly. The other night I watched my absolute favourite X-Files episode “Post Modern Prometheus” and realised once again just what an impact it had on me and my social life during my teenage years. And just a hint: should you ask me to dance just like that and then proceed to give me that look as well, I’d be a happy little Scully….

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that my writing has suffered due to my studies, but I’m slowly but surely getting back on track of the daily stories. I had wanted to write a story last thing at night, but as of tomorrow, I’m switching it to right after lunch in the one hour of free time before I start my studies.

Anyway, that’s it from me for this week. I really needed that talk, as I don’t get out of the house often these days. Thank you for stopping by!

I’ve got to get back to my review and then another two hours or so of studying before I can call it quits tonight.

Hope to see you again soon. Same time, next week?

In case you need more caffeine, here are the other Weekend Coffee Sharers.