Seaside Rendezvous

(One of my favorites of Queen/Freddie at the moment - certainly! ;-)...)

Our Seaside Rendezvous will take place in Wilhelmshaven yet again, Monday - tomorrow! - we´re off! For a whole week, yay!

Ingo will eat heaps of fish. And I will go for Labskaus - YUM!



Yes. Looks yucky. It´s SOOOO yummy!

Now I´m not sure I remember that right. It was either my Mom or a friend. Who ate Labskaus out of a barf bag (what a hilarious name that is!!!) on the way to Helgoland, on a ship for tourists, and believe me, the swell is enourmous. Saw my bro puking just yet again when we went years ago (like some 25 years ago!!!!). Despite we were underground in the ship at the point where it´s most tranquil!)

Hmmm. Ingo can make some great Labskaus as well.

Barf bags, anyone? ;-)

I suppose the weather won´t be our friend, though. Today it´s sunny and all, but the forecast...



But, as a friend said:

"There is no bad weather at the sea!"

Right! We´ll be "dancing in the rain", just as Freddie suggested! :-)

Words and music by Freddie Mercury

Seaside whenever you stroll along with me
I'm merely contemplating what you feel inside
Meanwhile I ask you to be my Clementine
You say you will if you could but you can't
I love you madly
Let my imagination run away with you gladly
A brand new angle highly commendable
Seaside rendezvous

I feel so romantic can we do it again?
Can we do it again sometime I'd like that
Fantastic c'est la vie madame et monsieur
And at the peak of the season
The Mediterranean
This time of year it's so fashionable

I feel like dancing in the rain
Can I have a volunteer?
Just keep right on dancing
What a damn jolly good idea
It's such a jollification as a matter of fact
So 'tres charmant' my dear

Underneath the moonlight
Together we'll sail across the sea
Reminiscing every night
Meantime I ask you to be my Valentine
You say you'd have to tell your daddy if you can
I'll be your Valentino
We'll ride upon an omnibus and then the casino
Get a new facial start a sensational
Seaside rendezvous so adorable
Seaside rendezvous ooh
Seaside rendezvous
Give us a kiss!

Cupid

He lives with us for weeks now, I always wanted to tell!

Ingo brought him here:





He´s called Pitzelpatz, I bought the first one, a guardian angel, when Ingo got his tonsils out in an emergency. Bought a second one, with a steering wheel after my accident and no, I am certainly not superstitious ;-)

Cute, they are, huh?

Man does the dishes

No. He doesn´t - he´s the cook!
I do the dishes.

But he bought that beautiful dishtowel (you can click to enlarge)!
It has the Lion and our town´s name.
He ironed it himself, too!



My suggestion to hang it on the wall someplace was answered by "No! It´s gonna be used!".

Ok, I will. Have a smile on my face doin´ the dishes :-)

They´re back

Gnah. Didn´t you hate the cheap sound the walkman did when you actually walked? Or ran?

Jeeez... they´re back!



Oh, my. That thing helped me through hours of the same Bonnie M.-Cassette my Mom was playing in the car.
I remember we went through serpentines. My little bro in the back started puking! I turned up the sound to not join in - and it worked...

But anyhows, why? Why would anybody pay money to get back that bad sound-quality and where the heck can you buy cassettes???

Oh, my. Embrace today´s technical standards!

Fever

Flowers sprayed in German, Italian and Turkish colors/styles. Oh, boy, EM 2008-fever!

I feel sick also. Right opposite our appartment is the cultural center Brunsviga (german). The concert obviously given tonight is too small to be mentioned on their website, but when I see all the instruments, there is something to come.



So far the "opening bands" are playing. First there was a girl who just could not sing. And she did that LOUD. And for a long time. Now there is a guy with a flute.
And the girl is back, too.

Despite it´s a warm day, we have all windows closed and still it´s LOUD. Gnah. I wouldn´t mind for good music, but this is hard to stand :-(

The "new" digicam doesn´t give that good quality-pics, but it´s fast and so small it fits in the pockets of my trousers so I can take it everywhere. Hence: Love it nonetheless! :-)

High, high...

in the sky - that´s where the gas prices are. 1,57 € (2,45 $ US /2,57 $ AUD) per liter. Suppose I can´t afford to get to work in the future.

Our tram says, "you can hang yourself - or you can move!". Yah. As long as you stay in town! Most work in Wolfsburg :-(



I won´t hang myself, though, no way ;-)

Alternatives are great, but... take the darn thing inside, don´t use a spot where a "big bike" (like mine!) could stand!



Anybody in need of a scooter? Didn´t use mine since Expo 2000! Not so colorful but technically ok.

Wasn´t me!

If it would´ve been me, I´d added a heart to the name! ;-)

Contradiction (?)

Soccer, I really don´t care for it. Reason is not even that it became rather aggressive.

I never cared. I went away when my father was hooked on TV, in enthusiasm. My mother, my brother... not me. Ingo is the same, luckily (like me, I mean!).
We did backbite, tease, made fun of it. The internet helps a lot here, too.

I feel so sorry for the guys, the fans. Rain is pouring down like crazy. All the people who dressed up, from clothes to make-up and all... they leave. It´s cold, uncomfy. And so far it´s all to take the flag and cheer - 3:1 for Germany!

How come I suddenly care (a wee bit), enjoy all the patriotism?

Maybe cause we live together now after 13 years of fighting for weekends only? Like identifying with this country, this living? Uhhh, drama! ;-)
No, weird, huh? I hope they make it, hope the cars, houses, people stay decorated in black-red-gold for a while.
Maybe I feel home, I feel german? Belonging?

Some impressions of life in EM-times:
Biiiiig fans:



Cheese - with a german-soccer-cow (Ingo didn´t want):



HAHA! See the man´s look, the one behind Ingo?
No, didn´t buy the bikini... but fun idea!



Shopping-bags in all participant country-flags (and yes, bikinis were as well from all Europe):



Is this all political? That I "go" for the idea of one whole Europe? A "we"?

In sports we´re more like:



Hehe :-) Weird it´s always we who win and them who loose! Same in American Football over here for me ;-) Well, kinda!

Uh-Oh... 2:3 for Germany - keep your fingers crossed for "us"!

Merry Christmas

I learned on a Steinway, actually a Steinweg (german), the man came from my hometown, but had no success here and went to America, where he became rich. As a consequence the town erected a memorial for him. Anyway, I quit at age 14 and said to Ingo, I wonder if I still can play?

So today Ingo said, it´s no use in always saving and saving the money - for what?

So. Here we go!



No, I cannot play anymore. My fingers are slow. And I can´t really read the notes anymore, either! I have to search for "C" and count higher. But the keyboard can play all by itself! Weird.

It came with a notebook. I certainly start with beginners. Song one "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Followed by "Jingle Bells". "Silent Night", "Joy to the World", O Christmas Tree", "When the Saints Go Marching In", "Greensleeves" (?), "Amazing Grace"...

People from Casio, why?


At the moment Ingo is at it. Well. He sits, the thing plays. Weird.

Pie in Ashtray

Here is yet another first!

We - primarily Ingo, I helped a wee bit - made our first pies!

Doesn´t this look yummy?



Problem over here: Pies like these are not known (just like salt and vinegar chips, bu-huuuu!). There is no place you can buy them. No shops offering hot meat pies.
Or cheese-spinach-Pies or anything like it!

I got to know pies in 1995 in Australia and each time I was there I loved them. I missed them. Ingo did, too.
So Ingo decided to make some!

Problem: In what? Sweet muffins are known, but the forms are too small.
So - thanks it´s summer time - we ended up with... aluminium ashtrays. Doesn´t sound yummy, but worked! :-)

Here we go, Ingo made them after an australian receipe:



Ingo had to make the shortpastry by himself - you get them ready to use... for sweets only :-(

The filling:



Here are the left over ashtrays and the ready-to-bake pies:



And the end product - a real meat pie, finally again!



It´s just huge, nearly 400 g. We shared one.

We couldn´t eat it the "traditional" way, in a paper-bag from hand-to-mouth, but maybe next time (after the other three, that is!) - I had some tuna the other day and that came in a smaller round, form. Maybe we try that.

Another Treat

So I went to the doctor today, routine, test on cancer.

And afterwards I decided it´s time for new clothes! No, really, my skirts do look... not new anymore.

I managed to ship around the 80´s style stuff and came home with a loot for reasonable prices:



The red T-Shirt is a men´s shirt. But it has my town´s name on it, had to buy it and yes, bought Ingo a black one, too :-)

Just outside the door I saw the car of a real soccer-fan - four flags!:

Another first

You should think I´m too old for "firsts"?

Can you ever be too old for anything?

We went to the hardware store today (and yes, still it´s "new" to me that we can do that everyday. No need to wait for the weekends.
We. See. Each. Other. Every. Day. Yay!)

I bought flowers! Not seeds, flowers, all ready.
Do they fit together, I dunno?
Here they are:



And - certainly - sunflowers:



The "tin-Gerbera" might be ready to go into real earth as well, plus, I´ll buy some herbs.

Summer. I just love it!

LOL? Sorry!

Languages!!!

And I said, Rather mixed feelings with having a public viewing place just opposite the kitchen... - I DID SAY THAT!

People from the US, please don´t think weird of me! I just now learned what it means to you!

Here it just means people gather in a public place to watch the soccer games!!!

We´re quite "good" in mixing up with languages.
We call a mobile/cell phone "Handy" and remember Volkswagen´s luxury car, Phaeton? Great name. That guy dumped his car. More, anyone?

You ask for Power, Party,

and Sex-Appeal?
Stand up for the Football-Heroes (Hey you!!!! Stop laughing!!! We´re in Germany, ok?! We just start this game!), welcome the Braun - schweig Lions!



D'oh!!!!
But let´s go step by step! Coin toss. HUGS! Adrian Rainbow was back! In the other team, but back! Hugs, from the former mates! Men can be sweet!
Estrus Crayton was back, also! If that man starts, no one holds him back (apart from the Lions´ Defense)
The game just started. And I had the cam in my hand, but it was oh-so-enthralling!

Kiel had the ball - INTERCEPTION!!! Touch-Down! YAAAAY!

And my camera??? In my hand, off. Gnah!

Well. If you´re not from here... but I loved it!

16:14 for the Lions.

EM 2008

I am so not into soccer.
But isn´t this just fun?










Yes, I know.
There is no sense in being proud being German. I learned that at school. I was to say I am sorry for what I did to the Jewish people.

I wanna mention: My parents were kids at that time. My Mom´s father was from Poland. My Dad´s father said, this isn´t right! He did not join "Hitler", lost his job but made a living none-the-less.

Being German means having clichés.
I am almost always 5 minutes there before we are to meet. If I´m not, do worry!
What I do, I do by heart. (Mostly, I swear!)
I do like Liverwurst.
I won´t say no to a beer.
I get sun-burned quickly, like immediately.
I am German.

And somehow it is a good feeling to see all the cars and houses with german flags.

Honestly: I do not care who wins the EM, may it be the best team :-)

Someone put that sticker on Ingo´s car to make sure even we go for it:



I bought eggs for two of my colleagues who are soccer-fans (out of 50 there are 4 in our company, weird, huh?):



In a few hours the first game with Germany starts - u-oh!

This place will be full of fans, right opposite our kitchen, that is!



We... went to the botanical garden, aww, finally, again!



Yes, here in Germany!:





The scientific garden is... gone:



What a pity!

Tag Galaxy

Just stumbled over this cool site, Tag Galaxy. This application presents pics from flickr as a planetary system - how cool´s that? Just give in a tag and then you go!

In other news. Ingo still signed sick for two weeks, and with a reason. Oh, man.

I have another company-meeting today, with dinner and all. We´ve been there before and when I came home (at that time Ingo was at my place, but ... sick, tonsils just got out), Ingo said my clothes smell bad from old oil.

Somehow that doesn´t help looking forward to it.

Lets hope the weather stays fine, another Football-Game is due on Saturday.

Soccer EM starts this weekend, too. Rather mixed feelings with having a public viewing place just opposite the kitchen...

Boom-De-Yada

Life IS good - Ingo found this, turn on the sound AND LOVE THE WHOLE WORLD - the job, sweat and stink :-) !!!



YAY for Discovery Channel, the world is awesome!

On we go!!! Thank you, Ingo :-)

Astronaut 1: It never gets old, huh?
Astronaut 2: Nope. It kinda makes you want to…
Astronaut 1: Break into song?
Astronaut 2: Yup

Spot Discovery Channel, "I Love the World"



I DO feel good!

Oasis

Maybe, eventually ;-)... I mentioned that I loooove summer. Even more I love that we become a "normal" couple!

We wanna go to the city? NO PROBLEM ! No need to...

- wait till it´s weekend and we see each other (because we see each other every day now!)
- wait till it´s a weekend we spend here, not in the other place (because we both live here now!)

So, when I read about the town´s new promotion "All flowers and odoriferousness" (german), I said, ok, if you feel all right today (still pancreatitis), LET´S GO !

Impressions of the green oasis with doubles Henry got (Henry is in the background, on the platform, and he is "just" a duplicate, too, the original is hidden from the weather) (you certainly can click to enlarge) !



Would Henry ever thought his statue might stand in the middle of beach-sand and palms???



Here is yet another, very majestic double - beautiful, huh?



Also the walls, facades remind of Henry:



One last, impressive pic:



Balcony-door and all windows are open, it´s cooling down, thunder is rolling - SUMMER!

Life is GOOD!

No milk today?!

Bought this anyway :-)

No milk today...

What a weird world this is. German dairy farmers feed the milk to their animals in protest and strike due to the little money they get for it. France joined in - no milk sent in here from them.

And honestly. 43 cents per litre isn´t much - and that´s not what the farmers get anyway. It´s some 27-35 cents a litre...

And it´s not only them and not only about milk, certainly.

French fisherman went into strike as well, Spain and Portugal joined in. With diesel prices that high how are you supposed to make a living? The diesel-price has risen some ridiculous 230% during the last 5 years.

Bulgaria joined in and, hey, I can´t laugh about the gas prices either.
I see the need to handle ressources thoughtful. But is it right to leave it all up to us?

Here is an article on the subject.

Eschede

Today 10 years ago, some 70 km from here the Eschede train desaster took place, rated the world's deadliest high-speed train disaster.

10 years ago already. And without thinking about it, so often did I simply hop in ICE-trains. Isn´t that weird?

Just yesterday night I saw a report on TV about truck drivers. A very up-to-date subject these days. Last week a truck with dangerous goods on board didn´t pay attention, bumped at full speed in a traffic jam. On a Friday when everybody goes in the weekend. More traffic jam, driver burned up in the cabin.
Yesterday night another truck driver didn´t see yet another traffic jam, speed in there and died.

Police use modified campervans to track down truck drivers who do anything but pay attention to the road.
One was caught with drumsticks, using the steering wheel as drums. Extensively. Others hanging on the mobile phone, looking dreamily, streering with the elbows. Typing SMSes. Reading the newspaper, whatever. At at least 100 km/h (over 60 mp/h)

Reporters went into the gas stations to observe. Here in Germany you get liquor at the gas stations. More expensive than in the supermarket, but, as a driver said, you can´t simply leave the highway with a 40-ton-truck. So, they pay the extra-money.
One went away with three bottles cooled beer. If it´s cooled you don´t wait long to drink it, do you? Others bought the more "heavy" stuff, Wodka and such.

Eeek. Being on the road every working day I do not think this is funny.

Not that I´m a big light in mathematics or physics (haaaaa...). But I want these subjects in the driving tests, want people to understand the length of their braking distances in context with mass and speed.

Or.
Just invent beaming.

Might be the best solution anyway. Politicians want us to work four days a week only. That way we´d save money, since gas is so very expensive these days.
Oh, yes. I wanna be a politician, too. Making suggestions like these and getting paid for it.

Sorry.
I think it marches upon a wonder that not much, much more accidents do happen.

Because.... sometimes you just can´t help but get involved.Three people died in massive storms in the southern parts of Germany the other night. One woman just didn´t make it out of her car and drowned. One got surprised in her cellar! And one man was killed by a tree.

And then there are man-made desasters as well, just remember the Highway-shooter two years ago. Or some months ago that man who threw a wooden block of 6 kg from a highway-bridge. Just for "fun". He randomly hit a family-car. The man and the two kids "just" got a shock. The 30-something-year-old mother died right on the scene.

A point to this post?
No. Just horror. In thinking of that day ten years ago, and all the others...

Hug!

Drink or drown?

One of our executive directors came by for a quick hello. From the second floor he went up to the fifth, stood in the door, a bit puzzled.

"Ummm, hi. And?

Warm, is it?

Can´t wait to knock off work!
And have a cool beer!

....

Or a footbath."

Well :-)
You have to set priorities, right? Or?

Guess we have some 30 °C - :-) Summer!!!