I'm back from Germany, adjusting well to thinking in English again, but I admit, I read about 2000 pages and several books in English while there. Why do they have to dub every American television program in German? Never a moment to relax, unless I want to watch Pimp My Ride on MTV, or boring British news. I've discovered that my German is now way better than any of their English, and it is just easier to talk to them in German. I have hand written journals that I wrote everyday there and will post a few of them here under their original dates on this blog. Until then...
Sheep in the garden, lamb on the grill, street cars, friends, family, the Rhine River, moss in fish tanks disguised as modern German art, lots of insightful haiku written, pigeons, cathedrals built in the Gothic period, monasteries built in the Romanesque period, weird modern theatrical art in a regional dialect that I couldn't understand (what was wiht all that paper? I'll never know.), good food, umlauts, Canadian clothes, train trips, and a decade long flame with wood turned to charcoal that needed some fan waves to crackle and spark again.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Don't Feed the Pigeons!
Stephen King must have voices in his head, because his characters do, but he explains it as coming from the creative side of the brain. Today I seemed to have a voice narrate my day...
"Annie sat on the side of the wall eating and guarding her sandwich from the hungry pigeons. She pitied them, the descendants of a thousand years of pigeons from that same muenster, now forced onto the ground with nails placed on the muenster's ledges preventing them from perching there anymore. They scavenged for dropped french fries and crumbs across the scalloped cobblestones. A very aggressive pigeon hopped up on the wall next to her and ate some crumb that might have come from Annie's sandwich. He made a noise, then more and more started to fly in. It looked like something out of a horror movie, birds everywhere. She rose her leg to pretend to kick one of them, and wiggled it to shoo a few more. A sharp pain rose in her back again and she gently climbed off the wall. Not missing an opportunity, a bird inched toward her sandwich. Another bird eyed it from a few feet away, then looked cautiously at her.
"Get out of here!" She yelled flapping her hand in their direction.
They moved a few feet away, knowing that she might walk far enough away to grab something. They patiently waited, food eventually was left alone when they waited for it. Annie stretched her arms up in some kind of elegant yoga pose then arched her back. Her man came over with his sandwich and plopped on the wall, giving her a curious look. He held a piece of food out for the birds, something that he would soon regret."
"Annie sat on the side of the wall eating and guarding her sandwich from the hungry pigeons. She pitied them, the descendants of a thousand years of pigeons from that same muenster, now forced onto the ground with nails placed on the muenster's ledges preventing them from perching there anymore. They scavenged for dropped french fries and crumbs across the scalloped cobblestones. A very aggressive pigeon hopped up on the wall next to her and ate some crumb that might have come from Annie's sandwich. He made a noise, then more and more started to fly in. It looked like something out of a horror movie, birds everywhere. She rose her leg to pretend to kick one of them, and wiggled it to shoo a few more. A sharp pain rose in her back again and she gently climbed off the wall. Not missing an opportunity, a bird inched toward her sandwich. Another bird eyed it from a few feet away, then looked cautiously at her.
"Get out of here!" She yelled flapping her hand in their direction.
They moved a few feet away, knowing that she might walk far enough away to grab something. They patiently waited, food eventually was left alone when they waited for it. Annie stretched her arms up in some kind of elegant yoga pose then arched her back. Her man came over with his sandwich and plopped on the wall, giving her a curious look. He held a piece of food out for the birds, something that he would soon regret."
Monday, September 21, 2009
Drowning in German
I've spent the last week speaking nothing but German, and my brain is fried. I brought several French classic novels with me as well as Jack Kerouac, and I devour them every day I am so starved for English.
I like taking photos, really I like collecting objects with the photos that I take. So far I`ve collected a lot of weird signs and Germans with dogs. The weirder the dog, the more value to my collection. Everyday life can be boring, no matter what country you live in. I wake up late, like the true artist I am, and usually entertain myself with the Rhine River sometime during the day. Each day is dedicated to something, wether going to the modern German art gallery or visiting a friend for dinner. The best day so far was going to the carnival, I couldn`t stop taking pictures. This German keyboard is driving me nuts, I keep hitting ö, ä, and ü by mistake, and the y is in the wrong place. So bye, for now, until I get home. A place where I can buy medicine and know what it is, and understand how expensive everything that I buy is.
I like taking photos, really I like collecting objects with the photos that I take. So far I`ve collected a lot of weird signs and Germans with dogs. The weirder the dog, the more value to my collection. Everyday life can be boring, no matter what country you live in. I wake up late, like the true artist I am, and usually entertain myself with the Rhine River sometime during the day. Each day is dedicated to something, wether going to the modern German art gallery or visiting a friend for dinner. The best day so far was going to the carnival, I couldn`t stop taking pictures. This German keyboard is driving me nuts, I keep hitting ö, ä, and ü by mistake, and the y is in the wrong place. So bye, for now, until I get home. A place where I can buy medicine and know what it is, and understand how expensive everything that I buy is.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Bonn Haufbahnhof
Where it all started in May 2000, I was sitting in one of those orange chairs in the photo. It gives me chills to look at this photo I found. I'm nervous and excited about Saturday morning, when my train rolls into this station. The last nine years have been based on five minutes, a chance encounter in this exact same spot.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sexy 2009 Fall Boots!
I'm just drooling over boots, all kinds of them. Here are a few I found on the Internet. Victoria Secret is having a 20% sale on fall boots, and I found the top three on their website, all reasonably priced for the average income. You can also go to wide widths for athletic calves like me, but it was a sea of boring black on their website, disappointed.
Jessica Simpson created these beautiful butterfly cowgirl boots. I love butterflies, I work with them. I also love cowboy boots, but usually get mine at the western store.
Jessica Simpson riding boots, addorable.
My favorite so far, these slouchy Colin Stuart boots, I'm eyeing the red.
I loved the studs on these, very cute.
...and here are the Alexander McQueen dream boots. Sigh.
Jessica Simpson created these beautiful butterfly cowgirl boots. I love butterflies, I work with them. I also love cowboy boots, but usually get mine at the western store.
Jessica Simpson riding boots, addorable.
My favorite so far, these slouchy Colin Stuart boots, I'm eyeing the red.
I loved the studs on these, very cute.
...and here are the Alexander McQueen dream boots. Sigh.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
I'm Sorry
I am sorry, for always being so blunt.
...for pointing out painful things about self, even though it was always done with good intention.
...for being selfish.
...for not understanding the weight of responsibility, although I do now.
...for not being able to recognize my exit.
...for stating my feelings.
...for becoming angry with one I care so much about. I am extremely apologetic about this one.
...for wanting what can never be mine.
...for telling the object of my desire that I wanted it.
...for conflicting a person who has so many people to take care of.
...for my dreams.
...for the past year.
...for being there that November day.
...for the email replies.
...for the bad advice I gave you, even though it was with good intentions.
...for any sad faces on those who you care about.
...for being the brassy, red-haired, temptress that I am.
...for being outgoing, yet shy at the same time.
...for not letting a wonderful opportunity pass by without shouting at it, and letting my true thoughts be heard.
I'm truly sorry for it all.
...for pointing out painful things about self, even though it was always done with good intention.
...for being selfish.
...for not understanding the weight of responsibility, although I do now.
...for not being able to recognize my exit.
...for stating my feelings.
...for becoming angry with one I care so much about. I am extremely apologetic about this one.
...for wanting what can never be mine.
...for telling the object of my desire that I wanted it.
...for conflicting a person who has so many people to take care of.
...for my dreams.
...for the past year.
...for being there that November day.
...for the email replies.
...for the bad advice I gave you, even though it was with good intentions.
...for any sad faces on those who you care about.
...for being the brassy, red-haired, temptress that I am.
...for being outgoing, yet shy at the same time.
...for not letting a wonderful opportunity pass by without shouting at it, and letting my true thoughts be heard.
I'm truly sorry for it all.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Best Friends
Recently I've discovered just how great my best friend is.
Best Friends...
...were there 10 years ago, and remind you how far you have come...
...point out your financial success when just two years ago the best solutions to your overwhelming credit card debt were either a bottle of pills or a tall bridge...
...after reading your mind, they call up and talk about something you almost emailed them earlier, how did they know that? It was the most random thought that crossed your mind...
...they remind you that there have been bigger heartaches through the years, and that somehow you survived those...
...they try their best to keep you out of Germany...
...they know you better than anyone else, even better that you know yourself...
Best Friends...
...were there 10 years ago, and remind you how far you have come...
...point out your financial success when just two years ago the best solutions to your overwhelming credit card debt were either a bottle of pills or a tall bridge...
...after reading your mind, they call up and talk about something you almost emailed them earlier, how did they know that? It was the most random thought that crossed your mind...
...they remind you that there have been bigger heartaches through the years, and that somehow you survived those...
...they try their best to keep you out of Germany...
...they know you better than anyone else, even better that you know yourself...
Die Server Die MF Die!
Just insert the company server where the fax machine is in this clip, and that image puts a smile on my face :)
The Sandwhich Company
Just about every work day, someone else's little old Spanish grandma cooks me up something delicious at the Sandwich Company across the street. If it is leaning more towards breakfast, I get cheese enchiladas with an egg over easy on top. If it is closer to lunchtime, I get an Albuquerque Turkey, a sandwich with turkey, green chili and avocado on it. Today, I have biscuits and gravy with bacon. Whatever this place serves up, it is very tasty, and you will have to wait in line if you go at noon. Even the mailman is there everyday, eating at the same table. Eating here is one of my daily pleasures.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Pretty Pink Sparkling Abundant Words
I was helping my niece with her 7th grade English homework last night and was amazed that she didn't know simple stuff like what an adjective was. Always the teacher, I gave her a lesson that should stick with her through college on parts of the sentence, I saw it all clicking in her head. I think I'm the only one to have ever helped her with her homework, something that almost cost me my new car last year when I slid off the icy road near her cabin to bring her Goddess Athena pictures for her school wide project (that she won first place on!).
I first fell in love with adjectives in third grade. I remember them well, because the English language was just something that I spoke until that lesson where Mrs. Perkin's wrote some of the most colorful words of that language on the board. I don't remember the exact words, but they were probably simple, for us to understand. I'm guessing (eyes closed): bright, beautiful, green, sharp, red-haired, alert, abundant, pretty pink words. I love playing with words, and I really, truly love adjectives, something that brings everyday beauty into our descriptive words.
I first fell in love with adjectives in third grade. I remember them well, because the English language was just something that I spoke until that lesson where Mrs. Perkin's wrote some of the most colorful words of that language on the board. I don't remember the exact words, but they were probably simple, for us to understand. I'm guessing (eyes closed): bright, beautiful, green, sharp, red-haired, alert, abundant, pretty pink words. I love playing with words, and I really, truly love adjectives, something that brings everyday beauty into our descriptive words.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Blackbeard for Dinner
Sometimes the things that get you through everyday can be as small as a vacation video. I can go weeks without seeing it, but the past couple of days I might have watched it a dozen or so times.
I'm not the kind of person to actually use my vacation or sick days, and I don't have a family that I plan a yearly vacation with. I'm an overworked career woman who flies every other week all over the country for my company to complete projects for clients. So this trip was a last minute thing, in between projects.
I started having these haunting dreams, and needed to get away from everything. I went alone, and since I live in hotels I took my tent for a real vacation camping on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. For four nights I slept a few feet from the most beautiful beach I ever laid my eyes on. I had the birds, sea life, frogs, and National Park employees for company. The best part of the whole trip was the snorkeling with a rainbow of fish staring back up at me around the most bizarre looking coral. I even saw a sea turtle munching on some sea grass after I took a sea kayak to another part of the island. Blackbeard, the cat, joined me at my table for every meal, and a local taxi driver who had a crush on me gave me free rides around the island. Life was simple. The mongoose greeted me every time I took a shower, my biggest worry was keeping the pearl-eyed thrashers out of my food. I would watch them all work together at the local restaurant, stealing when the cook turned his back for a minute. If they didn't get a piece of my dinner, they would settle for a ketchup packet. I love swimming, and I love the ocean, so I spent everyday in the beautiful clear blue water, all day like a mermaid. I read my book, I wrote every night under the full moon next to the water, I tried every flavor of the local rum, and took my favorite three home with me.
I'm not the kind of person to actually use my vacation or sick days, and I don't have a family that I plan a yearly vacation with. I'm an overworked career woman who flies every other week all over the country for my company to complete projects for clients. So this trip was a last minute thing, in between projects.
I started having these haunting dreams, and needed to get away from everything. I went alone, and since I live in hotels I took my tent for a real vacation camping on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. For four nights I slept a few feet from the most beautiful beach I ever laid my eyes on. I had the birds, sea life, frogs, and National Park employees for company. The best part of the whole trip was the snorkeling with a rainbow of fish staring back up at me around the most bizarre looking coral. I even saw a sea turtle munching on some sea grass after I took a sea kayak to another part of the island. Blackbeard, the cat, joined me at my table for every meal, and a local taxi driver who had a crush on me gave me free rides around the island. Life was simple. The mongoose greeted me every time I took a shower, my biggest worry was keeping the pearl-eyed thrashers out of my food. I would watch them all work together at the local restaurant, stealing when the cook turned his back for a minute. If they didn't get a piece of my dinner, they would settle for a ketchup packet. I love swimming, and I love the ocean, so I spent everyday in the beautiful clear blue water, all day like a mermaid. I read my book, I wrote every night under the full moon next to the water, I tried every flavor of the local rum, and took my favorite three home with me.
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