from the top: Zosia, Stelios, Kristen and me 
Thursday, September 07, 2006
My butt at the Würmlinger Kapelle
Zosia and I biked over to and then walkte up to the Würmlinger Kapelle (it's a church) for an exquisite view of the landscape and a quick look into the incredibly creepy crypt and strange prayer area.
I'm back and just kind of here
Hello my friends.
Due to a lot of complaints, I'm back on my blog. Although really, there isn't much to write about. Well, considering the date of my last post, maybe there is a lot to write about. Since then, Jack and Alisha had a most fantastic wedding and moved (not so fantastically) to Seattle, WA. The days leading up to their departure were both stressful because of the amount of stuff to be done and because I was saying goodbye to two of my dearest friends. I know, I know, they aren't gone from my life, but it is the end of an era for us all--collectively being trapped in the city of Milwaukee and making the best of it all. So really it's a wonderful thing that they've moved on. It also brought about the strange realization that I now have little to seek out in Milwaukee. Yes, my parents are still here, but my parents may also be spending part of their year in Costa Rica in the near future, so why deny them the pleasure of my company in an equatorial paradise? What else is in Milwaukee? My roots? My history? Some memories? Nothing that I need to visit all that often, really.
That's all for tonight. I'll try to be more present online in the near future, which shouldn't be all that challenging, considering how seldom I have logged on in the recent past.
Due to a lot of complaints, I'm back on my blog. Although really, there isn't much to write about. Well, considering the date of my last post, maybe there is a lot to write about. Since then, Jack and Alisha had a most fantastic wedding and moved (not so fantastically) to Seattle, WA. The days leading up to their departure were both stressful because of the amount of stuff to be done and because I was saying goodbye to two of my dearest friends. I know, I know, they aren't gone from my life, but it is the end of an era for us all--collectively being trapped in the city of Milwaukee and making the best of it all. So really it's a wonderful thing that they've moved on. It also brought about the strange realization that I now have little to seek out in Milwaukee. Yes, my parents are still here, but my parents may also be spending part of their year in Costa Rica in the near future, so why deny them the pleasure of my company in an equatorial paradise? What else is in Milwaukee? My roots? My history? Some memories? Nothing that I need to visit all that often, really.
That's all for tonight. I'll try to be more present online in the near future, which shouldn't be all that challenging, considering how seldom I have logged on in the recent past.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Back in M'waukee
Yes folks, I'm back in Milwaukee, I'm back on my blog, and, if my calculations are correct, I'm better than ever. (I'm not really at liberty to discuss what kind of highly sophisticated calculations yield the level of my betterness).
I've been back in my hometown for two weeks now. I spent the first week going bonkers for the wedding and loving the vast majority of the preparations and all of the wedding itself. The second week of my stay was spent concentrating on my physical and emotional relaxation, which actually means I sat around with Jack, Alisha and Abe (Jack's bro).
And now? Well, now I am struggling with a term paper for my class in global governance which will be addressing the question to what extent can global public policy networks really be considered to fulfill the functions of governance. Don't worry about understanding those words, they are awefully boring. In the meantime, I'm reading "A History of the Arab Peoples", which is, as it claims to be, a history of the folk of Arabia. Very good thus far. Did you know that Mohhamed and his posse prayed towards Jerusalem in the early days?
Oh yeah, one other thing, I finally made my MySpace page a bit snazzier. I still don't know if I really get MySpace, but I at least understand how to change my layout now. It only took me about a year.
I've been back in my hometown for two weeks now. I spent the first week going bonkers for the wedding and loving the vast majority of the preparations and all of the wedding itself. The second week of my stay was spent concentrating on my physical and emotional relaxation, which actually means I sat around with Jack, Alisha and Abe (Jack's bro).
And now? Well, now I am struggling with a term paper for my class in global governance which will be addressing the question to what extent can global public policy networks really be considered to fulfill the functions of governance. Don't worry about understanding those words, they are awefully boring. In the meantime, I'm reading "A History of the Arab Peoples", which is, as it claims to be, a history of the folk of Arabia. Very good thus far. Did you know that Mohhamed and his posse prayed towards Jerusalem in the early days?
Oh yeah, one other thing, I finally made my MySpace page a bit snazzier. I still don't know if I really get MySpace, but I at least understand how to change my layout now. It only took me about a year.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
count down
Count down to what you might ask
Count down to my test tomorrow.
Count down to my test on Thursday.
Count down to flying home.
Count down to Alisha's bachelorette party.
Count down to Alisha and Jack's wedding!
So much excitement, although the latter kind of excitement is more my thing. I'll be happy when the tests are over because then I can devote my full attention to getting packed up and doing any last minute preparations for the party and the fun!
Count down to my test tomorrow.
Count down to my test on Thursday.
Count down to flying home.
Count down to Alisha's bachelorette party.
Count down to Alisha and Jack's wedding!
So much excitement, although the latter kind of excitement is more my thing. I'll be happy when the tests are over because then I can devote my full attention to getting packed up and doing any last minute preparations for the party and the fun!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Goodbye to the World Cup, goodbye to the "who farted cat" eggs
The World Cup is over and I think everyone is dragging a bit. Why? I can think of a number of reasons: overconsumption of beer and fried food, the end of the never-ending excitement, the inevitable return to work, facing the reality that Klinsman probably won't come back to the German team, and realising you've eaten all the eggs with the "who farted? cat" on them.
I still don't understand why he took of his pants
It's true, I don't get it. What was Gattuso doing without his pants on at the end of the World Cup? I know, I know, when you win the World Cup you can do whatever you want and maybe you don't even need pants anymore. Yet, it still made me wonder.
Despite the fact that I was rooting for France, I couldn't help but be happy for the Italians as they danced about and jumped on top of each other time and time again.
I'd like to write more, but I've got some serious reading and sitting by the pool to do, so I should be off. Also, can anyone explain to me what the hell Zidane was thinking last night? A headbutt? Who does that?
Despite the fact that I was rooting for France, I couldn't help but be happy for the Italians as they danced about and jumped on top of each other time and time again.
I'd like to write more, but I've got some serious reading and sitting by the pool to do, so I should be off. Also, can anyone explain to me what the hell Zidane was thinking last night? A headbutt? Who does that?
Monday, July 03, 2006
Austrians from the 80s
The 80s band Die Allgemeine Verunsicherung performing between the 1st and 2nd game.
Children of the 80's
Fabian and Anne enjoy the 80s Austrian rock band Die Allgemeine Verunsicherung (General Unsafety). They both know all the words.
Heading home
Two tired kidos on the train ride home. We lost Kristen at the beer garden and Stelios a few minutes into the train ride.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
and then my job makes me smile
I just got to the end of this giant 45-page document (that's without all the diagrams) I'm correcting and was so pleased to see that in the acknowledgements there was a special thanks to me! I hate reading about geosciences, but I do really like my geoscientists.
cool light lasoo
Here we see, from left to right, Klaus, Alex and Judith. Klaus is using his special laser lasoo (sp?) to attack Judith. Well, actually it's the flashlight on his cell phone.
My job makes me want to cry
This probably isn't big news to many of you, but my job makes me want to cry. What is it that I am paid to do? I work for a geoscience working group at the university and I correct their English journal articles, masters theses, and dissertations. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that probably 100% of my readers know that I don't give a rat's ass about the geosciences, which makes correcting hundreds of pages on groundwater contamination an arduous task.
Thank goodness for my new job at the D.A.I. that starts in the fall. Now all I have to do it quit, which is actually more nerve-wracking than it sounds.
Thank goodness for my new job at the D.A.I. that starts in the fall. Now all I have to do it quit, which is actually more nerve-wracking than it sounds.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Germany is soccer
What I could deduct from observing this man for some time is that he gets paid by someone, I don't know who, to wear this costume and walk around the crowd. When bumped into, he reacts as a soccer ball would, moving in a straight line until he hits someone else, at which point he goes in another direction. That's his job.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
A Michael Jackson Interlude
Here, my friends, are some brilliant shots of MJ taken by the even more brilliant, Katie Lewis. I've been hording them on my computer for quite awhile, but I've realized the time has come to share.
Things on the front are a-ok. Did an ok presentation yesterday. Watch a lot of soccer. Don't feel like I am putting on weight anymore. Chuggin' along.
Things on the front are a-ok. Did an ok presentation yesterday. Watch a lot of soccer. Don't feel like I am putting on weight anymore. Chuggin' along.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Germany vs. Ecuador and still no bike
In just a bit I'm going to watch my first Germany game of the World Cup. Yes, it's a bit embarassing that I haven't seen any Germany games yet, but what are you going to do? Hang your head in shame? Not me, I feel even more motivated to be an enthusiastic fan after saving my energy the last few games.
In other new, my bike still hasn't arrived. This morning the online status changed to "at the warehouse, ready for delivery" and then a bit later again to "being delivered", and yet, I have no bike. This company, Hermes, delivers from 10AM to 6PM and can't tell give you any clues as to when they are coming. This is really not working for me. I'm excited, really excited, about getting my bike and it pains me to leave my house for anything while I know this bike is on its way. Maybe if everyone prays for me to get my bike really soon, it'll come. Oh geeze, I just asked my readers to pray. This is dire.
In other new, my bike still hasn't arrived. This morning the online status changed to "at the warehouse, ready for delivery" and then a bit later again to "being delivered", and yet, I have no bike. This company, Hermes, delivers from 10AM to 6PM and can't tell give you any clues as to when they are coming. This is really not working for me. I'm excited, really excited, about getting my bike and it pains me to leave my house for anything while I know this bike is on its way. Maybe if everyone prays for me to get my bike really soon, it'll come. Oh geeze, I just asked my readers to pray. This is dire.
Friday, June 16, 2006
I bought a bike!
Soon after the evil thieves took my old bike, I realized that I'm just not a no-bike kind of person. It just doesn't suit me. Walking is for chumps (no offense to walkers). After a lot of looking around and a great deal of doubt that I would never find the suitable and affordable bike of my dreams, eBay made it happen. This, my friends, is my new bike.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Getting back into gear and important animal news
After weeks of fun and procrastination, it is time to get back into gear. This change of pace has been underway for two days now and I can say with confidence that things look good. I'm getting up to date on my readings and am getting my hands dirty with French again.
On a different note, some animal trivia. In a recent telephone conversation, Kristen asked me what the difference is between a porcupine and a hedgehog. Being the rather nerdy, computer-loving friend that I am, I promised to look it up on the brilliant internet. Here are the results:
Differences:
- Porcupines are rodents and belong to the Erethizontidae (new world porcupines) and Hysticidae (old world porcupine) families, while the hedgehog, on the other hand, is more closely related to shrews and moles, being part of the Erinaceinae family.
- There are no hedgehogs native to the Americas.
- There are no porcupines in the story of Peter Rabbit.
- Porcupines have quills
- Hedgehogs have spines
- Porcupines protect themselves mainly by hiding their face, keeping their belly to the ground, and raising their quills (a reaction similar to goose bumps in humans) and batting their tails, while Hedgehogs prefer to curl up in a ball and roll around.
- In their never-ending search for salt, porcupines chewed through some tubes on the bottom of our car while we were camping (maybe even more than once?). Hedgehogs never did anything of the sort.
Similarities:
- both porcupines and hedgehogs have an amusing appearance.
One more tidbit before I go: male porcupines urinate on the female to soften her quills before they mate.
On a different note, some animal trivia. In a recent telephone conversation, Kristen asked me what the difference is between a porcupine and a hedgehog. Being the rather nerdy, computer-loving friend that I am, I promised to look it up on the brilliant internet. Here are the results:
Differences:
- Porcupines are rodents and belong to the Erethizontidae (new world porcupines) and Hysticidae (old world porcupine) families, while the hedgehog, on the other hand, is more closely related to shrews and moles, being part of the Erinaceinae family.
- There are no hedgehogs native to the Americas.
- There are no porcupines in the story of Peter Rabbit.
- Porcupines have quills
- Hedgehogs have spines
- Porcupines protect themselves mainly by hiding their face, keeping their belly to the ground, and raising their quills (a reaction similar to goose bumps in humans) and batting their tails, while Hedgehogs prefer to curl up in a ball and roll around.
- In their never-ending search for salt, porcupines chewed through some tubes on the bottom of our car while we were camping (maybe even more than once?). Hedgehogs never did anything of the sort.
Similarities:
- both porcupines and hedgehogs have an amusing appearance.
One more tidbit before I go: male porcupines urinate on the female to soften her quills before they mate.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
A fantastic birthday surprise
Kristen and Stelios surprised me on the morning of my birthday by coming over to make crepes. Soooo delicious!
Gret breakfast with great friends
Here Meghan told us the story of her eating herself unconsious with berries when she was two.
The coolest gift!
Kristen had this shirt made to commemorate my fight against "biweekly ambiguity". What's that? Well, according to most dictionaries, biweekly can mean twice a week or every two weeks, making it a truly useless word, and I won't have it.
the novelty of bowling shoes
Sarah and Ute getting a kick out of their new kicks. Alex just standing around.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Thank you!
Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes and thoughtful gifts! It was a great birthday!
I'll update soon with new pictures and tales of my lovely bowling party!
I'll update soon with new pictures and tales of my lovely bowling party!
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