Yesterday I was in my German class and a sweet Polish woman asked me if I was homesick for America...
Immediately I said, "No". I didn't even think about it… didn't even hesitate. On my way to work this morning I started to mull that over.
Maybe I miss some of the scenery of Kansas, perhaps I miss my favorite old haunts, and I know I miss some of the food… (ya can't get Mexican food here without a huge dose of curry… and that ISN'T Mexican to me!) Of course I miss some of the people; my best buds are still here with me by e-mail, but it isn't the same as just "being" with them.
My family… well, we aren't terribly close anyway, although I love them all dearly. I talk with some of them more now that I've moved than before…
I've hit this country and never really looked back. Of course moving here for love was a big thing, and most certainly could have gone the wrong direction… but it hasn't, and I enjoy being with her even more now than the first day I got here.
The city of Berlin is fabulous. It is one of the most open, cultural, and historical cities in Europe. There is something to say for a rapidly evolving metropolis that has some of the world's most famous festivals, contemporary architecture, and nightlife… although I must admit I don't get to be a part of that nightlife. Maybe I'm safer that way, eh?
My job is lovely. There are much worse jobs in this world… and I know whereof I speak… I've held at least three of them. But I am paid very well to do what is in the end a very simple job.
Slowly I'm getting some friends, although it seems to be a bit harder than in America… the language barrier holds me back a lot I'm sure. But I'm working to eradicate that.
Maybe I'm too much of a "live in the moment" gal. I know that it bothers some people for me to be that way… but wherever I am is where I want to be. No looking back, no time to be homesick.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Grand Canyon Skywalk Opens Today!
OK, just now I suffered the agony of delete...
I just wrote a really cool blog about my thoughts on this whole Skywalk thing...
Then I click "preview and post"... and there is a problem loading the page...
Fuck! All my work is gone!!
So I will just include these two videos.
The first one is promotional... begging you to come out and enjoy the skywalk.
The second is about the engineering of the thing.
And here is a link to "NPR".
They will give you the whole story... even for your ears if you like.
Do I wanna go? Nah... and I'm not too optimistic about the chances that it will be a huge moneymaker for this impoverished tribe either...
But, I wish them the best of luck!
I just wrote a really cool blog about my thoughts on this whole Skywalk thing...
Then I click "preview and post"... and there is a problem loading the page...
Fuck! All my work is gone!!
So I will just include these two videos.
The first one is promotional... begging you to come out and enjoy the skywalk.
The second is about the engineering of the thing.
And here is a link to "NPR".
They will give you the whole story... even for your ears if you like.
Do I wanna go? Nah... and I'm not too optimistic about the chances that it will be a huge moneymaker for this impoverished tribe either...
But, I wish them the best of luck!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Knut The Cute Berliner Polar Bear
Cute Knut (pronounced with a hard K... (kanoot))
Knut the baby polar bear was born on December 5, 2006.
Zookeepers had to bottle feed him at first because his mother ignored him.
His mother, Tosca was rescued from an East German circus.
But Knut won't be asked to learn carnival tricks.
One tired Knut
These last three are "baby pictures", taken in the last months.
"BIG THANKS TO Spiegel Online for providing the pictures.
You can go to Spiegel to learn more about Knut".
Knut the baby polar bear was born on December 5, 2006.
Zookeepers had to bottle feed him at first because his mother ignored him.
His mother, Tosca was rescued from an East German circus.
But Knut won't be asked to learn carnival tricks.
One tired Knut
These last three are "baby pictures", taken in the last months.
"BIG THANKS TO Spiegel Online for providing the pictures.
You can go to Spiegel to learn more about Knut".
Sunday, March 25, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EUROPEAN UNION!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EUROPEAN UNION!
(please disregard the growing pains)
Well today N and I took off to the Brandenburg Gate to get a little feel for how the EU is celebrating its 50th Birthday. You know, it doesn't seem that it could be 50. I mean, I don't remember studying the grand dream to combine the "major" countries in history class. It happened not long after WWII, and 50 years later some of that pipe dream has actually come true. The countries are trading across borders, there is a common currency in many member states (but what about Great Britain... hmm?), and as designed in the original agreement, the block of member states keeps growing.
Those original six countries, (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy) have increased to twenty-seven. This process must be regarded as one of the greatest examples of peaceful and voluntary spread of freedom and democracy in the world. In fifty years we have seen southern European fascist rule break up and eastern and central European communist regimes dissolve. The Union has spread wealth and prosperity to underdeveloped areas. We have created a single market, a common currency and shared policies. Most importantly, European integration has made another European war unthinkable.
But what is the EU actually? Is it simply a bunch of bureaucracy set in a winding group of buildings in Brussels? Do they really need to consider and reconsider then eventually regulate the size and shape of the perfect imported European banana? Didn't it all start out as a way to get some kind of economic cooperation to be able to prevent wars?
Remember 2005 when the French and Dutch voters turned down the proposed European Constitution? 50 years after the initial treaty, and they still don't have a single document they can all agree on. Really I understand to a degree... the French don't want anyone telling them what they can and can't do... let alone a red-tape monster like Brussels. The Dutch used it as a way to show that they weren't very happy with their current government, and were going to vote down anything proposed by that government.
So today Germany's leader, Angela Merkel has finally done what she has been threatening to do since her administration was set, and she got the rotating EU Presidency into her hands... She has officially brought back the idea of again trying to ratify the EU Constitution. No one has really talked about it since the French/Dutch debacle.
Personally I think that if anyone can do it... Angie can
You Go Girl!
(please disregard the growing pains)
Well today N and I took off to the Brandenburg Gate to get a little feel for how the EU is celebrating its 50th Birthday. You know, it doesn't seem that it could be 50. I mean, I don't remember studying the grand dream to combine the "major" countries in history class. It happened not long after WWII, and 50 years later some of that pipe dream has actually come true. The countries are trading across borders, there is a common currency in many member states (but what about Great Britain... hmm?), and as designed in the original agreement, the block of member states keeps growing.
Those original six countries, (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy) have increased to twenty-seven. This process must be regarded as one of the greatest examples of peaceful and voluntary spread of freedom and democracy in the world. In fifty years we have seen southern European fascist rule break up and eastern and central European communist regimes dissolve. The Union has spread wealth and prosperity to underdeveloped areas. We have created a single market, a common currency and shared policies. Most importantly, European integration has made another European war unthinkable.
But what is the EU actually? Is it simply a bunch of bureaucracy set in a winding group of buildings in Brussels? Do they really need to consider and reconsider then eventually regulate the size and shape of the perfect imported European banana? Didn't it all start out as a way to get some kind of economic cooperation to be able to prevent wars?
Remember 2005 when the French and Dutch voters turned down the proposed European Constitution? 50 years after the initial treaty, and they still don't have a single document they can all agree on. Really I understand to a degree... the French don't want anyone telling them what they can and can't do... let alone a red-tape monster like Brussels. The Dutch used it as a way to show that they weren't very happy with their current government, and were going to vote down anything proposed by that government.
So today Germany's leader, Angela Merkel has finally done what she has been threatening to do since her administration was set, and she got the rotating EU Presidency into her hands... She has officially brought back the idea of again trying to ratify the EU Constitution. No one has really talked about it since the French/Dutch debacle.
Personally I think that if anyone can do it... Angie can
You Go Girl!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Thoughts for a Friday
1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before
6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
8. A person, who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
16. A balanced diet is a muffin in each hand.
17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
25. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
26. If you had to identify in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
27. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
29. You should not confuse your career with your life.
30. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
31. Never lick a steak knife.
32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
35. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that deep down inside we ALL believe we are above average drivers.
36. Your friends love you anyway.
2. Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before
6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
8. A person, who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
16. A balanced diet is a muffin in each hand.
17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
25. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
26. If you had to identify in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
27. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
29. You should not confuse your career with your life.
30. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
31. Never lick a steak knife.
32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
35. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that deep down inside we ALL believe we are above average drivers.
36. Your friends love you anyway.
How To Give A Cat A Pill
How To Give A Cat A Pill
** update **
I gather that some of the people landing here would REALLY like to know how to give a cat a pill instead of the funny story below.
If so, here is a lovely website that shows AND tells you how to do it easily (well, as easily as it can be). How to pill a cat Oh and I find it easier to put the kitty about waist high to me, and on a counter or the corner of a counter with a wall, so you have something else backing up your elbow. It is best if the cat feels there is no where to go.
The explanation says it is for right-handed people, but I am right handed and I find it easier to hold the kitty with my left arm, then use my left hand to hold his head from under his chin, then slip my left forefinger and thumb into his mouth from each side.
At this time I use my right hand to put the pill as far back as I can, then immediately let him close his mouth and caress his throat downwards, watching for the tongue to peek out, which is the hint that the pill is going down. I always find it best to take him directly to his food/water bowl to give him the suggestion that eating or drinking will help it go the rest of the way down. Of course you need to watch to see if that little pill slips back out!
Now for the funny stuff...
*** End of update ***
If you have ever tried to give a cat a pill you know how difficult it is.
The following instructions are fool proof!
1. Pick up the cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from under chair. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take a new pill from foil wrap. Cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse in from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between the knees. Holding front and rear paws, ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat's head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make a note to buy a new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set aside for gluing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with it's head just visible from beneath spouse's armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow down straw.
9. Check label to make sure that pill is not harmful to humans. Drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10.Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with spoon, flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for last tetanus shot. throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12. Call the fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from garage. Force cat's mouth open with small trowel. Push pill into mouth followed} by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 1/2 pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
14. Get spouse to drive you to emergency room. Sit quietly while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture store on the way home to order a new table.
15. Arrange for vet to make house call.
** update **
I gather that some of the people landing here would REALLY like to know how to give a cat a pill instead of the funny story below.
If so, here is a lovely website that shows AND tells you how to do it easily (well, as easily as it can be). How to pill a cat Oh and I find it easier to put the kitty about waist high to me, and on a counter or the corner of a counter with a wall, so you have something else backing up your elbow. It is best if the cat feels there is no where to go.
The explanation says it is for right-handed people, but I am right handed and I find it easier to hold the kitty with my left arm, then use my left hand to hold his head from under his chin, then slip my left forefinger and thumb into his mouth from each side.
At this time I use my right hand to put the pill as far back as I can, then immediately let him close his mouth and caress his throat downwards, watching for the tongue to peek out, which is the hint that the pill is going down. I always find it best to take him directly to his food/water bowl to give him the suggestion that eating or drinking will help it go the rest of the way down. Of course you need to watch to see if that little pill slips back out!
Now for the funny stuff...
*** End of update ***
If you have ever tried to give a cat a pill you know how difficult it is.
The following instructions are fool proof!
1. Pick up the cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from under chair. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take a new pill from foil wrap. Cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse in from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between the knees. Holding front and rear paws, ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat's head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make a note to buy a new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set aside for gluing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with it's head just visible from beneath spouse's armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow down straw.
9. Check label to make sure that pill is not harmful to humans. Drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10.Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with spoon, flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for last tetanus shot. throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12. Call the fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from garage. Force cat's mouth open with small trowel. Push pill into mouth followed} by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 1/2 pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
14. Get spouse to drive you to emergency room. Sit quietly while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture store on the way home to order a new table.
15. Arrange for vet to make house call.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
What We Really Are... Monkeys.
This little diddy really spoke to me. It goes right along with my thinking that humans as a race are rather self-important. I guess that it also speaks to my gut feeling that religion is something made up to keep the masses at bay.
What do you think? Are we really just animals? Did we just evolve faster/better than our other fellow animals on this planet? If the dinosaurs were still around, do you think humans would have evolved this same way? Will the cockroaches be next?
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Resident on Vonnegut
This is a video made by a woman that calls herself "The Resident". She's actually really cool, and I suggest you view all of her videos, but this one spoke to me.
It's about her take on Vonnegut's newest book, "A Man Without a Country". I haven't managed to read the book yet, but after seeing this video, I ordered it immediately.
In the book he shows that in his late years he could care less what people think of him and no longer thinly veils his disdain for mankind's treatment of Mother Earth. He goes right after Bush's administration who he says are a group of "upper-crust C students who know no history or geography". At the same time he tackles some tough subjects in his own Vonnegut way:
Global warming
How power has corrupted the U.S.
Honor among humans
Addiction to fossil fuel and how that addiction inspires violence
People Pox – and the planet's immune system
The Biggest Truth
I highly suggest the video to start... then consider the book.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Shift Happens, Are You Ready?
A disturbingly true look comparing the past to the present and a glimpse of things to come.
All to show you how, shift happens.
All to show you how, shift happens.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
We're back from the Maldives!
Sunny, sandy, salty Maldives were lovely!
Talk about diver's paradise!
I couldn't believe the underwater visibility.
We saw fish I've just read about in books.
Highlights?
Swimming with sharks...
Turtles...
and Dolphins
Oh MY!
This is me on one of our first days. I can tell this because I was still wearing a full suit. After a while of this I got sick and tired of it and decided to just dive in a swim suit and T-shirt. Gotta tell you, it was much more comfortable!
This was the first turtle we met. We were actually just snorkeling in the little lagoon around the island and here he came! What fun to follow him for a little while and watch him as he searched for dinner. The coolest thing about it was that it has been N's dream to see one of these guys close up and we managed to see five of them over the two week period.
Yup, I found Nemo!
Actually I really enjoyed encountering the little guys. The area we were in didn't have too many soft corals, so finding an anemone with a family of clownfish was an event for me. Even more cool was that we saw many families of a clownfish which is just indigenous to the Maldives. It is called the Black-Footed Clownfish in English, but it was cool to note that the German name literally translated is Maldivian Clownfish. If you look closely in the picture you can see the bottom fins are actually black... giving it the impression of having black feet.
Well, that is all I have edited so far. I would like to put more here soon... we took almost 3GB of photos, so I'm sure I can come up with some better stuff.
Talk about diver's paradise!
I couldn't believe the underwater visibility.
We saw fish I've just read about in books.
Highlights?
Swimming with sharks...
Turtles...
and Dolphins
Oh MY!
This is me on one of our first days. I can tell this because I was still wearing a full suit. After a while of this I got sick and tired of it and decided to just dive in a swim suit and T-shirt. Gotta tell you, it was much more comfortable!
This was the first turtle we met. We were actually just snorkeling in the little lagoon around the island and here he came! What fun to follow him for a little while and watch him as he searched for dinner. The coolest thing about it was that it has been N's dream to see one of these guys close up and we managed to see five of them over the two week period.
Yup, I found Nemo!
Actually I really enjoyed encountering the little guys. The area we were in didn't have too many soft corals, so finding an anemone with a family of clownfish was an event for me. Even more cool was that we saw many families of a clownfish which is just indigenous to the Maldives. It is called the Black-Footed Clownfish in English, but it was cool to note that the German name literally translated is Maldivian Clownfish. If you look closely in the picture you can see the bottom fins are actually black... giving it the impression of having black feet.
Well, that is all I have edited so far. I would like to put more here soon... we took almost 3GB of photos, so I'm sure I can come up with some better stuff.
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