Small Town Service

On Christmas morning, Marty and I drove over to my mom's house to open presents with her part of our family. We arrived before 10:00 AM and we were just getting settled with cups of tea when the telephone rang.

I hadn't been here since August, so you can imagine my surprise when my mom handed me the phone. "It's for you."

For me? I didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect this: "Hello, this is David at the post office. I have two packages for you down here. If you'll come and knock on the back door of the post office, I'll give them to you."

On Christmas morning this happened. I was astounded.

So Marty and I hopped in the truck and drove downtown to pick up my packages. We pulled into the parking lot behind an old-timer who (as I learned when I walked up to the back door) had also received a call. "I didn't know y'all did this," he commented as David opened the door and asked for our names.

"Well, my boss decided he wanted everyone to be able to get their last-minute presents today, so I volunteered to come in. Y'all have a merry Christmas!" David replied.

Happy holidays from South Georgia!

Friendly Christmas

Here's the partridge that Laura and I both have on our tree. I found them a couple of years ago and gave her one for her birthday (which is just a little after mine in January).

It's nice to share things like ornaments and Christmas traditions. Mary and I also have some of the same ornaments, I think. We bought a lot of ours (back in the day) at Dank's in State College, PA. It was an old-time department store that has since shut down. They had a great Christmas ornament department down in the basement every year. I think we both started buying our vegetable ornaments there.

Other things that are fun to share with friends at Christmas are recipes. My mom used to make these butterballs every year, and now I usually do too. (They're also known as Russian tea cakes, in some circles, I believe.) And back to my friend with the anti-linear brain -- Laura shared her wonderful, old-fashioned Savage cookies with me a few years ago, and now this recipe is one of my holiday favorites too.

And of course, from way back when -- Marty's gingerbread boys. We've been married a lot longer than five years now (as it says on the recipe introduction), but I still love these boys. Some things never change!

Hi, I'm Sneezy

Still sneezing this morning. I don't know why I've been so sick this fall/winter, but it's definitely worse than usual. I'm feeling better today, but not completely well.

At right is a folded paper star, one of the many that Marty and I made the first year we stayed in Pennsylvania for Christmas. It was probably nine or ten years ago this year. Our first Christmas tree was decorated only in these stars, which we made in white, gold, blue and purple. And the funniest thing of all? They are German. In fact, I saw them for sale at the Augsburg Christmas market, just two weeks ago.

Germans sure do know how to do Christmas decorations. Why is that, do you think?

In the Marienplatz market, I saw mushrooms like the one Laura posted yesterday.

Today we are planning to go over and visit with Marty's grandmother. And tomorrow we are headed to my dad's house in south Georgia. Busy times. Busy and fun.

I Can't Resist

Seeing Laura's pictures of her new ornaments is making me homesick for mine. My ornaments, of course, are in storage in Connecticut this Christmas. I do miss them, even though it wouldn't have been convenient or practical to have a tree in Munich since we are spending the holidays away from home.

But I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to recycle some of my pictures from the last couple of years.

Here you see one of my favorites, my Ghengis Kahn ornament, in a picture I took last December. It's a Steinbach ornament, one of several I bought last year in Connecticut. How funny it was that I discovered these German ornaments just six months before we learned that we were being transferred to Munich! I didn't buy any Steinbach ornaments in Germany this year, although I certainly saw them for sale.

In my opinion, no tree is complete without a barbarian warrior lurking in its branches.

Well, despite my bout with insomnia last night I am up and (mostly) awake today. Still coughing and sniffling and aching, but awake. I have the house to myself and am tempted to watch Harry Potter (the first one) again, since it is here on videotape. I own it on DVD but I've never been able to get it to play on my DVD player in my computer at home. Hm.

According to Amanda my birthday scarf is coming along. I am very excited. I feel my Slytherin side exerting itself even as I type.

Stay tuned for a few more pictures of Christmas' past. I am taking pictures this year as well, but won't have access to them until I get back to Germany, most likely. However, the strange thing is -- this is the fourth house we've been in this year that doesn't have a Christmas tree. I am pretty sure my family will have trees when we get to South Georgia, but so far we've seen neither limb nor needle of one.

Greetings from North Carolina

We are visiting Marty's dad's family in NC. Here are some pictures I took when we came here four years ago for Christmas in 1998. It looks pretty much the same, with the absence of the ice and the big car.

We're having a fun trip, although I've picked up a cold in the last couple of days. My sleep schedule is all messed up -- I just woke up thirty minutes ago (at 1AM) and now I'm having a cup of Sweet Dreams tea and checking my mail. I thought I'd take the opportunity to do a quick update.

On this trip I have had the pleasure of getting together in person with three people I met online. It's always neat to meet people in person who have only been e-mail addresses or URLs before, and as has always been the case, these folks were all very nice people. I guess since I first got online (in 1991 or so) I must have met close to fifty e-mail correspondents, one way or another. I'm not in touch with all of them today, but some of them are among my closest friends. If you're a regular reader, I'm sure you've heard me mention Maria, Sonal, Laura P, Tj, and Alicia -- some of my good friends who started out as e-mail correspondents!

I am sorry I never met any of my readers from Yale while I was living in Connecticut. I corresponded with one person for awhile, but we never managed to meet in person; however, I know from my stats that at least a couple of other people from Yale are regular readers, and have been for over a year. But that's okay, too. Not everyone likes to meet people that way.

Yesterday we had Christmas dinner at Marty's grandmother's with Marty's dad, stepmother, and two brothers. It was fun to see everyone again, and to all be together for the first time in awhile. We exchanged presents, and Marty's grandmother gave me the most cunning little cat pin. I somehow seem to have amassed quite a collection of cat pins over the last few years -- and I think I've actually bought none of them myself -- but this is definitely one of my favorites. It's sparkly! And it's not even my first cat pin of these holidays, since my mother-in-law also gave me one that I love, last week. It's a silver one from Mexico.

But I have to admit, one of the highlights of my day was getting to drive my brother-in-law Scot's new car, a Mini Cooper. We see these cars everywhere in Munich, but they're pretty rare here. It is a great ride. Thank you for letting me play with your new toy, Scot!



Thanks to Sonal for photo editing services. You rock, girl!

The amazing disappearing Raspberry World!

Hello and thanks for coming back! If you've visited in the last couple of days, you might be wondering where my page went. It was my mistake -- I had my account set to charge one of my credit cards monthly, and the card expired. I forgot to go in and update the payment information. I think things are fixed now. If you're reading this, they are!

We are having a great trip and enjoying the visits with our families. So far we've been in Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina. I am writing tonight from Marty's dad's house, where we are visiting for a few days. Then it will be back down to south Georgia to see my folks!

It is almost Christmas, which reminds me that one of my favorite web sites is coming up on a special anniversary. Amanda's Painted Turtle debuted a year ago on Christmas. I love Amanda's site and on top of that I am amazed at how much Amanda has learned this year (taught herself, I should say!). Happy anniversary, Amanda! I am so glad you decided to join me on the web!

Good Thing / Bad Thing time again...

Good Thing: I got a new haircut! It's short! It's sassy! It's bitchin', man! I love it.

Bad Thing: My whole face is red like Rudolph's nose, and I don't know why. I think it started a few days before I left Munich. Is it trip-related stress hives? Is it an allergy to some unknown entity here or back home? Who knows! I only know my face is burning and bright red. If I could find a snowbank, I'd stick my face in it.

Good Thing: I'm seeing two friends tonight and we are going to dinner at El Grillo (heee!!!) and then to see 8 Mile.

Bad Thing: It's the first time we've met in person (we know each other online), and um, see Bad Thing #1 above. I plan to make quite an impression.

Good Thing: I am almost finished wrapping the xmas presents!

Bad Thing: I have to go to the post office tomorrow and mail a bunch of stuff. A Saturday morning two weeks before Christmas. Fun.

But mostly, everything is good. I am home! I am having fun. Marty will join us in a couple of days. And it is great to be back in familiar places again. So yay!

A Message from the Other Side

Up at 6am for the second day in a row? Oh, yeah, but today at 6am my body thought it was NOON. So it's probably not such an accomplishment.

Well! I made it. I am writing you from Athens, Georgia, where I'm spending a couple of days with Marty's mom's family before we drive up to Virginia. Marty and I will spend the next few weeks on an approximation of my farewell tour of the east coast, although we won't get as far north (Connecticut) or as far south (Florida) as I went in August.

It wasn't that weird to come back; maybe because I've only been gone for three months. The strangest thing is visiting my favorite journals and not having to translate what time it really is where the writers are. For example, when I go to Painted Turtle I don't have to say to myself, "Oh, yeah, it's midnight in Connecticut right now," because we are in the same time zone again! It's the little things that make me happy. Hee.

It is nice to be home, and to see my family. I haven't been homesick for the US in Germany, but of course I've missed my family and friends. So last night we had a home-cooked Southern dinner, and iced tea, and good conversation, and I was very happy to be here.

Both times I have flown out of Munich airport, I have been randomly selected from the check-in line to have my suitcases searched by security. Sigh. It happened again yesterday. I somehow knew it would happen, I just knew it, so I didn't wrap any of the Christmas presents I had in my bags. I could see myself standing in the airport being asked to unwrap them all, and I just didn't want the angst of wrapping twice. It was bad enough that I had packed most of them in cardboard boxes and taped them shut -- the security lady almost hyperventilated when I opened up my big bag and there were all these unidentified taped-shut boxes in there.

Of course I opened them all and let her see my Christmas ornaments, German chocolate, etc. Sigh.

Today I will wrap the presents for real. The ones I brought with me, anyway. Marty has a few he'll bring in his suitcase tomorrow, as well. And this afternoon I have an appointment for a haircut, my first since before I went away. My hair is so long! But it's about to be short. Hee!

I also want to try to get together with a couple of friends in Athens (who knew I still had friends in Athens?!?) and maybe go see 8-Mile. Mmmm. 8-Mile. I can't wait! Plus the Drumline soundtrack is out, and ready for me to buy! Whooo!

I'm Off!

I can't remember the last time I was up before 6 AM. This is coming from the girl who for years was unable to sleep past 6 AM. Sheesh.

Anyway, I'm all packed. I think I have everything; I think my suitcases come in under the Delta baggage weight limit for international travel. (But only because my carry-on bag is really, really heavy.)

I'm looking forward to being in the US. I probably won't be updating all that much in the next few weeks, but I'll be back in January. Happy holidays, y'all.

Something I'm Grateful For

I'm glad there's a Pamie, and I'm glad she's back online.

I'm a lucky girl! Amanda is making that scarf for my birthday. I would still like to start knitting again, maybe, but in the meantime I'll just say -- thank you! You made my day. I am well on my way to becoming Slytherin!

And something else that made my day -- I woke up this morning to a package from OHIO! And let me just say how impressed I am. Because I know how hard it is to get things in the mail early, and this was put in the mail Very Early.

Which reminds me. I owe an apology to the two of you who have been patiently waiting for circs from me. I really meant to have them in the mail by now. I am sorry. Time has somehow slipped away from me here. Mea culpa!

My flight is tomorrow and I am starting to get stressed out! Because I just have so many things to get done today. But I'll be on the plane tomorrow morning no matter what gets done or doesn't get done... so stress isn't going to help anything. I'll just do what I can.

Finally: updates will be erratic while I am away from home. But I will check in when I can. And I will have access to my e-mail some of the time, if anyone needs to reach me.

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Scarf

I once taught myself to knit. Out of a book. I never completed any projects (surprised?) but I was ticking along at a pretty swift pace.

It's been ten years since then. And I haven't had another thought of picking up knitting again until the last few weeks, especially since Amanda has been talking about her knitting. Her projects sound so beautiful! And now I'm actually starting to think about knitting again, myself, because...

I want a Slytherin scarf.

There's someone online who makes them, but she has too many orders and isn't taking new ones at the moment. However, she does have her pattern online here. And I am actually thinking of trying to make one, because...

I really, really want a Slytherin scarf.

And I haven't seen an acceptable replacement for sale anywhere, so now I am thinking about yarn and needles and such things.

What do you think? Could I do it?

A Day at the Zoo

I've updated the Postcard page again with pictures from a trip to the zoo last month. Check them out!

And this is probably the last Postcards update until after the holidays. Enjoy!

A Sunday Night Recommendation

I simply must recommend Notes from an Eclectic Mind, a new weblog I discovered today after the author kindly wrote me about Raspberry World. I enjoyed reading these entries so much -- I can't wait to watch this weblog grow.

Be sure to go out to the homepage and check out Rana's photographs, too. I am drooling with envy over the close-up shots. My camera could never take pictures like that!

And her cats are beautiful, too.

Sunday Update

I just added another page to the Postcards section: Marty Climbs the Watzmann. These are pictures from a three-day hike Marty did with some friends last summer, before I arrived in Munich. The pictures are awesome! Go check them out!

Still to come is my page of pictures from the Munich zoo (a preview, above). Should be within the next couple of days. Also, check out the pictures of the christmas markets if you haven't yet.

We've had a nice weekend. Last night we went out and walked around the city some, checking out the Christmas windows in the stores. I love Munich!

Today we went to the movies and saw the restored version of Fritz Lang's 1927 silent movie, Metropolis. It was a very impressive film, with lots of restored footage and original music. It was full of melodrama and action, and a truly impressive portrait of an industrial dystopia.

The mediator between the Brain and the Hands must be the HEART!

Productive Girl

Well, I finally managed to get some of the pictures up. Check out the Postcards from Europe page for the latest.

In the next couple of days I hope to have the pictures from the Munich Zoo up. Also, Marty has some pictures from his hike of the Watzmann last summer that he is going to add to the archive. So keep checking back.

I had a long list of things to get done this week and most of them are done now. I'm trying hard to get caught up on all kinds of things before I leave for the States next Thursday. It's hard to believe it's already time to go.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

I had a long "to do" list today and I have been working my way through it. One thing was to process the pictures I took last night. Those are done, now, and I plan to start updating the Postcards page soon.

I have been listening to the Harry Potter soundtrack, and the NSYNC xmas albums. But here is a web page for something different: Serial Karpenz. Ha! The tall, good-looking one on the left is my brother.

I had more to say but now I can't remember what it is. Agh. I suppose that's how it goes sometimes. Back later.

I just finished up processing about fifty pictures from the last couple of weeks. Look for an update to the Postcard section by the end of this week.

We have had a busy few days. The Christmas markets have started, and this weekend we ended up visiting the main two in Munich, as well as the one in Augsburg and the one in Nürnberg. My favorite so far is the one in Augsburg. That was the only one where we bought anything, and it was smaller and less crowded than the others, as well.

I will write all about it on the page when I do the update. Note to self: must remember to talk about Glühwein.

I have added a picture of the chess pie to the entry below with the recipe. The pie turned out very well. I hadn't made one in years, but I will definitely do it again soon.

We've also been eating Laura's Macaroni and Cheese Deluxe, and my mom made that recipe to take to a Thanksgiving dinner as well. It's literally world-famous!

More soon, I hope. I have plans during the day tomorrow, but I hope to get the pictures up by the end of the week.