No, I'm here, I'm still alive. Not on hiatus or anything.

It's just been a stressful week and I've had trouble concentrating on much of anything. Including my web page.

We had a nice time yesterday evening, out with some German friends at a nearby nightclub/restaurant type place. We arrived early (very early) and had a table in the small room in the back, what they refer to as the "restaurant." If a tiny little room with three tables can be called a "restaurant." When I arrived to meet the others, there was nobody to speak of out in the bigger room in front.

When we left around 10:00, that room was so crowded that it took us almost five minutes to walk the fifteen feet to the door.

They played interesting music there. Soon after we arrived, I heard a few songs that convinced me they were playing an Ashanti album. Marty certainly was surprised when I turned to him and said, "I saw this artist in concert with Amanda last summer." We sure did see a bunch of people at that Teen Choice show. My favorites -- among the ones performing -- were Alanis Morisette and Nelly. (That muscle in Vanessa Carlton's eyebrow still freaks me out, Amanda.)

By the time we were leaving, they were playing an old-time soul compilation, with a lot of James Brown and Aretha Franklin, among other artists.

I need to listen to more James Brown.

I'm still stressed out, but here's a bright spot: tomorrow is Raspberry World's anniversary. Does anyone know how old it is?

(And yes, I do realize it's quite easy to cheat.)

Happy Girl



We have tickets to see The Wallflowers on Tuesday February 18. I am so psyched!

I have never seen them live in concert, although they are one of my favorite bands. We had tickets once before -- they were coming to Hartford with John Mellencamp. I was so excited! But the concert was scheduled for September 12, 2001. Needless to say, it (like so many other things that week) was cancelled. At first it was supposed to be merely "postponed," but as fall turned into winter and the season ended at The Meadows (Hartford's outdoor concert venue), it became clear that it just wasn't going to happen.

So I am looking forward to this show!

Also, I am going (alone) to see Aimee Mann on February 27. I think hearing her sing "Red Vines" live will be comparable to when I saw the Indigo Girls do "Reunion." It was transcendent.

Even bigger news: REM is playing in Munich on July 5. Yes, REM.

*swoon*

A Trip to the Customs House

Yesterday I received a notice from the Post Office that I had a package waiting at the Customs House, so this morning I got up and took a trip to Landsbergerstraße. I took two subway trains and a tram to get there. The tram was the oldest one I've been on since I moved to Munich. Most of them are very modern and up-to-date, but as you can see from the picture, this was a vintage tram.

It's a rainy, gray morning here today. I got off the tram at Trappentreustraße and found the Customs House right away (pictured above). After a few minutes' wait, I had a short interview where I answered some questions about the contents of a package, and then I was on my way!

I didn't owe any customs fees on my wonderful birthday present, a handmade scarf. And I love it! Thank you, Amanda!!! I want to wear it all day long!



Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends...

How one cat can take up an entire couch (click on photo above).

Today I spent a few hours at the Alte Pinakothek, one of Munich's major museums. They have a bunch of European art from the middle ages and later. I'd never been before, but it was a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon. Also, they had a very good audioguide in English, which I always enjoy. Lots of Raphael, Rembrandt, Da Vinci, and many artists I'd never heard of before -- very enjoyable.

I also researched German classes to see when I should take my next one. I am considering a class that meets for most of February, afternoons Monday through Thursday. It won't be quite the same as the two weeks I spent in the super-intensive course last fall (40 hours of instruction per week), but I think it could be really helpful to my conversation and grammar.

I spent a little while yesterday evening working on the pictures from the Deutsches Museum; I still have to write the text before I can publish the gallery. Hang in there!

Now it's time to make dinner. The menu tonight is spaghetti with meat sauce, and garlic bread. Yum!

Grr.

I've just spent an hour putting my posters in frames. I found inexpensive frames at IKEA for my Harry Potter quidditch poster, my NSYNC Celebrity poster, and my 8 Mile movie poster. They look really good, except I can't get the Harry Potter poster to go in straight. Every time I get it in the frame and put everything back together, I flip it over and once again it's crooked. Now I'm trying to figure out just how crazy it will make me to have to look at a crooked poster day in and day out. Probably pretty crazy. And that was the one I wanted right next to my desk, too. That's why I'm growling.

Other than that, they all look good. I will hang them up in my study later this evening, or tomorrow.

I had the car today so I will be leaving in just a few minutes to pick Marty up from work. I discovered that my "Pop Muzik" mix from last spring is an excellent Autobahn mix. New York, London, Paris, Munich!

Pictured above is my new teapot, imported from England, purchased in Munich. I took its picture before I even removed its labels, including the little Union Jack. I've used it every day since it came home with me. I feel civilized again!

Tonight I processed a bunch of pictures from this weekend. I'll try to update the Postcard page in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of my two favorite boys.

It's all about... CHEESE!!!

Thank you, Laura P, for the heads up on National Cheese Day! I am international, but I want to celebrate too. I will pick up the ingredients for Laura's (world famous) Mac & Cheese Deluxe when I go out to do my errands today! Whoo-hoo!

It was a great weekend! We got several things accomplished around the apartment (took two big empty boxes out!) and also did some fun stuff. Went to the Deutsches Museum, where I took a bunch of pictures and we saw a concert of Mozart, Hayden, and van Beecke (on contemporaneous instruments). Then we saw Der König der Löwen at the IMAX theater (my comment, "That screen is really big!"). It was really cool, and easy to understand auf Deutsch! It probably helps that I've seen it so many times in English. Finally, I cooked brownies and dinner we played Canasta and Scrabble... just a fun weekend overall.

I will try to get my pictures from the museum up soon. That place is so cool that we bought a membership. (Plus it gets us a discount on the IMAX theater. Oh, and Amanda! They had the space station movie too! But not narrated by Tom Cruise, unless he speaks German...)

Just a very quick note to say I've updated the Postcards for the first time this year, with new pictures to the Miscellaneous pages for both 2002 and 2003. A small update, but go see the pictures and tell me what you think. This sure is a pretty city I live in.

The pictures on the 2003 page are the only ones so far taken with my new camera. I'm still getting used to it, but I like it very much so far.

Above: Ice skating rink, with disco ball, Marienhof, Munich.

P.S. Your Cat is Dead by James Kirkwood (who also wrote A Chorus Line) has been made into a movie! I love that book, man!

Darn, now I want to read it again. And I didn't bring it with me from Connecticut. And it is sooooooo out of print.

Excuse me while I pout.

Oh, wow.

I just opened my door and found my mail, which the next door neighbor had brought upstairs for me. (We share a mailbox, so whoever checks first usually brings all of it up.)

What should I find at the bottom of the stack but an (American) Rolling Stone, with Justin Timberlake on the cover.

This is the first Rolling Stone I've received since I moved here, and I guess I'd finally given up on getting any more. And I still don't know whether they got my new address worked out, or if someone bought me a new subscription. (If one of y'all bought me a new subscription to have sent to Germany, please write and let me know.)

And Justin! On the cover! Now, if you know anything at all about my unnatural love for NSYNC, you know that Justin is, and will always be, my number five sync-er. He owns that spot, man. But on the other hand, it's Justin! Of NSYNC! On the cover! And yes, I am twelve years old when it comes to NSYNC. Living in a sync-free city is not easy for me. So I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to see it.

So thank you, either to Rolling Stone for finally getting it right, or to whoever sent me a new subscription. Because I think this is one of the things I've missed most since I moved here.

Autobahn Girl!

Today I drove for the first time in Germany. We just have one car here, and Marty needs it for work, and really I can get almost anywhere I want to go on the U-Bahn. But not IKEA, which was where I wanted to go today.

So I dropped Marty off this morning and then took the car out later in the day for a trip to IKEA and Wal-Mart. I did fine on the autobahn, or, well, as fine as that car can do on the autobahn. The shopping was definitely a success. It was so much better than going on Saturday, which is the busiest day of the week everywhere I shop. I got several things I needed (hooks! finally! for the coats!) and a couple of things I wanted (a sandwich grill!). I couldn't find a teapot, but I know where I can get a nice one, in a shop right down the street from the dry cleaner.

Alicia asked me earlier about the differences between Wal-Mart in Germany and in the US. I know I've talked about it before on RW, but a couple of other differences are the shopping carts and the cafeteria. German shopping carts have four wheels that spin freely, instead of the back two wheels always facing forward. This means you can push it from the side as easily as from the back. Also, it means the cart tends to roll away to the side unexpectedly, seemingly of its own volition.

In the cafeteria at Wal-Mart you can get full meals. For lunch today I had Wiener schnitzel. And at the table next to me were two little old ladies taking a break from their shopping and having glasses of beer. You won't see that in Wal-Mart in the US.

In other news...

I have just about decided that I need to be on vacation on June 21, 2003. Why? Because the new Harry Potter book is coming out that day in the US, Britain, Australia and Canada. I read the first four books on vacation, and I know I'm going to want this one as soon as it's published. Perhaps I should be in England that day. Hmm?

We interrupt our previously scheduled report on CanastaFest '03 to bring you an entry dedicated to the Bloggin' Lovefest.

I read about the Lovefest today in Amanda's weblog. If you've been reading my page at all in the last year, you know that her site, Painted Turtle, is one of my favorites. But for the lovefest, I'd like to talk about something new.

Notes from an Eclectic Mind by Rana K. Williamson is my favorite new blog of 2002. I enjoy her easy writing style immensely, and find her memories and thoughts of interest no matter the topic. I check her page obsessively in hopes of a new entry (I am sure she's noticed the frequency of hits from t-dialin.net). Often I'm rewarded -- she is one of the most dependable bloggers I've encountered, which I'm sure is a habit left over from her newspaper deadline days.

What impresses me most about Rana's blog is that she is willing to think and write about difficult topics, and handles them all with such respect and grace. Her thoughtfulness as a writer is inspiring to me. So check it out: Notes from an Eclectic Mind.

1. "Dieses Dänische Mobil ist von Tannenbaum Shop in Middletown."

2. The dusky light, the day is losing
Orchids, poppies, black-eyed Susan
The earth and sky that melts with flesh and bone
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone?

3. "What I love about our friendship is the way we never see or speak to each other."

4. Happy birthday.

Snowy Afternoon in Munich

It's snowing out there today. I ran some errands earlier, and then I came in and got my two circs ready to send. Yay! The books go out tomorrow, ladies!

The picture above is the view from my study window. Earlier today the police were directing traffic at that intersection while maintenance was performed on the traffic lights. In the picture, the small white car coming towards you (with the lights on and the green stripe) is a police car.

I was very sad to hear that Maurice Gibb had died. The Bee Gees were such an amazing band, with such perfect vocal harmonies. I think I'll switch from listening to Backstreet's Black and Blue to the greatest hits of the Brothers Gibb. I have the first (pre-disco) greatest hits as well as the disco one. Both are absolutely great.

Pay no attention to that cat behind the curtain.

On sunny days, the front of our apartment building gets full sun in the afternoon. Ziggy loves to sit on the windowsill (das Fensterbrett) and bask, whether the curtain is open or not.

I took these pictures today in the study with my new camera, a Canon Powershot S40 (my combination Christmas/birthday present). I am very pleased with how the camera handles low light situations and close shots. I took some very close-up pictures in Athens last week that turned out very well. Much, much better than my old Kodak ever could've done.

Here's one more of Ziggy behind the curtain, and here's one of him in front of it. Cool, huh?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Hope you have a great day!



Marty, Susie, Dixie, and Mom. Christmas, 2003.

Beer and Massage?

This is just wrong: Priciest Burger in NYC Debuts at $41. (From the St. Cloud Times in St. Cloud, MN.)

The strangest thing is that these cows apparently are "raised on beer and massaged daily." I wouldn't mind it myself, but I doubt it's particularly pleasant or healthy for cows, not to mention the whole getting turned into expensive hamburgers thing that happens at the end.

On a different note, a big "thank you kindly" to Chad, the reader who wrote to let me know that Raspberry World had been featured as a "Hot Dish" in the St. Cloud Times.



The Narcissistic Hall of Fame? If they mean the Narcissist Hall of Fame, I think I already know a few folks in there, and I'm in pretty good company! I guess the fact that I put this on my page is just further proof that I qualify...

Jiggety Jog

I'm back in snowy Munich tonight, and I'm glad to be here. The flight was largely uneventful, and Marty picked me up at the airport this morning. And his luggage was there too! We were so relieved. And I can't tell you how glad I was to get back to the apartment, and my CAT!

I spent the day unpacking and running a few errands. I am very glad I managed to find some Cuddle Duds (long underwear) in my size when I was home, because it is COLD out there, man. I was happy to have them today.

Tonight we went for dinner to one of my favorite restaurants, the Seehaus in Karlsfeld (I also like the Seehaus in Munich, but that's a different place). I had pumpkin soup and Wiener Schnitzel. Yum. For dessert we split one of my favorite things, "Heisse Liebe," vanilla ice cream with warm raspberry sauce over it. (The name means "hot love," haha!)

It is cold here tonight so the radiators are cranked. I just put flannel sheets on the bed and now I am thinking it's time to go crawl in them and get some sleep. Good night, all!

I'm Off!

I'm headed back to Munich today. I will arrive at 8:40 AM tomorrow morning, German time. Just wanted to say thanks again to all you folks we visited during the vacation -- it was a great trip! And the ones we missed, hope to see you next time!

Now let's see if I can beat Marty's suitcases home.

Catch you on the other side!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Well, Marty is home safe and sound in Munich. It only took 48 hours from Washington DC.

Since the planes were still grounded early this morning (his time), he ended up taking a 13-hour train ride from Copenhagen to Munich, leaving at 5AM today. He just walked in the door at our apartment in Schwabing a little while ago. He says Ziggy is doing fine. I am very relieved he's there at last.

His luggage is somewhere. Possibly at the Copenhagen airport, possibly en route to Munich, possibly already in Munich. He says he hopes his bags get there before mine do (I fly out on Thursday).

It sounds like it was a big nightmare, but he made the best of it. He said Germany was very beautiful all covered in snow from the farthest point north to almost the farthest point south. And he got to see all of it from the train.

Ha ha ha!

It wasn't a typo... but I love the picture anyway!



Thank you, Kevin!

Randomness

Marty is on the way home today (actually he has been on the way home since this time yesterday) and he has run into countless delays due to extreme weather conditions. Poor thing. I feel so sorry for him. Last I heard, he had a long wait in Copenhagen for a flight to Munich. He should have been home long before I woke up this morning, and instead I presume he's still traveling, over 24 hours since he left his brother's house in Virginia yesterday.

I am very anxious for him to be home safely. I also want very badly to hear how Ziggy is doing. So I am hovering around the phone today.

It is nice to be back in Athens, Georgia. Driving around here at night, listening to 96 Rock... I don't know, it just makes me feel younger somehow. Last night at 2AM there was a great big orange crescent moon hanging just over the horizon, in the bottom of the sky, and Def Leppard was on the radio. I think I could come back here to live. I really love this town.

Hey, Laura, what do you think of that new topless beagle?

Update: Marty called while I was typing this entry. He's still stuck in Copenhagen (where he's been for at least the last 12 hours or so) and says the airport is all but shut down. He probably won't be getting home tonight. I guess I'd better go call the catsitter.

Same As It Ever Was

Y'all, I am here to report that the skating rink has not changed in twenty years. It still looks, sounds, and smells exactly the same. It is still peopled by the same teens and preteens as always. In fact, it appears to be trapped in 1982.

We had the best time last night. I think they should have our next high school reunion at Skate-A-Round USA. Not that we've attended any yet (if they even had them), but I imagine a skating party would get a lot bigger turnout than most things. Hee.

And no, they didn't play Funky Town. But they did play both the English and the Spanish version of NSYNC's "This I Promise You." (And we didn't even request them!)

Dang, is that woman ever going to update her web page again???

Hey y'all. I'm still around. Just haven't had much time for updating lately. It has been a busy trip!

I am in Athens, Georgia, now for a few more days. Next week I head back to Munich. Marty's already on his way. Well, his flight doesn't leave until Sunday, but he left this morning to drive back up the east coast to his brother's in Virginia. He is flying out of DC.

I'm feeling a little scattered. It must be something to do with my rapidly advancing age!

The new year so far has been full of birthday celebrations. We had birthday cake at my mom's on the first, and she and I both opened presents. Then last night there was a cake for Marty's mom and me. Today (my actual birthday) there doesn't appear to be any cake forthcoming, but I am going to the skating rink with some friends! And we're having dinner at The Grit (an Athens landmark). So it should be a fun evening.

What else, what else... last night Marty and I went to see the new Lord of the Rings movie. I liked it lots, especially the Ents and Smeagol (always one of my favorite characters). I don't think I liked it quite as much as the first one, but I keep reminding myself it's the second movie of a trilogy, and that's a rough role for a movie to fill. Because you don't have the dramatic energy of the beginning of the story, or the tension and suspense of the end of a story, you just have... the middle. So all things considered, I thought it was pretty good.

But it's funny, because last year I saw Harry Potter and liked it, and then saw The Fellowship of the Ring and liked it much more. And this year, I saw Harry Potter 2 and the new LOTR, and I love love love Harry Potter, and I just like LOTR. Hm. I wonder why. Anyway, I've taken advantage of being home to watch a lot of movies. Besides LOTR, I saw Drumline, Star Trek Nemesis, and 8 Mile.

Okay, I have to go find some thick socks to wear to the skating rink. Haaa! I can't wait to have a grape soda! Do you think they still play Funky Town? (I doubt it. But maybe I could convince them to spin a little Blowin' Me Up...)