Urgent

If anybody knows where to get cheap last minute airfare, please let me know.
I am trying to get three people from DC to Jacksonville tomorrow and return on Sunday. It is really important. All I have seen is about 450 dollars or more.
The only other option we have is to drive 12 hours or my husband just goes by himself.

UPDATE: Well, we found one ticket for a fairly good price.
You just have to love UA Airways. This is the second time they helped us above and beyond when we had an emergency.

?

Why do things happen that just stop you in your tracks? And especially, why do they happen when everything is going just great?

Everybody is a winner

Just found this article in the Houston Chronicle via The Drudge Report.

Houston high school students who've failed core subjects such as English or math would get to move on to the next grade under a proposal HISD trustees are considering as part of the district's effort to reduce its dropout rate.

OK, so it is all about how the numbers look on paper?
How does that benefit the student?
Oh yeah sure, the student then gets advanced, besides failing, and just drops out the next time an opportunity comes around. If you can't take having to repeat a year in school, because you failed, TOUGH! Make room for people who do want to go to school and college and don't waste the teachers' time.
Unbelievable.

nothing going on

Absolutely nothing.
I am too tired to write anything longer than a couple of sentences.
This weather doesn't help either.
Oh well, maybe spring will be here soon. It better.
So, I'll close for today and watch the clock until it's time to leave.

in other news

We got a lot of stuff done this weekend.
We got curtains for the whole house and a rug, a huge vase and some other decorative stuff. We ordered a desk for the office and another bookshelf. That should be here tomorrow.
Yet, we still have not cable TV. They said that they would get the cable fixed the first week of April. They have to wait on a permit from the county. So, let's hope that by the end of the week I can finally watch some TV again. I feel like I have no idea what is going on.

Now I know...

..why I was so tired this morning. I lost an hour!!!
see, I am very slow this morning..it took about 3 and half hours to realize it...and I was thinking of how dark it was this morning and everything...oh well, that's good because that way I know I am not going to oversleep the rest of the week....

Cherry Blossoms

If you live in the DC area you should try and get downtown this weekend. Saturday is the cherry blossom festival.
I see them every morning and they are just beautiful.

Very interesting

Just read this over at Ted's.

I personally have no real problem with gas prices. First of all, being from Germany I think gas is cheap here. Plus, I hardly ever use my car. Especially now, that I moved I usually walk to the commuter train station, except for the last two days because it rained. But then it's still only a two minute drive. I maybe get gas once a month, if that, and I have a SMALL car.

Yummy!!!!

Man's vomit caused £1,300 damage to car

- via Ananova

Upgrade???

Isnt' it great when you get an upgrade and yet it feels like a downgrade????

3:0

Deutschland siegt ueber Belgien!!!!!

Herzlichen Glueckwunsch!

New Book

Well, I finally got around to updating my current book I am reading.
You can see that on the left side of this page on the very bottom.
It's a novel that supposedly has some truth to it. The book is called The Da Vinci Legacy by Lewis Perdue. It is very interesting. I like to read about things like that, that involve the church and conspiracies.
After I am done with my current list I am actually starting to read a couple of books about the Holy Grail, but more about that later.
I bought this book because all of my other books were packed up and I found this book at the store around the corner.
I am actually currently reading all of the Anne Rice novels....well, not all but all of the Vampire Chronicles and Witches Stories. I read the first two witching stories when I was younger and so I bought the first three and then started on the Vampire Chronicles. I already have them all but there are about three left to read for me.

No TV

I have been living without cable TV for about a week now.
On Friday the cable guy came and told me that he couldn't hook us up because our house was not connected to the main cable line, so he called the department responsible for that and they told him that they would take care of that on Monday. So I called Monday to schedule another appointment for Tuesday and asked the customer service representative if they would hook the house up for sure on Monday and he said that this was sure. So, yesterday my husband waited from 2 PM to 6 PM and nobody showed. I came home called the cable company and was told that the house is still not connected. Well, thank you for calling me. So, I got a 20 Dollar credit to my account and now have to call them to ensure thee and then I can schedule another appointment.
What the hell is that?

I am seriously thinking about satellite TV but then I hear all those horror stories about not reception and you have to have receivers in every room, plus I wanted the cable high speed internet.

Anyways, because we are so deprived of TV we decided to watch a movie last night. Well, mainly we wanted to see if the VCR was hooked up right, so I picked the Blairwitch Project. I am not ever watching a movie like that on a weeknight in a brand new home that is empty, ever again.
swear I thought the Blairwitch was going to get me.
But, as you can see I made it....for now.

Done!!!!

Well, almost.
We were able to move everything over to the new house and clean the old one. Most of the stuff is unpacked, but all the little stuff is still boxed up. This week I'll finally get to my office and set the computer up.
I am so exhausted, but happy!!!
Today was my first day riding the VRE. Those seats are comfortable. Had I know how nice it was, I would have started a year ago. Anyways, I have a lot of stuff to do at work here so I won't be able to post much more.
Later.

One last post

....for now, but probably for the rest of this week.

Hopefully I will be moved and still happy when I return....

Is it normal that you feel like it's not working out???
I know of buyer's remorse but we haven't even signed the papers yet. I feel like something is going to happen tomorrow and we won't get the house....that would suck.
But I always get like this so it might be normal to feel like this...for me anyways.
Who knows?

a real post

...for a change

Ok, since I WILL BE MOVING this week, I will not be posting as much, but that is not really a change since I hardly post anything anyways. So, I will pretty much only be able to post today and tomorrow.
I already took my home computer apart yesterday.
Little note to anybody who is planning on moving soon: DO NOT pack the little twisty thingies until after all of the wires and cables are packed!!!! Unless you don't mind spending a fortune on ziplocks (or using all the ones you have) to separate all of the cables.
I hope I'll be able to put everything back together once it's time to set the computer back up, but I marked the bags pretty good (e.g. "EPSON printer cables").

In other news: not much.
Had a nice but quite weekend. Right now, moving and packing and calling phone companies is pretty much all I do all day, so there's not really anything to post about.

Oh, another hint for people that are moving soon: Try to be very careful in calculating on how fast you will finish books, so as to NOT pack the next book you were planning on reading.

So, I figured I'll just go to a bookstore and get a magazine or something else to read, however I forgot my wallet at home, which is really stupid because I have no money, ID or driver's license, which means I drove my car to the metro stop this morning without a driver's license. So, my husband, who currently suffers from allergies, and probably has nothing better to do, has to meet me at the metro this afternoon and give me my wallet.

Well, that should be it for now....

Blogiversary

I will celebrate my Blogiversary on the 28th of March!!!!!

Since this is on a weekend and I don't usually blog during the weekend I figured I better mention it now. Plus, I'll be moving too so who knows how much time I'll have.

I am out of here!!!

OK, I think I'm done for the day.
As you can see I was not at all creative today, so I better leave at that and go enjoy my weekend.
So, I hope all of you have a nice weekend!!

It is Friday!!!!

FINALLY!!!

This will be our last weekend in the old house.....time went by so fast.
I tried sending pictures of the house to my folks but some didn't arrive so I'll have to sit down again this weekend and resend the ones they didn't get.

That brings me to my "almost one-year-old" plan on buying an external harddrive. I'll need at least 60GB.
So, if anyone has input on that, please let me know. I was thinking of Maxtor, but a nice small portable one would be cool too.

The Friday Five

If you...

1. ...owned a restaurant, what kind of food would you serve?
Well, I always liked restaurants that serve a mix of food. There is a really nice chain of restaurants in Germany, it's called "Brasserie", which is French for Brewery. They have the restaurant divided into three areas, one looks like a cafe, with small tables, then they have a bar area and a restaurant area.
But I would like to have a bar. I think the easiest food to serve would be gratins, with all kinds of different ingredients.

2. ...owned a small store, what kind of merchandise would you sell?
Something fun, but I don't know what. It would have to be something special that you can't get everywhere.

3. ...wrote a book, what genre would it be?
Suspense Thriller. Something exciting.

4. ...ran a school, what would you teach?
Foreign language, like German. I always thought it would be nice to do that, especially since I am fluent in German. I even passed the test teachers have to take if they want to teach a foreign language. But I couldn't teach older kids. I would be too afraid of them. Elementary School would be fun.

5. ...recorded an album, what kind of music would be on it?
I don't know. I like so many different kinds of music. Maybe something slow, because I like to sign slow songs.

Back to Work!!!

Well, although I only wanted to take half a day off work yesterday it ended up being the whole day.
We had our pre-settlement inspection and everything seems to be going good. Just a couple of tough-up jobs and that should be it.
So, as far as I can tell next week we are moving!!!! Well, we better, because we packed most of the house up already and reserved a moving truck....

Ciao

Nothing more to post so I figure I just go and enjoy the rest of this fine Tuesday afternoon.
What a strange day. I don't like rain and cold weather. This sounds like a perfect evening for wine. hmmmmmm.............which one to drink????

Later....

I will move!!!

But not as you might think...

I was just looking around online and I think I am old enough to leave blogger.
Once I have moved into the new house and set up my new High-Speed Internet, I will register my domain name and start the whole process.
Right now I am thinking about Hosting Matters and MovableType.
If anyone has any ideas or advice, feel free to let me know.
Thank you!!!

Fifty Word Fiction

Over at Ted's I saw a link to this. I might try it, but I am bad at writing.
Anyways, if you are interested try it out!!!


UPDATE: OK I posted mine in the comments, but I figured I put them in the post as well.

It was a warm, sunny day when Sam decided to finally get it over with. He put on his best suit, combed his hair for the first time in months, and walked out of his little apartment into the crowed streets.
"Being around people isn't really that bad," he thought.

Nothing to Write about

Absolutely nothing!!!!
After such a beautiful day yesterday (well, I think it was), today is just depressing. Starting the day in the 40's and going down into the 30's really sucks after a day in the 60's. And it's raining too. This is the worst part about winter/spring because it goes back and forth and you just get teased.
I really can't wait until it is finally spring and I can put that stupid winter coat in the closet (or finally bring it to the dry cleaners) and forget about it.

Other than that, nothing is really going on.

Tomorrow we have the pre-inspection of the house that is hopefully going to be ours next week. I think it'll go ok. We already know a couple of things that are wrong with the house (nothing major), but they'll be able to fix them within a week.
I can't believe that I am going to won my own house.
I was talking to my dad this weekend and he said it was amazing that it took them 10 years after they moved to West Germany to buy a house and it took me 5. But the circumstances are different, so I don't think you can really compare that.

Anyways, hope your day is going great (or at least good)!!

Back to Work!!!

Well, the weekend's over already, but that's ok, because the faster time goes by the quicker I'll be living in my new house!!!!
I can't wait.
Well, the weekend was nice. I made the best Goulash ever....well, my mom's better but mine was close. Everybody loved it.
I was trying to find a Lesco recipe online so I wouldn't have to buy it, but I only found one. I don't know. My mom always buys it in a glass so I think I'd rather stick with that idea....
So the next big thing is my famous cheesecake, but that'll have to wait until we have moved....

WEEKEND!!!!!

Finally...
I hate late Friday's, but it's the weekend now!!!
Have a nice one!

Yet another stupid lawsuit

A US man's suing a fast-food chain because he says he suffered physical disability after biting a hot chicken burger.

Frank Chancellor from Greenville, South Carolina, says the burger he bought from Burger King was so hot it scalded his mouth.

- via Ananova

Yeah! Burgers should be cold.

I was thinking about a cool lawsuit the other day when I was at a McDonald's last weekend.
They had just mopped the floor and put up one of the signs that warn you about the wet floor. As I was walking towards the soda fountain I didn't see the sign because I was already looking at the multitude of sodas I had to chose from. Sure enough I ran right into the sign. Now, shouldn't there be a sign warning you about the sign coming up?

Finally Friday!!!!

This week was weird....I don't know why, but it was.
I can't wait for the weekend.
I was going to bake a cheesecake but it seems that the baking form wanted to be packed already so I guess that'll have to wait until we have moved. But I will be making Goulash (spelling???). It took me all week to get the recipe from my mom and I found some very good Letscho (spelling??? again). I hope it'll work out, but it's not that hard to make. It just takes so long.
Other than that I really need to clean up the bathroom and office so that can be packed. I should go through my clothes as well but I already know that that'll be horrible. I can't throw away stuff, even if I don't wear it anymore. I used to have this really cool and comfortable pullover that my dad gave me. He used to wear it when he was young. It was a knitted one, like sailors wear (not military) and after a while it just started to fall apart but I kept wearing it until it just didn't work anymore. I think it had more holes than anything else. But I kept it for a couple of years until I made up for it by buying about three of those pullovers, one of them an original one. But I don't wear any of them.
Anyways, so I have to get rid of many of such clothes so I expect this to be an emotional weekend....
But what the hell? I am going to move!!!!!!!!

Friday Five

1. What was the last song you heard?
Well, I am listening to the radio right now and they are playing Tracy Chapman's "Talking about the revolution". I love her, which reminds me I should get my tapes (yes, I still have tapes!!!) out, but they have probably been packed already.

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
I know we watched some movie on TV the other day but I can't remember what it was. Before that we rented some movies and I chose "Stalingrad" and "The princess and the warrior". Both are German movies, but they are subtitled. Very good.

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Well, I ordered some man food online (Cheesecake!!!!). Yesterday I called around to make sure that the water, gas an power would be turned on when we moved, but I don't know if that counts as purchasing something?? Oh, I paid for dinner last weekend.

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
I need to do laundry; Sort through all of my bathroom stuff and throw away anything haven't used in the last 6 months; Do the same with my office and throw away all of my papers and stuff; And pack up anything that we don't need for the next two weeks.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
My husband, my stepdaughter, my neighbor, my colleagues (those were actually a number of them).

Moving Update

OK, all of the pictures are off the walls. No more curtains and many of the bookshelves are down as well. It look empty. So, that's how it'll be for the next two weeks.
In other news: We will get our homeowner's insurance policy today!!!!

What is wrong with people?

Every time I read something like this (and it happens way too often), I get sick to my stomach.
How can people treat their own children like they have no feelings and aren't worth anything?

BOYNTON BEACH - A woman and her boyfriend used a bedsheet to tie up her 1-year-old daughter so they could go out dancing, according to police.

The baby's grandmother, Olivia Claros, 50, arrived home shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday and heard her granddaughter, Hayli Nicole Claros, crying hysterically from a bedroom. A sheet was tied around her neck, arms and legs, according to a police report.

via the Drudge Report

See Ya!!!

I am out of here. Finally.

A happy Post

For a change I figured I should post something a little more upbeat. So I sat down (well, I was sitting down already), and started to think about the positive things in life that are worthy of posting. Then I thought, it doesn't really have to be worthy of posting since this is my blog and I can post whatever I want. I could blog about issues I have with my skin or whatever else comes to mind.
So I came up with a well-expected, and joyous activity I have planned for tonight, after I get home from work: I will start packing up my house!!! That'll be fun! It really will, because I can't wait to move.
So, here I am again blogging about the house, but, like I said before this is my blog, and I can post what I want.
So, I hope you're as happy as I am!
More house posts later (I promise).

I hate Mondays

To keep the in tune with my previous post, another complaint.
I don't like Mondays. It doesn't matter if I stay up late on Sunday or go to bed early; Mondays always start sucking after lunch. What is up with that?
Well, two more hours and I am out of here.

What a wonderful weekend it was!!!

And that's just it...it WAS, NOT IS anymore. Now it's getting cold again and we all have to go back to work. But who cares? I reserved a moving truck on Saturday because I AM GOING TO MOVE!!!!!! Finally, the house is ready. Two more weeks and we close.

Have a nice weekend!!!!

I'm sure I will.
Too bad, it's supposed to rain tomorrow and Sunday, but as long as I can sleep in, it'll be fine.

Friday Five

Almost forgot about that...

What was...

1. ...your first grade teacher's name?
Frau G....I can't remember...but that was when I was still living in East Germany...
How about Frau Hell when I was in fourth grade in Hamburg?

2. ...your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?
Didn't have one. I guess it's just not a Saturday morning thing. But I loved "Das Sandmaenchen", which is a nightly show they had on in East Germany (and even after that) with the Sandman. I remember it always ended with him throwing the sand and then I got tired and went to bed....

3. ...the name of your very first best friend?
Dorothee. After I moved away from Berlin she came to see me (after the wall came down), but then we lost contact.

4. ...your favorite breakfast cereal?
I like frosted flakes and Smacks, but I hardly ever eat cereal. I like bread or rolls.

5. ...your favorite thing to do after school?
It used to be some kind of sport, but then, once I got older, it was getting stoned.
Now like a cold beer after work.

I'm off

Well, not until an hour or so, but I am done with blogging for today...
Maybe tomorrow I'll actually have something to post....who knows? It'll be Friday!!!!!

I need some motivation

Lately I've been getting so tired at this time of the day. Not really tired but I just don't have any energy.
I am starting to count the hours until I get to leave.
I can't even get any work done.
And it's not that there is anything going on that makes me upset and bothers me.
I am a happy camper, really.
So what is going on?????

Schade

Hamburgs älteste McDonald's-Filiale geschlossen

Wirklich, denn ich kann mich noch erinnern, wie ich manchmal nach der Schule aus dem Bus (damals war das der 182er) stieg und mir etwas von McDonalds gegonnen habe. Oder als ich eine Eltern angebettelt habe mir doch mal schnell einen 10er zu geben, damit ich dort Mittag holen konnte.

Komisch schon, was sich so alles aendert bzw. geaendert hat....und das in nur 5 Jahren.

That's it

I have nothing more to say or post.

I will start my countdown here and hope time passes really quick because I want to go home, or outside and enjoy the rest of this beautiful weather here.
Maybe I'll go out to eat tonight........

Where I have been

I always liked those maps that highlight where you have been in the world or the United Sates.
So, as I was just looking around on Rocket Jones' blog, I saw that he has those too, and so here are mine:

Guess, which Interstate I travel a lot?????



create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide


Well, I always thought I went to many countries, but it doesn't look like a lot. I am still young and have time to travel so that'll fill up.



create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide

What's wrong with people????

OK, somebody needs to explain this to me.
What has a Mickey Mouse statue, dressed in an outfit Janet Jackson wore over a decade ago, to do with he Super Bowl performance?
Disney took down this 6 foot statue in Orlando according to Gary Foster, a Disney spokesman, told the Orlando Sentinel, stating that "considering all the controversy it drew, we talked it over for a couple of days and decided it would be best to replace hers with a new one."
It also states in that article "The Jackson statue used a tight black outfit". My god, Mickey Mouse really looks offensive.
Judge for yourselves:



Maybe it is because Mickey, supposedly a male, is wearing something a woman wore????

Get over yourselves!

- Via the Drudge Report

A great Howard Stern discussion

Jeff Jarvis has a very interesting discussion going on about the whole issue with the FCC, Clear Channel, and Howard Stern. I have been reading most of it and find it very interesting.
Take a look and voice your opinion.

I'm back

After an involuntary long weekend I am finally back at work. Although today would be a nice day to stay at home and enjoy the wonderful weather. They say it'll be about 72 degrees today!!!!
Oh well, I lost that day yesterday trying to break the world record in "Who can hug the toilet the longest????" I'm sure I won.

Friday Five

Well, there is no Friday Five today. But since I haven't done it in so long I am just going to do last week's.

When was the last time you...

1. ...went to the doctor?
Last May. I go once a year. I rarely get sick, so I don't got to see a doctor that often.

2. ...went to the dentist?
That was just two weeks ago. Every six months!

3. ...filled your gas tank?
Two days ago. I hardly need to do that because I drive so little every day. I need to fill up the tank every two weeks or so and I have samll car. In three year I didn't even put 20,000 miles on my car yet.

4. ...got enough sleep?
Last weekend....actually last night I got enough sleep. I was tired and went to bed early.

5. ...backed up your computer?
???

Alles wird zensiert

Ich war ueberrascht diesen Artikel ueber Howard Sterns Suspension auf 6 amerikanischen Radio Stationen auf Deutsch zu sehen.
Es ist die Weiterfuehrung der Zensur der oeffentlichen Medien, die mit Janet Jackson bei der Super Bowl Halbzeit Show begonnen hat.
Ich bin gespannt, was als naechstes passiert.
Ich sehe es schon vorraus, dass wir bald nur noch Cartoons sehen duerfen...aber bitte OHNE Gewalt!!!!

Schwachsinn.

More overreacting

After the "outrageous" Super Bowl Halftime show, it is now the radio broadcasters' turn to suffer for their "indecencies".
Shock Jock Howard Stern was pulled off the air by Clear Channel Communications on its six stations.
This comes after a caller used the N-word. Note, that it was a caller not Howard Stern.

What the hell is wrong with people?
Now that the FCC started its crusade everybody scrambles to "fix" everything.
Don and Mike can't mention any body parts or use bathroom humor anymore. Budweiser's commercial will not be shown during the Oscar's.

How about people that get offended by breasts or sexual content or bathroom humor just turn off the TV or Radio, or switch the station and watch the Disney Channel? Get over it!

This is the dumbest thing ever and it pisses me off that a bunch of stuck-up idiots can control what I laugh about, watch or listen to.

Oh, and in case you would like to let Clear Channel Communications know what you think, their contacts are listed here.

Eine neue Ausrede fuer Frauen

Laut einer franzoesischen Studie kann Orlasex Mundkrebs ausloesen.
Wer haette das gedacht?

What I am reading

Ok the last thing to do is to update the "Blogeline is currently reading" section.
Maybe I should read this one...I mean, look at it.

-Ananova

Four more weeks...

... and we are moving!!!!
Our house is finally done. I can't wait to get out of where we are at now. It's getting worse every minute. Why do people not care?
Whatever, soon enough I will enjoy MY new home and bitch about the mortgage payment....
Life is wonderful.

Chocolate Muffin

My second one today. No wonder I couldn't eat my lunch, but who wants rice and chicken if you have such sweats??? Anyways, I really needed something to give me a little energy. I feel like I am just sitting here, waiting for time to pass....
HELP!!!

Well....

...more than three months have past and I still don't feel like posting....
I don't know, maybe I was in a creative black hole (and still am), but I was never really creative to begin with.
Anyways, Spring is almost here and I feel the energy returning!!!!
Hopefully it'll stay with me....

I am lazy

I'm not sure if I used the title before, but I really am.
I didn't post in a whole week. The last post before this week's Friday Five was last week's Friday Five.
It's the weather. It's just way too cold, to be productive.

The Friday Five

1. Using one adjective, describe your current living space.
I love being home.
Comfortable.

2. Using two adjectives, describe your current employer.
Well this is my first real job after college.
Useful, Supportive.

3. Using three adjectives, describe your favorite hobby/pasttime.
I like to read a lot. And I read anything, from novels to study guides.
Relaxing, informative, inspiring.

4. Using four adjectives, describe your typical day.
Fast, tiresome, cold, good.

5. Using five adjectives, describe your ideal life.
Happy, fulfilling, enjoyable, rich (not only financially), and long.

Friday Five

1. What food do you like that most people hate?
Well, I am a ketchup freak, so I put it on my Mac&cheese and need it with my steak. But people don't really hate it.
In Germany you can get rolls with meat or cheese on it at every bakery and my favorite is the one with the ground meat...RAW! It's only beef but I could eat that all day long. Unfortunately in the US you can't eat it like that, although, I take a little bite when I make burgers.

2. What food do you hate that most people love?
That list is long.
I hate olive, mustard, celery, sauerkraut, dill and I think there is a lot more.

3. What famous person, whom many people may find attractive, is most unappealing to you?
Well it should be a male or else some might say I am only jealous.
That is tough. David Blaine. He is just plain creepy.

4. What famous person, whom many people may find unappealing, do you find
attractive?
Well, I really think that Sean Connery is very attractive or Roger Moore. They just seem so elegant. It's not that I have a thing for old guys either (although my husband is older....). Maybe it's the 007 thing?

5. What popular trend baffles you?
I don't get the whole 80's thing. That stuff is so ugly and that people actually want to go back to those clothes is really hard to understand.

Go Schumi!!!!

Well, it seems that Schumacher will race a plane.

Michael Schumacher is set to try and beat a fighter jet plane in his Ferrari.

The race, which will take place on December 11, has been arranged by Italian defence minister Antonio Martino.

It will see the Formula 1 champion competing against a Eurofighter plane at the Grossetto air base in Tuscany.

Good Luck!

Ever heard about soap?

Ok, I understand this boy lives in a small village in Romania, but that doesn't mean that he can't clean himself at all.

I am a Female!

Well, it seems that many people are trying to figure out, who they really are. So, I figured I try it too. And, of course, I was right all along.
I am a female. I am sure my husband will be glad to hear that.
Others really experienced an eye-opener.

What Halloween Figure are you??

Hello, my happy friend. You have high spirits and
know how to have a good time. When your friends
go out, most likely they invite you almost all
the time. You most likely will enjoy your
Halloween. Good for you. Keep up the
experiment. You probably light people's dark
days with your smiles and laughter. Although
you're good, doesn't mean you're an angel. You
can tend to have a scary and/or other type of
side to you. As long as you have fun, do your
scares this Halloween. Have a safe and happy
one, Joyous Pumpkin.


What Halloween Figure Are You? (Fun Quiz! MANY RESULTS!)
brought to you by Quizilla

Whatever......

Found via SilverBlue.

100 Things about me

Well, I have read a lot of "100 things about me" lately, so I figured I'd give it a try. I will also put this up on the About Me page.

1. I am usually happy.
2. Some say I am in a bad mood in the morning, but mostly I am not.
3. I was born in East Germany and lived there until I was ten years old.
4. We left the "legal" way, but it took my parents about 5 years.
5. I lived in the US for over four years and I love it.
6. I want to be an American.
7. My husband is in the US Navy!
8. I have a really cool job.
9. This is my first job out of college.
10. I am an evil stepmom too.
11. Although I am not really that evil.
12. I was very sick when I was little. I had to go to hospital every week.
13. Catheters hurt very bad.
14. Now I am very healthy.
15. I love my family.
16. I though I would be better at writing this, but I seem to be very boring.
17. I am going to be a homeowner soon.
18. I wanted to become a doctor when I started College. I even was in the pre-med program as a Chemistry major.
19. But then I didn't like Chemistry anymore, so I switched to International Business.
20. But now I am not even doing anything with that either.
21. I was also an IT minor.
22. I would like to become a certified translator and work from home.
23. But I don't really know how to exactly do that, because there seem to be lot of Associations out there.
24. One day we will move to Germany!
25. I can't wait.
26. But that is more because of my family and friends. I like living in the US too.
27. I can't believe I still have 73 to go!
28. I can't believe the Yankees lost the World Series either.
29. I was a bad teenager.
30. I did a lot of stupid things, but I don't regret anything about it.
31. I like to travel.
32. I have been to 14 countries and 4 continents.
33. Since we got married we have not been on a real vacation.
34. We either go to Germany or to Florida. Visiting family.
35. We will be in Florida for Thanksgiving.
36. I do all the finances at home.
37. I love it. I love paying bills too.
38. I thought about becoming a CPA for a while.
39. But then I thought, that this would not be too much fun.
40. I could work by myself all day if I had to.
41. I don't like dealing with people.
42. I hate giving presentations.
43. I don't ever want to do that again.
44. But I am not really shy.
45. Sometimes get in trouble for saying what I feel.
46. When I get pissed off I usually mumble something in German but sometimes I just say what I feel in English.
47. So far, I did not get hurt.
48. I think I am a cool wife.
49. I love to watch Sports on TV.
50. I like to go to bars with my husband.
51. I like to play pool, but I suck at it.
52. We are going to get a pool table when we move into the new house!
53. I can cook too.
54. I baked an apple cake this weekend.
55. Mostly my husbands cooks though, because he usually comes home before I do.
56. I hate wearing makeup. It just feels like dirt on my face.
57. When we go out I put some on.
58. I don't like doing my hair either.
59. But I don't look like a guy.
60. I used to have very long, blond hair.
61. Then I cut it short. Very short.
62. Now I am letting it grow again.
63. This list is very boring.
64. I always walk very fast.
65. I can't help it. It just happens.
66. I used to run track.
67. I hate it when people take up all of the sidewalk and walk way too slow. Go to the park!
68. I also can't stand people that don't have any concern for others.
69. There are a lot of things I don't like about people.
70. I get upset about stupid teenagers getting pregnant or becoming criminals.
71. My step kids are all teenagers. They are horrible!
72. Well, not all and not always, but it seems like this.
73. We count the years until they are 18.
74. But we still love them. They just make it very hard.
75. Some laws and school regulations piss me off.
76. My stepson has Septo-Optic Dysplasia, (S.O.D.). He is blind and is mentally retarded.
77. He is the coolest kid in the world.
78. He is trying harder than any of the "normal" kids. So, who is the retard?
79. I hate when people use that word to call each other names.
80. I am almost done with this.
81. I love to eat.
82. Cheese is my favorite.
83. I hate olives.....
84. I hate anything fat-free. I need real food.
85. I also like to drink, but not getting drunk.
86. I usually have beer (or two) when I get home. Or wine.
87. I smoke too.
88. But I am pretty healthy.
89. I don't ever get sick (knock on wood) anymore.
90. I don't think I sound very attractive but think I am.
91. I am tiny person. Petite.
92. But I am still fairly young.
93. I have a tattoo that I got in New York.
94. I also have a couple of piercings, but nothing really exciting.
95. When I was 15 I pierced my own belly button. Three times, because it never looked right.
96. Now everybody has them.
97. By the time I was 17 I was done doing drugs.
98. I had a really bad experience and then I quit everything.
99. I am happy I did.
100. I am so glad I am done with this, although it is just starting to get interesting...

Completely unmotivated

That would be me.
I have no energy whatsoever.
It is this weather. So cold and yesterday it was rainy and gray all day. Horrible.
I have tons of things that I would like to post but I just don't want to get up and actually write it all down.
Coffee doesn't help and I did get enough sleep last night.
I hate Fall and inter. I am a Summer person.

BOOH!!!

Just read this on Ananova. It seems that Russia didn't quite get the hang of democracy yet.

Brain Drain

Gerade im Spiegel gelesen:
Mehr Dumme im Osten (und Ostfriesland).....

Halte dieser "brain drain" an, so der aus Hamburg stammende Forscher, bestehe die Gefahr, dass künftig einige Kommunen Brandenburgs hauptsächlich von "arbeitslosen Stadtdeppen ohne Chance auf Paarbeziehungen" bevölkert würden.

Hmmm......

Another boring house update...

Well, you'll be hearing a lot of those in the next few months, years....whatever.
I just talked to my husband and....they dug the hole!!!!! Probably some time next week they will get the foundation all set.
Cool, huh?

Well, that's it for me.
Enjoy your weekend.

Meyers Briggs Personality Test

That's me!

Introverted (I) 51.28% Extroverted (E) 48.72%
Sensing (S) 64.71% Intuitive (N) 35.29%
Thinking (T) 61.11% Feeling (F) 38.89%
Judging (J) 67.65% Perceiving (P) 32.35%

ISTJ - "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardian of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 11.6% of total population.

Take Free Myers-Briggs Personality Test

Found via Director_Mitch

Friday Five

1. Name five things in your refrigerator.
I have milk (2%), eggs, cheese (Gouda), heavy cream, and yogurt. Of course there is lots more, but that is the most important stuff. I love dairy products.

2. Name five things in your freezer.
Let's see. It's kind of empty right now. There are fries in there, chicken, chicken wings, probably some steaks....Oh, and a bottle of "Bismarck", which is a German clear Schnaps, or whatever. My husband drinks that stuff, but not me! Again, I am sure that I have some frozen vegetables in there too.

3. Name five things under your kitchen sink.
a, I live in a handicapped-accessible house (we call it the Clown-House), so below the sink is NOTHING. Well, I put a shelf there, but nothing is on it.
Does a rug count?

4. Name five things around your computer.
At home, there are two printers, a clock, some bills, and probably some floppies. At work, I have two pictures, some paper work, my coffee cup, and a telephone.

5. Name five things in your medicine cabinet.
Ok, there we have all kinds of pain killers, band-aids, nail clippers, my hand lotion, and some deodorant.

What's up with DC hotels?

OK, I just read this story on the local TV station's website about a Diesel fuel spill in the basement of a DC hotel. One really scary part about this is in the following explanation of why this happened:

Etter said workers thought they were pumping the fuel into a generator, but the generator had been removed.

Don't you check beforehand if the generator is still there?

Ok, on to the story from yesterday where a water main break caused the flooding of another DC hotel's garage.

It seems to me that it is not save anymore to go in the lower levels of some DC hotels.

Die Beste Band der Welt

Nettes Interview mit den Aerzten im Spiegel.
Interessantes ueber die neue Platte Geraeusche. Ich wusste noch nichtmal, dass es eine neue gibt, aber das leigt bestimmt auch daran, dass ich nicht in Deutschland wohne.

What the....

Ok, a couple of days ago or so I posted this, concerning Virginia's discussion whether to close one of the Schools for the Deaf and Blind. I argued against it and gave my arguments in the post.
Now I read this and am thinking to myself, what the hell is going on.
So let's close the School for the Deaf and Blind, because we don't have money for them. Who gives a shit about handicapped people? And then, because all of those poor kids have to go back to their base schools, that can't to shit for them, we decide to close the Special Education Centers.
I wish everyone of those "consulting people" that even think about a suggestion like this need to get another job and a lot more, but I'm not going to mention that here or else I might get arrested for threatening someone....

Star Wars

I just found this article via the Drudge Report.
Now this is very interesting.

Space may become a war zone in the not-too-distant future, a senior US military officer said today, hours after China became only the third country after the US and the former Soviet Union to put a man in space.

There might be some truth to that.
But when I read this:

"They can see that one of the ways that they can certainly diminish our capabilities will be to attack the space systems," said Anderson, who was formerly with US Space Command.

I'd hate to think that this would really happen.....
But maybe I am just naive?

Freak

Just read that on Ananova.
Well, I kind of like Prince, or whatever he calls himself now, but why in the world go door-to-door? I hate those people.
Why do people go crazy like that, like so many other celebrities? Or is that other people go crazy like that too, but we just don't hear about it? Probably.

One less thing....

...to worry about!
Today I mailed off the last payment for something I really wanted 6 months ago. I never thought I would be able to have it, but now I do and my plan worked. It's all mine now (well, and my husband's as well)!
Hmmm...what could it be?

And the Curse continues......

Poor Cubs. I really wanted them to win.
Man, I don't want to be "The Fan" right now. He must feel horrible.
I fell asleep so I didn't watch the end of the game but I guess I didn't really miss anything.
I didn't even watch the end of Game 6 because our power went out.
It just would've been so cool if they made it, but I guess we'll have to wait until next year.

UPDATE: I just read this really interesting article in the Washington Post about curses in Sports. It's really worth taking the time to read it.

New Book

Ok, I finished my last book and am now reading Exterminate All the Brutes by Sven Lindqvist.
I read this book when I went to College and thought it would be interesting to read it again without having to write papers about it.
I am huge fan of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and am looking forward to Lindqvist's view and exploration into European colonialism.

House Update

OK, everything is picked out. Kitchen, bathrooms, everything. The only thing left to do is the wiring. On Sunday we'll sit down and decide where everything goes, like the plugs and lighting, etc. How exciting!
I never thought about all the time this will take up, but it's ok, because it's fun. And after all of that it'll slow down I think. Then we get to start being impatient and driving to the site every day to see how much progress is being made.....

WHY???

do I have to work and everybody else gets to sleep in today?
Who thought that this would be fun?
I am so tired......

Off for the weekend!!!!

Well, I'll guess I'll go home pretty soon.
Nothing to write about.
I hope everybody that reads this (hahahaha) has a nice weekend. Some of you a**holes gets to stay home on Monday, but not me.
I will go and pick out all the carpet and the kitchen and everything else for my new house tomorrow!!!!!
See Ya!

What a perfect match!

Dutton To Play Moose In Sniper Movie

Just go look at those pictures.

The breed of my dog?

Ok, something really weird happened to me yesterday.
I was looking around online to try and get an idea of how much my homeowner's insurance is going to be. So I went to Allstate's site and did the price quote. It has about six steps and the first page is just some general information. They want to know your name, where you live, if you have been an Allstate customer before, and easy things like this. No questions about the house yet. So then I come to the bottom of the page and what questions is there?
What breed is you dog? Please select.!!!!!
First I thought I went to the wrong website, but it was Allsate. Probably some webmaster dude thought it'd be funny to put that in there.
I don't even have a dog.

UPDATE:
Here is the proof

Friday Five

1. Do you watch sports? If so, which ones?
Well, right now it has got to be Baseball, but I am one of those that only watches Baseball in October...
Other than that, I like to watch Soccer, but only international one or German soccer, which I don't get to do very often. The, last but not least, I try to watch Formula One racing, but mostly it is so early on the weekends that I miss it.

2. What/who are your favorite sports teams and/or favorite athletes?
Well, I like many teams, but I am a real St. Pauli fan!!!! That's a soccer team in Hamburg, Germany. When I still lived there I went to every game. Six years straight. I still have all my season passes. I love them, and I know they'll be back!

3. Are there any sports you hate?
I hate to say it, but I can't watch women play soccer. It just doesn't look right. I know, I am a woman myself and I even played soccer in High School, but that just looks stupid. Sorry.

4. Have you ever been to a sports event?
Well, of course soccer games. But I don't think I have ever been to any other event. Oh yes, I went to the Le Mans race in DC last year. It was fun.

5. Do/did you play any sports (in school or other)? How long did you play?
Ok, I stated young. I did track and field when I was six. I was very fast and have about 8 medals at home...all Gold and Silver! One time I won the ( I believe) 1000 meter race of all of Berlin! I quit when we moved to Hamburg and then I started playing Handball (???) If you don't know what this is, just go here. I played in a Club and also in School. Then I was also on the school soccer team, basketball team, and on the track team. But then I began to be "coo" and started smoking and then it just wasn't fun anymore. My PE teacher was really upset with me. But I'm still fast as hell.

Ananova - Hunters find 140 shoes filled with butter

Now, that is weird....

Which school to close?

My husband just told me that finally an article was published in the Washington Post about Virginia's problem with its two Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
My stepson goes to the school in Hampton, which serves mainly students that have another disability besides, in our case, blindness. Hence the name: The Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind and Multi-Disabled in Hampton!
The other school in Staunton, Virginia mainly serves students with "only" one disability, which makes it more academically focused than Hampton.

Staunton graduates are expected to go to college or work. About half of Hampton graduates go to work, while the rest move into the care of local agencies or group homes.

The problem is, that Virginia does not have enough money to keep both schools open, so they don't know which school to close.
Some indicate that Hampton has the worse position because it mainly serves African-American students, which I disagree with, not only because my stepson is white but also because I have been to both schools and could clearly see that Staunton couldn't help my stepson in terms of his needs concerning independent living. Staunton refused to take my stepson as a student and send us to Hampton.

So, my question is, how can those two schools be combined? The students should still be separated because of their different needs.

Of course then they have these smart educators that say we don't need any of those schools because:

Federal law requires schools to provide access to children with disabilities. Only if teachers and parents agree that the local system cannot give a child an appropriate education can they consider outside placements.

This has caused some educators from Virginia school districts to say:

Rarely have we made that recommendation," said Billy Ritter, vision specialist for Prince William schools, which sent three of its 188 hearing and visually impaired students to Staunton last year and one to Hampton. "It's both that we're very confident in services for our children and we feel that if students are going to live and function in a community, they should live in that community."

Fairfax County sent three of its 740 hearing or visually impaired students to Staunton last year and seven to Hampton. Those who stay home have a range of options, including classes taught by special teachers, interpreters to accompany them to classes and classes taught in sign language.

Well, that is bulls**t, because how in the world is a disabled child supposed to learn how to live independently, if he or she is still going home at the end of the day where mommy and daddy are making dinner and washing the closes and helping them bathe? Residential schools are the best possibility in those cases.
Now, that argument could mean that Staunton the really doesn't need to be open because those kids know all those things. They are "only" there to be together with other kids alike, which is very important too.

Ideally, both schools should stay open and keep servicing and teaching and teaching both kids, but evidently that is impossible.

I guess, my only concern is that once one school is closed or even both and a new one built, it will be harder for my stepson and his peers to adjust to that new school or even worse that new school simply would not be able to serve them anymore because they are too disabled. Luckily he is old enough to where other options might be available but this is the first time that he has improved so much and seems to be able to be independent, or at least without parents, in the future.

Und Tschuess!

Ich geh jetzt. Hab keinen Bock mehr.
Jetzt hat nun auch mein Wochenende angefangen.

Sonderzug aus Pankow

REUTERS

Gleich ist es soweit....

und ich hab Wochenende!!
Nur noch 40 Minuten und dann bin ich weg.
Das ist die schlimmste Zeit, wenn man nichts mehr richtig macht, weil man wartet, dass die Zeit vergeht und es dauert eine Ewigkeit. Also versucht man sich anderweitig zu beschaeftigen aber alles ist langweilig und so sitzt man bescheuert rum und glotzt auf die Uhr.
Oder man schreibt unsinnige Blogeintraege.

I have an "about me" page now!

It's in the upper left corner. I don't really like how it sits there but I am not in the modd to mess with that right now. So, I will have to do that next week.

Stupid Animal Liberation Front!

I bet that really is how minks are supposed to be treated. They were porbably so relieved after they were "freed".
I'm not syaing "Go out and buy a fur!", but that doesn't make sense either.
What a bunch of idiots.

Canadian PM Mulls Smoking Marijuana When He Retires

Just found that in the Washingtong Post. Interesting. I might have to plan a trip to Canada......

That's what I need

Honeywell QuickHeat Ceramic Heater

I am always cold in my office, even now that FINALLY the heat is on.....
I am cold-blooded.

Tag der Deutschen Einheit

Der Kanzler scheint ja den Feiertag richtig zu geniessen.


© Jochen Luebke/ddp


PS: Dabei faellt mir ein, dass ich einmal Udo Lindenberg getroffen habe.
Das war '96, als ich ein Praktikum im Atlantic Hotel gemacht habe. Da habe ich ihm Fruehstueck an den Pool gebracht! Metwurstbroetchen, oder Hackbroetchen, wie auch immer man das nennt....lecker.

Uebrigens habe ich da auch Iggy Pop gesehen...etwas unbekleidet. Wir mussten Fruchtkoerbe in die Zimmer stellen bevor die Gaeste ankamen, aber er war schon da....er war aber ganz nett. Wir haben immer vorsichtshalber vorher angeklpoft und er macte auf, hat uns dann gefragt ob wir warten koennen, und ist sich dann anziehen gegangen. Dann hat er uns reingelassen und wir haben den bloeden Fruchtkorb hingestellt und sind wieder gegangen...super, ne?

Naja, das hat zwar nichts mit der Deutschen Einheit zu tun, aber egal.

I want to move

At first I thought that buying a new house is really good, because you get a brand-new hosue, but the problem is that you have to wait until it's done (unless you buy it when it's already built).
So, now we know we get this cool house, but we have to wait until March!
Every day, I am going online to pick out furniture and colors in anticipation of the big move. They didn't even dig a hole where our house is supposed to be yet...well, maybe they did, I don't know. But still, the worst thing is that now, that it's getting cold, I would love to have a fireplace, but we don't. The new house has one, but that doesn't really help me now.

But at least we got the house, and after meeting with the loan people, it looks like we can also afford the upgrades, or at least the most important ones. But why do I have to wait? I want it now!

I just need to think positive and try to tell myself that the waiting has a good side to it...I just can't think of one right now.

I'm going out tonight!

Well, it's this time of the year again when I get to go to a ball.
I won't say what kind, but it is tonight and it's military-related.
I don't feel too good today so I hope it'll be fun. Plus, it's so cold that I am really worried I'll get too cold. Last year it was way too cold inside the building. Well, I can't wait. I'll leave work early today so I can go and get my hair done (that sounds very girlish, but I'm not really), well not just because of that but that's another story. And then..... it's time to party!
I love Fridays.

Friday Five

1. What vehicle do you drive?
I drive a metalic blue 2001 Dodge Neon. I love this car. It's my first car that I don't have to share with anybody.

2. How long have you had it?
I bought it in March 2001, so that means I've had for about 2 years and 5 months.

3. What is the coolest feature on your vehicle?
My radio. I love listen to music. It also has a tape player, which is the best because I have so many old tapes that I listen to and I only get to do it in the car. If I ever buy a new car, I need a tape player.

4. What is the most annoying thing about your vehicle?.
Right now it's the driver's side head light and blinker. It's flooded and I need it to be fixed (I called yeserday). I got into an accident and after they fixed it it started fogging up inside. They say it's because the insurance didn't authorize them to use a factory part but another replacement. I don't care, juts get the damn thing fixed.
I noticed this morning that my blinker already gave up.

5. If money were no object, what vehicle would you be driving right now?
I like the Mini Coopers. I always have. But I probably could go and buy one right now, since they are not too expensive.
My dream car is a Bugatti. I saw one once and I knew that one day, when I am a Millionaire I will have one. It'll be made especially for me and fit perfectly. I can't wait.

Malina

heisst das Buch, dass ich gerade lese. Es ist von Ingeborg Bachman. Ich habe es schonmal in der 13. Klasse gelesen, im Deutsch LK.
Sehr interessant.
Normalerweise, wenn ich lese, versuche ich mich in die Hauptfigur, in diesem Fall "Ich" reinzufinden und mitzufuehlen, aber hier ist es sehr schwer.
Natuerlich ist es einfacher Malina zu verstehen wenn man es schonmal gelesen hat. Jetzt weiss ich ja das "Ich" und Malina eine Person sind.
Naja, ich habe es ja gerade erst angefangen und bin noch dabei mich reinzufuchsen.

Es war aber lustig das Buch aufzuschlagen und die ganzen Notizen in verschiedenen Farben zu sehen. Unser Lehrer hat uns angewoehnt nur mit dem Bleistift zu lesen. Es hat ganz schoen lange gedauert mir das wieder abzugewoehnen, aber manchmal mache ich es immer noch.

Wir haben's geschafft!!!

Ok, der Termin mit den boesen Bankleuten ist hinter uns. Ich kann es nicht glauben, aber der Kredit wurde bewilligt und somit steht dem Traum des Eigenheims nichts mehr im Weg.
Jetzt koennen wir uns daran machen uns um Farben zu streiten und was sonst noch alles anfaellt.
Das erste Problem: Der Teppich (aber das weiss er noch nicht).
Naja, zumindest sind wir uns ueber die Kueche, Badezimmer, und Lampen einig.

Today is the day

We will (hopefully) sign everyhting for our new-home-loan today!
I am kind of nervous, but I think it's going to be ok. I hope everything is going to work out like we planned (haha).
And then, after all is said and done and we just have to wait until the house is done!
I can't wait to move out of our place and into the new one!

Sexabenteuer in der St. Patrick's Cathedral

Gerade im Spiegel gefunden.
ich wars sehr ueberrascht, dass sowas auch in Deutschland berichtet wird.
Nachdem das Paerchen verhaftet und angeklagt wurde, wurden auch Opie und Anthony die Radiolizensen entzogen und sie sind seit dem "weg vom Fenster":. Sher shcade, da ich eigentlich fast jeden Tag reingeschlatet habe.