Into the past in Dresden

  

These people wander through the streets of Dresden, waiting for people to take their photo. It was a bit of a shock for te boy at first, but then he ran over and was very happy to pose!

Spring is HERE!

 


And we are home from Dresden. I will write more later, after I've recovered from the trip. 

Frankfurt

Last week we decided to make a run to Frankfurt to see Skyring and to meet some real live Bookcrossers. Zanla and I have held our own meetups at the breakfast table every morning, but have not talked to another Bookcrosser (TargetCat(the boy) does NOT count) in almost a year. So I booked a room, reserved seats on the train, and we were off.

Thanks to the Christian contingent of the world, Zanla had Friday off, so we arrived in Frankfurt in time for lunch. We hailed a taxi and headed for our hotel, which was on the other side of the city. It was, however, less than a block from the zoo and a Pizza Hut, so we were happy.

The not so good thing about our hotel was the size of our room. There were three beds in a room about 10 feet by 12 feet. This photo shows the dear boy asleep in the middle bed. The other two touched this one, but went the other way. Oh, and the ceiling slant began halfway into the room. It was fine, but we spent as little time as possible there. Yay for an included breakfast, though!



So for lunch we found a small bar which served putenschnitzle (turkey schnitzle, TargetCat's favorite meal) , and a few unknown dishes, including cevapcici, along with a glass of ebbelwei (applewine). After lunch we all took a nap and readied ourselves for dinner.



We walked to dinner, wandering into a playground so that the boy could burn off a bit of energy, and then stopped to take in the Old Jewish Cemetary.


There is no way to escape discussions of the war here, and we tend not to shy away from difficult discussions, so we spent the next few blocks trying to explain death and war to a four year old.



Dinner was at the Steinernes Haus, where we met Skyring along with a group of German Bookcrossers. The dinner was so much fun and was filled with good food, a pile of books, and camera flashes every few moments. Photos of the meetup are HERE, in case you haven't seen them yet. For dinner I happily listened to elhamisabel and ordered Grüne Soße (Green Sauce), which was light and lovely. I only wish it was something I could order near home, but I think it might be something I'll try to make at home.



After a quick taxi ride back to the hotel, we were ready to sleep and be ready for the zoo the next day.

The zoo was a bunch of fun. There were very few cages, which allowed us clear views into the habitats. The trip was punctuated by the toilet habits of the animals, including an orangatan who amused himself (and his audience) by aiming a perfect stream of urine onto the glass which separated him from us. The boy was quite impressed, and the parents were quite happy for the glass!

After a quick lunch at Pizza Hut, we headed back towards the train station. We took our time, stopping for coffee and a quick trip to the market for food for the trip. We made it home before dark, and have spent the majority of today getting ready for tomorrow, when we head to Dresden for a few days. I can't be sure of an internet connection for the following week, so I will have a bunch of catching up to do then. Have a great week!

Handsome Boy

  

Pretend friend?

The boy has a pretend friend who occompanies us on some trips. I have a feeling I may have snapped a shot of him on our way to Frankfurt yesterday.

  

Thank you Harry Taylor

Thank you!

“In my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of my leadership in Washington,” Taylor told the president. “And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and grace to be ashamed of yourself.”

The End of an Era

Empty Thomas Tracks
Originally uploaded by allysther.

I hereby declare that the Era of Thomas the Tank Engine is over. The tracks have been dismantled, the trains are put away. A part of the boy's childhood is behind him.

You were a very useful train, Thomas!

Thanks, Everyone!

A huge thank you to everyone who wished me a happy day. I had a wonderful time today, an ended my festivities with an Entenmann's Chocolate Cake. I could not have asked for better!

 


Some more photos from the day:

(He's not really bored, just mugging for the camera!)

Birthday goodies from my folks






 

Red

I went outside to gather the boy's sleds and found this:

 

His sled is in the background. It has been rainy today, and we sat (in the car on the side of the road) through a few moments of hail, but the temperature made it up to 60 degrees, so we are starting to believe that gorgeous days are on the way. 

Cupcakes

Cupcakes
Originally uploaded by allysther.

We made these for the school fest. I made the cakes and frosted them, and the boy put the candy on top.

When we got to school, I had to convince him not to buy one! Finally I reminded him that we had one at home for him, so he picked out a chocolate chip cookie, instead.

When we got home, he asked for his cupcake. After I scraped off the frosting and threw out the paper and the "wet" candy, he took a bite and told me I could eat the rest.

And it was good.

We've been home all week. The boy has a nasty stomach thing happening. So no books for us. It makes me happier that we spent so much time and money on the spring fest.

Goooooosh!

"Mommy?"
"Yes, Love?"
"I love you."
"Thank you. I love you, too."

We have a wonderful hug.

"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"My heart beats for you."

And my heart melts into a puddle. A big gooshy puddle of love.....

(self portrait)

It's 5am, I'm going back to bed!

The little guy and I are on our own this week. Wendall is off on a trip for work, so we have been granted the keys to the Passat (woo-hoo!!!!) and plan to have fun.

Yesterday the school had a fundraising Easter party, and the entire town of Sorghof came out to buy crafts and cake. It was insanely busy, and all of the higher priced craft items sold immediately, so hopefully the school made some money. I am happy to report that the glued-together rabbit I painted sold in the first few minutes, and that my cupcakes were a hit with the kids. I was afraid that they would be too much towards the American taste bud, but the German kids looked happy as well. And they made $25 for the school.

Monday, the school is haing a book sale. They promised to have some books in English, so I'll pop my head in and see what is available.

Oh, and yesterday it RAINED. Softly, and with no wind. The mist rising from the fields was lovely, and it was warm enough to get to the car without a coat. YAY!!!

Ok, back to bed for me.

In front of Notre Dame Cathedral

 

This would be just before he burst into tears because he was so cold. Which was just before we went inside the cathedral. 

Instructions on the bus

Instructions on the bus
Originally uploaded by allysther.

This is my most popular photo on flickr. It has been viewed over 2000 times. My second most viewed photo has just over 50 views. I had no idea it would be so popular, but it certainly made me laugh.

Paris

We spent the weekend in Paris and at Eurodisney. A wonderful time was had by all three of us, and the cats have assured us that all was well at home.

Pictures are HERE and HERE

Enjoy!

Hot Like Lava

"Mommy, are the brownies done? Can we eat them yet?"
"I just pulled them out of the oven, Love. We have to wait for them to cool down."
....30 seconds later....
"Mommy, are they cool yet?"
"Honey, right now they are really hot. Lava hot!"
"Lava is really hot, Mommy. If you ate lava you would burn up."
"That's right, so how 'bout we wait until the brownies cool a little longer."
"Ok, Mommy. I don't want lava brownies."
....30 seconds later....
"Mommy..."

Greenwich Village Fair

 
 

September, 1975 

The boy took this picture

 

I like it for some reason. 

Window Sleeper

Window Sleeper
Originally uploaded by allysther.

The boy fell asleep in the window this afternoon. His bed is a loft bed, and the matress is exactly in line with the window, so the rail kept him secure. The window sill is marble, and sits right above the radiator, so I know he was warm. He was also sitting on a bunch of stuffed animals that he keeps in the window sill.

After taking a few pictures, I tried to wake him. After calling his name a few times, I reached out and touched his leg. He opened his eyes, stood, stepped on to the bed, told me he loved me, and lay down. His eyes were closed moments later, and he stayed asleep for another 30 min. He does not remember this, although he thinks it is a good story.

He says he has no idea why he was in the window.

HUG

Tonight, the boy read me a bedtime story. He read HUG, which honestly only has three words, but he actually read those words. First he told me the letters, then he sounded out the letters, and finally he gave me the word.
~

After reading HUG, he asked me to read Read to Your Bunny, which explains, in very simple language, that if you read to your bunny, eventually your bunny will read to you.

All together now, AWWWWWWW.....

Jonothan Coulton

Jonothan Coulton was mentioned on Wil Wheaton's blog last October.  I found it this week.  I really like the songs Coulton is writing (one a week, which you can hear for free if you subscribe to his podcast).  Wheaton has a link to Coulton's cover of Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot.  Brilliant stuff.   I would link to the mp3 myself, but I cant.  No idea how.  Anyway, the links are worth following.

Reminder

Winter is not forever. The snow will go away. The flowers will return.

Baby I'm a STAR!

  

Fasching

 

So Sunday was the Fasching parade in Vilseck. It turns out that the staging for the parade happened right in front of our house. This was shot while hanging out of my bathroom window. We did not go to the parade because it was way too cold, but some of the drunk people in the street were kind enough to throw candy at us before they stumbled down the block.




Oh, but they stopped to pee before they left.





Gotta love drunk people! 

Octavia Butler

One of my all time favorite authors has died. Octavia Butler was only 58, but died from a fatal concussion this weekend.

boing boing
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

All that you touch
You Change

All that you Change
Changes you

The only lasting truth
Is Change

God
Is Change
From Parable of the Sower

I was introduced to her work in 1993, by a friend who happened to own a used bookstore. We met when Wendall introduced me to her wonderful store. (Tales Retold in Silver Spring, MD. Long gone, but never forgotten.) Soon after becoming a customer, I became an employee as well, in what will forever be one of my favorite jobs.

One day, when I had just started working at the store, a man came in and asked for Octavia Butler books. The owner was there, and she quiclky told him no. After he left, I asked her about the stack of Octavia Butler paperbacks behind the counter. I had noticed them before, but I needed to know why she had not mentioned them to him. Why would she not want to make a sale?

She explained that the books were not for sale, and that I was never to tell anyone that they were there. Had they sold, she would never see them again, and she needed them to lend to friends. The books were out of print at that point, and difficult to find. She was more interested in finding new readers for one of her favorite writers than she was in adding to someone's collection. I went home with the books that night, promising to bring them back as soon as I finished them. I now purchace her books whenever I find them, and I always share them with friends.

Just a few weeks ago, her latest book arrived at my door. I had looked forward to a new series, and more books in general from Butler. I can not easily explain how sad I am at the moment.

Thank you, Chris, for considering me a friend, and for lending me her books so many years ago. Thank you Octavia, for being a writer, and for sharing yourself with your readers.

Green!

 
Today is color day at school. They are having a party for Faching (Carnival), and the kids were told to wear their favorite color. Can you guess what he picked? 

Livejournal

So I have discovred something interesting. I have had this blog for well over a year, and my use of it has changed quite a bit. For some time now I have posted more photos than words here, and I don't see that changing any time soon. At the same time, my livejournal account seems to be where my writing energy is spent.

Why?

Because I find the idea of privacy more and more appealing.

Livejournal has a feature which allows me to set privacy levels on everything that I write. I can leave things "public", meaning that anyone wandering by can see it, just like on Blogger. I can set a post to "friends", allowing only people who are livejournal members and who have asked me to let them see my more personal thoughts see them. And best of all, I can set things to "private", leaving me room to rant and rave with no witnesses at all. Private posts are for the poster only. You can even filter your "friends" list, allowing some to see not quite as much as others. A good example of this is a friend of mine who was writing details of her sex life. She sent out a message that anyone who was uncomfortable should tell her, and she would filter them out of those entries.

So why am I posting this here? Especially if I am telling people that they are not allowed to read everything I write over there? Because I have had a few poeple around me mention that they suspect that someone is reading what they say when they would rather keep things private. I understand wanting to shield myself from coworkers (I remember having them!) and even family. I figured that rather than email people directly I would post this here. If you think I mean you, I do. If you think you are the person I do not want reading my personal thoughts, you are. If you are a random person surfing by, and you have read this and it has helped, hi, and you are welcome.

Oh, and if you want to head over to livejournal, set up a free account, and ask to be my friend, I will probably say yes. There isn't a huge amount I keep to myself, and that often ends up in the "private" bin, so you wouldn't get to read it anyway.

On the Train

 

We went to Nurnberg today, just for a change. It was good fun and we took lots of pictures. Wendall had fun playing with his Leapster on the way to the city. 

In a recent interview, Felicity Huffman was asked (by Leslie Stahl) about motherhood. She gave an answer which has stayed with me.

(Felicity)Huffman has two little girls, but gives a surprising answer when asked if motherhood is the best experience in her life.

"No, no, and I resent that question," Huffman says. "Because I think it puts women in an untenable position, because unless I say to you, 'Oh, Lesley, it's the best thing I've ever done with my whole life,' I'm considered a bad mother..."

Last night, while sitting in a meeting with a bunch of military wives, the conversation turned to the careers of military dependents. More specifically, the lack of careers. One woman, who is a teacher, explained that her husband is leaving the military in part because she has very few options when it comes to work. She can only work at the school on base here, but has no seniority, and so is in constant danger of being replaced. In the States she would have more schools, but still no seniority, and would never have the chance to build one.

Other women joined the conversation, all saying that they had lost opportunities because of the military. A (pregnant) friend who was there with me expressed her frustration at the ever changing life, and her inability to work. She was told "We have all had to give up a career of some sort." I then exclaimed "But she is an attorney!", to which the amazing response was "But now she will be a mother!"

I stayed quiet for the remainder of the evening. My main problem with the military is my place in it. I am listed as a dependent and as a mother, and not much else. I am marinalised because I am female, because I am not a soldier myself, and because I have a child.

I am in full agreement with Ms. Huffman. I resent being questioned about the joy that motherhood has brought me. I should not be defined by my decision to have a child. Wendall is never asked if having a child is the best thing that has ever happened to him, especially by people in the military, but I should be overjoyed by the work I put into my family. Grrrrr.

Being a wife and a mother are parts of my being, but only parts. They do not come close to describing me. I resent the fact that to the military, and to the world at large, they are the parts that matter most.

Discussions with my morning coffee

"Mommy?"
"Yes, Love?"
"I know who I will marry!" (This has been the subject of much discussion, for various reasons.) "It will be someone from Africa."
"Really? That's cool. Why Africa?"
"Because Africa is far far away, and everything there is upside down. It's really cool. I know all about things like that."
"Well...."(I think for a moment about what to tell him about people living below the equator)
"And Mommy?"
"Yes, Love?"
"When I grow up, I will be an astronaut ninja, and I will be in outer space and I will fight the bad guys."
"Good plan, sweetie."

Personality Awareness

I don't generally do these things, but this looks pretty neat. And I have a feeling that a few of my friends out there might enjoy the concept.

Take a look

Sledding in the back yard

  

Car Keys

 


So Zanla's magic button is bigger and better than mine, it seems. On the left is the magic button for my car, and on the right is my favorite accessory ever (thanks, Mom!). In between is the really cool key that goes to Wendall's new car. Yup, that is actually the key! The entire thing slides into the dashboard, and the car just starts.



Here's the weird thing. Wendall's key is programmed in English, but when I use my key the dashboard settings are in German. The clock switches from 12 to 24 hours, the outside temperature is in Celsius, and the compass is in German. Very strange, but kind of cool. I won't be driving the car much, so it isn't really worth having it reprogrammed. 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA