tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80628196022813354722012-02-02T17:40:07.260+01:00One woman's account of her adventures living in BerlinLocation: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.comBlogger931100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-39347820566491044832009-05-15T09:53:00.003+02:002009-05-15T11:00:29.604+02:00

The boy eats solids now. It seemed like a fun new thing at first. But now, it has turned into a royal pain in the arse. Some days, he opens his mouth right away and on others, he acts like he has never done it before. The latter happens with much more regularity than the former. He clamps his mouth and shakes his head back and forth. On really great days, he raspberry's the food so it

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-76993663117401941042009-05-10T16:49:00.005+02:002009-05-11T12:00:39.015+02:00

You are seven months this week, little one. Where has the time gone? This time last year, you were nothing more than a little raspberry in my stomach and now you are growing into a sweet little man. In these last seven months, you have proven that we are definitely your parents.You are charming and easy going like Daddy. You love the ladies and will smile easily at the most inappropriate people

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-32008966249558293002009-04-18T17:19:00.004+02:002009-04-19T15:52:26.338+02:00

...if you were a tourist strolling down the Ku'Damm on a warm spring afternoon. "How nice of them," you'd think, "everyday in Europe must be like this." It would make you feel down right festive to see three musicians playing a tune in the middle of a sunny day. ...if you were just waking up from a full night of blissful sleep. "How refreshing," you'd remark, "this beats getting up to an

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-70982689388683359662009-03-20T11:15:00.004+01:002009-03-20T12:53:55.808+01:00

Wouldn't ya know that the moment I had given into the notion that we would have to wheel him into prom on a guerney, he decides to surprise me? It's unnatural for someone to be so proud of something so basic. I need to get out more, ya'll.

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-80191054007931931602009-03-14T17:51:00.006+01:002009-03-14T18:36:35.707+01:00

Dear Blog:So sorry to have taken so long to get back to you. It's been over two months and I have totally and completely neglected you. I have left you hanging regarding what life is like with a three and four month old. I haven't posted any pithy musings about how GREAT the weather has been here lately (ha!) or what it was like when we traveled to the states for 5 weeks. We haven't bitched about

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-26934957483086303302009-01-01T18:37:00.003+01:002009-01-01T19:09:50.063+01:00

Mark my words: We will never spend another New Year's Eve in our apartment ever, ever again. Amen.To be fair, we were warned that things would be bad. That it would loud and chaotic and festive. That people would be out in the streets until all hours of the night and that we should be prepared for lots of firecrackers. I guess we should have seen it coming when we were told to lock Josie in an

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-2587245603655791502008-12-29T13:16:00.004+01:002008-12-29T15:59:47.547+01:00

Yes, we are still here....just moving a little slow lately. The Monkey is boss so we've not had time to breathe, let alone blog. Living on bite sized increments of sleep doesn't do much to inspire me to write either.We are in survival mode these days. In spite of what "the books" say is normal, my 11 weeker has yet to sleep through the night so we're basically left to live on 3 hour naps at a

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-78620187804462647452008-11-30T19:54:00.007+01:002008-11-30T21:01:23.127+01:00

Well, it's been an eventful seven weeks. Alot has changed and our little monkey has grown.I've joked that I went to sleep on October 11th, woke up, and have yet to sleep since. It's like one day just continues onto the next. The fact that a person can function on such a small amount of sleep is a testament to the wonders of the human body. We just do what we have to do, I guess. Ultimately, I

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-53587594126910196082008-10-31T17:04:00.001+01:002008-11-30T20:58:40.425+01:00

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-91357857845756107962008-10-21T22:16:00.004+02:002008-10-22T10:29:39.262+02:00

Last Sunday, October 12th, our baby, Gavin, was born weighing 6lbs, 12 oz. He takes our breath away, as well as our sleep, and we couldn't be happier.Contrary to my earlier fears, he does not resemble my internet baby but a pretty fair bit of both of us. We can't quite see straight yet or remember the last time we felt so utterly confounded but we wouldn't have it any other way. In lieu of a

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-34481070417219175712008-10-10T12:02:00.006+02:002008-10-10T12:48:33.096+02:00

Do you hear that sound?It's the white noise that has been occupying my brain cells as of late. Lots of information goes in and nothing sticks. I have moments of sheer blogging genius where I'll have something to write about, something that updates you on what's going on in our lives or something that has made me laugh, and then I'll completely forget it just as fast as the inspiration hits me.

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-90582452916664819242008-10-01T22:06:00.003+02:002008-10-01T22:58:45.544+02:00

J has many good friends. It is a bonus if said friend is also funny, honest, and willing to give advice when needed.His friend, Kevin, is one of those people and it is just icing that he married a jewel of a wife, Jennifer, as well. Having just welcomed their second son into their family this summer, the trauma--I mean--adventure of having a new baby is fresh on Jenn and Kevin's mind. To that end

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-57228231452261098602008-09-30T22:04:00.005+02:002008-09-30T22:19:04.555+02:00

Run, don't walk to your nearest Dunkin D%nuts for these beauties and you can thank me later.I'm not sure what they're called in English but I think they are the seasonal chocolate mapledoughnuts.I'm not a huge doughnut person to begin with and even then I usually go for the standard chocolate glaze or cinnamon sugar varieties but people, for these lovelies, I make an exception.I don't know if it

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-37658907278195270162008-09-29T12:48:00.004+02:002008-09-29T13:27:28.727+02:00

Two Saturdays ago, the hubs and I went to a Swiss restaurant in town for fondue. It seems the appropriate thing to do when the weather gets unseasonably cold, unwelcomely early. Cold weather has compensations of its own--almost all of which are culinary. The fondue was delicious. Cheesy, aromatic, and appropriately gut-bomby. Just what the sadistic proctologist ordered. We were so satisfied that

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-75075057088427608202008-09-16T17:19:00.004+02:002008-09-16T18:00:57.257+02:00

I had a sneaky feeling that I was playing with fire when I logged onto MakeMeBabies.Com.I mean, any website that claims to be able to predict what your yet unborn child will look like must be a either cursed or at the very least cruel. Or maybe it is the person doing the searching who is the cursedly cruel one. Either way, it ain't natural but it is oh so tempting.Before pushing the send button,

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-40555002866480488252008-09-02T12:48:00.003+02:002008-09-03T12:16:10.434+02:00

To say that I've been having a bit of a problem sleeping throughout this pregnancy is an understatement. I really haven't slept well since I was about 10 weeks pregnant. Between the growing bean, the frequent restroom visits, the overactive mind, and a bout of pregnancy induced restless legs syndrome, I lost the sleeping wars far in advance of the newbies arrival. I tried everything from sleeping

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-62605284737911214252008-09-01T12:13:00.005+02:002008-09-01T14:22:25.225+02:00

Did I mention that it was our anniversary yesterday? Six years of wedded bliss were marked with the end of our marathon childbirth course. I am happy to say that we have survived and, in fact, thrived under the martrimonial confines that is legal partnership. We'd both do it again if given the chance which is nice to know. We also fared remarkably well in birthing bootcamp with the guidance of

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-90801998102730901982008-08-29T12:11:00.005+02:002008-08-29T12:57:35.153+02:00

According to the "experts," you have to actually give birth to a baby before you can officially become a parent.Maybe I'm in the minority here but something about squeezing a human the size of a watermelon out of a hole the size of a large grapefruit fails to appeals to my delicate sensibility. Funny how you forget about all of that in the hullabulloo of pregnancy and baby anticipation. It

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-74637672499154137962008-08-25T21:19:00.004+02:002008-08-26T17:34:26.331+02:00

Saturday night, we went to dinner for John's. As customarily happens everywhere you go with John, he was warmly greeted and treated like a special guest. He's the consummate ambassador and it was nice to see how welcomed the owners and waiters made us feel.Since this was his first birthday we've celebrated together for four years, it was nice to end it with a bang. Prosecco flowed; the food was

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-72997692108984779942008-08-23T14:55:00.005+02:002008-08-23T15:10:20.787+02:00

Today marks another year and another birthday spent here in Germany, my love.In fact, it is the first birthday in four years that we have even been in the same country on your special day. I was sad when you were in Austria, then London, then Africa, and then the Ukraine because I hate being away from you and I know how important your birthdays are to you. I am so happy today to be able to

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-28134556361980357982008-08-21T16:44:00.004+02:002008-08-21T17:39:41.412+02:00

Let me begin by saying that I love that I am having a boy. A rough and tumble, snuggly, happy, mama's baby of a boy. I love the idea that I can be my blunt, unedited self without feeling like I'm going to bruise a sensitive pysche. I love that I can have the chance to pressure--I mean--gently encourage him to take after mama and play soccer. I love, love, am TOTALLY in love with the idea that I

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-43426163242283202132008-08-16T18:06:00.007+02:002008-08-16T18:59:49.550+02:00

If it hasn't become painfully obvious by the amount of posts in this blog that revolve around traveling, we love to travel. No where is too close, too far, too weird, or too remote. Just say the word and we're there. In fact, we both agree that we knew we could be happily married to each other after having so much fun on our first trip together almost--ee-gats!--10 years ago.I'm not sure which

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-28992929296248131692008-08-07T15:19:00.005+02:002008-08-07T17:58:40.665+02:00

Well, I guess you couldn't technically call it a road trip because we were there in 1.5 hours and back less than a day later. Nevertheless, I think the scenic drive from Berlin to Brandenburg an der Havel rather than the town itself was the highlight of the trip.We decided to take a quick day and a half trip there to meet friends and were really inspired by the landscape. While driving, it

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-58601642779129746852008-07-25T12:52:00.006+02:002008-07-25T22:39:40.791+02:00

Yesterday may have been the best day of J's life when we saw Senator Obama give his global unification speech.I can't say that my excitement matched his. Meaning, I could sleep and didn't get up at 4am that morning to check on the status of his arrival. I almost didn't go because I'm not keen on big crowds nor walking the estimated 1.5 miles that was required for the general public to get to the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-45135966185272375962008-07-21T18:21:00.008+02:002008-07-21T19:35:31.089+02:00

Okay, technically there was no yeast involved in this culinary adventure but I couldn't think of anything snappier and the title works so cut me some slack, folks.On last night's agenda, Coq Au Vin and Baked Alaska. Chosen for their obscurity, charm, and complexity. The 1950's kitsch factor was a bonus. It doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment if it doesn't take more than 6 hours, a bucket

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-41969561923214392402008-07-20T16:16:00.008+02:002008-07-21T18:18:47.592+02:00

One of the beings in these pictures is going to be a great dad. To give you a hint, they have an imposable thumb and are capable of comprehensing commands more complex than "sit!," "stay!," and "no." Oh, and they are a male which is an important trait to have in a father.Seeing him with the pets sometimes makes me a little weepy. That such a big guy could be such a softy and so caring to these

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-47339088445914684282008-07-18T11:46:00.003+02:002008-07-18T12:45:46.204+02:00

For the party last week, I made this delectable carmelized onion dip. The inspiring recipe came from the Barefoot Contessa and boy is it good. I mean really good. So good, in fact, that you'll be compelled to bottle it up and inject it straight into your blood stream for the sheer "YUM!"satisfaction. Uh huh, that good.I love her. Don't you? She is one of maybe two cookbook authors that I know I

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-91997377998074437512008-07-12T15:31:00.006+02:002008-07-13T22:03:53.871+02:00

Against his better judgement but in response to my constant pestering, we held our third murder mystery party last night. I love a good game but I am partial to murder mystery games because they bring out a totally different side in people. First of all, who among us doesn't like to dress up? I don't care how old you are there aren't very many people who don't love the escape that dressing up

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-68471193294252898542008-07-08T11:01:00.006+02:002008-07-08T12:15:16.593+02:00

On Sunday, we decided to go to Mauerpark to check out the flea market there.We'd been to other flea markets in Berlin before but had heard this was a true Berlin flea market, not some trumped up tourist attraction. This market drew the people, man. Cool, we love the people, right? We're down.Ha. If the people shop at Mauerpark, then I'd prefer to take my business elsewhere and solidly align

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-5715190197211328042008-06-29T15:56:00.005+02:002008-06-29T16:18:28.607+02:00

Not too long ago, I remember joyfully declaring that Summer had come to Berlin. Well, that was a lie. Or I should say that I was lied to. It was one big tease. Three weeks of gorgeous weather in May dissolved into two weeks of protracted winter, followed by days of spring, summer, and fall. You never know what you will get in this city, weather or otherwise.But it doesn't hamper the summertime

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-60965303049048624452008-06-27T11:33:00.005+02:002008-06-27T12:03:38.525+02:00

It's clear that Ramsey has no intention of giving up her position in the household to make way for this new addition. This noisy thing that has aims to joust her from the throne. This spawnling, no bigger than an ear of corn, that aspires to take the place that she has worked so hard to carve out. This parasite that's making moves to block her 'round the clock access to the royal courtiers in

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-30283384541530283152008-06-17T16:59:00.010+02:002008-06-17T21:54:03.547+02:00

I've been really looking forward to getting my newest cookbook, "How to CookEverything," by Mark Bittman.I'd been eyeing it for a while and after tasting the delectably incredible bagels from the same cookbook I decided to finally bite the bullet and order one.This morning, like manna from heaven, it came.First on the agenda were the cinnamon rolls. They'd been on my mine for months--ever since

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-56620662095888799632008-06-14T17:14:00.004+02:002008-06-14T17:30:49.254+02:00

J just got back from Atlanta carrying 180 lbs worth of supplies for the baby and his parents. The guy at the airline counter said that they were the second heaviest bags he had seen checked insince he began working there.I was prepared for what was to come because I spent the better part of three days registering for things online that he could stuff into his suitcase. The criteria being only

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-23899371598747759102008-06-09T11:21:00.004+02:002008-06-09T11:40:42.881+02:00

Our friends, Ben and Sandra, had the fabulous idea that we should take advantage of all there is to see in our city and act like tourists this weekend. So they organized a boat tour on the Spree River on Saturday. We got great seats together and set off for a 4 hour tour.It was one of those idealic summer days where there were few clouds to be seen, blue skies, and a pleasant breeze. Who knew

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-68005139803850452882008-06-06T18:01:00.006+02:002008-06-06T18:22:53.797+02:00

My kids,though literally born in barns, have remarkably good manners.Sure, one prefers to greet strangers by sniffing their nether regions rather than offering a proper hand shake. And yes, it's true that the other thinks the purest water comes out of the toilet but they really are rather well bred. Besides negotiating who gets to eat where, they have already learned how to wait patiently for

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-57360960820024428312008-05-25T18:18:00.009+02:002008-05-25T19:21:00.903+02:00

My sweet husband dashed me away to Copenhagen for my birthday last week. We lucked out, as far as the weather was concerned, and enjoyed four days of sunny skies and warm breezes.One highlight of our 7 hour train ride to Copenhagen was riding the ferry that carried our train to Denmark. We were in awe that a boat could accommodate an ICE train, cars, and passengers across the strait. I don't

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-22495352401776619582008-05-12T18:25:00.009+02:002008-05-12T20:03:26.293+02:00

Summer has come to Berlin!! It is amazing what a few days of blue skies and warm weather does, not only to the American spirit but also--dare I say it?--the Berlin spirit.So, maybe they won't smile at a stranger but they won't glare at you QUITE so hard. The gray and black jackets that everyone wears here are peeled off to reveal gray and black skirts and t's. And the noontime beer drinking

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-47679169174796873622008-05-09T12:35:00.002+02:002008-05-09T13:08:01.531+02:00

I have nothing interesting to post today so I figured I'd post about the least interesting thing I can think of: my thoughts. Here are seventeen totally random things on my mind today:1. I am loving this weather. There has been perfectly warm and spring like weather here for about two weeks. Every morning that we wake up and see the beautiful blue sky, we remark about how much a difference

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-9278791448067342752008-05-07T16:13:00.003+02:002008-05-07T21:22:12.380+02:00

Sometimes you just can't do it by yourself and no matter how many people congregate around you, offering to encourage you, promising to hold you up--it just isn't enough. Courage, bravery, determination are all nice attributes to have but they don't always cut it.But it's okay not to be so brave all of the time. It's okay to want to give up. It's okay to be a little sad because in our lowest

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-45140102790690676562008-05-06T11:47:00.002+02:002008-05-06T11:56:50.625+02:00

With Ramsey around, I also end up sharing my cup of tea even if I don't mean to. That cat has laser like focus. The moment a cup of anything is left on the coffeetable she prances up, places her black, fuzzy face full in, and takes a sip or two or three. Not wanting to risk samonella or hoof and mouth disease or whatever nasty virus cats carry from licking themselves I end up throwing the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-12808323330640018002008-05-02T11:08:00.003+02:002008-05-02T11:45:07.352+02:00

Sometimes toasting a bagel under the broiler doesn't quite do it for me; so this morning, I decided to saute a bagel in butter on a skillet and smother it with cream cheese. The slight saltiness of the butter mixed with the creamy, meltiness of the cheese is heavenly. The crunchy, sesame shell and the soft and springy inner core made for the quintessial bagel. It is breakfast perfection.What

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-39765801964442340982008-04-28T12:23:00.003+02:002008-05-02T11:08:50.703+02:00

German class has ended and I am relieved. The class, itself, was really not that bad. I liked my teachers effort to keep us engaged with games and quizzes and interactive activities. I liked feeling like I was learning new words and strengthening my understanding of grammar. I even warmed up to my classmates, including the Romanian women who laughed at people. Of course, I lost my notebook that

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-12350168301079022492008-04-24T12:38:00.003+02:002008-04-25T15:17:27.981+02:00

I'm relishing my first day post German class and decided to curl up this morning with my new friend, BBC Prime. (Yes, I know, you only really want to hear how poorly I did in the class but you'll have to wait until I get some psychological distance for that one.)Anyway, BBC Prime, for the uninitiated, is a treasure trove of stale British television shows clearly aimed at the nostalgic pensioner

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-35998384404470584342008-04-09T19:43:00.003+02:002008-04-09T22:35:18.210+02:00

That is the level of German I tested into. It basically means that I'm in the class with the most learned of the lowest proficiency speakers. Nothing too surprising there.It's also not surprising that the class is every bit as painful as I expected it to be. It reinforces the fact that I might very well never learn this language. I'm either too old or too dumb or too lazy or a combination of the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-66342534122698568482008-03-31T17:17:00.003+02:002008-03-31T17:36:37.881+02:00

Ugh. German class begins again tomorrow. Different school, different set-up. Same sad, sad story.I just got back from taking my 1 hour "placement test" for the course I've signed up for tomorrow. It was one hour where I was handed what John calls "The Wu-Tang Clan Fist of Fury." There were verb tenses, prepositional phrases, and loooong strings of sentences to which I never remember being

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-24278765225256337102008-03-21T18:16:00.002+01:002008-03-21T18:34:26.838+01:00

I had the strangest dream last week. I dreamt I was driving to Stonecrest Mall on the way to J's mom's house when I had to make a critical decision: Taco Bell or Dairy Queen. I couldn't decide what was more compelling a cheap, flimsy, beef soft taco or a chili dog and Butterfinger Blizzard. What is weird is that I can't tell you the last time I had either one of these items, let alone the last

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-64442177357377539242008-03-14T13:54:00.003+01:002008-03-14T14:17:45.909+01:00

I came across the link below to this great Dutch clothing site called HEMA on Snooker's blog.It's just a bit of fun to help you procrastinate on finishing that memo you've been putting off at work for the last week. I mean, the last thing you feel like doing at work is working, right?Just make sure you turn up your volume and close your office door. It gets progressively louder as the video

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-10147138510114107542008-03-13T18:36:00.004+01:002008-03-13T19:14:54.890+01:00

This is what I've been eating for breakfast this week. It is bircher mueslix--a yogurty, oatmeal cereal that is mixed with fruit, usually apples and pears.I discovered my taste for mueslix just last week when a friend introduced me to it at the gym. I thought I knew what mueslix was--just another type of granola cereal--but this is quite different. Substantial in a healthy way and it guarantees

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-69555108890593691802008-03-06T20:19:00.010+01:002008-03-13T19:10:01.584+01:00

The weather has been the pits lately. After having a few unseasonably nice days in the latter part of February, I had every hope that March would follow suit. Maybe we'd even be lucky enough to have more sunny days than gray ones? Nope. No such luck.The scene on the left is what I woke to Wednesday morning.Last weekend, there was a typhoon off the coast of Germany that created very heavy winds,

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-21248380194306888082008-02-21T14:55:00.003+01:002008-03-07T16:06:08.552+01:00

I should feel guilty, right? And feel some sense of inadequacy that my life's work isn't contributing to the greater good. I am not earning a paycheck so I don't contribute financially to my household budget. I'm not strenously volunteering to offset the working void in the universe. I'm not at home spending my days molding the minds of my young offspring. In fact, I don't do much so it's

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-88478779342975629242008-02-01T13:48:00.000+01:002008-02-04T13:57:24.073+01:00

My Qi is weak. And my Yang is too high. And I need to eat more warm foods to replenish my ying. This is all according to my acupuncturist. (spelled AKUPUNKTUR--gotta love German, so utilitarian)Yes, folks, I am paying someone to stick needles in me. This and to listen to my woes for two hours every week. She's feels very bad for me. What with the poor German skills, life of leisure, and inability

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-35300640551153994312008-01-18T16:19:00.001+01:002008-01-18T16:22:17.254+01:00

Leave it to a cat to demonstrate the proper use for a bidet. Now we know.....

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-31184223810593668572008-01-16T13:41:00.000+01:002008-01-16T14:31:48.112+01:00

Am I the only one whose reaaaalllly annoyed that the writer's strike is still going strong? I mean, I am what feels like one gazillion miles away in the land of Krauts, watching American t.v. from a box in NYC that shoots a fuzzy, delayed signal to a US laptop linked to a Berlin television and even I am at my wits end. Don't they know how much a little (or alot) of American programming

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-27733433546987384172008-01-12T16:57:00.000+01:002008-01-12T17:05:11.007+01:00

You can take the man out of Washington, but you can't take the Washington.....well, you know the rest.You can see the bumper sticker that my husband so brazingly put on the back of our car the other day. Just slightly embarrassing, I tell you. Who says you can't participate in the US elections as an expat?

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-32011628048782586702008-01-10T20:39:00.000+01:002008-01-10T21:11:55.372+01:00

Since everyone has been concerned about how Josie and Ramsey fared while we were gone, I decided to post some pictures. It's clear that they have both suffered tremendous psychological trauma in our absence.Josie has reverted to sleeping 16 hours a day--one up from her usually fiesty 15. Instead of hollering at 7am when she's ready to be walked, she has resigned herself to waking us at 7:30am.

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-40083087235498973472008-01-05T05:42:00.001+01:002008-01-06T02:31:42.610+01:00

I'm not ready. I thought I was but I'm not.I'm not ready to go back home...or rather, I'm not ready to leave home.Or rather, I'm not ready to leave or go back home because I'm not sure which place is home and which place is not.I'm not sure which place is home and which place is not because I've not spent more than 3 months in either place before going to the other place since we arrived in

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-42043104008979461732007-12-31T23:58:00.000+01:002008-01-05T05:33:57.145+01:00

Well, it's hard to believe it but 2007 is on it's way out. After all of the planning, researching, moving, cursing, good-byes, hellos, laughs, and tears, we have survived our first 6 months in Berlin.Our friends who moved overseas before us warned that it would take 6 months to begin to acclimate to a new culture. Perhaps, it speaks to the strength of our induction training courses that we have

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-92196643466368954522007-12-10T20:23:00.000+01:002007-12-10T21:14:39.857+01:00

So, this is what we've been waiting for the past six months. Christmas. Beautiful, hopeful, Christmas.One of John's friends invited us over for kaffee and kuchen yesterday and then took us to their favorite Christmasmarkts. It was as quaint and lovely as we imagined.All of the typical grum-grumbling is put aside in favor of the festive spirit. Christmasmarkt's overflow with cheerful-yes,

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-17088436830309812212007-12-01T17:33:00.000+01:002007-12-01T18:05:30.935+01:00

Germany's known for their Christmasmarkts and it is obviously why that is having lived here. Every square inch of public space has now been filled to the brim with lights, food booths, huge Christmas scenes, and ornaments. They are one frosted tree away from gaudy but it's been alot of fun seeing the city come alive with the holiday spirit.Today, we took these pictures in the main downtown mall,

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-35710377847865539282007-11-29T15:12:00.000+01:002007-12-10T21:18:59.564+01:00

In the life of an expat, a day can quickly turn from good to bad to good again.It's a good day when you wake up at 8am and the sun is peeking through the clouds. It's an excellent day when the aforementioned sun is still visible by 10am.It's a good day when you understand the grocer when asked if you have 10 cents to round out your bill. It's an even better day when you can quickly hand over the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-55847630489916910772007-11-26T17:32:00.000+01:002007-11-26T17:40:59.338+01:00

I'm at a loss. I took a book quiz on a whim and this was the result. I'm not sure if I should be concerned or feel more bitter about my existence than this quiz tells me I already am. Seriously? Is it that bad? I guess November in Berlin really is tough your first year but come on, seriously? You're The Things They Carried!by Tim O'BrienHarsh and bitter, you tell it like it is. This usually

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-91111936565236568042007-11-25T17:06:00.000+01:002007-12-10T21:21:42.281+01:00

Charity would disagree with me here but if you were thinking about visiting Leipzig when you come to Germany, I'd tell you to skip it. We spent last weekend touring Leipzig and Dresden. We were lookin' for a little adventure, German style, and we found two quaint towns with distant personalities.Leipzig is the largest federal state in Saxony and is probably best known for its church--

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-57731079549862737222007-11-19T12:11:00.000+01:002007-11-19T12:29:41.979+01:00

Thursday is Thanksgiving. The second holiday after July 4th that we'll celebrate here and the first truly nostalgic one that we'll attempt to recreate. We have to keep reminding ourselves these days that 1) what we perceive to be important days of the year are not so here, 2) celebrating these so-called holidays keep us connected with our previous life and give us the opportunity to create new

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-33261176672125151932007-11-15T18:09:00.000+01:002007-11-15T18:17:27.261+01:00

Charity arrived this week to take her worldwind tour around Germany. She came with a stockpile of gifts from home, a huge bag of trail mix/energy bars/snack crackers for our road trips, and her big sense of humor that we love and have missed so much.During the day, she can be found scouring the web for the latest restaurants or with her nose stuck in Rick Steve's Germany and Austria for the best

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-91890756393643570292007-11-11T19:51:00.000+01:002007-11-11T20:12:49.158+01:00

It snowed this weekend. Since the moment we moved here, we've been assured many times that, although cold and rainy in the winter, it never snows in Berlin. It was disappointing to hear, actually. What's the use of cold, dreary weather if you can't get a little snow out of the deal?So, it was a real treat to realize Saturday afternoon that it had begun to snow. We have felt entitled since to

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-49678632387056370222007-11-06T17:05:00.001+01:002007-11-06T17:39:19.786+01:00

In this law, "D" can stand for anything you want. It can mean disaster, destruction....diarrhea, anything. What it means to you doesn't matter as long as the connotation is negative. You see, in this law, much like Murphy's, last minute, inconvenient bodily functions aim to destroy (another D word) your perfectly arranged plans. In fact, the more perfect the plan, the more likely it is that

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-19722311811466974762007-11-05T19:28:00.000+01:002007-11-05T20:52:46.893+01:00

We can safely say that we've seen a good bit of Germany now...that is after driven 6 hours each way this week to Munich for the Bayern Munich soccer game.Driving always seems like the prudent thing to do on paper. Plus it's always so difficult for me not to get caught up in John's romantic musings about packing up the car on whim and taking a road trip. The picture painted is always one of rich

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-25771138728375330172007-11-02T12:59:00.001+01:002007-11-02T13:51:09.332+01:00

What's the best part of visiting the new home of an old friend? Seeing their new place, of course. But since most of you will probably not get a chance to visit us here, you won't get the chance to see it in person.Thanks to modern technology you don't have to fly over the pond to get here, though I'll bring our apartment to you. Your wait is over. Welcome to our virtual tour.This picture is of

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-90230019467890780692007-11-01T18:11:00.001+01:002007-11-01T18:56:48.549+01:00

It's been three weeks since I had my surgery and I'm still not 100%. It's difficult to go from feeling strong and fiercely independent to weak, insecure, and unabled-bodied. It's frustrating to feel like you have no control over your situation when what you've always done best is to control your surroundings. It's scary to learn that after a week of good days, one really bad day can set you back

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-31229397262941156252007-10-31T18:11:00.000+01:002007-10-31T18:38:27.322+01:00

In the five years we've been married, John and I have had a low success rate with trick or treaters. At first, we were both a bit offended. We'd go to the store a week in advance and buy all of the expensive candy we always wanted as a child. Then, we'd rush home with our loot at the door waiting in anxious anticipation for the hundreds of children we'd prepared to treat. We didn't want to

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-8449448534276259812007-10-24T12:43:00.001+02:002007-10-24T13:14:13.926+02:00

Ok. I'm back. You (and by "You," I mean the two people who actually read this rag) probably thought I was gone for good but I'm not, so there. Let's just say that I was doing a bit of research on German hospital culture. It had to be an up close and in depth investigation so I decided to stay a while. Only 12 days, no biggie. Just enough to get to know my German neighbors, spy on those truths

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-44128890875931580432007-10-07T15:50:00.000+02:002008-01-05T05:42:11.557+01:00

On Thursday, we made our way to Luneburg--a quaint, little village 30 miles east of Hamburg for the inaugural dinner of the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Foundation. I have to admit that having just flown 12 hours from Atlanta a day and a half before I was not looking forward to this dinner.You know the drill. "Yes, My name is X...nice to meet you...Uh, huh, this town is SO cute...Mmmm, we live in

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-41164088120003849402007-10-04T12:11:00.001+02:002007-10-04T12:34:18.358+02:00

Yesterday was Germany's version of Independence Day, Reunification Day (Deutsche Wiedervereinigung). It is the national holiday that cemmemorates German reunification in 1990. It is the day that the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) formally became part of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). Banks and most shops were closed. There was a party thrown at the Brandenburg Gate

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-74964118604555418922007-09-12T21:20:00.000+02:002007-09-12T21:34:26.293+02:00

Well, I'm headed back to Atlanta tomorrow for my girlfriend Sydney's wedding. If I'm honest with myself, I've had mixed feelings about the trip. Of course, I can't wait to see my parents and all of my friends. I'm anticipating doing alot of retail therapy and getting that rush when I step back into a mall. Eating at all of our favorite restaurants will be great as will just being comfortable

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-38285414480097155672007-09-09T14:50:00.000+02:002007-09-09T15:37:14.089+02:00

We went to dinner with some friends of friends the other night. As is so often the case these days, we found ourselves across the table with yet another set of complete strangers whose only relation to us is that we have an acquaintance in common. The husband is a high ranking employee of an international German company and he and his wife were in town to check on the house they are building on

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-65550377651581184072007-09-07T12:13:00.001+02:002007-09-07T12:50:29.815+02:00

C-a-r-e P-a-c-k-a-g-e! We could have lived without these small treasures but we'd prefer not to. They are just some little things that provide a bit of nostalgia, a bit of comfort, and a bit of home. Thanks, Bennetts! Your timing was perfect. Love, Two Homesick Americans

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-51579059202009692982007-09-05T17:37:00.000+02:002007-09-06T10:59:01.344+02:00

On the advice of my German teacher, I decided to stop into the local Turkish market for vegetables this afternoon. Germany has the largest population of Turkish residents in the world outside of Turkey itself, so Turkish groceries, mosques, and donors abound.Why hadn't I thought of this earlier? I wondered. The market was great. A ton of variety, fresh produce and cheap! From the start, the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-90478145702126574302007-09-03T18:32:00.000+02:002007-09-06T10:57:43.602+02:00

We just got back from a great trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. John visited Lucerne with his parents when he was 14 and never forget what a beautiful city it and was determined to go back there someday. The fact that it was a dream of mine to go and a secret promise made to himself to return, it was as if we were both seeing the city for the first time.Our timing was perfect as it was the final

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-79539520359346207942007-08-27T11:22:00.000+02:002007-09-06T10:43:34.938+02:00

We have a gym membership at this club that touts itself as "Berlin's Most Exclusive Spa and Recreation Studio." This is the same gym where, during our introductory tour, two naked women and a naked child ran past us outside of the sauna and the membership coordinator told us very sheepishly that while they had air conditioning the unit was too small for the building. "Oh, does this explain the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-46203884510443933552007-08-23T17:20:00.000+02:002007-09-07T12:12:58.492+02:00

Thirty (ah-hem)...something years ago today, a sweet little baby was born. A happy, chubby, little brown thing that was to become the apple of his parent's eye and a real joy for alot of people.Charismatic from the start, he charmed everyone he met. In time, the only thing that matched his generous personality was his natural wit and intellect. He is a lover, not a fighter. An easy comedian and a

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-89696729921931318652007-08-19T17:10:00.001+02:002007-09-06T11:00:23.537+02:00

Charmin! Yes, they sell Charmin toilet paper in Berlin. I was so excited when I saw it in the supermarket the other day that I nearly screamed out loud with glee. Finding my favorite brand of toilet paper shouldn't make me this happy, but, boy, does it. We've tried a couple of brands and were sorely (pun intended) disappointed with them. You can get yourself cut with some of this stuff so what a

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-22884345686656586542007-08-14T11:07:00.000+02:002007-09-06T10:44:53.867+02:00

Last night, I had the weirdest dream. (strike and insert: nightmare.)I dreamt that I was sleeping when there was a knock on our bedroom window. With the fog of sleep still in my brain, I opened the window to see a man standing there. When I asked him what he wanted, he said that he would like to buy two first class tickets to Potsdam--a city a few miles outside of Berlin city center. To that, I

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-25737687507013771302007-08-10T19:13:00.000+02:002007-09-06T10:45:17.657+02:00

Ok, Ok, I admit it. I have no choice but to do so now that I've been caught. You just can't run from reality once the cold hard facts have been slammed in your face.It's official. My. German. Stinks. And everyone knows it. (Read: my teacher, me, and anyone else who's unfortunate enough to read my weekly ramblings.)After receiving an awful grade on a progress report, I've been placed on the

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-48857254360399547632007-08-06T14:05:00.000+02:002007-08-06T14:58:34.682+02:00

Well, the Bennetts left on Saturday and to say that it made me sad would be an understatement. I expected some tears but I didn't expect to feel more alone now than before they came. Man, it hurt and I've been trying to get my bearings back ever since. We had been looking forward to having friends in town pretty much since we arrived here. Until they came, I was starting to forget how easy it is

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-27327498712594950502007-08-04T21:28:00.000+02:002007-08-04T22:20:33.968+02:00

There are many great things about having friends in town but high up on the list is the ability to see your city from a new perspective. Even though we've only been in Berlin for two months, we were already beginning to grow numb to the beauty, oddity, and excitement that living in a new city brings. That "Pinch me, I'm in Europe" feeling was already growing thin and turning into something more

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-36728027392789675372007-08-01T21:57:00.001+02:002007-08-01T22:31:12.385+02:00

Some of our closest friends, the Bennetts, became our first official visitors to Berlin this week.It's not surprising that they'd be the first because they've always been some of our biggest cheerleaders and two of our most compatible travel companions. Tia and I met in college and have been great friends ever since. And we're very lucky that our husbands get along almost as well as we do. When

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-60343208542847971832007-07-25T13:16:00.000+02:002007-08-10T19:49:42.444+02:00

This, I've noticed, is not the land of 'Do it Yourself.' Instead, it is the land of 'Let Me Give You the Number of Handyman X So He Can Do It While You Mindlessly Surf the Internet'. It's nice but it's taken some getting used to.Wanna hang curtains? Frau Z will bring her "design team" to your flat to "Hmmm. Hmmm." in every room, frantically measuring while simultaneously suggesting "fantastic"

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-32893729546975177732007-07-24T16:58:00.001+02:002007-07-24T17:42:15.319+02:00

Literally. You can't go anywhere without seeing them. And I mean anywhere. Stores, the U/S-Bahn (Berlin's upper and underground subway), most hotels, and even restaurants allow dogs. I'm not talking about just small dogs either. Not to discriminate, these establishments would even allow my big 65 pound girl if we chose to do so. Josie went with us to Hamburg three weeks ago and we stayed in a

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-84359100890544087312007-07-23T18:33:00.000+02:002007-07-23T20:35:52.500+02:00

I wore these shoes to walk to my German class today. I know, I know. They're awful. I kept catching glimpses of my feet--turned duck-billed platypus flippers--in the reflection of shop windows thinking to myself, "Why? Why?"Well, the most obvious reason is that they are comfortable. I bought them in anticipation of a trip we were taking in May and although I've always thought the shoes were

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-62236168075842064062007-07-18T11:52:00.000+02:002007-07-19T19:02:21.880+02:00

Have I told you that my entire apartment is painted a shade of peach?Oh yes, my friend, peach.Peach, that sublime color that evokes sweet memories of pureed baby food, freshly stewed squash, and the gunk you scoop out of a rotten pumpkin. A more putrid color has never existed. So, it was with great delight that, upon entering our apartment for the first time since March last month, I realized

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-70928306125807866132007-07-16T17:50:00.000+02:002007-07-17T09:57:45.580+02:00

Finally, the sun shines its face on Berlin. I was wondering if I'd ever see it again. It's been too long, really.For more than two plus weeks, the temp has hovered around 50 degrees. Not only has it been cold but also rainy, gray, and windy. The weird thing is you can't predict in the morning what the weather will be like in the afternoon. In fact, you can't predict from one moment to the next

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-59283935417779315772007-07-11T16:29:00.000+02:002007-07-17T10:02:50.285+02:00

So, we're here. In Berlin. We made it. Five weeks down, many more to go.After close to 30 days in Berlin without a television, phone, or the internet, we are reconnected with the real world. Well, almost.We still have no television. ("I sorry, Herr B, but the machine is not kommt today. Maybe diese week.")I can't figure out what the annoying German lady says on the phone when a message is

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062819602281335472.post-3953196395662319952007-07-10T17:52:00.001+02:002007-07-16T18:40:42.886+02:00

After riding Berlin's equivalent of the subway yesterday , J comes home flush with excitement. We're finally living in a place that truly appreciates music, he says."I was walking out of the subway station and as I was rounding the corner, I started hearing this music blasting. I thought, "Wait a minute. Is there a music store in here?" But as I continued walking, I realized, it wasn't a store

Location: Berlin, DEnoreply@blogger.com0