tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62534438248103250282011-04-21T22:05:05.962+02:00nonsensical ramblings of an american expatSpotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.comBlogger821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-67450579863538994542008-11-24T17:07:00.002+01:002008-11-24T17:09:08.092+01:00

Not to state the obvious, but I think it's pretty clear that I suck at updating two blogs. It's hard for me to separate my 'normal' life from my craft stuff, since that's such a big part of my life. So, if you want to know what's going on with me in Germany, check out The Spotted Sparrow. Today's post has pictures of snow from Aachen. Yippee, snow!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-66385415088719417342008-10-08T08:43:00.006+02:002008-10-08T08:49:06.671+02:00

Let's talk about something important, SHOES! Yes, I have my priorities straight. I am seriously lusting after these boots from Anthropologie. Unfortunately, the $400+ price tag is too much for me, even with the exchange rate.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-45335104658217825062008-10-08T08:33:00.004+02:002008-10-08T08:38:27.920+02:00

I have to say, I was disappointed with this debate. Neither candidate seemed to answer the questions well, but rather kept bringing up other talking points. I've already decided who I'm voting for, so this wasn't a deal breaker for me, but I would have liked to see a lot more from both candidates.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-89568427117917198702008-10-04T08:49:00.003+02:002008-10-04T08:57:40.946+02:00

Yesterday was a national holiday in Germany in celebration of Reunification Day. Like all good Germans in Aachen, we celebrated by going to Holland where the shops were open. Nothing like national pride, eh?

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-88439019829455373572008-10-03T08:17:00.002+02:002008-10-03T08:18:58.948+02:00

For my fellow Amis across the sea:

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-24375782508865053122008-09-27T08:19:00.002+02:002008-09-27T08:21:58.960+02:00

For all you expats that didn't stay up until the wee hours of the morning to watch.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-34188604853237926082008-09-19T17:45:00.003+02:002008-09-19T19:21:07.448+02:00

It's that time of year again - International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Here's a few things to get you in the spirit.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-63752818425705749822008-09-12T08:39:00.004+02:002008-09-12T08:52:35.889+02:00

Yay, my favorite season has arrived. To fit in with the fall theme, I had my first day of school last Monday. My new German class is sooooo much better than the last one. The class only has 10 people in it, so we get lots of personal attention and time to work on our speaking and pronunciation. We have two teachers and they are both excellent. The best part is that there is a lot less

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-74484759596339099352008-09-02T20:54:00.002+02:002008-09-02T20:55:30.380+02:00

My 'Blooming Sisters' card is currently featured in a weekly Etsy challenge. I would be ever so grateful if you would go vote for me.The Etsy Challenge: 9/1 Paper Crafts Challenge*bats eyelashes*Pretty please...with a cherry on top.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-60892730566012740632008-08-31T19:50:00.002+02:002008-08-31T19:52:27.277+02:00

I'm not sure how Barack and Bollywood go together, but this video is made of awesomeness nonetheless.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-16068070556304152552008-08-23T11:21:00.003+02:002008-08-23T11:30:22.171+02:00

Hello, my name is Julia and I am a Lush addict. I never saw their stores in the US, but I have more than made up for that since moving to Germany. Seriously, I cannot get enough of their stuff. I swear by their solid shampoo for hard water. They even have little mini shower bombs for those of us not lucky enough to have a full bathtub. Go shop, I say!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-43302542977226453972008-08-18T11:14:00.005+02:002008-08-18T11:24:03.584+02:00

I don't know if the person who lives under us is crazy, a drunk, or some combination of the two, but he's definitely something. He was screaming so loud on Saturday that everyone in our complex could hear him. We could see people from neighboring buildings looking out their windows to see where the noise was coming from. Then we started hearing banging (I could feel it from our floor) and

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-47594246310695244482008-08-14T17:32:00.007+02:002008-08-15T18:59:58.380+02:00

At the demand request of family and friends, I started another blog: The Spotted Sparrow.I've been playing with paper, inks, and other things for the last several years and am lucky enough to have supportive friends and family encouraging me to do more. Now that I have a lot of time on my hands, I've been experimenting with lots of cool stuff. My aim is to feature that cool stuff on the new

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-9063558044610415492008-08-14T13:20:00.001+02:002008-08-14T13:23:07.126+02:00

Yes, Lou, it is such a perfect day. The sun is shining. A breeze is carrying the smell of freshly cut grass through my window. I don't have to waste 4 hours of the day on a hot, stinky train. And most importantly, I found black beans AND jalapenos AND tortillas in the grocery store. The German gods must be smiling upon me today.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-50790975119687689602008-08-10T18:12:00.006+02:002008-08-10T18:54:00.163+02:00

Now that I'm happily unemployed, I've spent the last few days wandering the streets of Aachen, shopping, cooking, and doing some fun crafty stuff that I haven't been able to do in ages. I was waiting in line at Delhaize (thank you Belgium!) the other day and heard the guy in front of me ask where the orange juice was. I immediately noticed that he had a strong American accent. The cashier told

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-58617721719407715682008-08-08T12:55:00.014+02:002008-08-08T14:27:37.657+02:00

I know, I know, it's yet another wedding post. I promised some family members a recap of the festivities. This will be the last wedding post, I swear. I'll warn you now, it will be a long post - scroll down to fast forward to the wedding porn.A. and I were originally married 2 years ago. We eloped to Las Vegas and got married by the Grim Reaper. It was silly and fun with no fuss, which is

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-26132589840217142042008-07-25T16:23:00.005+02:002008-12-12T08:00:29.981+01:00

We're still waiting on the professional photos, but you can find some pictures taken by a friend here and here.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-24908349982729512192008-07-24T13:29:00.006+02:002008-07-24T13:33:41.611+02:00

Honeymoon pictures are here!IMG_4268Originally uploaded by die Ausgebürgerte

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-90435915999748899762008-07-24T12:34:00.007+02:002008-12-12T08:00:30.345+01:00

Wow, I just realized it has been a year since we moved to Germany. That went by fast. We just got my residence/work permits extended for another 3 years. Thankfully, that went smoothly even though I never finished my 'required' integration courses.Where does life stand a year later?I quit my job; my last day is 31 July. The job turned out to not be worth the time and hassle of the commute. We

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-4373793105776514752008-07-23T10:09:00.005+02:002008-07-23T10:23:14.990+02:00

After two years of marriage, we have finally been 'officially married' in front of family and friends. I wore a dress and danced. Please, try to contain your gasps of shock and horror. Photographic evidence of both atrocities will be posted soon. We are so grateful to our friends and family who traveled a long way to be there.Italy was warm, sunny, relaxing, beautiful, and everything we hoped

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-75067426673977858522008-07-09T08:25:00.004+02:002008-12-12T08:00:30.547+01:00

I'll be scarce for the next few weeks. My family is here visiting from the US for our fake wedding and I'm playing tour guide. A. and I will be going to Italy for our fake honeymoon. See you in a few weeks - I'll have pictures and stories!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-11208757576373743092008-07-07T16:34:00.004+02:002008-12-12T08:00:30.750+01:00

Madame Tussauds had their grand opening for their Berlin location over the weekend. Some genius thought it would be a good idea to put a wax Hitler there. Our beloved Führer was headless before day's end.One thing I've found out while living here is that Germans are über-sensitive about Hitler and all related topics. In the grand scheme of things, not that much time has passed since WWII.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-72070206809753548262008-07-07T13:07:00.010+02:002008-12-12T08:00:30.871+01:00

A. and I went to Rock Werchter last Saturday. I've never been a festival lover, but there were too many good bands playing to miss this one. It rained, A. forgot the keys in the car, we got muddy, we danced, we got shoved and stepped on, and we heard some great music. The sound was probably the best I've heard at an outdoor event. And the camera(wo)men did a great job filming for the

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-16531160105512214262008-07-04T08:47:00.003+02:002008-12-12T08:00:31.077+01:00

Enjoy your long weekend of barbeques and fireworks!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-85076972907369387252008-07-03T12:53:00.003+02:002008-12-12T08:00:31.292+01:00

The hot weather has gone, taking my grumpiness from yesterday with it. I know it's still crazy hot in DC, so have some ice cream! Seriously, if you have never tried this flavor, you are missing out. You can even search for where to buy it on their website.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-33620496157294274712008-07-02T14:15:00.004+02:002008-07-03T12:58:41.148+02:00

Can someone please explain to me what is up with Germans and windows? Windows are opened all the time in the winter to let fresh air in. Yet when it's hot outside, windows are closed to avoid drafts.My colleagues just had the brilliant idea to close all the windows in our office. So now we get to sit in a glass oven with no air circulation or wind from outside. The air inside the office is

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-43616033390937000172008-07-02T12:44:00.005+02:002008-07-03T12:58:30.449+02:00

It's 90 °F (32 °C) today; the hottest it's been since we moved here a year ago. I know it's not as hot as DC normally is in the summer, but I still reserve the right to whine because there is no air conditioning here.I work on the top floor of a glass building with the sun shining through on both sides. This must be what it feels like inside a baking oven. I have a 2 hour commute (each way) in

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-53777993058028185552008-07-01T10:35:00.009+02:002008-07-01T12:52:19.160+02:00

Germany has been covered with flags during the UEFA Euro 2008. German flags have been flying from windows, roofs, cars, bycicles, and anywhere else people can think of. Everyone has been celebrating Germany's wins in the competition...until Sunday night when Spain beat them in the finals. It was a very somber ride to work on Monday morning. The flags were snatched back inside as if they never

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-80277076594902254292008-06-26T14:08:00.010+02:002008-12-12T08:00:31.772+01:00

One can't have a fake wedding without having a fake honeymoon to go with it. In just 2 weeks, we'll be relaxing in a private, poolside villa in Tuscany. And because I'm bored at work, I've decided to torture you with pictures of where we'll be luxuriating (is that even a word?). I predict sunburn and many bottles of wine in my near future.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-41905393858874468042008-06-26T10:48:00.014+02:002008-12-12T08:00:32.173+01:00

Yesterday was the big game between Germany and Turkey. I knew it would be a loud night, regardless of the outcome. Like a good football fan, I was asleep before halftime, only to be awoken by the screams of the entire city of Aachen. The screams were soon joined by the honking of car horns, both of which continued until well past midnight.The best part of all this football madness: one of the

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-74760417098351420902008-06-25T17:24:00.008+02:002008-12-12T08:00:32.363+01:00

There are only a couple weeks left until our fake wedding. We've got so many things left to finish and no time to do it. Why did we want to do everything ourselves for the wedding? Oh, right, to avoid everything being pink and white, in the shape of hearts, drowning in ruffles. If only I had realized how much more work it would be to have a not so wedding-y wedding. I'm slowly accepting the

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-67987826519747460822008-06-17T19:35:00.005+02:002008-06-25T18:03:15.333+02:00

A calm evening in Aachen after Germany's win over Austria in UEFA Euro 2008.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-57523144619714045872008-05-30T21:22:00.009+02:002008-12-12T08:00:32.848+01:00

We get more daylight here since we're further north than DC. The sun has already risen when I get up at 5am (no really, that's when I have to get up everyday) and it stays light until at least 10pm. Yesterday it was dark until noon. This was not the standard overcast German grey; this was WEREALLGONNADIE dark. The clouds were black and the sky had a yellowish tint to it. I love storms and

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-43690065508360837882008-05-27T12:09:00.003+02:002008-06-25T17:59:43.411+02:00

Russia?France was robbed!I finally figured out what the Eurovision contest is good for - getting drunk and being silly. It sure as hell isn't for the "music".

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-33840165026110407272008-05-15T14:41:00.007+02:002008-06-25T18:03:51.197+02:00

To the German ladies:The sun can be a rare and festive thing in Germany, especially when it appears for several days in a row accompanied by warm temperatures. The desire to wear white pants in celebration of summer is a good thing. However, wearing white, hot pink, striped, polkadotted, and other multicolored panties under your white pants is not a good thing. Check the mirror before you

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-17505893524761936752008-05-14T13:48:00.009+02:002008-12-12T08:00:33.075+01:00

The von Trapp villa is going to be a hotel. Not only will you be able to sleep there, but you can get married in the chapel or buy a replica of the gazebo where Rolf and Liesl had their secret rendez-vous (assembly required). Could this be anymore kitsch?!? Do you think they have the puppet theatre too? And Edelweiss?I'm guessing most of their visitors will be Americans or Brits, because most

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-56716354345721748772008-05-08T12:16:00.008+02:002008-12-12T08:00:35.434+01:00

Update: pics added below!Last week, A., his friend, and I went to Burg Satzvey for Walpurgisnacht. This castle is amazing and they have lots of nerdy medieval/fantasy events (yes, we're nerds, but you probably already knew that). It was sort of like the Renaissance Festival, but less cheesy and a bit goth. The main reason we went was because they claim to have the biggest bonfire in NRW. We

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-83719687064686148132008-04-26T15:41:00.005+02:002008-06-25T18:05:03.304+02:00

Ahh, the smell of springtime in Germany. If you're not familiar, it's an intoxicating mix of body odor, bratwurst, and farts that have been trapped in the U-Bahn for a minimum of 24 hours.I have to keep reminding myself not sing this while walking around. It seems Germany has not been introduced to the hilarity that is The Producers. I can't imagine why not.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-73241913980020850852008-04-17T19:35:00.006+02:002008-12-12T08:00:35.605+01:00

Most of you know that Radiohead is one of my favourite bands of all time. I don't care that they got 'weird'. I still love 'em. Most of you also know that I've never seen them live...even when I worked for their f-ing record company! The forces of nature have conspired against me more than once, but I dare them to challenge me this time.A. just got us tickets to Rock Werchter, which happens

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-91119402692514241572008-04-07T20:19:00.005+02:002008-06-25T18:05:28.877+02:00

Yes!!!! Bring on the horrible amazing pop songs, eastern European goth, Scandinavian death-metal, and of course the dance masterpieces of former Soviet Union states.Here's a taste of this year's contestents:Bosnia & HerzegovinaSpainLatviaIreland (I think my grandfather may be rolling in his grave)

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-21527393888506627612008-04-01T19:26:00.006+02:002008-06-25T18:05:43.128+02:00

1. Go to youtube.com2. Click on any of the Featured Videos on the homepage3. Enjoy the awesomenessEdit: For those who missed it, click here.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-66461577672219578832008-03-18T20:29:00.012+01:002008-12-12T08:00:35.769+01:00

I apologise in advance for the preachy post. That said, I'm still going through with it.For those of you who aren't familiar, there's a guy named Terry Pratchett who just happens to be one of the wittiest people on the planet. He writes books that make you snort out loud with laughter and not even care that complete strangers think your batshit crazy for doing so. A few months ago, word got

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-83186650368642080832008-03-12T19:52:00.006+01:002008-06-25T18:06:14.758+02:00

I can't decide if I love it or hate it, but damn if it hasn't been stuck in my head for the past few days. Don't ask me what the hell they're saying - something about telling Bettina to put her breasts away.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-47602880707318937002008-03-06T12:24:00.007+01:002008-06-25T18:07:23.294+02:00

You know who you are! Odds are you are reading a comic, wearing an anime t-shirt, and/or planning your next trip to the Renaissance Festival. I've never played D&D, but I hear about it all the time from the lot of you. So, in honour of Gary Gygax's death, here's my character alignment.Chaotic GoodA chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-34321258807476106882008-03-05T14:01:00.008+01:002008-06-25T18:07:39.644+02:00

Seriously, Brits have the best expressions. And yes, I am committing the ultimate sacrilege by lumping English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and all the rest of yous together.gets on my tits1. Verb used to signify a singular subject that bothers you 2. Verb to describe someone who pisses you off 3. ~ get on my tits ~ verb for plural subjectsShe gets on my tits!Is that not some funny shit? I will now

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-55479281907780447892008-02-26T20:19:00.005+01:002008-06-25T17:55:59.190+02:00

Here's a little something for all you music snobs.My favs:The Clash: Every good thing Joe Strummer ever did he learned from the Slits. Everything else he just learned from being an asshole.Fugazi: Shaming upper class trustafarians into having annoyingly hypocritical social consciences since 1987.Belle & Sebastian: I liked them better when they were called (choose one--the Smiths, the Pastels,

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-12608859861661808502008-02-21T20:25:00.005+01:002008-06-25T18:07:57.886+02:00

Nothing new to report on the German front. Instead, I'll leave you with this week's musical obsessions.Somehow I missed hearing about her last year. I guess it was that whole moving to a new country thing. This video is awesomely creepy!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-627393714681170652008-02-12T19:41:00.002+01:002008-06-25T18:08:13.027+02:00

I've been loving Anonymous and Project Chanology since I saw their "Message to Scientology" on youtube. This blogger gives a fun recap of their recent protest in London. Among their many forms of hilarious protests, they serenaded the crazies with the theme song to Fresh Prince of Bel Air...love it! I don't know how I missed it before, but there is an LOL cat version of the original "Message to

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-56818372601516523742008-02-07T09:09:00.001+01:002008-06-25T17:54:45.160+02:00

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-54475866671562584172008-02-05T09:21:00.003+01:002008-12-12T08:00:36.201+01:00

The madness that is Karneval has come to an end. The last few days have been a whirlwind of drinking, singing, dancing, more drinking, and general merriment. I was apprehensive about the whole thing at first, fully expecting to hate the crowds of drunk strangers. While it was complete chaos and craziness, there was an overall feeling of silliness and fun that permeated all the festivities.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-35498854079865276112008-01-31T21:04:00.002+01:002008-06-25T18:09:14.647+02:00

Karneval officially opened today at 11:11 a.m. I thought it officially started on 11.11.2007, but I guess this is the opening of the beginning of the end. Yeah, I don`t get it either.Today is also known as Weiberfastnacht (Women`s Day). Women get to go around carrying scissors and cutting neckties off of any guy they see! We missed the grand court and opening festivities, but there were still

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-75323036947829057562008-01-29T20:23:00.002+01:002008-06-25T18:09:27.915+02:00

I am officially on vacation and ready to celebrate Karneval! I've got my horrible neon overalls and matching hat, a flask full of whisky, and a lovely husband to make sure I make it out of there alive. Not only are my overalls checkered neon in clashing colors that make you want to poke your eyes out, they are also made of stuffed animal fur-type material. What more could a girl ask for? I'm

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-7305442919349194102008-01-11T14:57:00.001+01:002008-06-25T17:52:35.489+02:00

And also because we are experiencing what might be the slowest day ever at work.1. YOUR SPY NAME: Ann Pass(middle name and current street name)2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: Mary Licorice(grandfather/grandmother on your dad's side, your favorite candy)3. YOUR RAP NAME: Jsyd(first initial of first name, first two or three letters of your last name)4. YOUR GAMER TAG: Black Panther(a favorite color, a

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-23298351967128823232008-01-08T16:52:00.001+01:002008-12-12T08:00:36.444+01:00

With the holidays over, A. and I are finally having to buckle down and take care of this wedding planning business. Yeah, yeah, we're already married, but we're doing that pesky 'real wedding' thing next summer. If I have to look at one more pearly, lacy, gag-me-with-a-spoon cake topper I just might puke, so we've moved on to honeymoon destinations. Switzerland sounds like a good idea (

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-87607781933185315132008-01-01T09:37:00.001+01:002008-06-26T11:02:07.701+02:00

That's right, on my first New Year's in Germany I learned to RUN FOR COVER!!! Anyone that's ever been in DC for the 4th of July knows the streets are filled with people setting off massive amounts of fireworks and rockets. That's sort of what New Year's Eve was like in Aachen, only crazier! Everyone and anyone is allowed to buy real fireworks here for New Year's. We're talking ginourmous

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-45924057722438222072007-12-27T10:02:00.001+01:002008-06-26T11:01:24.346+02:00

As if I needed any further proof that A is the best husband ever, he got me Guitar Hero III for Christmas. Can you handle the RAWK?!?!? We've spent the last 2 days pretending to be guitar gods. To my delight, the game even has a few Britpop tunes! I should probably take a break from shredding so I don't end up like these guys.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-70160177872935006662007-12-22T09:09:00.001+01:002008-12-12T08:00:36.689+01:00

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post. There hasn't been much going on to write about. Work, sleep, train rides, sickness, and the occasional Glühwein - that pretty much sums up the last month.It's been so cold here that everything has a perpetual ice/frost layer. And because I'm weird, I absolutely love it! Here's wishing you a happy holidays from zee Faterlant. Prost!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-75611230426873368962007-11-28T20:43:00.001+01:002008-12-12T08:00:37.328+01:00

And this was the small bratwurst. Thankfully I'm not a vegetarian. Now, carry on with the dirty jokes!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-23350864182282644962007-11-26T19:41:00.006+01:002008-12-12T08:00:38.386+01:00

Christmas has gotten more depressing for me each year as I've gotten older. No more Santa, no Christmas vacation, no more spending the night at my cousin's house playing with our new toys, etc. And of course all those years working retail during Christmas made it especially crappy. Every year I feel like a little more Christmas magic is sucked out of me. Until now! Germany's bringing

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-6864763040561738732007-11-22T11:47:00.003+01:002008-12-12T08:00:38.912+01:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at home! I'll be dreaming of turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, apple pie..........

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-90719802596974929022007-11-11T21:02:00.001+01:002008-06-26T11:07:02.820+02:00

Today is the start of the Karneval season in Köln. Germans can't wait until February to start drinking and partying, so they officially kick off the season on the 11th of November. Here's a taste of what Köln looked like today. I'm sure it will continue to look like this until the wee hours of the morning. Prost!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-70025663703823642232007-11-09T19:12:00.001+01:002008-12-12T08:00:40.182+01:00

Today was the end of a very long week. As I walked home in the cold, wind-driven rain, all I could think about was having a hot tea and going to sleep. I was almost home when I started hearing some kind of music coming from the park. I turned the corner to see some crazy man in a red costume sitting on a horse with half of Aachen lined up behind him. The music started full blast and the man

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-32731046570825452992007-10-31T08:46:00.001+01:002008-12-12T08:00:41.891+01:00

Much to my dismay, Halloween is not really celebrated in Germany. Join me in living vicariously through the Halloween costumes of complete strangers!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-13365277345436021832007-10-25T05:44:00.001+02:002008-12-12T08:00:42.187+01:00

Now that I have a job and all, I'm completely dependant on the usually "punktlich" Deutsche Bahn (DB) to get me to work everyday. But the train drivers have been striking since early October and there seems to be no end in sight. The picture is what I frequently see when exiting the Cologne Hauptbahnhof...when I can get there that is. The drivers are asking for a 31% raise! Hell, who

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-77780410316789711192007-10-09T14:05:00.002+02:002008-06-26T11:15:24.724+02:00

Yay! More details to come later today. I got the phone call while painting the bedroom and I've got paint all over me!OK, the painting is finished and I'm relatively paint-free. Details:I had to take a test during the interview, which was partly based on my speed. It took me at least twice as long as normal because MS Word, Firefox, and the keyboard were in German, and I couldn't find half of

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-21287936993235435212007-09-27T18:58:00.001+02:002008-12-12T08:00:42.500+01:00

I saw an English-speaking position online, sent my CV off, and got a phone call 2 hours later for an interview. The good part is that it's in Köln, which is a fabulous city, and I would get to walk by one of the most awesome cathedrals in the world every day. The bad part is that it would be a 45-60 minute train ride each way, and I wouldn't be able to continue with my current German course.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-49387820933237756222007-09-25T16:49:00.001+02:002008-06-26T11:16:31.403+02:00

There must be a big football match today as there were at least 20 people on the bus pimped out in their Alemannia Aachen gear. An ENORMOUS guy got on the bus wearing just about every piece of Alemannia paraphernalia available to man. Oh yeah, and he was carrying a case of beer. He came to the back of the bus, dropped the case of beer onto the floor (none too gently), and proceeded to open a

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-60942840738612347792007-09-21T17:37:00.002+02:002008-12-12T08:00:42.664+01:00

Now ladies, I know you've all been wondering to yourselves "Hmmm, what kind of dirndls are in fashion this season?" Here is the answer you've all been waiting for -- Die Dirndl-Trends 2007!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-38329606329225069332007-09-19T09:08:00.002+02:002008-12-12T08:00:42.910+01:00

That's right, today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Put on your eyepatch and have a wench bring you a cup of grog! If only I were still in DC, I would talk 3pennyjane into going to the Piratz Tavern again. I guess I'll have to settle for German pirate talk. Allzeit gute Fahrt und immer eine Handbreit Wasser unter dem Kiel!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-70888714580921194132007-09-05T16:13:00.001+02:002008-12-12T08:00:43.130+01:00

While the term "global warming" is obviously supposed to apply to the entire globe, it seems that Germany has been left off the world map. This past week, the average high temperature in Aachen has been 55° F. And yesterday it snowed in Bavaria. This is an actual picture (stolen from teh interwebs) taken yesterday afternoon from a mystery location in Bavaria. You all know I despise hot, muggy

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-20147993852936594542007-08-30T14:42:00.001+02:002008-06-26T11:19:14.786+02:00

I hereby petition you to remove half of the vocabulary from your language. Is it really necessary to have 5 completely different words that mean the exact same thing? While we're at it, you should really consider getting rid of all those crazy tenses that we don't use in English.Sincerely,Your resident, self-important AmericanSeriously, it's probably not a good sign that I had a nightmare about

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-72184430736113718062007-08-18T21:07:00.002+02:002008-12-12T08:00:43.346+01:00

Just for my aunt 'MA', more photos have been added to flickr.com. Enjoy!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-44654675152946595272007-08-10T18:21:00.001+02:002008-12-12T08:00:43.467+01:00

Today is opening day of the football season (soccer for all the Amis out there). Most of you know I'm definitely not a sports fan, so you're probably wondering how I know this and why I might possibly care. Guess who lives less than a mile from the football stadium! My afternoon studying has been set to a soundtrack of chanting, shouting, and drums. Andreas even called his brother (who is a

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-61594076587109799142007-07-30T19:59:00.002+02:002008-12-12T08:00:43.595+01:00

Yeah, yeah, I know Germany is known for engineering, cars, and all that crap. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best thing I've discovered here.While they claim there is no alcohol in it, it tastes like someone poured a bottle of Goldschlager into a container of rice pudding....yummmm!

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-34780311702593487632007-07-29T12:43:00.001+02:002008-12-12T08:00:43.804+01:00

I was wandering around the other day, minding my own business, when two young men approached me saying something in German. My initial response was "crap, what the hell are they saying and, more importantly, how the hell am I going to respond". I manage to say, in German even (wooo!), that I'm still learning German and ask if they speak English. One of the lads says English would be even

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-71877783591747135302007-07-20T17:11:00.001+02:002008-06-26T11:22:08.355+02:00

I saw this video on German MTV today. Of course, sounding like a Smiths song, and the words "The Smiths" being the only thing I could understand, it got my attention. Check out the badly translated lyrics below. What's the fun of being a Morrissey hag if you can't make fun of yourself! :DBadly Translated Lyrics:our days were darkour shirts were blackwe stood constantly in the corner of the

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-33839925043228933592007-07-18T17:52:00.002+02:002008-06-26T11:22:57.267+02:00

So, last night we were flipping through channels and ran across a program similar to this. Except it wasn't a commercial. The entire show was dudes wearing lederhosen, singing and playing instruments in the mountains. The occasional female would show up to accompany the leather-clad gents, wearing a dirndle of course. The commercial is Dutch, so I suppose the Bavarian influence has made it's

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-63257627561696174652007-07-17T10:59:00.002+02:002008-06-25T17:51:47.356+02:00

As predicted, it finally stopped raining and was beautiful here this weekend. Although it was sunny and warm, we found out that living on the top floor, in what is basically the attic, is really friggin hot. As promised, we took some pictures, which you can view here. Aachen really is a pretty town, as you'll see from the pictures.In other breaking news, I got my residence and work permit.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-25362337425963522462007-07-12T07:18:00.001+02:002008-06-25T17:51:14.713+02:00

Our phone and internet have finally been hooked up! The first 2 weeks here have been quite a transition. Although I've been to Germany a bunch of times in the past, it's quite a different experience to actually live here. Here's what I've learned so far:I can lock myself out of the apartment, even though I have the key. I R Smart!Crossing the street before the little green man tells you to will

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-81082896449399097152007-06-21T01:00:00.001+02:002008-12-12T08:00:44.163+01:00

The kitty has officially been chipped. Aside from the whole going to the vet thing (meowwww, you're torturing me, meowwwwwwww, how dare you put me in this carrier, meowwwwwwwwwwwwwww), she seems in good spirits. I have to say, when the vet scanned her on the computer, it was a bit eerie. I keep waiting for her to start saying "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that". And yes, she is IN

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-16136300980531863772007-06-19T15:09:00.002+02:002008-06-25T17:50:16.131+02:00

I'm not sure how I feel about this cover of "Roads", but the video is pretty damn cool...enjoy.

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253443824810325028.post-74662232187680086402007-06-17T19:57:00.002+02:002008-12-12T08:00:44.216+01:00

Welcome to Aachen, where they apparently give a gay discount in the porn shops! Who wants to come visit?

Spotted Sparrownoreply@blogger.com0