Hello All,
I am off to Djibouti today. Djibouti http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/djibouti is about 9x the size of the Marine Base in 29 Palms, CA. The Marine Base is roughly the size of Connecticut.
I will leave tonight and connect throught Paris. The flight departs Paris at Midnight and I arrive in Africa around 0800. I will return to Germany next Sun, June 7th.
I will post something this weekend on the sights and sounds of Djibouti.
Cheers.
Michael
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Hitler's Eagle's Nest
On the Sun of Memorial Day weekend, I went on a USO sponsored bus tour to a historic WWII site called "The Eagle's Nest" (God bless the USO, they have been supporting service people for a long, long time).
The tour bus was leaving from a base (Army calls it a "barracks") 30 minutes away and they requested that everyone be there 15 minutes early. Bus was leaving a 0500 (that's 5:00 am for those of you on a 12 hour clock). That meant I would have to get up by 0345 (3:45 am, that is the last time I am doing that, once we get past noon, just add 12 hours) to get to the bus in time to board. Well...who said having fun was easy. Sat night, I was not looking forward to getting up that early. On the bright side, 0345 here is only 2145 (remember to subtract 12) back on the East coast (Hi Honey, or just insert your name here if you are not my wife and reading this).
The Eagle's Nest can be seen at : http://www.scrapbookpages.com/eaglesnest/exterior.com and
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/kehsteinhaus (pls click on these sites, the first on offers much better then the pics I took and the second offers a great deal of info).
By the way, I have a Flickr.com website where I post a fair number of pics that I can not post here. If you would like an invite to the site (only way to visit), pls email me and I will sent you an invite to join the group (don't you want to be part of the collective??). You can also see pics of by very smart and beautiful wife, Jodi.
Well, the bus left on time but it was a very long ride. We got to our destination at 1030. That was 5.5 hours on the road with a 45 min stop for breakfast.
I should point out that the bus can only travel at a max of 55 mph (I think) which is relatively slow. We stopped for 45 minutes to eat which cut into the day, also. I should also point out that food is pretty expensive in Europe. 3 eggs, ham, bread, and coffee was USD $12. Take that IHOP and Waffle House with your cheap and tasty food ((God bless IHOP and the Waffle House, make sure you get them scattered, smothered and covered (Northern readers don't be afraid to ask the Southern readers about Waffle House, we are all friends here)).
So, we finally got to the vistors center where we have 20 or so minutes to mill about. I decide to "hit the head" (non Marines or Sailors will need to ask a Marine or Sailor about the terminology. Tim O: what to they call them on Coast Guard ships?). Remember my story about the EUR $.30 to use the restroom on the streets of Stuttgart? Turns out that "pay to pee" is the way it is in Europe. Seems like I should be able to pee for free. I spent EUR $2 on this trip peeing and don't even have the t-shirt to show for it. Next trip, I will just bring an empty Gatorade bottle.
If you are ever in Germany and are looking for a free place to pee, check this out:
http://www.gratispinkeln.de/ It's in German, but when you have to pee, you will figure it out. Otherwise, cough up the USD $.75.
So, it is finally our turn to make our way up the moutain. The Eagle's Nest is a construction marvel and, although Hitler only visited a dozen times, he often boasted about it for that very reason. The EN has no bedrooms and was designed as a place to entertain diaplomats, VIPs, and General Officers of the Third Reich. Its primary purpose was that of a conference center and a destination for day trips. It was presented to Hitler as a 50th birthday present in 1939. Many of the directions taken by the Third Reich were conceived right here.
It is situated on a ridge at the top of a 1834m high moutain reached by driving up a one lane 4 mile road. The last last 400 ft of the jouney are reached by an elevator bored straight down through the moutain linked to the drop off point by a long granite lined tunnel.
The inside of the large elevator car is surfaced with polished brass, Venetian mirrors, and green leather. 12 workers died while building this elevator. I walked down the same tunnel and am now standing in the same elevator as the devils that brought so much death and destruction. It was very somber.
As we exited the elevator you are greeted by some of the most incredible views I have ever experienced. The Alps are just incredible. I have lived in Denver but this is even more spactacular then the Rockies. I can understand why this spot was chosen. (the elevator is on the right of the pic)
You turn the corner of the building and are located where the still functional kitchen is. Continue walking along the outside of the building and you enter the Eagle's Nest through a long greenhouse like hallway and into the tea room (often called Eva Braun's tea room as she did a great deal of entertaining of the wives of dignataries and diplomats, and high ranking members of the party (see pic of me above in a room lined with pine and is the small room sticking out on the left side of the pic of the EN.)
Turn left and go up three steps. You are now in a very large conference room. The outer wall is lined with windows. The most noteworthy feature in this room is a large, red marble fireplace which was Mussolini's gift to the EN. You can see on the closeup photo on the flicker site that there are pieces of mable chipped off the fireplace. This was done by Allied soliders who wanted a souvenier. It is unlikely that they knew the origins of the fireplace (see pic).
Continue up a few steps to the right of the fireplace and you enter the dining room. The only original piece remaining is a very large buffet which was constructed in the room. You would have to cut it into pieces to get it out.
As I mentioned, it was smaller then I thought it would be but a real piece of history. Worth the trip for sure.
We also toured a 500 yr old salt mine that is still very much operational and went down a couple of hundred feet.
On the way home, we sat at a dead stop on the autobahn for 1.5 hours because of a multi car wreck and the highway was closed in both directions We eventually were rerouted by making a uturn on to the autobahn going the oppisite direction and detoured around the accident. We arrived back at the pick up point 3.5 hours later then scheduled and the time was 0300.
Rember to check flikr for all the snap shots.
Cheers.
Michael
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial Day weekend (part 1)
Hello All,
Memorial Day weekend is coming to a close and thankfully, I didn't not waste it by sitting in my hotel room staring out the window. I started Sat off by making my way to the Porsche Museum
which is located in Stuttgart. The Porsche Museum is more of collection of historical or noteworthy cars then a proper museum. I am a big fan of sports car racing (yeah, it's a lot different then NASCAR) as well as the brand. Porsche have been a strong supporter of racing through its factory run programs and through its support of privateers. I you are like me and love the brand then this is a must if you visit. Otherwise, it will appear to be a collection of really nice cars.
The #17 car you see above is a Porsche 962 C and was the overall winner of the 1987 24 Hours At Le Mans, which is considered the greatest spectacle in motor sports and has been an annual event since 1923. It is the oldest endurance sports car race and the only years the race was not held was 1936 (depression) and 1940-48 (WWII and its aftermath).
Next stop was the Mercedes Benz Museum.
Just the architecture of the building is worth seeing. This is buildings has 8 level and you descend from one level to the next via spiraling walkways that are on the perimeter of the building. The internal area of the museum is an open floor plan and has no stanchions for support. You can kind of make out these spiraling walkways in the picture above (building next to car #17).
Each level of the museum documents Mercedes-Benz during a certain area. Each floor loosely corresponds to a decade. This is not so much the case on the higher levels but certainly the rule as you descend to the floor of the museum. As you walk down the spiral walkway the wall to your left documents the important events that happened during the period in which you are descending to.
This is a self-guided walking audio tour. Mercedes has really hit a home run with their audio guide system. As you descend a level, general period specific audio introduces the area. As you approach a display that contains an audio icon, you push a button to sync you audio device to that display. You then choose between model specific info, social trends of the period, or technical innovation of the era.
There were many noteworthy display of museum quality vehicles to include a replica of the first horseless carriage (auto) ever produce, the oldest surviving Mercedes, and many very famous and priceless race cars. You can see them all in my flickr photo gallery (click on "sets"). You have to be invited to join. If you would like to join, set an email to mk1802@yahoo.com and I will forward an invite link.
On a side note, I drove my rental to the museums as they are not within walking distance of a train stop (I used to say "Any distance is walking distance if you have enough time and energy." I find I do not have enough of either as time marches on.).
I'll be the first to admit that I am so focused on signs and yielding the right of way (which way to we yield?). That it is hard to focus on street signs that name the road I am on, especially now that they are in German. I really rely on my navigation system and I can tell you that the nav system in a late model Audi TT does not keep up with the competition. I know they have better system as found in some of their other models. This one has no scrolling may at all and is not very user friendly or intuitive. Just a pleasant voice that tells me to turn occasionally (usually a u-turn to get me back on track). Like Reagan, I trust by verify by bringing along a mapquest. Thankfully, the voice did not let me down and got me where I needed to be. I guess it must be an engineering thing.
Coming up tomorrow: the Eagle's Nest.
Cheers.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Driving 101
Gutten Morgen and welcome back.
You can see the last seven day of posts by scolling day and anything older then that is in the archieves. This post is a general blog about driving. It is more of a science then an art here and understand it is the exact oppisite in Italy.
Today is Memorial Day so please take a moment to say a prayer for all the great Americans who served and are no longer with us, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all live free.
This past Saturday I went to the Porsche Museum as well as the Mercedes Benz Museum. On Sun I took a USO Bus Tour down to the Austrian boarder to see Hitler's Eagles's Nest. I will write up something today and have it posted tomorrow. Until then, I hope you find my piece on driving informative if not amusing.
Driving 101:
In order for me to perform all my official duties, the government has directed me to procure a rental car. Great, I thought, that will sure make it easier to get around. You see, I live 15 minutes away from the base (Kelley Barracks), travel to two other installations on a regular basis, and am required to pickup VIPs at the airport, when required.
HOWEVER...service people who will be driving in Germany and who will be in country for more then 3o days are required to get a European Armed Forces Drivers License. Additionally, I could not register my car with the MPs with out the license and without the registration of the vehicle, I could not get my gasoline ration card. Seems like everything out here is a real nut roll (or soup sandwich as I sometimes say).
First off, let me tell you that driving in Germany in no joke. People take it very, very seriously. Germans are required to attend a certified driving instruction/school and successfully graduate. This course cost around USD $3000 (car not included).
The premise of driving in Germany is that everyone knows the rules/regulations and that they will be obeyed. The logic is that if everyone knows the rules and everyone follows them, everyone knows what the other driver will do. It is all very orderly. If you don't follow the rules....you will not be driving for long here.
I must say that I fit in pretty well here. I like rules, sure who doesn't, and I also like that everyone strictly adheres to them. Jodi (Hi Honey), thinks that I am a "bad" driver. Really, I think I drive in accordance with the standards set by those around me (when in Rome....).
Driving here is truly a privilege and not a right. We talk about driving being a privilege in the US a lot but it seems like lip service with no enforcement of the laws. Ever read a story about the guy who just got his 10th DUI and never been to prison. Guess we need to wait until he kills you or me before we get him off the road.
Here are a few of the laws, all of which are enforced:
You will not turn right on red, ever. Doesn't matter if there are no cars coming and you can see all the way to the horizon (there are a few rare traffic lights where it is permited but only with the green arrow).
Will will always use your blinkers to indicate a lane change (we talk about that a lot in the US too but is really is optional).
You will not pass on the right, no where is this legal (not even on the autobahn, which I will get to in a minute). The only reason for being in the far left lane is to over take someone. When you have completed your pass you will move to the right.
If you expect to be standing/stopped for more then 30 seconds, you will shut your car off. BMW has a feature that shuts the car off automatically if in neutral for 30 seconds. All you need to do is push the "start" button to re fire the engine. This in not really applicable at traffic lights but expected in traffic jams.
Your car is considered parked if left for more then 3 minutes. It is illegal to leave you car unlocked if it is parked.
You can park at a broken meter and not pay. However, you are required to have a little disk on your dashboard (looks like a clock) which indicates when you parked there. If you are over the time limit you will get a ticket. If you don't have a disk, you will get a ticket.
Seat belts: everyone wears one. If you are a passenger and not wearing you seat belt, guess what? You get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt and the driver gets one too. It is the drivers responsiblity to ensure that everyone is wearing a seat belt.
Speed limit within (any) town/city limits is 50 kph (31 mph) and the limit outside city limits is 100 kph (62mph) unless marked other wise. And, you don't get a reminder sign every few blocks. You see it once when entering city limits and then another sign cancelling the 50 kph when you exit the town. Don't forget what the speed limit is. There are lots of radar cameras in these little towns.
Right of way is a really big deal here too. There are many unmarked intersections and the right of way rules apply to traffic circles also. You ALWAYS yield to the right. That means, if you are IN a traffic circle and someone is trying to enter to your right, THEY have the right of way and legally you will yield to them.
There are also around 300 different signs you might expect to see. The expectation is that you will comply with all of them. For the drivers test, we had to know the top 100.
As important as "yield to the right is", there are many instances dictated by signs which change the right of way rules. They are called priority signs. You may see a sign that says you are on a priority road which means you always have right of way. You many see signs that give you priority at JUST the next intersection. You have to really focus, because you only will see each sign once. Don't screw it up because every other driver on the road is counting out you to know your stuff. After all, you have a license, right.
Interestingly, there is a sign that announces that the next intersection is unmarked. Does the sign make it marked? I don't get that one.
What to do when the light turns yellow? Speed up, right? WRONG! It means "if you can safely stop, then you WILL do so". There are countless stop light camera and if you are in the intersection (over the "stop here" line), check you mail in about a week. Lots of radar enforcement also. But, they don't bother chasing you down....smile for the camera.
The Autobahn (I hope no one cheated and skipped to this section). We have all heard about the legendary Autobahn where there is no limit to the speed you care to obtain. Well...it's true to a degree but the places where you can truly "drop the hammer" are not found all that often. If you are in the vicinity of a city, the limit will probably be 130 kph (multiple by .6 for mph or 78 mph for all the Buffalo State College grads). Really not that fast.
Once you move away from the cities, don't be in the left lane (which is illegal unless you are passing anyways) because cars will ROCKET by you. There truly is no limit. Go as fast as you like, just follow these rules: no passing on the left and use you blinkers to indicate a lane change. Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, it is illegal to flash you lights to indicate your rapid approach to the car in front of you.
All and all, I like driving in Germany. Everyone knows the rules, everyone follows the rules. It is very orderly and very efficient (are you seeing a trend with my comments). Additionally, if you violate the rules, those around you don't hesitate to tell you that it did not go unnoticed.
I am happy to say that I passed my drivers licensing exam by correctly answering 90 out of 100 questions correctly (need 85% to pass). I really got a 91% because I correctly answered a question but the answer key was wrong. They wanted a certain answer and engineered a question for the answer but it was poorly worded (they agreed with me, probably so I would just move along). A written request to review the question is in the works. I would really like to get credit for the work I did. What if that was my 16th wrong answer. Guess I would be walking or taking the train.
And, don't even think about crossing the street unless the little green guy is telling you it is ok. I don't care if cars are coming or not. You might get away with it if you are out running or on a bike. Good order will be maintained at all times. If you are breaking one rule, what other ones are you breaking? Don't you want to be part of society??
Additionally, the traffic lights seem to be on a very long cycle. Seems like you are sitting there forever. The traffic lights are not hung in the middle of the intersection either. They are mounted on posts, usually on the right. With the height they are at, it seems like they are almost impossible to see. If I am the first car, it is usually cut off by the top of the windsheild or blocked my my rear view mirror. I like the fact that when the light is red, the yellow light will illuminate as a short attention getter, and then turn green. We should have that in the US.
The big difference between driving in Germany and driving in the US is that the laws are actually enforced here.
Bottom line is that patience is a virtue when driving in Germany. Much like I am learning the German anguage, I am learning to be a little more patient. My Ever Luvin' Wife will appreciate both those things.
So, fasten your seat belt, put down your cup of coffee/can of soda/beer, hang up the cell phone, put down the make-up or electric razor, and don't forget you yeild "right before left".
Cheers.
p.s. Coming back from the pick up/drop off point for my trip to the Eagle's Nest, I found a new location of a radar camera. How did I discover this? Flash...click (I hope I was smiling. I'll find out in a week when I get my snap shot in the mail.).
You can see the last seven day of posts by scolling day and anything older then that is in the archieves. This post is a general blog about driving. It is more of a science then an art here and understand it is the exact oppisite in Italy.
Today is Memorial Day so please take a moment to say a prayer for all the great Americans who served and are no longer with us, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all live free.
This past Saturday I went to the Porsche Museum as well as the Mercedes Benz Museum. On Sun I took a USO Bus Tour down to the Austrian boarder to see Hitler's Eagles's Nest. I will write up something today and have it posted tomorrow. Until then, I hope you find my piece on driving informative if not amusing.
Driving 101:
In order for me to perform all my official duties, the government has directed me to procure a rental car. Great, I thought, that will sure make it easier to get around. You see, I live 15 minutes away from the base (Kelley Barracks), travel to two other installations on a regular basis, and am required to pickup VIPs at the airport, when required.
HOWEVER...service people who will be driving in Germany and who will be in country for more then 3o days are required to get a European Armed Forces Drivers License. Additionally, I could not register my car with the MPs with out the license and without the registration of the vehicle, I could not get my gasoline ration card. Seems like everything out here is a real nut roll (or soup sandwich as I sometimes say).
First off, let me tell you that driving in Germany in no joke. People take it very, very seriously. Germans are required to attend a certified driving instruction/school and successfully graduate. This course cost around USD $3000 (car not included).
The premise of driving in Germany is that everyone knows the rules/regulations and that they will be obeyed. The logic is that if everyone knows the rules and everyone follows them, everyone knows what the other driver will do. It is all very orderly. If you don't follow the rules....you will not be driving for long here.
I must say that I fit in pretty well here. I like rules, sure who doesn't, and I also like that everyone strictly adheres to them. Jodi (Hi Honey), thinks that I am a "bad" driver. Really, I think I drive in accordance with the standards set by those around me (when in Rome....).
Driving here is truly a privilege and not a right. We talk about driving being a privilege in the US a lot but it seems like lip service with no enforcement of the laws. Ever read a story about the guy who just got his 10th DUI and never been to prison. Guess we need to wait until he kills you or me before we get him off the road.
Here are a few of the laws, all of which are enforced:
You will not turn right on red, ever. Doesn't matter if there are no cars coming and you can see all the way to the horizon (there are a few rare traffic lights where it is permited but only with the green arrow).
Will will always use your blinkers to indicate a lane change (we talk about that a lot in the US too but is really is optional).
You will not pass on the right, no where is this legal (not even on the autobahn, which I will get to in a minute). The only reason for being in the far left lane is to over take someone. When you have completed your pass you will move to the right.
If you expect to be standing/stopped for more then 30 seconds, you will shut your car off. BMW has a feature that shuts the car off automatically if in neutral for 30 seconds. All you need to do is push the "start" button to re fire the engine. This in not really applicable at traffic lights but expected in traffic jams.
Your car is considered parked if left for more then 3 minutes. It is illegal to leave you car unlocked if it is parked.
You can park at a broken meter and not pay. However, you are required to have a little disk on your dashboard (looks like a clock) which indicates when you parked there. If you are over the time limit you will get a ticket. If you don't have a disk, you will get a ticket.
Seat belts: everyone wears one. If you are a passenger and not wearing you seat belt, guess what? You get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt and the driver gets one too. It is the drivers responsiblity to ensure that everyone is wearing a seat belt.
Speed limit within (any) town/city limits is 50 kph (31 mph) and the limit outside city limits is 100 kph (62mph) unless marked other wise. And, you don't get a reminder sign every few blocks. You see it once when entering city limits and then another sign cancelling the 50 kph when you exit the town. Don't forget what the speed limit is. There are lots of radar cameras in these little towns.
Right of way is a really big deal here too. There are many unmarked intersections and the right of way rules apply to traffic circles also. You ALWAYS yield to the right. That means, if you are IN a traffic circle and someone is trying to enter to your right, THEY have the right of way and legally you will yield to them.
There are also around 300 different signs you might expect to see. The expectation is that you will comply with all of them. For the drivers test, we had to know the top 100.
As important as "yield to the right is", there are many instances dictated by signs which change the right of way rules. They are called priority signs. You may see a sign that says you are on a priority road which means you always have right of way. You many see signs that give you priority at JUST the next intersection. You have to really focus, because you only will see each sign once. Don't screw it up because every other driver on the road is counting out you to know your stuff. After all, you have a license, right.
Interestingly, there is a sign that announces that the next intersection is unmarked. Does the sign make it marked? I don't get that one.
What to do when the light turns yellow? Speed up, right? WRONG! It means "if you can safely stop, then you WILL do so". There are countless stop light camera and if you are in the intersection (over the "stop here" line), check you mail in about a week. Lots of radar enforcement also. But, they don't bother chasing you down....smile for the camera.
The Autobahn (I hope no one cheated and skipped to this section). We have all heard about the legendary Autobahn where there is no limit to the speed you care to obtain. Well...it's true to a degree but the places where you can truly "drop the hammer" are not found all that often. If you are in the vicinity of a city, the limit will probably be 130 kph (multiple by .6 for mph or 78 mph for all the Buffalo State College grads). Really not that fast.
Once you move away from the cities, don't be in the left lane (which is illegal unless you are passing anyways) because cars will ROCKET by you. There truly is no limit. Go as fast as you like, just follow these rules: no passing on the left and use you blinkers to indicate a lane change. Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, it is illegal to flash you lights to indicate your rapid approach to the car in front of you.
All and all, I like driving in Germany. Everyone knows the rules, everyone follows the rules. It is very orderly and very efficient (are you seeing a trend with my comments). Additionally, if you violate the rules, those around you don't hesitate to tell you that it did not go unnoticed.
I am happy to say that I passed my drivers licensing exam by correctly answering 90 out of 100 questions correctly (need 85% to pass). I really got a 91% because I correctly answered a question but the answer key was wrong. They wanted a certain answer and engineered a question for the answer but it was poorly worded (they agreed with me, probably so I would just move along). A written request to review the question is in the works. I would really like to get credit for the work I did. What if that was my 16th wrong answer. Guess I would be walking or taking the train.
And, don't even think about crossing the street unless the little green guy is telling you it is ok. I don't care if cars are coming or not. You might get away with it if you are out running or on a bike. Good order will be maintained at all times. If you are breaking one rule, what other ones are you breaking? Don't you want to be part of society??
Additionally, the traffic lights seem to be on a very long cycle. Seems like you are sitting there forever. The traffic lights are not hung in the middle of the intersection either. They are mounted on posts, usually on the right. With the height they are at, it seems like they are almost impossible to see. If I am the first car, it is usually cut off by the top of the windsheild or blocked my my rear view mirror. I like the fact that when the light is red, the yellow light will illuminate as a short attention getter, and then turn green. We should have that in the US.
The big difference between driving in Germany and driving in the US is that the laws are actually enforced here.
Bottom line is that patience is a virtue when driving in Germany. Much like I am learning the German anguage, I am learning to be a little more patient. My Ever Luvin' Wife will appreciate both those things.
So, fasten your seat belt, put down your cup of coffee/can of soda/beer, hang up the cell phone, put down the make-up or electric razor, and don't forget you yeild "right before left".
Cheers.
p.s. Coming back from the pick up/drop off point for my trip to the Eagle's Nest, I found a new location of a radar camera. How did I discover this? Flash...click (I hope I was smiling. I'll find out in a week when I get my snap shot in the mail.).
Friday, May 22, 2009
Week 2, Sat, 16 May, 2009
This is actually week 3 of boots on the ground (BOG) but this is the recap I set to Jodi last week. Again, since it is already typed up, I thought it get it posted. Remember, this is a personal letter to my wife so read it in that context. Moving forward, they will be written for "any reader".
Week 2:
Well, it is a great day in Deutschland...I am doing laundry. Guess it is one of those things you just can't get away from. As an added bonus, I get to go to the Laundromat to accomplish this grand adventure. Will people think I don't own a washing machine. I will make a point to tell them that I have a washer and dryer at home but this isn't my home. Home is where you are...or anyplace we are together in a non-vacation status.
The hotel is busy today just like last weekend. Lots of tourist clogging up the place. Things served for breakfast have been unchanged since I arrived. Not that it is a bad thing because breakfast is quite a spread and everything taste good. It is just that it is the same every day. It must be very boring for the chefs and kitchen staff. I do my best to mix it up but gravitate towards the same thing every day. Human nature I guess.
The scrambled eggs are made "European style" and really good but a bit different then the way we make them in the US. My Brother-In-Law, Donald (married to my sister Mary Beth), is a school trained chef and made them for us all once. We will have to get the directions from him.
I didn't see Herr Crabby Pants this morning because he apparently works during the week. Herr CP is the restaurant floor supervisor and oversees the service staff. He is the stereotypical German (guess that is why it is called a stereotype). He is about 55 yo, neatly dressed, well groomed, efficient, organized, and polite but not friendly (maybe I would make a good German?). It is my goal to get him to smile before I leave. You wouldn't think that would be so hard (even I smile once in a while) but this will be a challenge. Maybe if I learn a few German phrases, he will come around. Hell, maybe I should shoot for drinking a cold Bud with him and talking about Marilyn Monroe or the NY Yankees.
Deep down, I think he admires me because I am an American who has many traits valued here. I will keep you posted either way. (on a side note, I didn't go down to breakfast until 1030 the next day because I thought breakfast was served until 1100 and was scolded by Herr CP. He politely but forcefully told me: "Breakfast until 1030. We closed. You know that. You here everyday. You go Giovanna Rm." I was a little dumbfounded and just stood there. Can't I just grab a roll or something I thought to myself? He went on to repeat: "you go Giovanna Rm. Go." Turns out he was telling me to go to a smaller room at the back of the restaurant where a smaller spread was still being offered so he was kinda hooking me up (I can see the ice thawing.)
I got a bit of a scare when I opened my computer at the Laundromat. The screen would not light up although I could see it was on. I thought...this is just great. I am 7000 miles away from you and now have no way to communicate. It will take me days to trouble shoot and maybe have to buy a new computer. Turns out the little pressure switch that turns the screen off when you shut you computer and it is still running was stuck. Thank God that was all it was.
As I write this, I am living through one of my biggest fears. ALL of my clothes are being dried in the drier. You know, that is not good for most of my clothes. I will probably have to replace everything I brought when I get back because the fabric will be ruined.
Work is going well. It is not that different then what I did at II MEF, but only easier (although this job has its own set of challenges). At this job, I am a Liaison Officer. Turns out, we produce no end products. Action Officers, on the other hand, are working on projects, creating briefs, etc. At II MEF, I was an Action Officer. Here, I am a Liaison Officer.
My sole mission is to assist in the coordination of tasks/operations/etc. between my command (Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA or sometimes just HOA)) and our higher headquarters, USAFRICOM. I work at the Joint Operations Center. It is like a command center. There, all activity on the continent of Africa is monitored. Turns out there are a lot of interesting things going on in Africa but I can't talk about any of it. Seriously, everything I do is on the "high side" (classified) and I don't really use the unclassified part of my computer (it is really two separate systems) unless I am paying bills or checking news. Don't know if I can get your father's blog (http://blogfromonhigh.blogspot.com/ for you those of you playing from home (you should check it out btw, it is very entertaining a thought provoking)) which is blocked on my network at II MEF but I'm sure it is (gov blocks all sites where you can post something as well as commercial email accts).
About 1/2 of my days are spent in scheduled meeting. The other half I spend sorting thru mails (I get more here then at II MEF because I am on a lot of distribution lists) and trying to get familiar with various operations we are conducting. It is funny how I have never heard or read about any of them. Partly due to the classified nature of the missions but I also think that Americans, I mean the Washington Post, LA Times, and the NY Times, are just not that interested in Africa (other then the pirates, I suppose). I get some really interesting intel reports though.
Everyone is pretty nice and very professional. I work with all branches as well as civilians including embassy personnel, state dept and various other gov agencies. There are even a few Coasties running around and more General Officers and Cols then I have seen in one place at one time in my entire life.
After laundry, which I didn't want to mess around with tomorrow, I will try to get downtown on the train. I think I have it figured out. It is not raining today and the sun is out. A little on the cool side, but nice otherwise. Remember how I said Germans don't wear shorts? I originally thought that I would wear jeans downtown (I don't want to disrupt society) but then thought: Damn it. It is a nice day out and Americans wear shorts when it is a nice day out. I figured I would turn Germany upside down on its collective head by putting my boney knees on display, but on second thought, I should try to be part of the collective. It keeps things running smoothly and orderly over here
Well, I got my jeans on, a collared shirt (also standard fare here), shoes that are not tennis/running shoes on (no one wears flip flops although sandals are ok for women and old men, everyone wears proper shoes and the women wear mostly heels or boots), no ball cap, and no sunglasses. I figured out why no one is wearing sunglasses. It is cloudy more then it is sunny and you don't really need them. Americans are easy to spot because of the cap and sunglasses combo. I also figured out that the Italians are pretty fond of sunglasses but are generally better dressed then the Americans so they are easy to spot too.
I figured out the train and transfer without a glitch and it was a nice ride downtown. I got off the train and up the escalator. I was a little shock at the sheer number of people out this fine day. What was really cool is that there is a HUGE pedestrian area this is probably as wide as an 8 lane freeway (turns out that is around 2 miles long). There were hundreds of shops (everything from standard mall type stores, dept stores, boutiques and jewelry stores that sell $50,000 watches) and almost as many cafes and places to eat. Lots of people just sitting at outside cafes drinking beer, wine, or espresso style coffees.
Got to the point where I need to use the bathroom. But where? You know how it is when you are downtown. Luckily, in Europe, they have public restrooms which are about twice the size of a phone booth. Cost of entry was EUR $.30. Seemed fair as these fees pay for cleaning and the cost of the facility, not to mention, I really had to go. Also understand that these are common in all of Europe. Probably would not work in the US. I think some cities tried installing them but it was mere minutes before bums became squatters and would stay inside these things and extort money from people who really had to go, like me. America is certainly the land of opportunity where entrepreneurs, like these bums, are free to make money.
This particular facility was out of order. Did I mention that I really have to go at this point. Now what? Luckily there was a handicap booth just up the street. In the US, handicap stalls mean that it is set up for the handicapped but anyone can use it. That is NOT what it means here. Those who qualify as handicapped are issued a special key and it is exclusively for there use. I thought just getting a close parking spot was nice, now they have their own toilets on European streets.
I remembered that there was a McDonald's just a few blocks away and these major corporations are not going to turn away anyone who wants to walk into the place, customer or otherwise, to use the restroom (except the bums who are already squatters in the street toilets and the handicap who have there exclusive ones to use). After all, this is no mom and pop corner store. Jackpot. McD's is ok in my book (always were honestly). Being a shareholder the ace up my sleeve just in case anyone gave me any lip.
I remember that your shoe size is 38.5 . I'm a 47 as I just picked up another pair of Pumas which turns out are called "lifestyle" shoes, whatever that means. All the fellas wear them them here though and I am trying to blend in as part of my personal Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) program. To get you some things (clothes and what not), I will need all you specs. You know, all the stuff I would need to know to buy things. I don't want to get you something, ship it half way around the world, and find out that it doesn't fit or that it is the wrong shade of white.
Also passed a really old looking church (1534 AD as it turns out). Saw a priest outside so I knew it was a Roman Catholic church. Figured it would be closed to the public during times when masses were not being offered, given its location. Saw people walking out so I thought I would take a peek. First, I just stuck my head threw the door I just opened to get a look and then decided to stand in the entry way. I noticed an area where offering candles were lite (non-Catholics can ask a Catholic friend) and thought it would be neat to light one in memory of my Dad. I lite the candle then knelt down to say a prayer for him even though I know he is doing fine and doesn't really need it. Maybe he can pass it along to someone who does. I got to thinking...this was the first time I have been in a church since my Dad died. It was a very peaceful feeling being there. I am sure he as watching.
I was further drawn in by the church's simple architecture and walked around a bit. I walk toward the alter at the front of the church and turned around. Up in the balcony section was the biggest pipe organ I have ever seen in person, on TV, or in a book. It was amazing. I bought little booklets, using the honor system by putting coins in a lock box (you know, like the place our social security money is). These little booklets outline the history of the church and have some nice pictures in them. I bought (3) of them as souvenirs of the church I had lite an offering candle for my Father. Got one for us, one for my Mother so I could share the story with her, and one for your Dad because I thought he would be interested. All the text is in German so maybe someday, you or he could read it to my Mom.
To get to the website, google (or what web search engine you prefer) the words: Don St Eberhard Stuttgart, once the results come up, click on the little icon to the right that says "translate this page" (nice feature).
Anyways, that is about it for the week. Will study more on my driver licensing book tomorrow so I can pass my test and get my Armed Forces EU License. Turns out you need a ration card to buy gas on base (300 liters a month per vehicle) which I can't get until I have my license. Gas on base is USD$2.56. Out in town it is EUR $1.20 per liter which is about USD $6.50 per gallon. I wonder what you have to do to get chocolate bars or stocking? Probably have to go to the black market.
Remember how you felt when gas was $4 per gallon. It is a whole different world out here. Probably why few people own anything bigger then a 4 cy car. 8 cy are only for the affluent. Most cars a diesel also.
Week 2:
Well, it is a great day in Deutschland...I am doing laundry. Guess it is one of those things you just can't get away from. As an added bonus, I get to go to the Laundromat to accomplish this grand adventure. Will people think I don't own a washing machine. I will make a point to tell them that I have a washer and dryer at home but this isn't my home. Home is where you are...or anyplace we are together in a non-vacation status.
The hotel is busy today just like last weekend. Lots of tourist clogging up the place. Things served for breakfast have been unchanged since I arrived. Not that it is a bad thing because breakfast is quite a spread and everything taste good. It is just that it is the same every day. It must be very boring for the chefs and kitchen staff. I do my best to mix it up but gravitate towards the same thing every day. Human nature I guess.
The scrambled eggs are made "European style" and really good but a bit different then the way we make them in the US. My Brother-In-Law, Donald (married to my sister Mary Beth), is a school trained chef and made them for us all once. We will have to get the directions from him.
I didn't see Herr Crabby Pants this morning because he apparently works during the week. Herr CP is the restaurant floor supervisor and oversees the service staff. He is the stereotypical German (guess that is why it is called a stereotype). He is about 55 yo, neatly dressed, well groomed, efficient, organized, and polite but not friendly (maybe I would make a good German?). It is my goal to get him to smile before I leave. You wouldn't think that would be so hard (even I smile once in a while) but this will be a challenge. Maybe if I learn a few German phrases, he will come around. Hell, maybe I should shoot for drinking a cold Bud with him and talking about Marilyn Monroe or the NY Yankees.
Deep down, I think he admires me because I am an American who has many traits valued here. I will keep you posted either way. (on a side note, I didn't go down to breakfast until 1030 the next day because I thought breakfast was served until 1100 and was scolded by Herr CP. He politely but forcefully told me: "Breakfast until 1030. We closed. You know that. You here everyday. You go Giovanna Rm." I was a little dumbfounded and just stood there. Can't I just grab a roll or something I thought to myself? He went on to repeat: "you go Giovanna Rm. Go." Turns out he was telling me to go to a smaller room at the back of the restaurant where a smaller spread was still being offered so he was kinda hooking me up (I can see the ice thawing.)
I got a bit of a scare when I opened my computer at the Laundromat. The screen would not light up although I could see it was on. I thought...this is just great. I am 7000 miles away from you and now have no way to communicate. It will take me days to trouble shoot and maybe have to buy a new computer. Turns out the little pressure switch that turns the screen off when you shut you computer and it is still running was stuck. Thank God that was all it was.
As I write this, I am living through one of my biggest fears. ALL of my clothes are being dried in the drier. You know, that is not good for most of my clothes. I will probably have to replace everything I brought when I get back because the fabric will be ruined.
Work is going well. It is not that different then what I did at II MEF, but only easier (although this job has its own set of challenges). At this job, I am a Liaison Officer. Turns out, we produce no end products. Action Officers, on the other hand, are working on projects, creating briefs, etc. At II MEF, I was an Action Officer. Here, I am a Liaison Officer.
My sole mission is to assist in the coordination of tasks/operations/etc. between my command (Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA or sometimes just HOA)) and our higher headquarters, USAFRICOM. I work at the Joint Operations Center. It is like a command center. There, all activity on the continent of Africa is monitored. Turns out there are a lot of interesting things going on in Africa but I can't talk about any of it. Seriously, everything I do is on the "high side" (classified) and I don't really use the unclassified part of my computer (it is really two separate systems) unless I am paying bills or checking news. Don't know if I can get your father's blog (http://blogfromonhigh.blogspot.com/ for you those of you playing from home (you should check it out btw, it is very entertaining a thought provoking)) which is blocked on my network at II MEF but I'm sure it is (gov blocks all sites where you can post something as well as commercial email accts).
About 1/2 of my days are spent in scheduled meeting. The other half I spend sorting thru mails (I get more here then at II MEF because I am on a lot of distribution lists) and trying to get familiar with various operations we are conducting. It is funny how I have never heard or read about any of them. Partly due to the classified nature of the missions but I also think that Americans, I mean the Washington Post, LA Times, and the NY Times, are just not that interested in Africa (other then the pirates, I suppose). I get some really interesting intel reports though.
Everyone is pretty nice and very professional. I work with all branches as well as civilians including embassy personnel, state dept and various other gov agencies. There are even a few Coasties running around and more General Officers and Cols then I have seen in one place at one time in my entire life.
After laundry, which I didn't want to mess around with tomorrow, I will try to get downtown on the train. I think I have it figured out. It is not raining today and the sun is out. A little on the cool side, but nice otherwise. Remember how I said Germans don't wear shorts? I originally thought that I would wear jeans downtown (I don't want to disrupt society) but then thought: Damn it. It is a nice day out and Americans wear shorts when it is a nice day out. I figured I would turn Germany upside down on its collective head by putting my boney knees on display, but on second thought, I should try to be part of the collective. It keeps things running smoothly and orderly over here
Well, I got my jeans on, a collared shirt (also standard fare here), shoes that are not tennis/running shoes on (no one wears flip flops although sandals are ok for women and old men, everyone wears proper shoes and the women wear mostly heels or boots), no ball cap, and no sunglasses. I figured out why no one is wearing sunglasses. It is cloudy more then it is sunny and you don't really need them. Americans are easy to spot because of the cap and sunglasses combo. I also figured out that the Italians are pretty fond of sunglasses but are generally better dressed then the Americans so they are easy to spot too.
I figured out the train and transfer without a glitch and it was a nice ride downtown. I got off the train and up the escalator. I was a little shock at the sheer number of people out this fine day. What was really cool is that there is a HUGE pedestrian area this is probably as wide as an 8 lane freeway (turns out that is around 2 miles long). There were hundreds of shops (everything from standard mall type stores, dept stores, boutiques and jewelry stores that sell $50,000 watches) and almost as many cafes and places to eat. Lots of people just sitting at outside cafes drinking beer, wine, or espresso style coffees.
Got to the point where I need to use the bathroom. But where? You know how it is when you are downtown. Luckily, in Europe, they have public restrooms which are about twice the size of a phone booth. Cost of entry was EUR $.30. Seemed fair as these fees pay for cleaning and the cost of the facility, not to mention, I really had to go. Also understand that these are common in all of Europe. Probably would not work in the US. I think some cities tried installing them but it was mere minutes before bums became squatters and would stay inside these things and extort money from people who really had to go, like me. America is certainly the land of opportunity where entrepreneurs, like these bums, are free to make money.
This particular facility was out of order. Did I mention that I really have to go at this point. Now what? Luckily there was a handicap booth just up the street. In the US, handicap stalls mean that it is set up for the handicapped but anyone can use it. That is NOT what it means here. Those who qualify as handicapped are issued a special key and it is exclusively for there use. I thought just getting a close parking spot was nice, now they have their own toilets on European streets.
I remembered that there was a McDonald's just a few blocks away and these major corporations are not going to turn away anyone who wants to walk into the place, customer or otherwise, to use the restroom (except the bums who are already squatters in the street toilets and the handicap who have there exclusive ones to use). After all, this is no mom and pop corner store. Jackpot. McD's is ok in my book (always were honestly). Being a shareholder the ace up my sleeve just in case anyone gave me any lip.
I remember that your shoe size is 38.5 . I'm a 47 as I just picked up another pair of Pumas which turns out are called "lifestyle" shoes, whatever that means. All the fellas wear them them here though and I am trying to blend in as part of my personal Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) program. To get you some things (clothes and what not), I will need all you specs. You know, all the stuff I would need to know to buy things. I don't want to get you something, ship it half way around the world, and find out that it doesn't fit or that it is the wrong shade of white.
Also passed a really old looking church (1534 AD as it turns out). Saw a priest outside so I knew it was a Roman Catholic church. Figured it would be closed to the public during times when masses were not being offered, given its location. Saw people walking out so I thought I would take a peek. First, I just stuck my head threw the door I just opened to get a look and then decided to stand in the entry way. I noticed an area where offering candles were lite (non-Catholics can ask a Catholic friend) and thought it would be neat to light one in memory of my Dad. I lite the candle then knelt down to say a prayer for him even though I know he is doing fine and doesn't really need it. Maybe he can pass it along to someone who does. I got to thinking...this was the first time I have been in a church since my Dad died. It was a very peaceful feeling being there. I am sure he as watching.
I was further drawn in by the church's simple architecture and walked around a bit. I walk toward the alter at the front of the church and turned around. Up in the balcony section was the biggest pipe organ I have ever seen in person, on TV, or in a book. It was amazing. I bought little booklets, using the honor system by putting coins in a lock box (you know, like the place our social security money is). These little booklets outline the history of the church and have some nice pictures in them. I bought (3) of them as souvenirs of the church I had lite an offering candle for my Father. Got one for us, one for my Mother so I could share the story with her, and one for your Dad because I thought he would be interested. All the text is in German so maybe someday, you or he could read it to my Mom.
To get to the website, google (or what web search engine you prefer) the words: Don St Eberhard Stuttgart, once the results come up, click on the little icon to the right that says "translate this page" (nice feature).
Anyways, that is about it for the week. Will study more on my driver licensing book tomorrow so I can pass my test and get my Armed Forces EU License. Turns out you need a ration card to buy gas on base (300 liters a month per vehicle) which I can't get until I have my license. Gas on base is USD$2.56. Out in town it is EUR $1.20 per liter which is about USD $6.50 per gallon. I wonder what you have to do to get chocolate bars or stocking? Probably have to go to the black market.
Remember how you felt when gas was $4 per gallon. It is a whole different world out here. Probably why few people own anything bigger then a 4 cy car. 8 cy are only for the affluent. Most cars a diesel also.
Welcome.
Welcome All,
If you are viewing this blog then someone who doesn't think very highly of you wants you to be exposed to my often pointless ramblings about the things I see and do while on temporary assignment in Stuttgart, Germany. Whoever would have thought I would have a blog? I used to tease friends who have blogs. What's next a Twitter account?
I will try to post a little something daily, but honestly, life here is about the same as everywhere else (only in Germany). You wake up, you go to work, you come home, have dinner, relax, go to bed, and repeat the cycle for 5 days. There is lots to do on the weekends and I am committed to getting out.
My wonderful sister, Mary Beth, was kind enough to email me yesterday (she just got back from Las Vegas where she and her family were visiting her brother-in-law who works at the Wynn Hotel and Casino, which is an incredible place and the best in Vegas), and she suggested I start a blog. My friend, Mike T, in TX, suggested I set up a facebook acct like he had. I told him I was not a 14 year old girl so that was out.
I correspond with my wife, Jodi, daily (Hi Honey. Look I have a blog!), who is very smart (just ask her and she will tell you) and had been telling her how bad I feel about not emailing and keeping up with everyone. Telephone calls are very expensive and it would be impossible to write a personal email to everyone. As smart as she is, neither she nor I ever thought to start a blog. So...my hat is off to my sister.
On the weekends I have a little extra time so I have been writing weekly recaps and sending them to Jodi. Since those are already created, I thought I would cut and paste those just to bring everyone up to speed.
Here you go:
Keep in mind that this was a personal correspondence to my wife so the greeting of "Hey Honey" does not refer to you ((unless you are Jodi (Hi Honey!) who is reading this)) but feel free to insert your name.
Ramblings for day 2 (Sat, 9 May 2009)
If you are viewing this blog then someone who doesn't think very highly of you wants you to be exposed to my often pointless ramblings about the things I see and do while on temporary assignment in Stuttgart, Germany. Whoever would have thought I would have a blog? I used to tease friends who have blogs. What's next a Twitter account?
I will try to post a little something daily, but honestly, life here is about the same as everywhere else (only in Germany). You wake up, you go to work, you come home, have dinner, relax, go to bed, and repeat the cycle for 5 days. There is lots to do on the weekends and I am committed to getting out.
My wonderful sister, Mary Beth, was kind enough to email me yesterday (she just got back from Las Vegas where she and her family were visiting her brother-in-law who works at the Wynn Hotel and Casino, which is an incredible place and the best in Vegas), and she suggested I start a blog. My friend, Mike T, in TX, suggested I set up a facebook acct like he had. I told him I was not a 14 year old girl so that was out.
I correspond with my wife, Jodi, daily (Hi Honey. Look I have a blog!), who is very smart (just ask her and she will tell you) and had been telling her how bad I feel about not emailing and keeping up with everyone. Telephone calls are very expensive and it would be impossible to write a personal email to everyone. As smart as she is, neither she nor I ever thought to start a blog. So...my hat is off to my sister.
On the weekends I have a little extra time so I have been writing weekly recaps and sending them to Jodi. Since those are already created, I thought I would cut and paste those just to bring everyone up to speed.
Here you go:
Keep in mind that this was a personal correspondence to my wife so the greeting of "Hey Honey" does not refer to you ((unless you are Jodi (Hi Honey!) who is reading this)) but feel free to insert your name.
Ramblings for day 2 (Sat, 9 May 2009)
Hey Honey,
Not much going on here so I thought I would give you an update.
I decided to try and stay up as late as reasonable yesterday in order to get my internal clock adjusted. Stayed up until midnight or so (Germany is +6 hours from EST).
Woke up at 730 am but didn't really feel like getting up yet but remembered that breakfast was included with my stay and was served from 0630-1030. I figured it was safe to doze off. Much to my surprise, it was 1015 when I woke up. Oh shit! I jumped out of bed and threw on some clothes so I would not miss my free breakfast.
I figured the free breakfast here would be like the free breakfast at every hotel...horrible, but better then nothing. Much to my surprise, it was a breakfast that would have otherwise cost USD $12-15. They had all kinds of fresh breads and rolls, cold meats, cheese, 5 kinds of yogurt, 4 kinds of cereal, juice, coffee, tea, smoked salmon, fresh tomato slices with fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh scrambled and fried eggs, tiny thin pancakes, breakfast sausages, etc. it was surprisingly good and I ate enough for it to cover lunch, too.
After breakfast, went back up stairs and surfed the Internet for a while and then showered. What now? It's only 1245.
I've got a great idea! I will explore downtown Stuttgart. I put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed my sunglasses and hat, dropped the camera in my pocket and I was off.
The train/rail stop is right in back of the hotel, so I headed down there. The digital sign told me that the next train was 7 minutes out. No problem...just needed my ticket and I am off. I got to looking at the ticket machine and the very complex map of the train system. Turns out that I needed to enter a destination code. 6 minutes and 45 seconds later and after an extensive map study, I tapped in the number 101 and paid my EUR $2.40. Just in time too as I could hear the train coming.
I wasn't really sure where to get off, but I knew the train would take me where I wanted to go. All trains go downtown, right? After countless stops, I determined that I was almost at the end of the line. Where is downtown Stuttgart? I figured maybe the train was not such a good idea. It did not know where I wanted to go after all. So, I got off, walked across the tracks and waited for the next train which I hoped would take me back to the hotel. So much for my big adventure. At least it didn't end Curious George style.
I did run into quite a few people just getting on off the train though. The few things I noticed is that Germans DO NOT wear shorts. It is 75 degrees and sunny with a gentle breeze and everyone is wearing jeans or pants. Some even sported leather jackets. Also, no one wears ball caps. I did see a 9 yo kid wearing one but he might have been an American. So, only Americans or Germans aged 9 or younger wear ball caps here. I hope they realize that I am photosensitive and I did not have any sun screen on. On a brighter note, apparently German youth have a little more sense then American youth as the one tattoo I had exposed was one more then everyone I encountered had. But why don't they wear shorts?
It is so beautiful today, I figured I would set off on foot. The getting lost process is much slower and you can turn around whenever you want. So, I walked to the only place I really knew....over to the base where I work (15 min walk). At a minimum, I knew I would want to eat dinner and I would need one of those $1.99 gas station sandwiches they sell at the 7 Day Store. The base is like a little part of the US except this little part of the US is surrounded by a fence and people with guns check IDs at controlled entry points to make sure you are clear to come in. Wait...I have an idea....
Once again, I saw people wearing shorts and ball caps. I knew I was in the right place. God bless America. The only thing missing were SUVs and anything made by Ford or GM. Well, with the price of gas and the state of the US automakers, all of the US will probably look like this pretty soon anyways.
It is kinda funny that to buy certain items, you need to present a ration card. Did they know the war was over and we had plenty of everything again? In order to buy coffee, cigarettes, and liquor, you need to present your ration card which limits how much of those things you can buy every month. For gas, you need a separate ration card. Once you use up your rations, no more for you. The fence and armed guards are fine but THIS is not part of my America. I feel like I should be able to buy as much liquor, cigarettes, and coffee as I want. I don't need THE MAN telling me how much booze I can buy every month. Don't even think about buying guns and ammo. So much for my perfect little piece of America. Could someone back in the states go buy some bourbon and bullets just to make me feel a little better? In some states, I think you can get both at the WalMart. God bless the WalMart.
I mentioned to the old woman at the 7 Day Store check-out counter that I tried to get downtown on the train but wasn't sure where to get off. She told me that I don't want to go downtown today anyways so it was just as well. She told me there was a football (soccer) game at the stadium today and that the games tend to attract a part of society that is a little unsavory. I told her I didn't care much for liberals myself and thanked her. The last person I wanted to run into was Sean Penn and for all I knew, he was a fan of the local soccer team. Turns out that she was talking about "hooligans" who cause a ruckus and are a troublesome bunch.
I got back to my room in time to watch Formula 1 qualifying but it was broadcast in German. I really miss the commentary of that drunken sounding English guy that they have on the American broadcast. Oh well, I can still follow along well enough . I see Sponge Bob is popular here but, again, broadcast in German. I didn't know Mr. Crabs and Patrick were bilingual (Patrick is not very smart). A crabby patty is probably EUR $2 instead of the USD $3 we are used to paying. By the way, it is a pain in the ass to carry two different currencies in my wallet. We should go back to using gold coins.
Saw a lot of cool cars today. Lots of Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Opels, Citroen, Smart Cars and even a BMW M5 Estate (station) Wagon. Yes, a V10 engine that puts out 500hp and it is full of wagony goodness. It is not available in the US (other than me, Americans aren't much for wagons), but if it were, it would sell for around USD$ 90,000. Even the taxis are BMW or MB.
It is funny that seeing a Ford or Chevy is like seeing a Ferrari or Rolls Royce in America. I caught my self exclaiming "Holy shit! Did you see that? A Ford just went by!" There are actually a fair number of Fords here but no GM.
Well, that has been about it so far. Guess I will watch episodes of "The Office" tonight (and every night for the next 7 mos). Even if I know German, it looks like German TV sucks anyways.
Guess I will find a place to smoke a cigar. Hard to get lost when you are just sitting smoking a cigar.
Happy Mother's Day tomorrow.
Your Ever Luvin' Husband (there is a funny story behind this closing, ask Jodi for it)
Michael
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)