Resolve

A few house keeping items, as I say hello to 2010 (exactly one year later) and to a Berlin muted by a blanket of snow (hoorah!) You can just make out my bike's white basket under the pile of powder. I'm very happy to be home, yes it feels like home these days... and yes Bron is showing up on here a lot  but it was her birthday and we made a snowman!

Now, I'm not one to dissect what I hate about myself and then commit to changing it starting January first but this year, I got to thinking that there a few resolutions I could say "out loud" and be bullied into keeping, or at least shamed.

I call them the 3G's of Twenty Ten and they are: Green (because I should). German (because I'm here). Gym (because I payed for a 6 month membership). I also resolve to sing more whitney houston (below) and cypress hill (above) at karaoke with workmates (thank you Sarah for documenting). Don't you know I'm loco?

I've posted a few pictures and thoughts about Paris (City of Lights) on By World Of Mouth, which can be found in the links on the right hand side of the page or temporarily at the top of the page or by clicking here. I'll hopefully post more pictures soon, but be warned they are mostly buildings that aren't famous to anyone but architects, and even then I question where Luke has heard if these places.

Some forgotten photos and an ode to those who (hopefully) read my blog, who are in another home that is less than 3 months away! Thank you, your comments (and skype chats) are cherished.

December, now so much more than Kristimas

I know that lately I have resorted to photoblogging( is that a word? it is now. let's call it phobloing for short) but it's really an easy way for me to keep my 3 readers up to speed on my fast paced life here.

Up here we have Molly lighting a homemade menorah (yes those are pipes) at Hanukkah dinner. One of the benefits of hosting the dinner is that you get to bask in the smell of oil for the entire week. Mmm latkes.


Of course, there was lots of baking to be done and sweets to eat. Surrounding Bron's sacrilicious Christmukkah cake are my peanut butter cups that I had to make in large muffin tin instead of a small one ( this proved to be a bit much, so i chopped 'em into quarters)

Here's how you do it: (Brit, you might want to omit the deadly peanuts on this one, if you make it for Charles)

Melt 4 oz white chocolate with 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter ( i use a double boiler but it can easily be done in the microwave)

in a separate bowl melt 12 oz bittersweet chocolate (chopped)

in a lined mini muffin pan, evenly divide the chocolate mixtures, using a spoon to layer between the chocolate and the peanut butter.

Sprinkle with chopped peanuts

Place muffin tin in freezer for 15 minutes and bring to room temperature to serve

can be stored for up to 2 weeks in fridge.


In tune with the annual Christmas markets around Germany, our school put on it's own Winter Bazaar, the children made things (above lanterns and cards) that the parents purchased at very reasonable prices!

Turkey and Mulled Wine, Holiday favourites in Germany

Friends, as you know I loves me a get-together so naturally as I make a few more friend here in Berlin, get-togethers are a happening. Luckily for me, I have met some people who like to take day trips, celebrate American holidays and find any excuse to share a pie. Here are a few snap shots from the past few months.

Above is a gathering at Katie's house in Charlottenburg (West Berlin) for Thanksgiving. Russ, the keen looking fellow in the back, brought bacon wrapped sausages to make his first Yanksgiving extra special. He was too busy posing for the picture to realise how serious this meal is and that you better dig in or forget getting any white meat.

At 8am we hopped on a train and headed to Dresden for the day to check out their famous Christmas Markets. These are popular throughout Germany during Advent ( December) and they are much more than just regular markets with fake snow on the stalls (although there is plenty of that too). The best part, aside from dried fruit dolls, is Glühwein (hot mulled wine) that comes in every flavour imaginable, including Apfel,, as seen above.Want more photos? I've added more on picassa (just click on the Dresden at Christmas album on the right hand side of the page)

Galariffic

This past November, Luke and I were invited to a Gala at the Ritz Carlton that was put on by another International school here in Berlin. We were each the plus one of a friend from the school, and cashed in on some free champagne and a delicious spread. We are practically Michaele and Tariq Salahi!

Above are some girls (Katie, my date, Bron, to whom these photos belong and Anne, who made that fab hair piece) that I've been lucky to get to know these past few months in Berlin. You might recognize them from such events as "Brunch" and "Sunday's in the Park" and will be coming soon in "Thanksgiving".

Oktoberfest part 1- the Devil's Wheel

(most photos courtesy of Katie Lepak, I wisely didn't bring my camera)

Last weekend, Katie and I went to Munich to play in an ultimate tournament and of course, join in the Oktoberfestivities. The weekend was set up so that we played all day Friday, had Saturday off to taste the beer and played again on Sunday. There are 14 big beer tents on a massive fair grounds, where each tent could hold close to 10,000 people.

(taken from muenchen.de)

Our tournament fees included entrance and reservations in the Hofbräuzelt, right beside the band who played everything from Country Roads to the traditional and often repeated toast "Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemutlichkeit", which roughly translates to " A Toast, A Toast to Coziness".


Before heading into the tent, however, we explored the midway and met up with a few other people from the tournament at Das Teufelsrad (the Devil's Wheel). This is a rotating disc, where people try to stay on while being hit with a giant ball and lassoed by carnies. Occasionally, the caller gets two kids up there and makes them box, or asks all the women in dirndls to come up and have a hool-a-hoop contest.

Click on the photo above or this link to watch the hilarious video of us giving it a go. I didn't stay on long because I am weak, but Russ ( a friend from Berlin Ultimate) managed to stay until the end.

out-of-towners

One of the perks of living in Europe versus Asia is that our friends and family feel that it is a bit more accessible. Since coming in January, we have had a steady stream of guests keeping us from facing the reality of having to make friends and learn the language! Here are a few pictures from recent visits that have kept us in our bubble.

Peter and I showing off our new scarves before the Hertha BSC football match.

Adrian, Peter and I at the match. (And surly guy in the background, jealous of the scarves I'm sure)


Luke and Dad at the Eisbaren Hockey game (in the opposing fans section)


Dad and I in San Sebastian, Spain
( not all of our activities are centered around athletics.. although some might call the wine tasting a sport)

Kathy, Sandy and I at the top of the Reischtag

Skype With Mo

Skype With Charlotte and Fin

Skype with Eric

the wonderful world of technology (Korea/Germany)

home for the holidays

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I know I just started this blog all about my adventures in Berlin, but I also just booked my tickets home and I'm really excited! The prices are unbelievably high around the holidays, so I booked the best deal...

I'll be flying into New York on the 13th of November for about 6 weeks. I leave the 31st of December from NYC too, so I'll be celebrating 2009 with a bottle of airplane wine in seat 11f, hopefully beside a giant football player! Beat those New Year's plans!






Autumn along the Spree river