tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49154441778224302122012-02-16T11:07:28.552+01:00<b>Follow my family as we travel from New York to Germany. We start our two to three year sojourn with what was to be a two month project in Berlin but which has extended itself <strike>2/4/6/10 months/2 years</strike> 4 years and counting...</b>G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-38375414248047530052012-02-08T19:06:00.003+01:002012-02-08T21:51:16.420+01:00

People who know me would rate me as a low-maintenance sort of person. I own a lipstick (and use it occasionally), but my other make-up has all gone so far out of date as to be unusable (in fact, I discarded the majority of it a few declutters ago). I still have perfume from the 80's (truly, I still have perfume that my grandmother left me, but I only smell it every now and then).I have been

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-86992031405522355172012-01-31T23:21:00.004+01:002012-02-01T14:30:15.746+01:00

It's probably going to be a light month, as I gear up to edit another news letter for our club and also have an apa mailing to finish. But I will forge ahead in my effort to read through the books I need to return, those I want to donate/give away, and those I really ought to read so that my brain doesn't atrophy. One of my goals will definitely be to ensure that I manage at least one of

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-76842701695208999112012-01-22T00:27:00.007+01:002012-01-22T01:05:56.897+01:00

Part of my goal of feeling healthier this year is, of course, eating healthier. I'm never going to be able to get a healthy can of soup off the shelf in Germany, but now that I can find natural and MSG-free stock, I'm going to be making a lot more soup. And since the kids are very happy just to have a quick chicken-noodle (while I'm not), I'll be experimenting more. The last soup was a big hit

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-92062272517241054432012-01-17T17:25:00.007+01:002012-01-18T14:12:25.221+01:00

A general cover of the standard Carrot-Ginger soup seen on so many sites, thrown together with what I had in the house. Here's Epicurious, and Jamie Oliver (next time I'll throw in some fresh-ground nutmeg) and Cooks.com. Mine is closest to the first but is vegan and non-dairy. Low calories, low fat (just the oil used to sautee the veggies), extremely high flavor. Yum (although the picture I took

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-68405737963319982822012-01-14T23:47:00.005+01:002012-01-15T01:12:40.545+01:00

2012 ( without a checking account— they don't exist in Germany) I haven't really had to type that date very much. The German was helping T1 with studying during the holiday break and kept couching her on writing the date properly: perhaps that has helped me remember it!In any case, I actually started this on the 10th and looked up and it was 4 days later, so I need to break my blogging log jam

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-66003630376702977342012-01-01T14:43:00.001+01:002012-01-03T18:40:03.075+01:00

I'm not much for resolutions. They sort of drive me crazy, as if I fail in even the smallest way, I can find my resolve to do anything completely dissipated. I do, however, want to set some rolling goals. For this year and going forward. I want to have a place where I can actually keep track of what I want to do and have these thoughts not just be on scraps of paper that I lose. I want to see

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-83210611104460144432011-12-31T23:59:00.001+01:002011-12-31T23:59:03.095+01:00

(Berlin 2009)A Very Happy New Year to all, Ein Guten Rutsch und ein Gutes Neues Jahr

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-35167753357251181282011-12-31T23:18:00.023+01:002011-12-31T23:18:01.016+01:00

I started reading the first 2 last month (in the case of the McAdams for the second time), but didn't finish reading them before December started. I read Joan Hess' Claire Malloy #4 in June, and the 7,8, 15 and 16th in October, but am re-reading them as I wrap them up to send back to Mom.I fell a bit behind in book reading as, although I had no German class this month, there was quite a bit going

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-30586718684488888952011-12-24T12:34:00.009+01:002011-12-24T16:40:43.461+01:00

It's the end of 2011 and a week or so ago I received an e-mail in my role as an officer of multinational group. I have anonymized the letter, because I don't think anyone needs the identity of the writer or the group to look at the concepts and thoughts behind the writing.(As a pertinent piece of information, the group is not just multinational and multi-ethnic, the German membership has a hard

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-809830743030137842011-12-23T14:02:00.003+01:002011-12-23T14:06:00.850+01:00

Pancakes.And I had to make this 4 times (T2 gave out on the 4th round, so I could have some).So doubling the recipe is now a given and I'm guessing that as my 5 and 8 year olds continue to grow a quadrupling will also become standard.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-33079248456520377272011-12-19T18:44:00.004+01:002011-12-19T19:11:39.890+01:00

This morning while I was helping T2 with her boots, she told me that one foot was tighter than the other.Since it has gotten cold and she has had to wear boots and not sneakers, she has moaned every day that they were too tight: I thought that she was just pulling my leg again. In the past, I could make her happy by pulling on the tongue or adjusting her socks (because the boots are not tight).I

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-61121587367629559022011-12-17T19:13:00.007+01:002011-12-20T03:13:24.292+01:00

On Saturday night we booked our babysitter for the last time this year. The plan had been to wander the Gendarmenmarkt, which I think the most charming and classic of Berlin's Weihnachtmarkts. But it was raining.So instead we went to see Mission Impossible: The Ghost Protocol at Sony Centre. (We enjoyed it although I was annoyed the sub-plot pertaining to Ethan's wife: it made absolutely no sense

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-39417432860328842132011-12-15T18:10:00.001+01:002011-12-24T18:14:36.902+01:00

It's amazing to realize how big T2 is now.She chose this outfit by herself, dressed by herself, and can wear T1's boots from last year.Where did my baby go?

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-59399488261019512772011-12-09T10:34:00.003+01:002011-12-19T06:00:15.683+01:00

I want to make a digression to talk about one of my favorite companies: Priceline.I only wish that I could Priceline my trips from Europe to the US (they don't allow it with trips originating in Europe:-( ) because the amount of money that I have saved on vehicle rentals is absolutely amazing. We rented a car for one day from Miami airport at 35% of the cheapest rate we could find (for a minivan,

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-47304080031726417582011-12-08T11:49:00.004+01:002011-12-08T13:46:38.871+01:00

Vacation! We did so much that it will be hard to put it into a few posts.From Berlin to Miami, then a one day car rental (through Priceline) and a few hours drive north to where my family was staying (close to my brother and where my niece would be Bat Mitzvahed).Then a few hours south the next morning to visit a friend who I miss a lot. He's in prison and I am deeply sad that I don't live in

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-7363861197002676742011-12-06T11:55:00.003+01:002011-12-06T12:15:55.994+01:00

View from the Spree this summerOne of these days I will finish up and publish the posts about our vacation, but right now I'm just catching my breath in a lazy day at home (doing some tidying and decluttering, but not laundry).It's been a week and the German has been working like mad with T1 helping her to catch up on the work that she has missed (I don't think that we can take time off in the

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-7400738626146591092011-11-30T23:30:00.001+01:002011-12-01T00:22:36.992+01:00

My sleeping pattern is still off as I get over the jet-lag and try to get the house in order We came back with the usual pile of clothing swag (18 pairs of socks for $8.99! and so on) and I am working through re-packing the summer clothes, getting rid of the fall clothes (because it's definitely winter time) and the rain clothes and boots, and moving clothing downward: hand-me-down (thanks to my

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-39167429092043552302011-11-29T02:32:00.005+01:002011-12-01T02:53:29.374+01:00

I made a start at doing the seasonal turn-over before I left, but of course I needed to leave it undone: it was still transitional weather and I needed to pack for 30c, while leaving 18C expecting to come back to 5C.So as I was unpacking the suitcases, I was also packing away the summer clothes, the fall clothes, the rain clothes and the clothes in the closets and drawers that were Summer/Fall/

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-80500114635230241252011-11-28T02:05:00.007+01:002011-12-01T19:17:19.633+01:00

I'm still overcoming the jet-lag and won't be interpolating the missing vacation pics and posts for a while, but this is what I came back to (and I am absolutely luxuriating in not having German class and not planning on an intensive full-time course for at least a semester).The left pictures are a portion of the swag brought back from the US: soft underwear and clothing for the children which

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-2949743337478204282011-11-09T15:05:00.003+01:002011-11-09T15:09:19.792+01:00

I think T1 is absolutely amazing. I think it's time to go and see some Magritte in situ.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-86752282437038199402011-11-04T23:02:00.001+01:002011-11-05T23:16:21.730+01:00

A slightly terrifying look at the corner of the office.The empty boxes on the left are from the unpacked winter clothes (as is the large green one on the right. The other boxes are summer clothes (and a box of size 8s still too large for T1, who at 8.5 can still wear size 6): they are still up here rather than in the Kellar because I need to pack our suitcases for Florida this weekend.Then they

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-23919387042109481782011-11-04T14:50:00.000+01:002011-11-09T14:55:58.934+01:00

Berlin may not be much for Weckmänner, but it's starting to get into the spirit of Halloween. (These were very yummy, made with Quark.)

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-33110519230585104852011-11-02T10:25:00.005+01:002011-11-02T10:32:18.094+01:00

The last two years have seen the emergence of the zombie trope replacing the vampire one. I have loads of YA and paranormals on my shelves, waiting to be read, with zombie leads, zombie heroes, dystopian zombified worlds and even zombie romantic leads (I know it's hard to imagine).Coming home from a Halloween party on Saturday, we bumped into the best zombie costumes (we assume, since they did

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-26928404157309199562011-10-31T23:21:00.007+01:002011-11-01T03:53:48.186+01:00

Silver SharkSilent Blade by Ilona Andrews: This is an interesting concept: e-book shorts/novellas. Set in the world of the Kinsmen, psionic clans in a world mostly populated by (non-Kinsmen) drones. I liked them a lot— a very (updated) 50s style. I have always been a sucker for espers and psionics. Strong characters, interesting world building, related stories.Cast in Ruins by Michelle Sagara: I

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-10115688910046341262011-10-30T16:36:00.005+01:002011-10-30T21:46:17.621+01:00

With apologies for not being very communicative recently (getting over some respiratory problems), I wanted to mark the end of my favorite (and sadly, very short) period in Germany: the Federweisser period.As I've said, the only German gastronomic products that I would miss if I left are quark (and I now know how to make it at home) and Federweisser (which is irreplaceable). But what I love is

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-4841628146055971082011-10-29T12:49:00.005+02:002011-11-01T12:18:03.453+01:00

We spent last weekend in Köln, at the Expat Meet Up. It's discussed at much greater length here, (and probably other blogs as well, when everyone recovers enough to post). I'm not going to talk about it here and I was coming down with something so I didn't see a tremendous amount.But what we did enjoy on the way out was this baked treat. Since Frau Dietz mentioned it, I thought I would as well.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-13600616082674356792011-10-21T11:33:00.005+02:002011-10-21T11:51:09.413+02:00

Schinkel: Gate in the Rocks (Berlin 1818) This museum, although included in my Jahreskart, has never been high on my list of "must sees". When I read the description of the collection, it just didn't grip me.I had friends in last month, though, and they were interested in visiting this, so I went along. The archtecture of the museum is interesting enough, but the name, to those used to the

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-75703561876493942842011-10-20T12:50:00.000+02:002011-10-27T13:21:26.012+02:00

In my not-yet-written post on Oktoberfest 2011, I'll talk about what we enjoyed and the intersection with what the girls enjoyed. But one non-intersection they did enjoy was Lebkuchenherzen. For myself, I find them inedible and I can't understand how the translation can be "Gingerbread Hearts" when the recipe has either no or very little ginger in it, but the girls not only liked looking at them

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-49306199052734643352011-10-14T22:42:00.009+02:002011-10-26T12:31:22.305+02:00

We were able, through points, to get a package to Alegria in Berlin for all 4 of us. With the recent experience of having the children in the Schottenhamel tent at Oktoberfest (they lasted about 5 minutes before beginning to demand that we leave as it was "too loud"- we barely managed to eat our meals) we used a bit of forethought and ordered in ear protectors for the both of them. Of course,

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-26084252436235546572011-10-12T20:16:00.003+02:002011-10-13T18:49:22.687+02:00

I started this post a very long time ago, after seeing someone else discussing the list. I'd seen the list posted on numerous SF blogs and newsfeeds, but thought it would be too much work. So instead I just took a long time to annotate it. When I count the books I know that I have read (even though I can't remember them in my senescence), it's a few more than I had originally thought: 100-29=71

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-46277877468352649352011-09-30T19:05:00.011+02:002011-10-21T11:55:14.869+02:00

This will be a lighter month, as I am falling desperately behind in reading my Economist, my German classes have started, I had a concert, two Elternabends, friends visit (yeah!) and Rosh Hashona.--- Then a fast visit to Munich for Oktoberfest made longer by a broken and replaced train change.Murder Your Darlings (January 2011) by J.J. Murphy: The first in the new series "The Algonquin Round

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-20091595720437967082011-09-29T12:58:00.001+02:002011-10-15T13:15:27.521+02:00

I made this in a gugeltopf for Rosh Hashonah this year, but I wasn't satisfied: it came out too dense and thick. Perhaps, in an excess of joy with using my KitchenAid mixer, I overbeat it?Honey Cake 1 3/4 c. honey1 c. coffee 2x strength (made with 1/2 the water, that is)4 eggs2T vegetable oil1 c sugar (225 g)3 1/2 c. flour (1c= approx 120 g 3.5=420 g)pinch salt1 t. baking soda2 t. baking powder1

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-10940856594072977262011-09-15T23:47:00.000+02:002011-10-14T00:50:53.731+02:00

I went to see Kathy Reichs at the Internationales Literaturfest Berlin.(The woman who read from her novel in German was Sabine Postel (on right) from Tatort, has also read the audiobooks for Elizabeth George's books here in Germany).Luckily, I anticipated the fact that there would be no translation from the German to the English (as I found with AS Byatt) and I was once again surprised that, even

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-27678124114264165592011-09-14T21:27:00.002+02:002011-09-14T23:39:08.292+02:00

The Great Wave off the Coast of KanagawaFrom the series Thirty-six Views of Mount FujiDate of Origin: c. 1831/ Period Iitsucredit: Sumida CityIt's been a chaotic bi-month so far. Sometimes I feel like I am running with spinning wheels where my feet are but I am going backwards instead of forwards. Something like Wil E Coyote on a bad day. But today, after dropping the kids off and having some

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-19553903656108078552011-09-11T17:36:00.006+02:002011-10-04T19:20:09.399+02:00

I try hard to build better memories for this date so when we saw an opportunity to enroll in a KinderBaustelle on this Sunday, we leaped at it. There had been a kleingartenkolonie in our neighborhood which was, after years of fighting, sold by the community to be housing. (This area could actually use some). In any case, in a neighborly gesture, the company advertised a Children's Building

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-39823364856371641312011-09-11T16:26:00.004+02:002011-10-04T17:36:13.679+02:00

I struggle with a certain amount of PTSD during September. 9/11/01 was a very pivotal time for me and my life, as well as for that of the US.On that day, I was working for a Big 4, on an assignment in Chicago. My boyfriend (now husband), at a different Big 4, was on assignment in Texas. I was running out the door to the client when my mom called to tell me that a plane had hit the Twin Towers. I

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-10498585641119719252011-09-08T13:12:00.010+02:002011-10-14T15:40:08.965+02:00

My book club had read The Children's Book by AS Byatt this year, so when it was announced (in our forum) that she would appear at the Internationales Literaturfest Berlin, I decided to join in and come along to listen.This was the first time I had visited the festival since our move and it's really close to us: so close that when I got off the U and looked, there was an arrow pointing in the

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-42266356691936391222011-09-04T23:28:00.004+02:002011-09-10T00:54:11.554+02:00

Ich und IchIch hatte schon längst keine Hoffnung mehrDoch jemand hat dich geschickt, von irgendwo herDu hast mich gefunden,in der letzten Sekunde.Ich wusste nicht mehr genau was zähltNur: es geht nicht mehr weiter, wenn die Liebe fehltDu hast mich gefunden,in der letzten Sekunde.Refrain:Du bist das Pflaster für meine SeeleWenn ich mich nachts im Dunkeln quäleEs tobt der Hass, da vor meinem

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-50761462535821809422011-09-03T22:55:00.000+02:002011-09-07T23:01:44.994+02:00

I'd buy anything from that smiling face, wouldn't you?

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-54471004919909339292011-09-02T22:30:00.003+02:002011-09-07T22:53:16.146+02:00

I am amazed and grateful to be living in a society that believes that art and an appreciation of it are a human right and one that Society (with a capital S) should extend to children.Thing1 had been taking quite good art classes in the Friedrichstrasse area (not too bad by S-bahn), but those classes were preceded by a ceramics class which apparently had some sort of glaze or clay ingredient to

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-62660991511244970342011-09-01T10:44:00.007+02:002011-09-01T11:42:47.940+02:00

Someone I consider a friend asked me this week, "what do you do during the day?". (and boy do I wish I looked that young and had a kitchen like that- although not in yellow.) I looked at her, as she sat at my computer, finishing up work that she had not done (due to a computer problem) nor found a different way (than coming to my place on her schedule) to do and mentioned that I generally go to

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-25216269325621661532011-08-31T23:05:00.026+02:002011-09-01T11:34:45.772+02:00

It may seem like I have had an awful lot of time to read this past month, but that's a result of multiple trips— driving to NRW and then training to Amsterdam (3 changes one way, 5 the other), having a few free days while the kids were in NRW, with a train trip back to Berlin, and a few flights as well. So I made my way through a pile of magazines and a few books that I need to see about

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-26981089061554741172011-08-29T23:20:00.000+02:002011-08-30T18:31:11.889+02:00

And more that we did this month, with a few photos to relieve the eye... T2 entered as a vorschulkind into her last year before Grundschule, complete with Winnie-the-Pooh small schultuete. It hurts my feelings a bit when she tells me, "Mama, go!" But at least she hugs and kisses me before she sends me on my way. I'm glad that we didn't push for her to go to first grade this year, as she is

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-60914770103264522362011-08-29T22:29:00.000+02:002011-09-07T18:25:04.202+02:00

La la la la La la la la Elmo's World (da da da) La la la la La la la la Elmo's World Elmo loves his goldfish His crayon too That's Elmo's World!We recently got the new Shalom Sesame and T2 put it in. First she had to get Elmo to watch it with, though. (8/29)

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-40681084633424528622011-08-29T14:56:00.005+02:002011-08-30T18:29:20.532+02:00

My birthday present from the German, amongst other items, was the gift of time: I abandoned the family and took several cooking courses through the VHS system. I enjoyed them all, in their varied ways. In addition to garnering many interesting recipes and having the opportunity to decide how I like various dishes (and how I might alter them from the originals), I very much enjoyed having the

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-75920078201144051162011-08-29T10:49:00.001+02:002011-08-29T12:24:55.954+02:00

It's been a pretty busy month and it's hard to grab enough time to really blog about it. We went blueberry picking.I had an appointment with a neurosurgeon and a quick follow-up MRI. Physical therapy should start as soon as I make an appointment.The German and I went to a Sting concert in Rome at the Cavea dell'Auditorium Parco della Musica. We stayed at the Westin Excelsior and were upgraded

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-18789958479818945532011-08-11T09:33:00.000+02:002011-08-15T00:41:11.312+02:00

This may seem a tad strange, but my kids have actually never had shoes that laced. We have practiced tying shoes and we have tied bows, but this is T1s first shoe with laces and this is the first time that she has tied her lace all by herself, without even any kibbutzing or help double-tying it (she double-tied it by herself!). She's pretty happy and I was pretty amazed and proud.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-9375032634577427642011-08-09T21:43:00.004+02:002011-08-18T21:31:23.178+02:00

It's been a non-sunny, non-warm sort of interim period, waiting for school to start again. So we grabbed a day and went to a "paint your own ceramics" place, where the girls spent hours working on their masterpieces. They are quite strong-willed and took absolutely none of my suggestions. We might have stayed even longer, but they were hungry and it was getting late (and although there are

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-84324736082812769372011-08-02T21:55:00.001+02:002011-08-17T22:33:12.016+02:00

Over the river, and through the wood—And straight through the barnyard gate,We seem to go extremely slow,It is so hard to wait!Lydia Marie Child The children spent the last week with Oma and Opa, some of which we spent in Rome and some of which home and here. They think of the time with Oma and Opa as being a form of adventure camp. In the last week they have: taken a boat trip, which Opa did

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-45692218743722213702011-08-01T19:28:00.000+02:002011-08-17T21:55:05.292+02:00

Visiting friends in a small town in the west, not far from Münster. This is their villge square and their local Eis Cafe. We had an Eis Pizza (and it was very good) and the kids had Eis "characters". Sometimes it's hard to believe they are old enough to finish the whole thing!

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-78306495139173874262011-07-31T19:38:00.006+02:002011-08-06T13:20:23.001+02:00

Oops- I was in Rome over the end of the month and forgot to hit publish. Sometime soon, when life is less hectic (or the kids go back to school) I will finish my posts on what a great time we had there and what we have been doing over the summer.Heartless (July 2011) by Gail Carriger:4th in the series starring Alexia Maccon (nee Tarabotti), a preternatural (someone who causes supernatural

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-62635899521551666242011-07-26T20:57:00.005+02:002011-07-26T21:16:34.496+02:00

The wall that I look out onto in my Hof has been a rather dreary sight: dark and stained and with cracks. This year there are tax incentives for weatherization of real property and the owner of the apartment building I face has taken advantage of it.It has taken several weeks (the contract clearly allowed the insulation, refacing and painting to not be a priority for the company) but the wall is

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-5608797447694867342011-07-24T22:44:00.000+02:002011-08-06T13:23:58.772+02:00

Our Spring and Summer in Germany apparently came in April and May so now that we are in July, we are in Fall (almost winter).Last week T1 told me that it wasn't summer and asked for her long pants back and this week T2 is out gathering apples from my parents-in-law's front garden tree (yes, we ate them).It's hard to imagine what blue skies and warm weather might be like...

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-81973094133216144712011-07-22T23:36:00.005+02:002011-07-24T14:59:46.971+02:00

One of the things I like most about Germany is the recycling. This may seem a little odd, but because I live in a developed country and consume my share of resources and create my share of junk, I feel pretty guilty. I am watching the end of the world as I know it, seeing the ice caps melt and the glaciers disappear, fish are being wiped out in the wild (and I still eat tuna) and the climate is

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-3061779423534398282011-07-19T21:40:00.004+02:002011-07-19T22:11:38.653+02:00

The thing I miss most about the US right now is having a garden. This was a bit sublimated when we had the roof terrace, but now that we have been here in our 3rd (4th) floor apartment for over a year, the cellar is a bit crowded with all the pots and garden things that used to be in active use and no longer are. One of the things that we did this year was till an area at the kita because they

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-92074572124569980512011-07-06T18:52:00.000+02:002011-07-26T21:21:26.086+02:00

July 6/I was walking back from a meeting with some friends when I ran across this movable art piece. I saw one at Grünewoche, but this was the first I have seen "in the wild". This is a BücherboXXand it's both a piece of art and a usable "lending library"— one can take or leave books.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-20400104983206134132011-07-04T18:20:00.000+02:002011-07-11T20:08:19.427+02:00

I keep on reading about other expats (and Germans) who are successful at selling things on-line in Germany and I wonder how they do it?We have sold a few things, generally for very little, but it seems that (in Berlin at least) many Germans like to sell their used items for 95-120% of the original price, but hope to buy used items for 5-10%. This is a bit annoying. In my quest to declutter, I

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-60166856518284791612011-07-03T09:00:00.006+02:002011-07-03T12:05:48.939+02:00

I was chatting with a friend yesterday about decluttering. She is a tremendously busy woman, with a tremendously busy family and they have been running at full pace for years, at a pace I can't even imagine keeping up with. She has a large house and three kids that keep getting bigger and busier, and she needs to declutter but can't find the time.So I started to tell her what I do and a lot

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-91096515099943235012011-06-30T23:56:00.000+02:002011-07-20T12:51:52.450+02:00

6/30 I had spent the past year asking our regular dentist about when it would be time to look at T1's teeth to discuss orthodontia. I could see from how her teeth were coming in that this would be an issue and I had the greater concern that certain tooth and jaw problems are genetic and I had those in spades.In April, I insisted on an X-ray (digital, very easy) and the results were worse than I (

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-27188623925780341982011-06-30T23:15:00.001+02:002011-07-01T23:08:54.500+02:00

Skin Trade (2009) by Laurell K. Hamilton: What can one say? It was 1 pound on a table. It's sort of like watching a train wreck (with lots of orgies).Enthralled (ARC 9/20/11)(anth. Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong): Short stories by top paranormal authors. Fun. I especially enjoyed the Ally Condie, the Sarah Rees Brennan and the Marr.Magic Slays (2011) by Ilona Andrews: I love this series even

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-34096892523021904022011-06-26T14:32:00.001+02:002011-06-29T15:08:42.000+02:00

Thing 1 had her first recital and we were very proud of her courage. After having several panic attacks the week before and declaring that she would not perform, she instead practices like mad (without my needing to require it) and did a great job. All the students had the typical German Urkunde afterward, although T2 was too shy to appear for hers.Afterward, she blew off steam playing with her

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-44527031972716942722011-06-25T13:17:00.000+02:002011-06-28T13:26:31.918+02:00

We visited a new synagogue today and had a great day.Afterward, we went home and went strawberry picking. We were racing the forecasted rain the entire time but in the end, it started raining after we had picked two full bowls, bought and eaten some local cheese and zwiebelbrot and found a DVD at the attached fleamarket. A really nice day.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-79299887230075650052011-06-25T10:23:00.000+02:002011-06-28T17:46:11.578+02:00

The last month has just been so busy, lots of travel and exhaustion. Lots of fun and some strangely childish adult interactions— do bullies actually still get away with it over 40?I'm not certain if I will append actual posts to these, but at least it shows where I have been for the last month plus so I can think about posting again.SchwerinWhat I was doing while I wasn't here—I was:Visiting my

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-66142521604296090822011-06-15T18:55:00.002+02:002011-06-16T19:16:41.233+02:00

When we left the US, I very stupidly left behind many appliances, thinking that I would be back in two years and wouldn't miss them. One of those was my Dyson Animal. Along with so many other things I left behind to the tenants who then destroyed everything they were left: from water damage I have just finished dealing with (a year later), to destroyed walls, to a fire that destroyed the reeking

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-24528483539131705072011-05-31T21:25:00.011+02:002011-05-31T21:25:00.143+02:00

The Fright of the Iguana (2007)by Linda O. Johnston: 5th in Johnston's series about Kendra Ballantyne, a lawyer and pet-sitter (explained in the series set up). Enjoyable and fluffy genre mystery that starts with the pet-napping of two of her charges and encompasses the murder of another pet-sitter. More development in her personal relationships as well. Would have preferred that it be thicker,

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-27217599136120440692011-05-20T19:05:00.002+02:002011-05-31T19:12:39.817+02:00

I flew to NY on the 20th, on the way upstate to see my parents and then back down to go to BookExpo. It was a long trip, made easier because I was travelling alone.While I was waiting for the shuttle at JFK, I used the rest room and saw this scene: a pair of shoes abandoned in the Women's Bathroom.I wondered if the Rapture had come a day early?

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-37669339375146014892011-05-15T22:57:00.005+02:002011-05-19T08:50:13.916+02:00

Today was the first day the girls have ever "made" Mother's Day without my husband actually putting it together. We woke to loud clanking sounds and the girls running in to tell us not to get up.I particularly liked how they had set the table, with Zebra having a place and and audience of kuscheltiere. Notice how they set my plate with my inhaler and a bee (to signify sweetness and because T2 had

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-9362844203829416082011-05-09T21:11:00.007+02:002011-05-19T15:04:57.045+02:00

After we flew back from Birmingham and Eastercon, we packed up the girls and the bikes for our annual trip to the Keukenhof.We generally stay in Leiden, which is relatively close and at a hotel which has a great pool for the kids. This time there were horses and ponies (a dam and foal of each) and the girls really enjoyed petting them.Once we were at the Keukenhof, we did our regular wandering

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-69810790344170511852011-05-07T01:46:00.002+02:002011-05-07T01:53:11.770+02:00

Really, lentil soup is easy enough to make. But I have been searching for a soup that I can keep on the shelf for emergencies, one without hidden pig elements and one without hidden MSG/MNG to make me ill and this is the first I have found. It's not as good as my own, but it is decent (when I add a lot of cayenne pepper). This has not been easy to find, during 3+ years in Germany and I am glad to

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-29811073867325490782011-05-06T21:24:00.006+02:002011-05-06T21:41:06.451+02:00

While we were in the UK over Easter weekend, the girls were at my in-laws, always something they look forward to.When we got back, my father-in-law asked if we could take a box that we had forgotten in his Kellar. I was a bit surprised that we had anything there, because we occupy the attic and we are generally very good at keeping our things out of their way and tidied up.Once I saw the box, I

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-72289493076783068532011-04-30T23:38:00.000+02:002011-05-02T02:44:44.682+02:00

Fatal Feng-Shui (2007) by Leslie Caine: I'd read a few of the prior mysteries in this series (how could I resist Death by Clutter?) and I enjoyed this one as well. Fluffy but fun, not a tremendous amount of character development, but an enjoyable read.(DTM)Oath of Fealty(2010) by Elizabeth Moon: I've waited an awfully long time for Moon to continue her fantasy series, started with Sheepfarmer's

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-50308035313365582272011-04-30T01:53:00.003+02:002011-05-01T02:07:25.644+02:00

I just watched The Tooth Fairy with Dwayne Johnson and it was absolutely hysterical. With several uncredited riffs by Billy Crystal, whom I adore, as well as Julie Andrews as the Fairy Godmother. Not to be missed and my girls will be able to watch it this week (the German and I were pre-viewing), unlike Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (pre-viewed earlier in the week).The former had a great

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-57720779676245504352011-04-19T09:31:00.002+02:002011-04-19T09:36:14.442+02:00

So we are off to Birmingham next weekend and this time I would actually like to see something rather than simply go to the convention.Last time, I asked the shuttle driver what he would suggest, and he couldn't give me anything that he felt I should, as a tourist, visit. Which I thought was very sad. So we had a great meal at a gastropub recommended by a friend.This time however, I would really

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-37788523793398690122011-04-14T17:57:00.003+02:002011-04-15T07:28:17.572+02:00

It's almost cute when the spam/phishing attempt is in a foreign language:-)Gmail ID / confirmation de votre messagerie (Champs obligatoire)...From:L'équipe Gmail messagerie ...Add to ContactsTo: .hmmessage p { margin: 0px; padding: 0px; }body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; } GMAIL! VÉRIFICATIONS Cher(e) utilisateur. 1. En raison de la congestion de tous les utilisateurs

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-58565390791470895432011-04-12T15:10:00.010+02:002011-04-12T17:25:01.431+02:00

It's been a busy week and it's going into a busy week. The middle of this two week period was T2's birthday party. We had a party for her and her friends (and T1 got to bring a friend along) on the weekend.They seemed to all enjoy themselves.We aren't quite certain why Germans will not RSVP, no matter how one asks, but at this point we are used to calling to confirm attendance (important because

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-53974592155185362162011-04-10T16:27:00.004+02:002011-04-10T17:06:21.030+02:00

I recently took a class at the Volkshochschule called "The Five Elements of Chinese Cooking". This was a mistake on my part, because what I thought I was taking was a Chinese cooking course. Instead, I was taking a cooking course that was based on the Chinese Five Elements of Fire, Water, Iron, Wood and Earth.I enjoyed the course, in its slightly woo-woo, perhaps one also believes in homeopathy

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-59906873139569664182011-04-09T13:33:00.002+02:002011-04-09T23:24:09.829+02:00

Generally, I don't like people who vandalize my environment. I think taggers are idiots who should be punished for defacing other people's property.This, however, is art. I enjoy walking by it (and not the ancillary vandalism) every day. The question is, however, whether this piece of art being allowed to remain is what drew the vandals to tag around it?

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-16008982490430178872011-04-08T19:18:00.004+02:002011-04-08T20:16:27.307+02:00

It was a busy day today, but let's put that aside.I came home from swimming lessons with T2 at about 18:00, always a difficult time to find parking. We were still in our swim shoes and her hair was sopping wet. There was only 1 open spot close to our apartment, but there was an auto parked across two spots preventing its use. I pulled up next to the spot, because the car was running and there was

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-84650619272289100642011-04-06T23:44:00.004+02:002011-04-07T00:09:10.707+02:00

We haven't taken a real set of family photos since we moved here from the US. I've really felt the lack, but at least we have had a few school photos for the children. When T2 didn't have a smile in this year's lot, my tremendous dissatisfaction came to a head and I tried like mad to find the equivalent of Sear's Photo Studios: decent to good shots at a decent to good price. I am happy to pay a

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-76591145944520118192011-03-31T23:24:00.016+02:002011-04-03T20:38:37.468+02:00

It's amazing how few books I have read this month. A lot of that is due to how busy I have been and also because I have focused on reading through and recycling my magazines, but I think I need to refocus for next month and get some more books read: in May I'll be heading to NY for BEA and I need to be certain that I have finished reading all the books that mom has loaned me so that I can return

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-71217215180869351002011-03-31T13:37:00.007+02:002011-03-31T17:12:54.716+02:00

I'm really an idle blogger: I don't expect to make money from my blog (nor do I want to), I'm not running it as a business, and I don't really do anything at all to publicize it. I started my blog as a way of maintaining both a running diary, accessible by friends at home, as a storage place for pictures and information for myself, and as a way to meet and chat with folks with common interests as

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-53417113808198453232011-03-30T23:41:00.000+02:002011-03-30T23:41:00.581+02:00

h/t Echidne. Photo from here.FEMINA*IBecause wanting to be treated like a HUMAN BEING is JUST LIKE invading Poland.

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-20928940641514883932011-03-27T22:19:00.000+02:002011-03-30T20:25:04.948+02:00

Just after I agreed to be nominated as editor for the monthly newsletter of my women's group, my PC-compatible blew up. Not literally, in a puff of smoke, but figuratively, with the pop of the motherboard going crack.This wasn't the first time. My original Dell had been one of those that caught on fire.(The image to the right is a reference image, not my actual computer.)My actual computer, a

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-34196077322463471232011-03-27T22:16:00.005+02:002011-03-27T22:33:04.119+02:00

It's been a long month.Purim party and costumes times three (have to post some of those later)Intensive German 4 days a weekwhile my German writing course is still running on the 5th day (last day next week!).Yoga twice a week.Referrat last week (I spoke about the Pergamon Museum)Speech therapy MondaySwimming WednesdayRecorder lessons ThursdaySwimming and drawing lessons Friday.Book group at my

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-71680740323494053032011-03-22T14:26:00.003+01:002011-03-23T14:44:08.065+01:00

We absolutely love our new apartment (since we moved here last February) and we absolutely love our new neighborhood and its location. But what we haven't loved is that the street on which we live is wide enough that car drivers apparently feel that the posted 30 km speed limit is optional rather than mandatory. So much so that twice men (once in a truck, once in a white van) have pulled up on my

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-5199340152876093052011-03-12T23:57:00.000+01:002011-03-18T18:49:37.628+01:00

Agathe SnowWalls, 2010 © Agathe Snow We visited the Deutsche Guggenheim again for a Kinderwerkstatt. The theme was the latest exhibition, Agathe Snow: All Access World. This was again, a type of performance Modern Art. Here is a portion of the description from the exhibition:Agathe Snow: All Access World takes as its subject the world's monuments, landmarks, and

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-36134210712146785512011-03-04T00:19:00.011+01:002011-03-31T17:14:12.952+02:00

Life's been so crazy that I even forgot to post my reading list at the end of the month. I have been working on posts for a while, but they aren't done. I'll link them here when they are done.Saw The King's Speech (two weeks before the Oscars)I visited an interesting museum, the Daimler Contemporary, and had lunch with my group.Went to Vienna for the weekend and saw Cirque de Soleil with a

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-45093995255723294082011-02-28T21:48:00.009+01:002011-03-04T00:19:35.956+01:00

Dead and Berried by Karen MacInerney (2007): I thought the name sounded familiar— turns out the author started a paranormal werewolf series after this book came out, one of which I've read and enjoyed. She's a fluid author. This mystery (with the faintest touch of fantasy) takes place in Maine, where the protagonist is pursuing her dream of running an Inn on a small island off the coast. However,

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-82797532764369865062011-02-28T00:31:00.022+01:002011-03-11T22:35:05.196+01:00

I spent the weekend in Vienna with a friend. It was a quick trip: I had been able to get tickets to Cirque de Soleil for Corteo this weekend and the German could not join me: he needed to stay home and take care of the children.We used points and cash for the hotel and I got a great flight through AirBerlin (although I find it crazy that, two months in advance, it was cheaper for me to fly to

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-62533884145265737172011-02-24T00:23:00.009+01:002011-03-06T15:09:06.515+01:00

The Daimler Contemporary is a very interesting, very pointed gallery of modern art. It's quite small, at 600 qm meters, and is within Haus Huth, itself a very interesting space which has survived from the Imperial period and is still held in Huth hands.The contrast between the almost unbearably modern display and the gorgeous early 20th century accessories was startling.The current exhibit is

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-52504207770633803802011-02-20T16:36:00.003+01:002011-03-05T17:27:23.958+01:00

The German and I saw the trailer for this while in London (and watching Harry Potter) and we thought it looked great. Based on the true story of the problem with stuttering that Prince Albert, who became George VI after the unexpected abdication of his "golden" (although Nazi sympathizing) older brother (to marry his divorced American mistress).So when we finally found a new babysitter (our last

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-20070185598239993292011-02-18T17:59:00.004+01:002011-02-18T18:09:30.750+01:00

In October of 2009, my in-law's gave us the gift of a honeymoon: they watched the children while the German and I were able to take the week and do something I had wanted to do since taking four years of Latin in high school: visit Pompeii. We started in Venice, then took the train to Rome and from there to Pompeii and then back to Rome. It was fabulous all around, but I absolutely fell in love

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-49413986086131501802011-02-15T18:17:00.001+01:002011-02-21T20:39:05.324+01:00

I'm a little sad that I can't post the full bag of papers that we de-cluttered today (they had already been taken to recycling): this is just what I found during the commercial break when I was watching Bones. (Our Valentine's Day was watching TV together— we will try for a movie out next weekend, when it will be easier to get a babysitter.)It seems that no matter how often we go through the

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-50142404952071991392011-02-13T19:40:00.004+01:002011-02-13T19:52:51.549+01:00

I was wandering through my favorite expat blogs when I fell upon Heather of Heather in Europe's latest post: zucchini boats. Surprisingly, I had all the ingredients in the fridge (or mostly), including a big block of Irish Cheddar (I buy it by the kilo at Selgros). So I made them:And they were really good. The kids didn't like them (what can I say- they are tough eaters), but the German scraped

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-42303334363384613892011-02-12T16:18:00.006+01:002011-02-12T16:52:44.848+01:00

(An older work by the artist, painted on aluminum. I liked it very much.)I was very excited to have the opportunity to attend the opening of an art exhibit at the Irish Embassy last week, through the good offices of a fellow book club member.Helen Steele „Beautiful Chaos“ 8 February – 25 March: The Irish Embassy, in cooperation with HF Contemporary Art Berlin is delighted to host a solo

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-53198811550956889962011-02-08T23:39:00.003+01:002011-02-09T00:01:03.300+01:00

As the snow is melting, and debris comes to light, this is what I saw when parking in the center ofOtto-Sur-Allee, when about to run into the Rathaus to take my language course. Not the most appetizing sight to see, while juggling my coffee,roll, and books! At least it wasn't my tire that had squashed it flat! Looks like Rattus Norwegicus to me, although strangely small compared to the ones I am

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-53824762315423540692011-02-06T23:00:00.005+01:002011-02-06T23:12:01.636+01:00

Holiday camp included a day at the Planetarium and another day at the movies, but this day's activity was baking. It was a type of Lebkuchen, so it was inedible, but T1 enjoyed making, cutting out, and decorating them.(Unfortunately, even though Lebkuchen sound great on paper, we have never had one that tasted any good. I know they must be out there, somewhere. And no recipes that I have seen

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-40760975385007149972011-02-06T21:58:00.012+01:002011-02-07T21:33:20.068+01:00

Pergamonmuseum (Eingang), Museumsinsel Berlin-Mitte © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Foto: Maximilian Meisse The Pergamon Museum is another of the Berlin State Museums. This collection of museums is just inspiring. Continuing on my quest to explore more of Berlin, we chose to visit the Pergamon Museum (this Wikipedia link is out dated,it looks to be from 2006— sorry).I took the quick tour with the

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-60274877798593738212011-02-04T21:47:00.007+01:002011-02-04T22:23:58.645+01:00

16 by 13.5 by 14 (inches, because I can't find my metric tape measure), holding 54 books.I've been trying to figure out what to do with the books that I don't want to keep for ages. I have an innate inability to discard books that I think are worth reading (and perhaps even some with not so much intrinsic value). I also have a lot of books. At home, I would donate them to libraries, give them

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915444177822430212.post-41576378004961021122011-02-03T15:45:00.006+01:002011-02-03T16:19:17.033+01:00

Every day as we enter and leave our apartment building, we step over what is called a "stumbling stone". This is a continuing and growing work of art by Gunter Demnig, a Berlin artist living in Cologne. This reminder of those taken and murdered by the Nazis began in 1990 with the trail of 100 Sinti and Roma taken and now is in multiple countries and continues to grow: So that none may be

G in Berlinnoreply@blogger.com2