Gobble and smack

That´s all I hear. Disgusting. Apart from that... silence, sometimes wind howling. Numbness all over. As if the world is standing still and running furious at the same time. That 3D-puzzle frog beside my computer is looking at me with a blank face. Haha. Numb, too.

Public pic from Joseph Baraty.

Some things

need to be remembered...
I read about this before. Cindy Swanson makes a point, too, in her blog, Notes in the Key of Life.
I feel bad at the moment, but thinking of 9/11 makes my problems look small(er).
I signed up at 2,996: A Tribute to the Victims of 9/11 to find out I am only the 3100th blogger to do so.
Steven R. Strauss, 51, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. is assigned to me. I sure honor him.

"On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers
will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Each person will pay tribute to a single victim.

"We will honor them by remembering their lives,
and not by remembering their murderers."

On Monday, the 2.996th name was assigned, but if you didn't sign up, check the site for other ways that you can remember the victims on 9/11.

Because some things need to be remembered."

On the site you´ll find this:
"I remember a story on CNN that showed a Volkswagen Plant in Germany, where each employee brought a candle and placed it in the factory's entryway. I was staggered at the scenes of foreigners openly weeping. The closing visual of thousands of candles burning on the marble floor left me speechless."

I was there in that area, too, but couldn´t be with them (my customer), didn´t see the candles - I was in one of the offices, right in that complex. We had no tv, only internet. We thought at first this was a terrible joke. We had a huge lack of information. Our company called us. The secretary´s daughter was some place in New York at that time (she wasn´t involved!). My colleague had relatives in that area - he called them, they were fine. CNN only displayed one site, not giving enough information. N24 and other german sites had no information on the internet, either. We felt numb. The whole place (nearly 50.000 people working there!!) was so quiet.

Yes. The world sure looked upon the tragedy. The day had just begun over here when it happened. When I (had to see) saw the horrible scenes on tv in the evening I still could not believe it. I have never been yet to the United States. I don´t know anybody over there in person but felt so sick as if I was involved somehow.
So many horrible things can be done. I read a book upon biological weapons, how very easy it is to create the hugest damage. That´s scary, so scary. I will never ever understand why people(s) have to get against each other in such horrible ways. I will never understand why the more information we can get about each other the less people respect and understand each other.

It´s hard to "only" honor the victims and not to hate the murderers. But I will try. Because the murderers do not deserve remembrance.

Varieties

... on my balcony. It´s really blooming there - at least for the people who look up from the yard. Here are some impressions - not all of them have bloomed yet!

This is the one who looked so nasty (see previous post) - and now so bright and happy:



A red one:



Hmm what will become of this one?



And this seems to become yet another one:



Well, the balcony is full of sunflowers - which are the flowers I love most. As well as my father did.
Is it possible to inherit a love to a certain kind of flower?

The weather itself, though... 21°C - summer is still on vacation!

Which was why I went to the gym finally again (first it was too hot, then I got those immense mosquito bites that made me react allergic for over two weeks) - nor sore muscles, I´m impressed! I thought I´ll crawl to work today, no, nothing, everything is just fine!

bazoo

Since I had to throw away my kitchen-rug due to the potatoe-incident, I wanted to buy a new one yesterday.
I went to a cheap discounter, everything is sparsely presented there. The more astonished I was when I passed one of the staff-members who was working on his computer – he didn´t only look up, but greeted me cheerfully - what a nice surprise!
The rugs were too expensive so finally I came up with a "rug" for the bathroom – for 2 bucks.

They also have heaps of other stuff, toys, kitchen-ware…. I took a look – and… here it is – the money I saved on the rug went into my new Desktop set (click to enlarge the pics)!



The pic doesn´t show it well, but for the status „on“ there is that fancy glittering blue light – too cool :-)
It´s available in different colors at bazoo - though here it costs more than twice the prize I paid at the discounter!! I got it for 10 bucks.
And now I need a fancy light for the coming winter to present my desktop set properly while working with it

And, no, I still don´t have internet access, it only looks like that – I found the download at css4you and now have the offline-version on my computer – makes everything easier. Before, when working at home and I got stuck, I had to take the problem to work and try to find the failure in my lunch-break – those days are over now!
Though… we have our blogs now – I have to come up with an idea what to do with the webspace Ingo has…

My sunflowers seem to be angry at the weather, doesn´t that one look evil? Scary, I think… As if it had teeth or claws inside, just waitung to attack - it´s taller than me!



And this one seems to mutate – two heads so close one by another!

What a night

Summer is still on vacation. So yesterday evening I pulled out the thicker blanket - and a moth appeared - yuck!!! I got it.
I unfold my futon, made the bed, got the pillows - and another even yuckier moth appeared! It settled down at the side of my board where I couldn´t reach it.
I thought, ok, maybe it was here yesterday night, too, it won´t eat me up. I lowered the light, grabbed my book, trying to calm down for the night.
When I put out the light, the moth started again. Eeeh. Those heavy noises are so disgusting. It wanted to settle down on the wall above my bed - no way!
Turned the big light on again and chased the yucky thing. I got it, but man... my futon stopped me cold with the metal side. Not a nice sight (but, well, it´s too cold for wearing a skirt anyhow).
Apart from the pain on my shinbone I was soooo awake from the chase, it took me so long to fall asleep and then I dreamed only weird stuff.
Ingo will be there the weekend and I hope he agrees checking the place for more moths and do the job for me...

Dark

This morning when the alarm clock woke me up it was still dark outside. Summer (the season which is on vacation at the moment -15 to 21 C°) seems to fade away. Which makes me sad but is not to change.
Yesterday morning was nice. When the alarm clock set off then, Ingo held me in his arms like never before. So tight I had to "struggle" free. From above. It was soooo good.
I miss him.

Everything seems to be easier when the sun is outside, warming our souls.
It´s raining. I got up early and could park the car near the entrance but am wet nonetheless. Construction sites are in the way all the way to work. I had to take another route - which lead me through another construction site.
Man, I have to think of something positive to make my day be good now!

And my face is not to be that something! Another mosquito-bite, this time on the left side of my face (and another one on my shoulder). Just from lying on it at night it swell to an ugly sight to be. Am I allergic? Why always on Sunday nights? Ich-itch-itch, I will not touch it.

I could need a holiday...

"Milram, the most beautiful thing that can happen to milk."
Nahhhh. I fell for it and bought the limited vitality berry-stuff. Yuck. Sweet, that is all it is. They sponsor Erik Zabel - I only hope he doesn´t have to drink this stuff...

Advertisement - we´ve been talking about it on the weekend - yes, Ingo, Schneekoppe still exists! ..."The mountain calls.We've been singing our praises for decades,..." You can pop in and vote for the "best" Schneeeeeekoppe-Sound! It´s so awful! Even in english available...

Still raining. I have to set this as a goal: I want to have a skylight for the room I sleep in in the future. To hear the rain when falling asleep. Like in my childhood-room. Miss that.

Jasmine

Though summer seems to be on vacation at the moment, my jasmine blooms so beautiful!



My sunflowers take a break, too. They don´t bloom but just grow. One is taller than me now!
Due to the bad weather we stay at my place this weekend again. In my place more light comes in. And we can go in the tropical house in the botanical gardens to warm up :-)

This week was so great (and this day is just to come)! I got so much done! We are only three people here in this office-area, everyone is alone in his office. You hear there are others but you can do your job without being interrupted.
You need help? No problem, just go over and get a second opinion. You need a short break? No worries, step over or have your colleague at your place, make a joke, have a good laugh and go back to work.
Next Wednesday I have a "final meeting" in my project - and I think I can get ready in time! This wouldn´t have been the case under normal working conditions (one of my customers is in my office. He is very loud and often talks for over thirty minutes to his girlfriend or father, he freaks me out, I can not overhear him - and it´s stupid stuff, too...).

Well, enough chit-chat - break is over, back to work! :-)

Kart on the road

I´m glad I saw the news Tuesday evening, otherwise I would have freaked out. Due to European Union law it is now allowed to go on public roads, even on highways, with karts! O.K. they must have turn signal and break lights, but that´s it.

They lie so low on the road – if they don´t wear a flag on a long stick you hardly see them as a car driver – and don´t ask about the truck drivers!

As long as you are bucklet up you are not even forced to wear a helmet – it´s just recommended. And it is recommended to stay away from the highway.

Yesterday I was on the highway, passing a drive-up. In the rearview mirror I saw such a kart go on the highway. I couldn´t believe it, I was so astonished I didn´t pay attention if the driver was wearing a helmet or not.
Though I think if you get involved in a crash (on the highway or elsewhere on any road) with such a tiny thing with no crush zone at all it would be a great wonder if you survived at all.

The traffic is so crowded plus, more important, you don´t think of the possibility of such a vehicle on public roads turning up!

Well. In the news they interviewed kart drivers on the roads of Berlin. Physics seemed to be a foreign word for them. As well as crush zone, danger, not being seen. Important to them was: It´s cool. People look at you (and shake their head...). Even more dangerous, the clientele „being cool“ don´t have the ability to drive foresighted.

Apropos foresighted. The other day I saw a learner (in Germany this means a driving school car with a driving teacher who has all the pedals for working the car, too)... I saw a learner standing at the end of the highways´ acceleration line! How could that happen???? How could the driving teacher let that happen??? Was he asleep? I couldn´t believe what I saw. The teacher should have given fulll power, forcing the car on the road with adequate speed and let the pupil begin at zero, means, physics. Calculating the braking distance of a truck, calculating the time you need to get highway speed by starting from zero.
What do those guys learn in the theoretical part? Are todays´ kids not able to think logical? Man, every idiot may drive a car.
Every way too old man and woman may do so. Here in Germany there are no driving tests for older people. They can drive as long as they want to or until they kill someone. This is really true.

I wish I could work in my company´s place. That would be seven minutes on my push-bike.
All the time, all the money, all the risks I could save…

Madness

I can not believe it.

"Harrods Christmas Department
Harrods Christmas World department opened on Saturday 9 August. The department has over 15,000 square feet, split over two levels to accommodate the large variety of stock. There are 16 themed areas including Traditional Christmas, White Christmas, and London Christmas."

See here (scroll down to "Shopping >>>") if you can´t believe it either or go straight to Harrods.

Hello??????

Surprise

Ingo stumbled over an online-flag-shop. I forgot all about it so it came as a nice surprise last weekend:



Makes our holidays come a little closer.

See the christmas-greetings from BIG W underneath? The sun bleached it - I gotta get a new one :-)

btw: See the floor lamp? It´s older than me, an original from the seventies. We "grew up" together. For some time my brother had it, now it´s back in my place. And in use every evening.

And look at this pin - cute, hm?



I just called Qantas - it´s not possible to give them our passport-data for the Visa via e-mail but I have to send a fax. How antiquated. Qantas Austria offers an e-mail-adress - why over there (Austria, not Australia) and not in Germany?

Pesticide?

I don´t mind too much giving my blood to mosquitoes. But the one(s) that got me Sunday night were really either mean or somehow infected.
The two stitches in my legs are getting better but my arm is still red, hot and swollen over a really large area.

I got another stitch in the middle finger, right in the fingertip which hurts when I touch something with it (keyboard, for example...).
There went a really mean one in the little finger, right underneath the nail where the finger can not swell. The skin is bending and that hurts. Plus it´s itching like crazy.
I even got one in the face! I look like I just come from the dentist.
Did I interrupt the stupid insect or were there so many and why does Ingo always go away without even a "test-stitch"?

I read they smell if they like the person´s blood. Unluckily they didn´t write if there is something you can eat (garlic? Ok, but that would keep Ingo away, too, I guess...) or drink to keep them away.
I have insect screening installed so where is the hole? Or do they sneak through the door?
I bet those mossies are infected, just where from - I live in a town not a village where they could get it from the farmers´ fertilizers...
Scary, somehow.

Fish

I sat in my kitchen on Friday, thinking, hmm, smells like fish, somehow. I was sure I had no fish at all.
And it wasn´t Ingo, either.

On Sunday I found out what it was.

I could have guessed earlier because something like that happened before. It was in 1995, in Broome, WA. We´ve been traveling in our car, where we also slept in and it started to smell fishy.
It were the potatoes we had with us. They rotted and produced this awful smell.
Yuck!

Under my kitchen table, in the dark, in a box I stored some potatoes, too. They have been there since last week only. They even had produced some fluid. When I grabbed the potatoes to throw them away, Ingo said nothing.
Seconds later he looked very surprised and the next moment he ran to the toilet to give everything away he had had so far.
Poor man ;-)

Dashboard

At HappyNews is an article about a woman in America who bakes cookies on her car-dashbord while working in an air conditioned office.

Reminds me of the yummy cheese-spinach-pies I got in Darwin in 1995. Everey day we´ve been there, I bought two of those pies and let the second one sit on the dashboard all day 'till I ate it in the evening (we were there as travelers, slept in the car so no oven was available).
It worked perfectly well.

Sad thing, when we came back in 1999 the deli had closed down and those pies were no longer available.

We tried a croc-burger, but this was anything but yummy...

Here pies like that aren´t available at all and I can´t do them myself.
So I have to wait ´til December to get that taste again in Perth.

Only this time I´m afraid we won´t have a car and therefor no dashboard. Too expensive.
Maybe we try to get an old one from a car wrecker. One (car) that makes it for three weeks. Unfortunatedly car wreckers are not to be found on the internet...
Let´s see if me manage. I´m allergic to the sun plus waiting for the bus is such a waste of time - especially when you have three weeks only.

Money

...is something many people here have in overabundance, obviously.
I have to check a service like e-bay to make sure poeple don´t put illegal stuff in there.

Someone offers baby-shoes from adidas!

Why spend the money to buy expensive shoes from a well-known brand for a baby that doesn´t even walk?
Or know what a brand is or possibly could care about this issue?

Well, yeah. This kid will grow up to buy brand-stuff only and the parents will complain how much money the kid costs...

It´s not that I´m against big companies, many of them do good stuff in research and for environment. But you can exaggerate...

Just like yesterday on the way home. You could see there are slow trucks and traffic lights in front so why speed on the road? But no, a woman behind me gave full power to overtake me and then had to break to slow down. Is fuel not expensive enough yet?

Now I wonder...

The internal Newsticker announces that a certain service with which you can order a car will not be available on a certain date in the near future from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Yeah.

Important.

I have to get a new car every three years. What if I wanted to look it up exactly in that announced time-scedule and find the service being not available, telling me to wait until 08:30?
Will I panic?

Strange what people declare as "really important"...

7 wonders

My custumer just forwarded me this:
A school class was asked to list the seven wonders of the world:

1. Pyramides of Gizeh
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. Wall of China

One pupil could´t finish because he couldn´t decide - there are so many wonders, he said. The teacher asked what was on the list so far:

1. To see
2. To hear
3. To touch
4. To smell
5. To feel
6. To laugh
7. And to love

Yes, those everyday things never come as a wonder to us, but actually they are.

Consciousness is one of the missing points here.

United (lions-) kids

The next football game in my town is free for children up to 16 years. The entrance fee the parents pay go directly to the United kids Foundations.
This is a regional charity-project and I think it´s just great that the Braunschweig Lions participate :-)

Spices & stuff

Yesterday I went to a store to exchange a shirt, Ingo bought - it was sack-like on his body.
I didn´t get another one but came up with this spice-rack:



You can´t store too many sorts of spices and it´s not very practical - which i only saw when I had unpacked. But isn´t it cute when you open it? The caster has the form of a heart (click to enlarge):



Now Ingo can really cook with love :-)

No worries, I bought something for Ingo, too. He´ll get it on Friday when he comes to my place. The weatherforecast says rainy. So we stay at my place. My place let´s in more light and we couldn´t go on the moped anyway.

A little update on the lions-glasses Ingo bought:

The soldier...

I didn´t find a proper title here - it´s not a post about war.
It´s more about how to react in a proper way.
I worked pretty well yesterday - maybe that´s why I got so incredibly hungry.
On my way home is a Burger King and - hey! They have mexican weeks, too - no need to go to Mc Donald´s and stand in a queue forever. I wanted some Mini Burritos.
While parking the car I saw a soldier standing alone behind his troops car, watching me.

I got out of my car, locked it, knew he was watching me all the time and kept looking in an another direction. I didnt´t want to provoke him or even encourage him - he was 25 if you go really high in age. More important - I have a boyfriend and am not interested in what so ever ;-)
He whistled after me - and in a very shy tone.

I felt bad not even having looked friendly at him then. When I came back he was gone - the troops car was still there.

You never know if you can look friendly or if this is misinterpreted as an invitation, which I surely didn´t want to give.

He was way too young (not so much from the appearance, though - and attractive, too) - and I think after all it was mean to ignore him. I never heard someone whisteling so shyly. I hope he didn´t feel too stupid...

A minimum...

of politeness is for me to say at least "good morning" when I enter an office block and someone is sitting there.

When you open the main door and my door is open - as all doors here are - you just have to see me.
I am completedly alone here since my one remaining colleague just called he fell ill.

No, my customer bumps in and out here like I wasn´t here either.

Is it too much to greet, even if you don´t have a request but only fetch something? Or am I just too sensitive?
I´m a little pissed off at the moment...

And it´s so spooky here - the wind howls around the building, it´s like sitting in an old castle waiting for a ghost to creep in...
The printer starts from time to time, but no one comes to fetch the printed stuff - it´s really spooky.

Fidel Castro

The time has come for new people to lead Cuba, I guess. They don´t really live communism there anymore anyhow.
But I was stunned seeing Castro in the news this morning, ready to get surgery. They showed an older recording of him stumbling and falling while being on stage. He broke an arm and a leg there.
He is nearly 80 years of age - it´s time to go. Will they vote? Will there be riots if they are not allowed to vote?
I remember when in April we´ve been on the cuban airport and Castro was on TV, delivering a strong speech and you could hear everybody clapping hands. Guess it was a fake, respectivly old recordings.

I hope there will be freedom for the cuban people soon and that exile Cubans can come back.

Hooked

I felt really bad yesterday evening and tried to help myself by buying a season of the Gilmore Girls.

I dunno. I don´t feel like meeting anybody on Monday evenings but it helps me looking into other peoples´ happy (TV-) lives. Usually I recorded Jag on Sunday to watch it on Monday but they abandoned the series.

It was great to finally watch Gilmore Girls in the original language and voices, I watched six episodes straight.

If - when! - Ingo and me move together though we gonna need an extra bed, I guess. At around 2 in the morning I woke up and couldn´t find back to real sleep, turning around all the time. I guess that´s because I don´t go to the gym at the moment, it´s just too hot to move.