30 September 2004

Odds n' Ends

So I tried really hard when I went downtown today to observe something that would be blog-worthy. Unfortunately, I didn't have too much luck.

I saw a really cute guy of about 20 on the train in his traditional "Lederhosen" on his way to Oktoberfest. He was really tan, had thick dark brown hair, and extremely clear skin. I thought about making a pass at him, then I remembered: 1.) I am married. 2.) He was way too young for me! (Eek! When did that happen?!)

Speaking of Oktoberfest, I think this is the last weekend for it. I am not completely sure as I haven't been to one since the first year I was here. When you don't drink beer, Oktoberfest is only marginally interesting...

Then when I was riding the escalator an old man behind me complemented me on the color of my hair. Just when I was about to say thank you, he asked me if it was my natural color! I am used to that from women, and I always secretly enjoy telling them that my color does not come from a bottle, but men don't ask me that too often.

Otherwise, I spent today getting ready to leave on my trip tomorrow and finished my 10 hour rotation on "Cat in Garden." I have worked through my existing pieces and am ready to start a new one.

I have a smallish kit that I bought a while back that is my Zodiac Sign (Gemini) and I think that I will take it with me on my trip. Sometimes I take cross-stitch with me when I go places and sometimes I don't. However, since A. has to do some work on this trip, I may actually have a little time to stitch.

The interesting thing about this kit is that is Danish (or perhaps Swedish) I am not sure... the word "Gemini" on it is "Tvillingarna" and that is not German. (Help me out fellow expats... is it Danish, Swedish, or something else?) In German, "Gemini" is "Zwillinge."

It came with a really neat gold-glitter hoop for framing and also contains an alphabet, so I can stitch my own words. I may do it like I do the English/German Fruit Series and put both the English and German word on it. We'll see. Thus far I haven't examined it close enough to know whether or not both words will fit.

29 September 2004

Quiz Time!

Which Peanuts Character Are You?

Schroeder

You are Schroeder!
brought to you by Quizilla

David Hasselhof - Rock Star?

When I was studying in Paris ten years ago, I had a little clock-radio that I listened to in my no-frills dorm room. I had a Discman (I was on the cutting edge back then!), but I have always liked listening to the radio and it really improved my language skills to listen to those French DJs.

The station I listened to was a random pop station that, for the most part, played awful music. However, they also played a whole lot of French pop music. I didn't think about it at the time, but a couple of months ago I read that The Voice of America was encountering problems in France because of a rule that a certain percentage (around 50%) of every broadcast must be in French.

I didn't follow up on the story, but today I read that some German politicians want to introduce a bill that would require something like that here. (article) Apparently, only about 10% of music played on the radio here in Germany is actually in German.

I don't doubt it. I don't listen to the radio much these days, but when I was listening to Bayern 3 (I have a crappy clock-radio that barely gets any station) a few months ago, I very seldom heard a song in German... mostly they just played crappy American pop or hip-hop.

I think that is too bad. I have discovered some pretty decent German bands that sing in German and think it would be doing everyone a favor if more bands like these had success here in Germany.

I mean seriously... I read that one of the biggest music personalities ever imported from the US to Germany is David Hasselhof!! Now, if that fact isn't just screaming out for some native musicians to have some success here then I don't know what is!

28 September 2004

SBQOTW

And now, for the Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week: Would you or have you designed your own cross stitch design? If you have can we see it?

Yes I have.

The thing that motivated me to begin stitching again last year was that I wanted to make Christmas presents for my family. At that time I hadn't located very many stitching supplies in Germany and couldn't find the patterns I was looking for online. (e.g. free and very small - I was doing fingertip towel borders ... Never fear! I have located tons of free patterns online since then.)

In addition to that, I had a specific theme in mind for my step-sister; a sea theme. I was feeling creative and had some graph paper so, I designed the following:


Self-Design
© blondelibrarian

These are not finished products, but samples I stitched so I could see if I liked the colors and such. For example, part way through back-stitching the sea horse I decided that black back-stitching would look better.

However, in the end none of these designs made it to the towel I stitched my step-sister. Instead, I designed a repeating dolphin pattern for her towel. (See the photo here. It is the one in the middle on the right side.)

In addition to that, I have also designed a couple of small pieces for myself. And finally, I have also designed some charts that I have never gotten around to stitching. Someday... someday...

A Little Holiday

On Friday, we will be leaving for almost a week to visit eastern Germany: specifically, we will be going to Chemnitz, Freiberg, and Dresden.

A. has something related to work to do for part of the time in Chemnitz and since I have wanted to visit Dresden ever since we came to Germany, I am tagging along.

I don't know too much about Chemnitz, but I visited their online tourist office today and the town looks quite nice and offers some walking tours that I am planning on doing while A. is doing his thing.

We are going to Freiberg, a mining town since Medieval times, as part of activities planned for the group that will be in Chemnitz, and that should be very cool. We visited the Salt Mines in Salzburg a year or so ago and I loved them.

Dresden is just a stop that we are planning since we will be in the neighborhood. The main thing I want to see there is the world-famous Opera House, but from what I understand there are lots of other neat things there too.

Look for photos from my trip soon!

26 September 2004

An Ode to Cats

I am a certified crazy cat lady. I have always loved cats and have had a number of them in my lifetime. I grew up in the country and though we didn't have very much livestock, we always had lots and lots of cats. Here is a list of cats that have been special to me for one reason or another in my life:

Tigger
Tigger was the first cat I remember. I was about four when we had Tigger. Unfortunately, he ran away about the time my sister was born. I will always remember Tigger because one night when I tried to make him sleep with me, he scratched me between the eyes and left a scar near my right eyebrow that is still visible when I don't pluck my eyebrows!
Buttermilk
Buttermilk was a great big tomcat and he ruled our neighborhood. He fought a lot and one of his ears was partially ripped off. I wanted to call him Butterscotch, but was outvoted. Buttermilk ran away when we moved out to the farm. My old neighbors claimed that he had made the 8 mile journey back into town and prowled around our old neighborhood for years afterward.
Smokey
Smokey was a stray that I adopted. It was with Smokey that I witnessed birth for the first time. Smokey lived to be a very old cat and eventually all but one of her fangs fell out and her fur became bunny-soft.
Penny, Jake, Tumbleweed, and Lark
Kittens that I adored. Unfortunately, they didn't make it through more than one winter.
Panther
My all black tom cat. He wasn't a very big cat, but he was solid. He was a great mouser and one of the few cats my dad allowed indoors.
Little One
The only one of his November litter to survive through the winter. I babied him and Little One became one of the biggest tom cats I ever saw!
Olee
Olee was a gift from an ex-boyfriend. As a kitten she got her leg caught in a lawnmower and had to have it amputated. Twelve years later, three-legged Olee still lives with my mom.


Those were the cats of my youth and while I loved each and every one of them, I was never as attached to any of them as I am to the three that I have now: Mouse, Scooter, and Harley. I celebrate their birthdays in September and Mouse is now twelve years old, Scooter nine, and Harley three.

They have moved with me more times than I can count, they provide me with hours of entertainment, and make me feel better when I am down. They are spoiled rotten and are sometimes a huge pain in the ass, but I would be lost without them.

With the exception of Harley, I thought they were getting old until my neighbor lady informed me that two of her three cats are over 20 years old. It made me happy to think that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I could very well have them around for another 10 years!

23 September 2004

Cross-Stitch Dilemma - Update

First of all, I wanted to thank all of the stitching bloggers who answered my suggested "Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week." I carefully read everyone's thoughts on the topic and have convinced myself to try a stitching rotation. However, I would especially like to thank Erica of Moria's Little World for linking to the Shakespeare's Peddler Website and the wonderful article entitled "No More UFOs".

Perhaps it is in my nature, I am a librarian after all, but I function best when I am organized and have a system. Therefore, once I had decided that I wanted to try rotating my cross-stitch projects, I had to get organized. First, I reorganized my stash. This helped me to get a good idea of what kinds of patterns I had, how much thread, etc. While doing this, I also jotted down some ideas for my rotation system. However, it wasn't until I read "No More UFOs" that anything really called to me. In principal it is a 10-hour rotation system and I am sure many of you are already familiar with it, so I won't go into any details here. (If you aren't familiar with it, read the article!)

So, I did what the article recommends: I pulled out ALL of my UFOs. Luckily I only had two of them in addition to "Cat in Garden." I then created an Excel spread sheet that gave each piece a number in the stitching rotation and a list of about 10 others I haven't started, but want to put into the rotation eventually. Finally, I also began a little "Stitch Diary" in Word to track other developments.

Since I had already done about 15 hours on "Passing Admirers," I went ahead and started working on the second project, "Siamese Kitty." I began it back in September of 1999 and actually thought I had lost the pattern! As luck would have it, during my Great Stash Reorganization last week I found it. In addition to "Cat in Garden," I have a small "Garfield" design in the rotation. I love Garfield, but after working on this pattern for an afternoon, it just didn't do anything for me. If it weren't for this "NO UFO" mentality I would probably never finish it.

Anyway, I am anxious to see how this whole rotation thing will work out for me and I just want to say thanks again to everyone who answered the question and gave me a bit of much needed guidance!

Update on "Garfield": I guess the Aida cloth that I had it on was kind of shitty, because I put a big rip in it when I was tightening it in the hoop. So I conceded defeat and threw it away. I didn't like that pattern anyway!

Shop Dreams

If you could design your dream needlework/cross stitch shop, what would it be like?

* * * * * * * * * *

I guess it is just the librarian in me coming out, but my dream cross-stitch shop would closely resemble a library: It would be a welcome place with areas to stitch and/or browse, but above all it would be well-organized!

22 September 2004

Metal Head

I have had my ears pierced since I was eight years old. I remember how badly I wanted them pierced: I begged and pleaded for at least a year before my dad's cousin, who is a beautician, offered to pierce my mom and my ears one afternoon when she was visiting. (She often came for a visit and did her mother's and my grandma's hair... when she did she brought a "mini-salon" with her.) I still have one stud from that piercing; gold with a pink stone in it.

That satisfied me for about seven years. Then when I was 14, I decided I wanted my ears pierced a second time... it was all the rage in my middle school. But mom said no. Of course, since I was 14 I didn't listen. Instead, I went to a beautician that my mom never went to and got them pierced again. (This was before you had to have "parental permission" to get your ears pierced.) I tried to hide my new piercings, but Mom saw them within 48 hours. She wasn't happy and I was grounded for a week, but she didn't make me take them out.

My sophomore year of college was a tough year and I experimented with all sorts of things. As a result of one of my experiments, I pierced my ears a third time; but this time I did it myself with a great big, extremely sharp darning needle. Even after standing outside on a frigid January Iowa day for a long time in order to numb my ears properly, it still hurt like hell!

About a year and a half later, I wanted them pierced again. However, this time when I got the cartilage in my upper right ear pierced and had both ears pierced a fourth time I let a "professional" do it. (trans. I went to the mall.) Not 3 months later I got my right ear pierced two more times. It looked cute, piercing was all the rage, and it was a such conversation piece. "How many do you have?" (11) "Did it hurt?" (Not really) "Does it hurt to sleep on them?" (Not as long as you get the side pierced that you don't sleep on) "Are you pierced anywhere else?" - wink, wink (No) Etc., etc.

I have taken good care of my ears and have never had any problems with my piercings. I usually wear 4 pairs of hoops in the bottom and 3 studs in the remaining piercings in the right ear... in fact, I still wear that first stud with the pink stone in my upper cartilage piercing.

But, slowly, over the last year or so, each time I take my earrings out to clean them and then go through the hassle of putting them all back in and I look in the mirror at my earringless ears I have begun to think about leaving them out permanently.

The first and second piercings are OK and I am quite fond of the cartilage piercing, but the others I think I could live without. I don't think they will ever grow shut completely: I have left the earrings out for weeks at a time and never have a problem putting them back in, so I guess I can always change my mind. But gradually I just don't think it looks so cute anymore... I am beginning to think that it borders on tacky.

20 September 2004

Peace and Quiet

A. left yesterday morning and will be gone until Wednesday. I am totally enjoying the peace and quiet!

I haven't done much except cross-stitch while I watched the extended versions of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. I also watched Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

I made enough spaghetti last night so that I won't have to cook until A. comes home on Wednesday and I slept in the middle of the bed last night. I seriously considered really "bach"ing it up by not taking a shower, but that was asking a little too much.

Currently the only sounds in the house are the ticking of the wall clock, my typing fingers, and the snoring cats. Life is good. :)

19 September 2004

The Itch to Stitch

I woke up this morning with the itch to stitch! The last couple of days I have been reorganizing my stash and in doing so I got lots of ideas for new projects! :) However, I also discovered that I am missing a color for "Passing Admirers." So instead of working around it today, I decided to start a new project.

While printing out some previously downloaded patterns the other day, I started to think about the holidays and I found out I have a bunch of Halloween (my favorite holiday!) patterns. This morning, it was DMC's "Witch on her Broomstick" that called to me. (Download the free pattern!) It is pretty small, so I imagine I will get it done in just a couple of days.

When I get my missing color for "Passing Admirers" it will be back to that project. I think I am going to like this whole "project rotation" thing!

18 September 2004

The Contents of My Purse

They say that the contents of a woman's purse say a lot about her. What do you think the contents of my purse say about me?

  • Book (currently Nick Hornby's High Fidelity to read on the train into town - or anywhere else for that matter!)
  • Large light blue hair brush with lots of blonde hair
  • Half-full bottle of Volvic Water
  • Purse-pack of tissues
  • Wild Berry Smint
  • Umbrella
  • Sack of (Caribbean-style) trail-mix
  • Digital camera
  • Sunglasses with pink and purple tinted lenses
  • Fingernail file
  • Pen and pencil
  • Eye drops
  • Carmex
  • Strawberry-flavored Labello lip balm
  • 2 old reciepts (one from a bookstore, the other from a craft store)
  • Rubber band
  • Purple velvet ponytail holder
  • Passport
  • Subway map
  • Munich street map
  • Small mirror
  • AAA battery
  • Oh Yeah... My Wallet (with assorted business cards, credit cards, and about Ć¢‚¬20)
  • But NO kitchen sink!


I'll tell you what this list told me about myself... I may be prepared for anything, but it wouldn't hurt me to clean out my purse once in a while!

16 September 2004

Lesen auf Deutsch

About a week ago, A. and I had a discussion about my German reading ability and I didn't much like what he said. He thought that I bordered on illiteracy in German. And let me tell you something... not only did that really rub me the wrong way me, but it got me to thinking.

I'll be honest. Since I finished German classes a year ago I haven't read too much German. I might glance at the newspaper headlines or the tele-text on TV once in a while, but that's about it. When I really started thinking about it, I realized that it is very sad that I, who claim to like reading so much, have not taken the initiative to read in the language of the country where I live.

My main reasons excuses for not reading in German are:

  • I haven't found any German authors I like.
  • Anything that sounds good to me is usually a German translation from English and why should I read something in German if I can read it in English?
  • I don't enjoy reading in German because it requires so much concentration.
  • Since I don't think in German, I have a hard time visualizing the story in my head.
  • I have the reading level of a child and the reading tastes of an adult.
  • It is just so frustrating!


But in addition to all that, is this: While it is true that I learned the basics of reading in English fairly quickly, the refinement of my reading skills took years. Therefore, why should I expect myself to read at the same level in German as I do in English when I only learned German two years ago? Of course, I also admit that I will never improve my German reading skills if I don't practice them. And honestly, I do want to be able to read as well in German as I do in English.

So, I decided the other day I needed to think about reading in German. Not only why I didn't want to do it, but how I could approach it so that I would want do it!

One thing I thought about was my oral comprehension: At first I had a very hard time understanding German and it wasn't until (and I am a little ashamed to admit it) that I started watching TV that I really began to understand German. But even more, it wasn't just TV watching in general that increased my ability; it was watching American movies and shows that I had already seen translated into German. I started watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Gilmore Girls, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Friends, The Simpsons, and a host of other shows that I was familiar with. I found that when I knew the basic plot of the show I started to understand the language... not only of the show, but also of the conversations around me.

How could I apply this to reading, I wondered. First I decided that I must discard that second excuse for not reading in German. If something sounds good to me, I can always read it in English, but I shouldn't refuse to read it in German. Second, I thought about my method for improving my oral comprehension ability and modified it to this: Why not try to read books that I am already familiar with? Since I will already know the plot and will be able to visualize it, I can focus on thinking/reading in German.

I also thought about my reading level in German and thought books written for a younger audience might be the way to go. So, I have decided to start by reading Harry Potter in German. First I need to buy them and then I can start with my experiment. Since A. is going to be away on a business trip the first part of next week and I will be home alone, I think it will be the perfect time to start!

15 September 2004

Confessions of a Coke Addict

They say the first step in solving a problem is to admit that you have one:

So, here goes... My name is the blondelibrarian and I am addicted to Coke. How addicted I am to that sweet, bubbly, brown, cola-flavored liquid that I jokingly refer to as "Liquid Gold" I never fully realized until I decided to stop.

First let's get one thing straight: I do not now, nor have I ever been able to drink Diet Coke. It just doesn't taste like the "real thing" in my opinion. People have told me to keep drinking it because I will get used to it, but I just can't. My Diet Coke experiment lasted all of three days. I don't care what you say. It DOES NOT taste like Coke... just NutraSweet!

Second of all, while I can drink Pepsi, RC, or even a Jolt Cola in times of desperation, I choose Coke. I once did the (in)famous "Pepsi Challenge" and I chose Coke. The people doing the whole thing were so rude about it too: They wouldn't even give me the rest of the Coke when I asked for it!

I used to drink a lot of Coke. In my heyday I could easily drink at least 2 or 3 liters a day. I drank Coke for breakfast and before I went to bed. My favorite drink was Jack and Coke and a friend once gave me a cook book entitled Classic Cooking with Coca-Cola. I drank Coke when I ate chocolate, potato chips, nuts, or cookies. Everything goes with Coke!

In the last few years I have tried to reduce my Coke intake and think I have done a pretty good job. I try to limit myself to about 3/4 liter per day and usually succeed.

However, a couple of weeks ago A. decided that he was no longer going to drink Coke and encouraged me to think about it too. After all, he told me, think of the calories and money I would save. I was resistant at first, but finally agreed to give it a whirl.

For three days I didn't have so much as one sip of Coke. I drank plenty of milk, water, and even some wine, but no Coke. I had a headache, was tired for no apparent reason, and today I nearly snapped the lady's head off at the book store when I was trying to explain that though I obviously speak English, I wanted Harry Potter in German.

I walked home grouchy and when I got home I was very thirsty. I looked in the fridge with every intention of drinking water, but the Coke was there looking so cold and refreshing... I just couldn't take it anymore! I nearly ripped off the lid and in one long, swift drink drained half the bottle! And let me tell you something, never had a Coke tasted so good and I feel better now than I have in days. Yes, it is true. I admit it: I am addicted to Coke and you know what? I don't care!

12 September 2004

A Day Late

It seems to me someone is giving me a little bit of crap about my choice of posts yesterday.

After all, yesterday was... you know. I thought about writing something concerning that particular date, but the thing is September 11, 2001 has very different memories for me than it does for most Americans.

See I was on my first vacation with my husband-to-be. We were in New Orleans and we got up around 10:30 am. The first thing we did was turn on the Weather Channel to see if it was going to rain because we were planning a swamp tour that afternoon.

I remember the first thing the weather dude said was, "I repeat, all airports in the United States are closed until further notice."

And my reaction was "What the fuck?!"

We turned over to CNN and that's when we found out. But we were in New Orleans and felt as if we were in another world. The bars on Bourbon Street were still open, the swamp tours were still going, and we were still on vacation. So we continued with our plans and we had a good time.

And so when the anniversary of that day comes along, I tend to keep quiet about my personal memories of that day because I know that it changed the lives of lots of people and I don't want to belittle their feelings of that day with my own pleasant memories.

11 September 2004

Stitching Diary

I started " Passing Admirers" the other day, but didn't really seriously begin stitching on it until today.

Summary:
"Passing Admirers" will be stitched on Zweigart ® 32 count Cream 100% Linen Evenweave Fabric
This is my very first project on Linen!
For the first time ever I sewed the edges of my fabric down to prevent it from unraveling.
The chart, and therefore the design, is divided into 6 sections.
My goal is to work a section at a time, starting with Section 2 (the middle).
After each 7 hours of stitching time, I will post a progress scan in my cross stitch gallery.

Completed Stitch Time: 5 hours 15 minutes

10 September 2004

Busy as a Bee

This afternoon I decided to play Gertrude Gardener. A couple of days ago I bought some pansies at the flower shop and decided I needed to plant them.

Unfortunately for the sweet little pansies, the "Curse of the Black Thumb" very nearly struck again. When I went outside two of the three flowers were visibly wilted. I watered them the other day, but forgot to do so yesterday. I was afraid that I had killed them already.

So, instead of planting them in the window box as I had planned, I planted the one that still looked OK in a little pot. I watered the other two and put them in the shade. I think that by tomorrow they will either perk back up (if so, I will replant them) or be dead (in which case I will get rid of them). I did that about three hours ago and now as I glance at them I have strong hopes that they will survive.

As I was fiddling with the pansies, I also decided to empty the pots that had my geraniums in them. I didn't do so hot with my geranium experiment. I didn't out and out kill them, but a bad storm whipped them around pretty bad a while back and hurt the stems. They never really recovered from that. In addition, I hadn't been watering them and taking care of them the last month or so as I should have been because it was hot.

In fact, around mid July I had a flower epiphany: I came to the conclusion that I am a spring and fall flower girl. I love to play with flowers in the spring and fall when it is cool outside, but once it gets hot... I don't want to be outside and always manage to not water them enough. I don't do it on purpose, but I guess subconsciously I am trying to kill them so I don't have to be outside.

So, since the geranium pots were empty, I then decided to repot this tree that I have. I think I have mentioned my tree before. It is about 2 feet high and in addition to leaves, it has these fuzzy red fronds. I bought it about 2 years ago from the local florist. At the time she told me what it was, but I didn't understand enough German then to figure out what she was saying. Since it looks like it belongs on another world, we just call it my "Alien Tree."

A. had told me not to repot it because it will just grow, but I couldn't resist. I know it will get bigger now, but I told myself that this will be its last pot (hmm... we'll see about that!) Here is a picture of it in its new pot. No, it doesn't have two stems... there is a stick holding it up because it is too tall for its skinny trunk.

Alien Tree
photo by blondelibrarian

By the way, if anyone knows what the heck this thing is, could you please let me know? :)

09 September 2004

Lily White vs. Golden Brown

Since May I have been using the tanning bed at our local gym once a week for ten minutes at a time. Since I am naturally blonde, I don't want to be too tan. I not only think that it looks fake, but I honestly don't think my fair skin could handle it. However, I feel that I look healthier with a hint of a tan.

I have often thought that in the skin department I live in the wrong century. If I would have lived in the 18th or 19th centuries, I would have had the skin that all of the damsels envied. When I have no tan, my skin is so white that you can clearly see the blue veins underneath. Many European Aristocrats and Southern Belles spent hours soaking their skin in buttermilk, carefully shading their faces under mammoth hats, and dusting themselves with rice powder for the skin that comes to me naturally.

But alas, I live in the 21st century and even with a tan I have to choose the lightest shade of foundation at the makeup counter and it is still too dark. I told a friend of mine about a month ago that I had been tanning. Until I showed her my visible tan line, she didn't believe a word of it. But I know. I see it when I notice that the blue lines on my shoulders aren't nearly as visible anymore. I enjoy it when I am able to be outside all day in the sun with just a minimum of sun protection.

One day while I was surfing the Web I quite accidentally came across a very interesting article concerning skin tone in the earlier centuries versus today. (Sorry, I read this long ago so I no longer have any idea where the article was located) The article discussed how western society's ideas of the beautiful shade of skin have changed in the past hundred (or so) years.

Once it was fashionable to have lily white skin because it was a sign of wealth and leisure. During that time it was the working class who had to be (i.e., work) outside and, as a result, ended up with tanned bodies. Obviously, for a person of leisure the thought of having to work outside was highly undesirable. Therefore, any sign that he or she did so (like tanned skin) was also unwelcome. Consequently, fair white skin was an indication that the person did not have to be outside or work.

Fast forward to the last half of 20th century. Suddenly working people had to spend the majority of their time indoors. Everyone* developed white skin per default. People wanted to be outside surfing, gardening, swimming, or a thousand other things that would, unsurprisingly, result in a tan during their hard-earned free-time. This shift to favoring a golden brown tan over lily white skin indicated not only that being outside was a good thing, but also communicated that the person in question had time and money to spend outside enjoying these things. And what better way to prove that you can spend time relaxing on the beach or smelling your well-groomed roses than with a tan?

Today we all know the dangers of skin cancer and some listen more carefully than others, but it still doesn't prevent a large majority of people from thinking that a person with a slight tan looks healthier than someone with lily white legs poking out from underneath his or her shorts.

* = Allow my indulgence here for the sake of argument.

Viva Cactus!

Tonight is Mexican night at our house. The reason is two-fold:

First, last weekend we were in the mood to eat out and thought Mexican sounded good. So, we went to the pitiful excuse for a Mexican restaurant (called Viva with a cactus mascot, hence the title of the post) in our little town and ordered margaritas and chimichangas that left much to be desired. This is the third time we have tried Mexican in the Munich area and the third time we were disappointed. We came to the conclusion that though I am from the Midwestern United States, at least I have been to Mexico and lived in Texas; therefore I should have a good idea of what Mexican is supposed to taste like and am probably a better Mexican cook than your average German. (Hint: Carrots DO NOT belong in Fajitas!)

Second, we have a lonely bottle of tequila that is just screaming to be drunk, so yesterday when we were at the grocery store I got everything I need to make margaritas, chicken nachos, and homemade salsa. Aahreeba, Aahreeba!

I just finished the salsa and will start on the nachos in a couple of hours. However, if you are interested, here is the recipe for

blondelibrarian Hot and Spicy Salsa

2-6 coarsely chopped tomatoes
Though I love things made from tomatoes, I am not a big whole tomato fan, therefore I use the bare minimum of tomatoes... if you like tomatoes, I would suggest the full number.
1 3/4 cup tomato sauce
6-9 minced garlic cloves
However, I love garlic, so I use the maximum amount... you might choose otherwise.
2 small jalapeƱo chilies, seeded finely chopped
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup dry white wine or unsweetened apple juice
I have used both and prefer the wine
¼ cup lemon juice
½ - 1 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
The hotter you want it, the more pepper you add. :)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Cilantro is also called Coriander leaves.


In medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except cilantro. Bring to a boil over hight heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in cilantro. Ladle mixture into clean jars and cover with tight-fitting lids.

Keeps up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

That's all there is to it! Enjoy!

* * * * * * * * * *

9:30 Update
Hmm... my margaritas didn't really have the desired effect... after drinking approximately 4 of them A. is out like a light!

07 September 2004

Stricken vs. Sticken

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week:

How do you explain cross stitch to non-cross stitching people?
Do they get it or do they say "Oh, right.. you do knitting then (or sewing, or needlepoint)?"


I don't try to explain cross-stitch to non-stitching people very often. However, I have lived in Germany for the past 2½ years and when I decided to take cross-stitching back up about a year ago, I quickly learned that I had to figure out a way to explain cross-stitching to people in German so I could find supplies!

I didn't have any trouble finding embroidery floss, but didn't even have the slightest clue as to the word for "cross-stitch" in German, and to make matters worse when I looked in my "Unabridged" German Dictionary the word wasn't even there! Of course, asking my husband (who is a native German speaker) was pointless, because at the time, he barely knew what cross-stitch was. His suggestion was "stricken," which is "knitting!"

One day I was in a very large department store and stumbled upon the sewing department. As luck would have it, they had a decent selection of stitching supplies. Not only did I buy things for my stash that day, I made notes of all the German vocabulary related to stitching that I came across.

At first I thought that "sticken" was the word I was looking for. Not only is "sticken" very close to "stricken" (which of course means I must be careful with my pronunciation so that the store clerks don't get confused), I later learned that "sticken" just means "to embroider." It wasn't until I came across the chart section that I found out that "cross-stitch" in German is "Kreuzstich" and is actually a literal translation (Kreuz = cross; Stich = stitch)! Armed with this knowledge, I now have very little trouble explaining what I do and what I want to store clerks.

Although about a month ago, I did find out the importance of correct pronunciation between "stricken" and "sticken." When I attempted to tell my mother-in-law that I did "sticken," she misunderstood me and offered to buy me a pair of knitting needles!

06 September 2004

Cross-Stitch Dilemma

Here are the thoughts that led me to suggest this week's Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week:

"Do you stitch small projects one at a time that you can finish quickly, have numerous large projects going at once that you rotate, or both? How does your current system work for you and have you thought about changing it?"

* * * * * * * * * *


I am facing a cross-stitch dilemma. I am considering completely changing the way that I cross-stitch. No, I don't mean the actual cross-stitching. I still cross-stitch from the bottom right corner to the top left and then from the bottom left to the top right.

When I learned to cross-stitch back in 1999, I did one piece at time until it was finished. I didn't have a big stash back then and I was still learning the techniques. Before my enormous 2½ year break from stitching I had begun larger pieces that I never finished... Works in Progress, if you will. I worked on something until I got bored and then started something new. When I picked my stitching back up last October, I had 3 unfinished projects that I finished before I started anything new.

At that point I told myself that I didn't like those unfinished projects and in order to avoid having more of them in the future, I decided to only stitch small projects that I knew I could finish before becoming bored. And that has worked well. Since last October I have completed close to 40 small projects.

But here is the thing. I have recently come across some large complex patterns that I really want to stitch. I have not yet started them because I am afraid I will get bored with them before I finish them. And here is where I am thinking about changing my cross-stitch style.

Most other stitchers out there (at least those who blog) seem to have numerous large and complex projects going at once. In order (I assume) to avoid getting bored with one particular piece they rotate them. And that is what I am thinking about doing. I really want to do the "Passing Admirers" and would like to work some more on my "Cat in Garden," in addition to doing a couple of Pam Kellogg designs. But the thing is, I do like to finish my projects.

So, after thinking about it, I decided to begin a rotation with two projects and leave myself room to do small projects as the desire arises. If it works out well, perhaps I will add more projects to my rotation.

Maternal Instinct and the Biological Clock

In all honesty, I have never had much a desire to become a mother. The mere idea of being pregnant makes my insides flip-flop. I think babies are cute when they smile and laugh, but when they cry or dirty their diapers... not so cute! Other people's kids are fine. I have a niece whom I adore and I feel extremely protective of my best friend's kids, even though I am wary of children that I don't know. A good friend of mine will have a baby in November and I'm really excited for her. But the idea of having my own and the life-long responsibility that goes along with it makes me shudder.

When I was a little girl, I hated playing "house," and I remember telling my friend Carla when I was six or seven that I didn't want to have babies. Even at 6, Carla wanted to be a mommy and in her infinite little girl wisdom assured me that when I got older I would want a baby.

At 15, my cousin, who is 2 years younger than me, couldn't wait to have a baby and become a mom. In fact, within two years she was one. Now 10 years later she has a happy family that includes three little girls. However, when she was 15 I remember telling her she was crazy because there was so much to see and do; so much life to live before becoming a mother.

When I was 19 and had my first serious relationship I doomed it by telling him that I was unsure if I would ever want to get married or have kids. Two and a half years later, I found out he was married and expecting his first child.

I then endured a five year relationship that ended in heartache and misery and when it was over, I thanked my lucky stars that we had no kids. The custody battle over the cats was bad enough.

By that time I was 25. Lots of my friends were married and either already had begun a family or were getting ready to do so. I questioned whether or not I even had maternal instinct when people told me that I would change my mind once I heard my biological clock or after I met "the one." I wasn't convinced, but thought anything is possible.

Well, now I'm 30 and I met "Mr. Right" three years ago. We enjoy spending time together and being able to do what we please when we want to do it and not have to worry about whether or not it is "kid-friendly" or if we have a babysitter. Maybe someday we will change our minds, but for now we are content with being child-free.

05 September 2004

Sick Business at the Pharmacy

Friday afternoon I came across another one of those ridiculous things about Germany that both scandalize and amaze me.

I needed some hydrogen peroxide. In America, you can go to Wal-Mart, or even the corner convenient store, and pick up a pint (approx ½ a liter) for under $1.00. Not so in Germany. It is one of those items you must buy at the Apotheke (the pharmacy).

For my American readers that are confused, let me explain. There are no Wal-Mart pharmacies in Germany and over-the-counter drugs (or other similarly dangerous things like Hydrogen Peroxide and BAKING SODA) are only sold at pharmacies. Need some aspirin? Well, don't bother looking for it at Wal-Mart, cuz it ain't gonna be there!

Not only are these items only available at the pharmacy, you must request them from the man or woman behind the counter in the white coat and when you do, you get the third degree. What is it that you need? Why do you need it? What are you going to do with it? How much of it do you need? Personally, I don't think it is anybody's business why I need hydrogen peroxide, I just want some!

So on Friday, once A. and I finally convinced the woman behind the counter that we only wanted hydrogen peroxide for disinfection and not to make a hydrogen peroxide bomb, we came across another utterly repulsive thing: the price! 100 ml (a little more than 1/3 cup) of hydrogen peroxide was going to set us back almost 9 Euros! I nearly fainted! However, we really needed some, so after a lot of grumbling by me to A., we plunked down our money.

Two days later, I am still reeling in shock. It wasn't that we had to go the pharmacy, I was prepared for that. But even now, the price makes me sick to my stomach... but not too sick, I don't want to have to go back and find out how much Pepto-Bismol costs!

04 September 2004

The Stand

Today I finished reading The Stand, Stephen King's epic of a post-epidemic apocalyptical future world.

The year is 1985 (the book was first published around 1980) and approximately 90% of the world's population has been destroyed by a sickness that is dubbed "Captain Trips." Those that are mysteriously immune to the superflu are humanity's last hope and as they are drawn together, dreams of an old woman and a dark man haunt them.

Two communities of survivors form, one in Colorado known as the "Free Zone" and one in Las Vegas. The diety-like figure of the Free Zone is the old woman, Mother Abigail, and as they begin to rebuild society, they become aware that the other community in Las Vegas, led by the dark man, is planning to wipe them out. Some members of the Free Zone are sent to Las Vegas where the final "Stand" is made.

I know that Stephen King is usually classified as a "horror writer," but I have never found his books to be all that frightening, and while I think he is a good story-teller, I find most of his books unbelievable. The problem with this is not that I don't like "fantasy," (I do!) but the fact is that the settings of his books make me want his stories to be believable. However, I didn't find that to be the case with The Stand. In my opinion, this story was not only believable, but also possible, and that was the most disturbing part of the book.

What I really liked in this book was the second part where the people begin gathering in Colorado and the way that they work together to start rebuilding society. A system of government forms, but many things that were cornerstones of the former society never reappear. For example, the institution of marriage is never formally re-introduced and the concept of money disappears.

There were a lot of religious undertones in the book. How can there not be in a story concerning the Apocalypse, right? But what the book boiled down to was a classic "Good vs. Evil" story. Who wins? Well, you will have to read it to find out... but remember the author IS Stephen King!

02 September 2004

Buying the Classics

Today I went to my favorite English bookstore in Munich, Words' Worth, and spent quite a while browsing through the books.

I could spend all of our monthly rent money in there. Not so much because there are so many books I want (well, actually there are...) but because English language books in Munich are so damn expensive! On average, a paperback runs between 10 and 12 Euros. (current exchange rate 1 Euro = $1.21) Of course, part of this has to do with trying to make a profit on imported books, but it is so irritating to see what such a book would cost in US dollars and then have to spend so much more on it. I can't help but feel like I'm getting ripped off!

However, they do have a section of books that are decently priced. They are "Penguin Popular Classics" and "Dover Thrift Editions." The up side is that they tend to run 3,50 to 5,50 Euros per book. However, these editions do not offer popular fiction, but "classics." Luckily, not only was I an English major in college, I also liked the "classics." :)

Today I added Dickens's The Old Curiosity Shop and Wharton's The Age of Innocence to my ever-expanding "classics" collection. I have read neither of them before, so I am looking forward to enjoying some good Victorian fiction.

01 September 2004

Passing Admirers

A while back I came across this at my local cross-stitch shop and fell in love with it:

Passing Admirers
© A. Pullen

At the time I didn't buy it because I normally like small and simple designs and this one is not only big by my standards (on 32 count linen it will be almost 10 x 14 inches), it is also pretty complicated.

But I liked it so much that I kept thinking about it. Today I was in the neighborhood and went into the shop. I figured with my luck they would have sold it, but it was still there. So I bought it. We'll see if I ever get up enough ambition to actually stitch it!