tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60465805919209653392024-03-19T23:08:59.665-07:00Robin and Erinerinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-77955132634988370642013-07-31T04:08:00.001-07:002013-07-31T04:08:37.675-07:00All before noon<p>The day started off rather fine. I took Lee out for a short car ride so that I could pick up a package. He fell asleep on the way home and I was later able to put him in his bed. Then the fun began. Shortly after being put in his bed, Lee began to cry. I tried to calm him down but it didn’t work, so I picked him up. He continued to cry with his eyes closed for several minutes. So I put him back in his bed. Nope, that wasn’t what he wanted. I picked him up again. Still not the solution. I put on my moby wrap and put him in. His eyes were still closed and being in the moby wrap seemed to help. I walked around the house but he still didn’t settle completely, so I went outside for a walk. That was the answer. He slept fine. </p> <p>I came back home and did a few things around the apartment while he was still in the wrap. He eventually woke up and seemed to be in a pleasant mood. I set him in his swing while I did some things in the kitchen. He smiled and giggled, then he pooped and continued on with the smiling and giggling. </p> <p>I picked him up and took him to his changing table where I discovered he had a diaper blow-out. He was messy all the way up his back so I thought it would be a good idea to give him a bath and clean everything off. I filled up the bath tub and managed to get his clothes off of him without spreading the mess around too much. I had just gotten him in the bath when the door bell rang. I was expecting someone to come pick up to packages that I was returning. I pulled Lee out of the bath, wrapped him in a towel, and answered the door. Once I brought Lee back to the bath tub I was feeling quite successful because he didn’t cry through the interruption. After a minute in the bath, he peed in the tub. Now the question comes – do you keep bathing him in the now dirty water or take him out and start over? I decided to start over. He stayed calm and happy through the whole process – whew! </p> <p>After his bath I put him back in his swing so that I could have something to eat. He started fussing, so after I had my snack, I gave him something to eat. All was well until he realized he was now quite tired from the whole bath ordeal. I held him and walked with him, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to go back in the moby and walk around the neighborhood again. Back outside we go for another lap around the neighborhood. I was already tired from an exercise class the night before, and didn’t really feel like walking around the neighborhood some more. However, Lee was able to fall back asleep. I brought him home and put him in his bed. I looked at the clock, only 12:30 PM…. it feels much later…. I wonder what other adventures this day will bring.3</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-9807522891142028872013-07-17T05:30:00.001-07:002013-07-17T05:30:30.019-07:00Misadventures<p>Misadventure: (noun) An unfortunate incident</p> <p>I wanted to buy strawberries last week. German strawberries are in season right now and they are quite delicious. I thought it might be a nice treat to have strawberries with dinner. So, I wrapped Lee up in my Moby carrier and off I went. Lee quite enjoys his Moby and usually has a nice nap while I walk around with him. I needed to drop something in the post box on my way to the grocery store, so that was my first planned stop. I got about 100 meters from our front door and Lee threw up on me. He has recently learned to suck on his hands, but he hasn’t learned how to keep them away from the back of his mouth where his gag reflex is. It wasn’t too much throw up, so I went to the post box and back home. That was day 1. Day 2 – once again I though I would get strawberries from the store. It is only a 3 minute walk and I expected Lee to be asleep by the time I got there. Into the Moby he goes and we were off. He started sucking on his hands again…. 200 meters from the door he threw up on me – it just kept coming. So there I was on the side walk, covered in vomit, trying to decide if I was too dirty to go to the store now. I was. I went back home. No strawberries. Lee got another bath.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8Ssh83A3XrQ/UeaOVFFySvI/AAAAAAAAC-0/DVFsNIZDmqY/s1600-h/spitup3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="spitup3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="spitup3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5vmqtL7UsR8/UeaOVtHhiSI/AAAAAAAAC-8/72ADylCTa_Y/spitup3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">An outside view of the damage – not too bad….</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f8e9r-AJ3Os/UeaOWezWPOI/AAAAAAAAC_E/Q_Y7tier2QA/s1600-h/spitup1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="spitup1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="spitup1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--G91LwLQBEE/UeaOWwaQqSI/AAAAAAAAC_M/8D0XLggEuGs/spitup1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="386" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Side-view – ok that is something people might notice</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vmo6viYZm9M/UeaOXni--9I/AAAAAAAAC_U/5oPyHg_4fZc/s1600-h/spitup4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="spitup4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="spitup4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s8AH7FrcuqY/UeaOXyXwf-I/AAAAAAAAC_c/z5bMbzYWMyE/spitup4_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Mess on the baby – he was not happy about it</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QLLOCRoqbjs/UeaOYjSARbI/AAAAAAAAC_k/LSKb89g10rg/s1600-h/spitup2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="spitup2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="spitup2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AcFAqbrunhI/UeaOZM5MJJI/AAAAAAAAC_s/pUZMp4rQfs0/spitup2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Gross.</p> <p>I finally did get strawberries – just a few days later.</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-75323105373405348732013-06-20T23:53:00.001-07:002013-06-20T23:53:20.825-07:00Spit-up: A gift of love<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-faVkh3N5K8E/UcP4WzR11PI/AAAAAAAAC9U/6209hFi_d4Q/s1600-h/P1000705%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000705" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000705" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NvXxKQM2kjI/UcP4Xn525LI/AAAAAAAAC9c/GuSQBPsI49A/P1000705_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="275" /></a></p> <p>You know how when you have a cat sometimes it will bring you little gifts? A (dead) bird, (dead) mouse, or something along those lines, all to show how much your cat loves you.</p> <p>I have a theory – the spit-up theory. I think when your baby spits up on you, it is really a display of love. When Lee spits-up it is usually followed by a BIG smile. It is almost as if he is saying “Look what I gave you! I love you so much that I wanted to give you something nice. I don’t really have anything to give except milk. Milk is my favorite thing, so maybe you would like some too. Isn’t it the best present ever?” Gee, isn’t that nice. Afterwards, I get to wear his little present until I get the chance to change. It sure is nice of him to share like that.</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-28107539760080683442013-05-28T09:51:00.001-07:002013-05-28T09:51:32.463-07:003 Minute Miracle<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G6DUhAVadQU/UaTgjmuMmFI/AAAAAAAAC84/tNuSQDAfxl4/s1600-h/P1000537%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000537" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000537" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c1rYINSr2V4/UaTgkbFp6lI/AAAAAAAAC9A/xR1fXbXK5oQ/P1000537_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a>I will admit that I am a creature of habit – I have eating yogurt for breakfast with some sort of cereal for over 10 years. Every Morning. If I don’t the whole day just seems wrong. If I find a product I like, I will used it over and over and over for years. Coming to Germany interrupted some of my habits, one of which was what hair products I use. I have yet to find shampoo/conditioner here in Germany that I really like. Until now….  <br />When I was in high school, I started using Aussie hair products. They were no where to be found in Germany. I have missed them.  <br />While I was standing in line at the drug store last night, something in the shampoo aisle caught my eye. I am somewhat sleep-deprived at the moment so it took some time for me to process what I was seeing. I looked and looked and realized I was looking at the familiar Aussie logo. MY SHAMPOO! IT’S HERE! I left the check out line and picked up this 3 minute miracle pack. Oh how excited I was to use it. It’s the little things that bring a smile :)</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-52249253199602592402013-04-30T02:52:00.000-07:002013-06-27T02:54:15.284-07:00Robin’s Birthday<p>This year when I asked Robin what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he told me he wanted penguins. We had seen a penguin “cake” on Facebook and the idea stuck. So, here we are with a penguin birthday cake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DOAgFCCSUCs/UcwLtWjdI6I/AAAAAAAAC9s/g8T-RRbNS2I/s1600-h/P1000227%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000227" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000227" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TcwA8vTHhiw/UcwLuGt0DdI/AAAAAAAAC90/cJohM7DOZME/P1000227_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>The “ice” they are sitting on is a rice cake with a yogurt glaze. The penguin body is meringue covered in chocolate (I bought it at the store). The beak, feet, and chest are all marzipan. The eyes are frosting with a sprinkle in the middle.  Here is a close-up:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3KJ_tB9yMfg/UcwLuhZnQNI/AAAAAAAAC98/Rp01QlZNjqc/s1600-h/P1000229%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000229" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000229" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-g7T39wXehSk/UcwLvH6NtAI/AAAAAAAAC-E/uryHpUTdzFI/P1000229_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>The left-overs were also enjoyed. Here is what happened to the penguins the next day – penguin sandwich.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Before</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ko1ZT9mj5kc/UcwLvkjrJsI/AAAAAAAAC-M/Y-MF2g8zvmQ/s1600-h/P1000230%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000230" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000230" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6XITuAF29pQ/UcwLwZ8QrMI/AAAAAAAAC-U/Avz0R_MZiPo/P1000230_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong>After</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i0JwA7LBWTg/UcwLw6n16sI/AAAAAAAAC-c/HCqNRVQ1_ck/s1600-h/P1000231%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000231" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000231" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O9gC16-PNZI/UcwLxXyWTOI/AAAAAAAAC-k/XIKA_fwhw-Y/P1000231_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-74868890475441850142013-04-04T03:18:00.000-07:002013-05-21T03:19:27.438-07:00Hi. My name is Lee.<p align="center">Meet Lee. Born 30. March 2013.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-llm7lRWLXGo/UZtKGk1z8YI/AAAAAAAAC8g/bpdm6csGNe8/s1600-h/P1000146_edit%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000146_edit" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="P1000146_edit" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rTwAXzcFehs/UZtKHxpyw0I/AAAAAAAAC8o/xpdl1hqwGUE/P1000146_edit_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-77571480972666601732013-04-01T03:08:00.000-07:002013-05-21T03:09:57.607-07:00Last Pregnancy Photos<p>These photos were taken one week before Lee was born</p> <p align="center">View from the side</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vVPXucWJobA/UZtH2ohjbII/AAAAAAAAC7Y/EE7YR49CMys/s1600-h/P1000035%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000035" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000035" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YTNJ4xXCgW0/UZtH35LUhkI/AAAAAAAAC7g/YbRU6uM2mRQ/P1000035_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">View from the top</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wS8YUO_pZVU/UZtH5KPDq1I/AAAAAAAAC7o/kEXTQkUh5k4/s1600-h/P1000030%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000030" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000030" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W1NBNBivUyE/UZtH6YlJQOI/AAAAAAAAC7w/FYDu0WxHuX4/P1000030_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Seated view</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B49gCPis_g0/UZtH7nBwDXI/AAAAAAAAC74/nGk0iyVNSzQ/s1600-h/P1000048%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000048" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1000048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6hcW-LyonmE/UZtH8iCbu_I/AAAAAAAAC8A/1ibkBZeENUI/P1000048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-62531441828929021392013-03-15T03:11:00.000-07:002013-05-21T03:12:44.361-07:00Reupholstered chair<p>We have this chair… it has great “bones” the the chair but it didn’t quite look the way I wanted. I painted it white about two years ago. Since then, I have been searching for fabric I liked to cover the seat with. It took quite some time, but I finally found something. Here is the finished product.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F-wSJiqo_Bs/UZtIlAPwfXI/AAAAAAAAC8I/QuUVoYyMhkc/s1600-h/P1000020%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1000020" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="P1000020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-me9EUTIkYXw/UZtImf_bIXI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/9PQDiGBea2g/P1000020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-29688113578897070342012-12-19T09:15:00.000-08:002012-12-19T09:15:00.038-08:00Just in case you missed it<p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hFhbT0YsRms/UM9TNFBnVhI/AAAAAAAAC54/fraeWdhsTYY/s1600-h/PositiveTest%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0nFq9yG469M/UM9TOZD6FnI/AAAAAAAAC6A/djSsy9nUQF8/PositiveTest_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="636" height="480" /></a>Due: April 2013 <br />It’s a boy</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-41536249411068431642012-12-03T07:38:00.000-08:002012-12-17T07:38:17.673-08:00Welcome December<p>Let it snow… and snow.. and snow… ok, so we only got about an inch, but that is quite a bit more than nothing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YO5xqVeMyWg/UM88YSRNNAI/AAAAAAAAC4k/SMGt3MPP6ZQ/s1600-h/dec_snow%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="dec_snow" border="0" alt="dec_snow" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--v8mMMZa5bs/UM88ZjJfguI/AAAAAAAAC4s/lBPWrZhqNg4/dec_snow_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-83109192150782064932012-11-12T07:34:00.000-08:002012-12-17T07:35:01.650-08:00New shelves<p align="center">I mentioned two Ikea trips – these are the shelves we bought on the first trip – the Billy shelf.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UjCevkgCwdg/UM87mItYdVI/AAAAAAAAC4E/h1ZetX9yRBs/s1600-h/billy-shelf%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="billy-shelf" border="0" alt="billy-shelf" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z07oxkor5Kg/UM87muqCvtI/AAAAAAAAC4I/FUkMTueI7Nk/billy-shelf_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480" /></a> <br /><a href="http://www.ikea.com/de/de/catalog/products/83688210/" target="_blank">source – Ikea catalog</a></p> <p>Rather dull, but with potential and big enough to give us plenty of space. We decided one wasn’t enough – we bought three! I also thought the plain white looked a bit dull, so thanks to some ideas from the Ikea Hacker website, we covered the cardboard backing with blue wall paper. Here is how it all went together: <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-asWQ_ozDex0/UM87n-616XI/AAAAAAAAC4U/gmZw3BcGFtA/s1600-h/Ikeatrip1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ikeatrip1" border="0" alt="Ikeatrip1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w23IMBpmZO0/UM87o1icP6I/AAAAAAAAC4c/O4INOk3RkPM/Ikeatrip1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="480" /></a></p> <p>For those of you with a straight eye – we eventually did get the shelf on the left in the final picture to stand straight. Imagine now if you can the the shelves are now full of books. Yes, between the two of us, we really do have that many books.</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-56697080582754501692012-11-11T07:16:00.000-08:002012-12-17T07:16:59.714-08:00Ikea<p>We have made two trips to Ikea in the past month. Two! It takes about an hour to drive there (and of course one hour back). This is how the back of our car looked after the second trip. On our first trip we bought Ikea shelves – they were so long, I needed to sit in the back while Robin sat in the front and drove. On this second trip, we bought two dressers, a few things for organizing, and cupcake liners (because they were cute!).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c4It-LpHNys/UM83YRdxY-I/AAAAAAAAC3c/EV1DaUO-hG0/s1600-h/Ikeatrip2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5oHoOprrjUw/UM83aLGWUGI/AAAAAAAAC3k/FfDJ5ZqVdo0/Ikeatrip2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-69096412594651721742012-10-06T08:41:00.000-07:002012-12-17T07:46:59.733-08:00Makes me laugh<p>I commute – one hour each way. Some days it can be a bit dull – get on the train, find a seat, put on headphones OR pull out Kindle, ride the train to destination. Sometimes my “destination” is where I transfer trains, in which case the trip includes hurrying from one train to the next. I try to keep my eyes open for things to bring variety to the trip, for example, some girl with her pet rat on her shoulder, or a man with a well groomed handlebar mustache. One day this week I saw this advertisement for a tanning studio. I just had to laugh! It translates to “Only tastes good when tanned”. Raw chicken, only tastes when tan… hahaha. Other than this billboard, it was a normal day with a normal commute.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W3kUGXdv2v0/UM8-aYchFDI/AAAAAAAAC40/3i98eALdE_E/s1600-h/onlyTan%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ksaw5nppBws/UM8-cItdONI/AAAAAAAAC44/GkbH8WDJD10/onlyTan_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-34051946511924303572012-08-25T06:17:00.000-07:002012-10-27T06:19:51.987-07:00Trip to the USAWe took a trip to the US in August. We got to spend 10 days there and it was a whirl-wind trip! We landed on Saturday night in Seattle. Early Tuesday morning, we drove down to Salt Lake City (it took the whole day). Thursday, was the start of the Bennett Family reunion and we stayed down in Orem. Friday, the whole party went on the road and we drove up to Heber Family Camp. Saturday, Robin and I drove up to Logan and stayed with some friends there until late Sunday afternoon. Sunday evening, we started our trip back to Seattle arriving early Monday morning. Thursday morning was our flight back to Germany. The trip wasn’t very relaxing, but we had a wonderful time. We took lots of pictures too…. or not….<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cEzRxXiVWqk/UIveza3u-VI/AAAAAAAAC1g/ZIDjeT5nRXg/s1600-h/Aug2012_Car%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sHat1VOMxwc/UIve0Ufo_GI/AAAAAAAAC1o/v6Apr9Ff2Ds/Aug2012_Car_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="640" /></a></div>
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View from the passenger side of the car. We saw plenty of the freeway during our trip.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nMpwsNt7zcY/UIve1nCFiGI/AAAAAAAAC1w/jGVuTfuNlLk/s1600-h/Aug2012_Heber%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-koyiGftuJ6g/UIve2iFHkZI/AAAAAAAAC10/q3agjFm_0wQ/Aug2012_Heber_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="640" /></a></div>
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Coming down the mountain from Heber Valley Camp. The camp was waaaaaaaaaaay up in the mountains.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NvfDXe33vM8/UIve3RN3vFI/AAAAAAAAC18/-imFm0QxY_M/s1600-h/Aug2012_ConfrenceCenter%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0pznQ2sBzi0/UIve4P7jbtI/AAAAAAAAC2I/SG_4uMjbtCY/Aug2012_ConfrenceCenter_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="360" /></a></div>
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We took a garden tour of the Conference Center in Salt Lake. This photo was taken from the top of the Conference Center.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yaLYSnPEq0U/UIve6PxIdZI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/6wlH7dHJU6M/s1600-h/Aug2012_RobinonSwing%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gSXpbF4UQfU/UIve7DhweGI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/syfej-Lx2zw/Aug2012_RobinonSwing_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="640" /></a></div>
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Robin go a chance to enjoy the swing at my cousin’s house</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fMiDZ-0IvvQ/UIve8bK7m_I/AAAAAAAAC2g/Y-B7nNbQtsU/s1600-h/Aug2012_Reststop%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EbIP5leEaKo/UIve9XmOUvI/AAAAAAAAC2o/965lelg7VTA/Aug2012_Reststop_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hello Oregon! One of the rest stops we stopped at. Once we got out of the car, I realized I had been to this rest stop before – the last time I drove from Seattle to SLC.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zttlivT970A/UIve-5B7pBI/AAAAAAAAC2w/yNlXiYtZiFU/s1600-h/Aug2012_RobininCar%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LqKfN0lABUY/UIve_zXkqFI/AAAAAAAAC24/poVVEemPdKM/Aug2012_RobininCar_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="640" /></a></div>
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Robin took a picture of himself during the drive. It could get a bit dull in the passenger seat.</div>
erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-29022158119981856492012-07-01T11:34:00.001-07:002012-07-01T11:34:37.600-07:00Curtains<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wsC2JgmdcZM/T_CYOk1J_yI/AAAAAAAAC0w/adScNC-2jfU/s1600-h/Curtains%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TdbFpiXYiL4/T_CYPKGpGJI/AAAAAAAAC04/gHk8IY70wjQ/Curtains_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Just in case anyone is interested, I made curtains for the very first time. We found a duvet cover at Ikea that had fabric I liked. We bought it and I turned it into curtains for our bedroom. I am quite impressed that I could do it. They may not be the best curtains ever, but they serve their purpose and make me smile.</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-17597763099838456262012-07-01T11:32:00.001-07:002012-07-01T11:32:02.380-07:00Ludwigshöhe<p>Robin and I went to Ludwigshöhe yesterday in Darmstadt. Other than that it has a really great view, I don’t know anything about it (and at the moment I am too tired to read up about it on Wikipedia in German). So, enjoy the photos.</p> <p>The panoramic view</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XHT88o6Ok1A/T_CXjxgRuJI/AAAAAAAACzs/nbE8J-duOp0/s1600-h/LudwigsHohe_view%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o3vVjsVxS8g/T_CXkYotxAI/AAAAAAAACz0/Sw87sFoA1Rc/LudwigsHohe_view_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="89" /></a></p> <p align="center">The Tower</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H2ZfP9e234E/T_CXk-1NgPI/AAAAAAAACz8/b-qYMUA5F-E/s1600-h/ludwigshohe_tower%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ludwigshohe_tower" border="0" alt="ludwigshohe_tower" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VNdQRdkgGbE/T_CXlTMBs9I/AAAAAAAAC0E/TYwjsXlYxxA/ludwigshohe_tower_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwigsh%C3%B6he_Darmstadt" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p align="center">Me on the stairs on the way down from the tower</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DnEV5nJ3IcQ/T_CXmDStwRI/AAAAAAAAC0M/5chdoWwl_68/s1600-h/LudwigsHohe_erin%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u-jWlkI1FYg/T_CXmz236iI/AAAAAAAAC0U/FSUjKWu_eWs/LudwigsHohe_erin_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">The spiral staircase looking down</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GGTEHeYJtxs/T_CXnhdMQnI/AAAAAAAAC0c/j4GHzq_Sh_g/s1600-h/LudwigsHohe_stairs%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_34yCz0x6EM/T_CXoXm-20I/AAAAAAAAC0k/dyNKOdzWdUw/LudwigsHohe_stairs_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-42532842402675435022012-07-01T11:25:00.001-07:002012-07-01T11:25:00.696-07:00A few garden photos<p>I love go out and look at my garden. Every morning and every evening it looks just a bit different. Here is how things are going:</p> <p>The morning glory arch – it looks AMAZING. We get several blooms every day and they are a lovely shade of blue. The vines are up to the top of the arch now and we have it growing along the top of our balcony ceiling.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y2UG1UxUQjo/T_CV19ZzrrI/AAAAAAAACys/y7NINZTQN9Y/s1600-h/MGArch%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jYQYHMBMlP0/T_CV2h0_RvI/AAAAAAAACy0/TLdbGvhMHKU/MGArch_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>This is a view from the street. If you look carefully, you can see the laundry I hang to dry.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lu7RLy9tEG0/T_CV3lmNPFI/AAAAAAAACy8/kQV_yq1wIlE/s1600-h/BalconyView%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jPuSc5AsuHI/T_CV4aC3ogI/AAAAAAAACzE/EtA8O1xmqIk/BalconyView_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="414" /></a></p> <p>Tomatoes – we have lots, but this is the first one to turn red</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g6qOoYWAiDQ/T_CV5QXbs6I/AAAAAAAACzM/o-9xkPhPLO8/s1600-h/FirstTomato%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GOL4DgrqfRw/T_CV54R2yFI/AAAAAAAACzU/98uH82ZG5xI/FirstTomato_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>We at this strawberry yesterday. It looked ready to be eaten. It tasted quite nice. There are several more strawberries on the way too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jVeeUpWstyI/T_CV7Ioon0I/AAAAAAAACzc/EXJKWhTk-UE/s1600-h/Strawberry%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rnO8MntqFlI/T_CV-ru3gTI/AAAAAAAACzk/ZfD9fYaM7ms/Strawberry_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-80341030389221494192012-07-01T11:13:00.001-07:002012-07-01T11:15:03.581-07:00Zero to Sixty<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9Q3K-kvaVF8/T_CTN5FwGQI/AAAAAAAACyg/A8JzegtEtdo/s1600-h/OccupyFFM1%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yyfd_LenYGs/T_CTOXU67XI/AAAAAAAACyk/6_ZlvA8T9Kg/OccupyFFM1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="231" /></a>Remember the trip I took to Frankfurt a few weeks ago? I posted pictures of the Occupy Frankfurt camp? I was at the European Central Bank (ECB) for a job interview as a Website Administrator. I got the job. I started on the 13th of June. Now my days are quite busy – I am gone nearly 12 hours each day – 51 minute train ride each way. I put my time on the train to good use by reading or listening to programs from the <a href="http://mormonchannel.org/?lang=eng" target="_blank">Mormon Channel</a> on my MP3 player. It is pretty interesting working at the ECB. I am learning quite a bit about the Euro and the European Union. Lots of information about monetary policy is posted on the ECB website which I am still struggling to understand (even to a small degree). I think I will be able to learn quite a bit at this job.</p> <p align="center">Here is the view from my office</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FFKiWZkbje0/T_CTOweKn0I/AAAAAAAACyA/x276-c_7xDA/s1600-h/OfficeView%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V6GtFm5hyPg/T_CTPLvJ_cI/AAAAAAAACyI/YhR-Rw55-hI/OfficeView_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="180" /></a></p> <p align="center">This is how it looks at the train station – pretty busy most of the time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tw--mNfH1No/T_CTQFWuL6I/AAAAAAAACyQ/yc3m0fFIeSY/s1600-h/FFM_TrainStation%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3jNMqzpcvtg/T_CTQ3nDbXI/AAAAAAAACyY/R2DIC9DSCX4/FFM_TrainStation_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-33529894925791436732012-06-06T06:50:00.001-07:002012-06-06T06:50:17.677-07:00Occupy Frankfurt<p>I was up in Frankfurt today and saw the Occupy Frankfurt camp. It is located just outside the European Central bank (the big Euro sign belongs to the bank, not the protesters). It looks like the protesters have set up a nice place for themselves there considering that they are living outside. There were tents of different sizes – for one to six people, there are areas for getting together – complete with sofas and ottomans, a kitchen (which I did not see), and even an herb garden. It was raining pretty hard while I was there, so not much was going on in the camp.</p> <p align="center"> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-avkDduafO1k/T89f2MSGxVI/AAAAAAAACwQ/xVHwABTfUzc/s1600-h/OccupyFFM1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p-IpLdc2fyg/T89f3e32D5I/AAAAAAAACwY/p2Q0nJ4Cf4Q/OccupyFFM1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">The big Euro sign outside the European Central Bank</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6uDa5H11HmI/T89f4y8lm3I/AAAAAAAACwg/0eqyuYZSb0Y/s1600-h/OccupyFFM4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qcs1dMbNz6I/T89f6Fyo4QI/AAAAAAAACwo/9x-wIDKvAt0/OccupyFFM4_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">They made a nice sign to let us know they are <em>still</em> here (according to Wikipedia, the camp has been here in Frankfurt since October 15, 2011)</p> <p align="center"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OccupyFFM6" border="0" alt="OccupyFFM6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p3LJaJ7Vyus/T89f7n4wNtI/AAAAAAAACww/eTgvMZ4GQ0M/OccupyFFM6_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="379" /></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://freeplone3.openia.net/radio99/Members/r99p/audio/teilraeumung-mahnwache-camp-frankfurt/image/image_view_fullscreen">Source</a> – I think it is pretty nice that they have an herb garden. It looks like it is doing very well too.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ejdLrs-DBOs/T89f9Ghb40I/AAAAAAAACw4/xIwGTSskU50/s1600-h/OccupyFFM5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pqcSVsHy-ck/T89f-wZARpI/AAAAAAAACxA/T4QLXL_c3YE/OccupyFFM5_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">A big tent – probably one of the common areas</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GtQuxsXVoM4/T89gAYX6OzI/AAAAAAAACxI/iSW7-nO9s04/s1600-h/OccupyFFM3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Tp9ngprxj2o/T89gCDpc_zI/AAAAAAAACxQ/00072A7QvTY/OccupyFFM3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q90PEAwyugg/T89gEYi_bpI/AAAAAAAACxY/AFXrN9-N2ws/s1600-h/OccupyFFM2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yApXLAQx3PI/T89gFjcywmI/AAAAAAAACxg/6wsnpA-CBcA/OccupyFFM2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">On the left, you can see the welcome desk – I guess they want to help people have a pleasant stay in their camp.</p> <p align="left">According to Wikipedia: The Occupy movement is an international protest movement against social and economic inequality, its primary goal being to make the economic structure and power relations in society fairer. Different local groups have different foci, but among the prime concerns is the claim that large corporations and the global financial system control the world in a way that disproportionately benefits a minority, undermines democracy and is unstable. Although most popular in the United States, Occupy has seen protests and occupations in dozens of other countries and on every continent. Each Occupy site set up a camp - including tents and outdoor kitchens - in a park or other public space, often near the city or town's financial district, to establish a semi-permanent protest area. </p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-3615733544662811202012-06-04T02:56:00.001-07:002012-06-04T02:57:02.607-07:00The Garden Grows On<p>Our balcony garden is still doing very well. It is fun to go outside every morning and see what is new. The morning glory vines have reached the top of the rose arch, are a just about to the end of our first pea harvest, our 6 tomato plans are taking up more and more space every day, and our petunias are flowering like crazy.</p> <p align="center">Our tomato plants already have little tomatoes! </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Onm6h8knoLo/T8yGKcI_4jI/AAAAAAAACvM/byWmmDKZgJo/s1600-h/TomatoGrowOn%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qd5ozyviltw/T8yGLWcTkxI/AAAAAAAACvU/suPUfh8Nyxw/TomatoGrowOn_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">I counted over 40 petunias blooming the other day.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a6EDd4vSpQU/T8yGMwWYgQI/AAAAAAAACvc/MHu2NLDlGfo/s1600-h/PetuniasGrowOn%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-11uvO3bFuT4/T8yGPLQhyXI/AAAAAAAACvk/SKDQFnE9DE8/PetuniasGrowOn_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">A whole handful of pea pods</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7tY-w3t-nQI/T8yGQeu3hsI/AAAAAAAACvs/zYXR2FPnpkY/s1600-h/PeasGrowOn%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ev-Qk_rgWRc/T8yGRljlRaI/AAAAAAAACv0/scSgJ5w1rAg/PeasGrowOn_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="588" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Big, lovely, blue morning glories. The flowers only bloom for one day, then die and the next day a new flower blooms. We have a different number of flowers every day – one day we had 9, another day we had 6, I think today we have 5. They are so pretty.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c1-OLybXTx4/T8yGTZ2YQrI/AAAAAAAACv8/SAjx7u4HEQI/s1600-h/MorningGloryGrowOn%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F7mqn1uLUZo/T8yGUChjGyI/AAAAAAAACwE/7tvAt2o2eV4/MorningGloryGrowOn_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-31821520409690426522012-06-04T02:48:00.001-07:002012-06-04T02:48:50.448-07:00Robin Bakes<p>This past week Robin was home from work recovering from his <a href="http://robinanderin.blogspot.de/2012/05/robins-tonsillectomy.html">surgery and concussion</a>. He decided to try out a new recipe for Apple Muffins (it seems here in Germany cupcakes and muffins are the same thing and the words can be used interchangeably). He chose the recipes, did most of the baking, and frosted them himself. They look good, but he wasn’t satisfied with the end result (they taste fine, I think it just wasn’t what he was hoping for).</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gCN3XEIrq04/T8yEcbU1L_I/AAAAAAAACus/TmexCZizt1o/s1600-h/RobinDecorateMuffins%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--Ilvs_fb26c/T8yEdW3w8XI/AAAAAAAACu0/m9R5Tenem-4/RobinDecorateMuffins_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Decorating the cupcakes</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8581nEUtWtQ/T8yEfAAPCwI/AAAAAAAACu8/pdLFvd0MZQE/s1600-h/RobinWithMuffins%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-swoHWz955n4/T8yEgKA77aI/AAAAAAAACvE/SoDGVIJ9Olg/RobinWithMuffins_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">Just before I took this picture, I asked him if he would mind if I took a picture. His answer was, “Will I be famous?” He just loves it when I take a picture of him and blog about it.</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-44455759189707164012012-06-04T02:41:00.001-07:002012-06-04T12:13:12.829-07:00Leaving the NestThis spring, it seems that several bird families have taken up residence in by our apartment. There is one nest in particular that we could see directly into from our balcony. Compared to the other bird nests, these birds were very loud. The little birds kept the adult birds busy from morning to night with their cries for more food. Then, something happened… the story is shown below. One of the baby birds decided it would be fun to leave the nest. He waited until both the adult birds were gone (the picture below shows him peeking out of the nest and waiting for the adult to fly off). Then, out he comes! He tried out his wings a bit and hopped around some. Then, it seems he decided it wasn’t so great outside the nest and wanted to get back in. He couldn’t. So he landed on a bit of wood and waited (and he cried)… until help came…. I don’t know what happened to him next, but the next day, the nest was empty. It seems the adult birds decided it was time for the little birds to be out on their own… they all left the nest.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PgtRCJx6PCM/T8yCq_t2aaI/AAAAAAAACuk/ZspLkXTGBkg/s1600-h/Bird%252520Escape%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" height="1369" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nxACxXbL7sg/T8yCtYh0WgI/AAAAAAAACuo/53ViOWloVuY/Bird%252520Escape_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="504" /></a>erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-71828634463582025582012-05-23T12:26:00.001-07:002012-05-23T12:26:47.209-07:00Balcony Gardening<p>In our new apartment, we are lucky enough to have a nice size balcony and lots of sun. I started planning our garden in February – drawing diagrams, researching plants, and buying/starting seeds. Our garden is doing really well so far - we have been having really nice weather to help things along. These are some pictures I took a few weeks ago – everything looks different already. The top right photo is of live plants that we ordered online – that came just like that in the mail. We have morning glories growing on a rose arch – they are already over 3 feet high, had TONS of flower buds, and it looks like we might see our first bloom tomorrow or the next day. Our peas are going crazy – we have lots and lots of pea pods growing now and more coming. Our tomato plant is now at least triple the size it is in this picture – it has several buds as well that are starting to bloom. Our petunias are doing wonderfully– I counted over 20 blooming flowers today. It is nice to see all the effort in our urban garden paying off – it isn’t even officially summer yet… I am excited to see how things go over the next few months. No doubt, I will be writing more about it and posting more pictures.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_0apTTwNXKA/T7057U0HFZI/AAAAAAAACuA/IHhJOsZ2flk/s1600-h/Garden2012_Spring%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Garden2012_Spring" border="0" alt="Garden2012_Spring" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FuHkLMR1BAM/T7059em1UHI/AAAAAAAACuI/AijverRyBys/Garden2012_Spring_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="1468" /></a></p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-89809432472726133102012-05-23T11:16:00.001-07:002012-05-23T11:16:18.914-07:00Robin’s Tonsillectomy<p><em>Warning: at the bottom of this post is a somewhat graphic picture of Robin’s tonsils four days after the surgery. If you don’t want to see it, don’t go all the way to the bottom</em> :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RH9PLQH3ujs/T70pDt6LbXI/AAAAAAAACtc/KxMnsyfQUjw/s1600-h/HospitalRobin%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 9px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P9rgERKxLVY/T70pEoAgIoI/AAAAAAAACtg/uIEYtSjGJJc/HospitalRobin_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="258" /></a>After having trouble with Robin’s tonsils for quite some time and at the recommendation of two doctors, we decided to have Robin’s tonsils removed. The operation was last Wednesday (May 16th). It is a fairly standard procedure and our Doctor was very confident that everything would go fine. So far, I would say the recovery has not gone quite as planned. In Germany, a short hospital stay is to be expected after the surgery – for Robin it was 5 days. Between day 2 and 3 in the hospital, Robin lost consciousness in the bathroom. He fell and hit his head resulting in a concussion. He spent the next day in bed feeling dizzy. He came home on Sunday morning. He had a few things to eat (ice cream, water, a slice of cheese) then took his medicine and threw up. There is a risk of bleeding after the surgery, so I had to check the vomit to make sure there was no blood in it (there wasn’t). After that, he decided to stop taking his pain medication because he felt it was the cause of his queasiness. After that he was feeling better and the pain was manageable. Tuesday night he woke up at 2 AM, told me he was tasting blood and proceeded to spit saliva into a cup. Again, due to the risk of bleeding, I got to check the saliva. Some blood, but not too much. We waited… slowly, there was more and more blood (until he was only spiting out blood). We left for the emergency room. By the time we arrived in the hospital Robin’s spit was not quite as bloody. The nurse on duty called the ENT (ear, nose, throat)  doctor. Once he arrived they started checking things and yes, Robin was bleeding – not much but it was not stopping very quickly (we were about 2 hours into spitting out blood at this point). To stop the blood Robin received a shot of adrenaline and got to stay in the hospital for 48 hours for observation. Only 5% of tonsillectomy patients experience bleeding afterwards – Robin now belongs to the 5%. Assuming everything goes well, he comes home from the hospital tomorrow. The nice thing about the whole experience is that we have learned quite a bit about hospitals and dealing with doctors. It isn’t quite over yet, but we think everything will work out fine in the end.</p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M26-OF4p1ac/T70pHX1Qd1I/AAAAAAAACts/6ipOFR2QctE/s1600-h/HospitalRobin2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mNFaV8Vd_Cs/T70pIU4h-_I/AAAAAAAACt0/JTX6_bnKemM/HospitalRobin2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="480" /></a> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046580591920965339.post-23344007795475685682012-05-01T09:09:00.001-07:002012-05-01T09:09:56.278-07:00Robin turns 33!<p>We celebrated Robin’s 33rd birthday last week.  He decided he wanted a Fanta Cake (which I had never heard of before, but I found a recipe and it turned out pretty well). We also went on a walk in the fields near our house and enjoyed a nice evening at home.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BMdm5DHLnLs/T6AKq0jqXaI/AAAAAAAACsQ/pOwcgXlt14M/s1600-h/RobinBdayinvite%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="RobinBdayinvite" border="0" alt="RobinBdayinvite" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gfVSHC_FoL0/T6AKsKRvGXI/AAAAAAAACsU/VHsPZlj4aas/RobinBdayinvite_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">I made an invitation for him (yes, I made an invitation for just him to his own birthday party. What fun is a party if you don’t get an invitation?)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WfBdYBLrZ-g/T6AKta_vqyI/AAAAAAAACsg/LcPL2AxGWGA/s1600-h/RobinBirthdayCake%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OWx5f90MXUk/T6AKuuQLKLI/AAAAAAAACso/QeDeWj_tREE/RobinBirthdayCake_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="588" height="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">His cake</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MR3tvH6xeEY/T6AKwAtmUvI/AAAAAAAACsw/GRDdQP_VAh8/s1600-h/singletree%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5G9u1dv50g4/T6AKxbzTGfI/AAAAAAAACs4/OUT_07cFBog/singletree_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="588" height="446" /></a></p> <p align="center">A tree we saw on our walk.  I can see this tree from other places and I find it fascinating that this lone tree is just standing out in the middle of the fields… it is all alone and has to face the wind, rain, snow, and whatever else comes it’s way year after year.  It must be a strong tree.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BbCPtzdpgTU/T6AKy1FQDhI/AAAAAAAACtA/_SCSxS8ptYo/s1600-h/popcorntree%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bYHKY1qKMQE/T6AK0LBPLhI/AAAAAAAACtI/HG2Uwai9YtE/popcorntree_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="612" height="464" /></a></p> <p>This was another tree we saw on our walk, it had such beautiful flowers that I just had to take a picture.</p> erinkate82http://www.blogger.com/profile/08188298817449037171noreply@blogger.com2