Notes from Germany
I am an American expat living in Germany. It's a far away land on the other side of the ocean. It's interesting and often weird here. If you read this and want to comment then email me at nate(the at symbol)chillmost.com. If you find any spelling or grammar mistakes, you can keep them.
Thursday, January 15, 2004
I tutored the 11 year old stepson of a friend today in English. First time I ever did this. I was paid in beer; the universal currency. What a fugdup language that English. Yet at the same time a treasure. If I could, just learn, where to put, the commas, I wouldn't sound, like William, Shatner.
I forgot to say that when I went to the doctor the other day I was trying to say that I had to throw up. The verb for that is sich übergeben. I kept saying unterbrechen which is not only totally wrong but also means to interrupt. So I was saying, "I wasn't feeling well and I had to interrupt, twice". See German is fugdup as well.
I've been listening to a lot of country music lately. George Jones, Waylon, Willie, Johnny, Hank Sr., Merle. What's wrong with me? Nothing really. Maybe a little homesick. Is "Up Against the Wall (Redneck Mother)" VS. "Okie From Muskogee" the Country & Western equivalent of the "Southern Man" VS. "Sweet Home Alabama"? Well, is it? Discuss amongst yourselves.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Imagine I Was Ballin'
A few years back i was an assistant engineer at a recording studio in Chicago. One of the projects I worked on was this:
I've never seen the cover until now. I'm almost positive that I didn't receive any credit on the inside cover.
I'm over it though. Really.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
A story from the New York Times about a sort of nostalgia for the old East Germany Eisenhüttenstadt Journal: Warm, Fuzzy Feelings for East Germany's Gray Old Days. Ausweis und Free reg. required!
CNN.com - German police investigate potato computer scam - Jan. 13, 2004: No matter where you are in the world, you are gonna find a wacko.
Last weekend I had a black and white photography course at the Uni here in Lüneburg. It was cool. It's a lot harder than one would think. I made three good prints. The first day started fine. Later on the in the afternoon I hit my head on the ventilator switch on the wall in the Photolab. It hurt like hell. Shortly after I felt sick or really hungry. I wasn't sure. When I went home I decided on hungry and ate some dinner.
Mistake.
I yacked. A lot.
In the morning I wasn't feeling aces but I had been waiting so long for this photo course that I wasn't going to miss it come hell or high water. So I went.
It was tough but I pulled through. I went home and promply fell asleep and called in sick the next day. The doctor said it was a viral something something. I think it was a combo of bad food, not enough to eat, dehydration, concussion, photochemicals, and viral something something. But what do I know? I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV.
All better now though.
Aaaaaaanyway,
I haven't posted much political commentary lately because it just depresses me. I've tried to sit down and write about it but when you do the research and follow the links and see lie after lie, it really gets to ya and makes ya depressed. But Uncle Wily toughed it out and posted something in the direction of what I've been trying to say. Couldn''t have said it better myself. Thanks Wil!
WIL WHEATON DOT NET: a matter of priorities:
- "But here's the thing that just boggles me, and actually moved me to write tonight: The Bush administration waited 74 days before they started an investigation into who blew Ms. Plame's cover, putting her, all her assets, and all of us at risk.
Seventy-four days. When National Security is at stake.
How many days did it take for the Bush administration to call for an investigation into Paul O'Neill?
One. One day after he was on 60 Minutes. One day is all it took for what can be called a punitive investigation, at best, when all that's really at stake is the rapidly vanishing ability of the Bush White house to lie to us and get away with it.
So the question sweeping the nation is: Does Mr. Bush care more about protecting Americans from terrorism and ensuring our safety, or protecting himself from criticism, and ensuring his reelection?"
