theinbetweenismine

just a girl living the expat life

Archives for February 2008

Back online

filed under: my so-called life

Sorry for the absence. I had a little trouble with WP in the last couple of days and wasn’t able to post.

I could hardly think of anything else this week and was about to take a day off work to be able to research the WP forum for a cure for my problem [ha! just kidding ;)], but it’s unbelievable how edgy one can get when deprived of such “necessities” as being able to blog ;)
Although I managed to upgrade to the newest WP version and, by doing so, eliminated my problem, I am still not sure what caused it and where those hieroglyphs in my older posts come from. If anyone knows or had something similar happen before, raise your hand!

My week was busy. Busy means time goes by fast, so busy is good! Before I knew it, it was Thursday night again and that means the beginning of the weekend :)

Yesterday, J took me out for lunch at Olive Garden. We hadn’t been there for quite a while, mainly due to the fact that if you want to go there for dinner, there is always a HUGE line and an at least 30-minute wait. And even though I don’t mind waiting for a table at a restaurant that I like, the way it is always packed (!) at Olive Garden just didn’t seem worth it to me.
Well, going for a late lunch around 2 p.m. was definitely a wise choice. Rock star parking, no line and immediate seating :) Can’t get better than that.

We went to the Mall afterwards, got some “German food” at World Market and now we’re going to watch a movie. Oh, and have I mentioned that it was around 70ºF today?!

This is why I don’t watch TV

filed under: f*ck that, my so-called life

Since I worked last Friday, the weekend was fairly short. [In case you want to yell at me for complaining about NOT having a three-day-weekend this time, I’d like to remind you that I work 10+ hours the other days of the week, thank you very much].
J and I wanted to watch a movie Friday night, but that plan miserably failed when I fell asleep around 9 p.m. I am just tired by the end of the week.

Saturday, I ran some errands in the morning and then we watched the clouds move in and the rain to start falling. J couldn’t have been happier and encouraged me to take a walk with him. Of course, we were soaking wet when we returned, but happy.
It’s funny how there is nobody out when it’s raining. I literally mean, nobody [except for the odd person with a dog, of course].

Sunday was a little lighter Рrainwise Рand after spending the morning on the phone with people from overseas [aka family and friends] and cleaning up our place, I took J out for a well-derserved dinner at Cr̻peville. Thank God we have one in town here as well :) I had the Basil Cr̻pe again [this time I took a photo to prove it] and J had the Savory Cr̻pe with prawns. Delicious!
We watched some more X-files after we got home and that was it for the weekend.

Oh, one more thing I have to mention because it was so horrible and to explain the title of this post:

You know, I really do enjoy good movies. I also get into the occasional TV show and admit it, who doesn’t like to have an hour each week in which to escape to a –more or less- realistic story about someone else’s life?

Good, so we’re on the same page.

I think I also can kind of understand how some people – no offense – can get totally hooked on reality TV. Some of the shows are or can be hilarious [Jackass] and entertaining.

But this weekend I came across the possibly worst TV show ever. And I mean, ever ever.

Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.

I don’t even know where to start, so much is wrong with this show.

Well, let’s start with the concept of it: 20 sometimes not so beautiful sometimes not so young women sign up to make total idiots of themselves while competing for Bret Michaels’ heart [who by the way is the biggest turn-off that I’ve ever seen].
If this alone is not sexist, I don’t know what is.

But no, those women have no dignity left whatsoever and think it’s totally “normal” to compete with 19 other scarcely dressed females for prince charming’s this guy’s favor.
He, however, obviously just enjoys making out with every single one of them, preferrably in front of the other ones, just to decide at the end of each week that one of them has to leave the mansion and can’t “rock his world” anymore.

Biggest BS that I have ever watched on TV. Seriously.

This is life

filed under: friends, my so-called life

On Tuesday evening I met with Claudia in Davis. I don’t know how many of you remember Claudia. She also studied at Düsseldorf University – just as I did – and spent an exchange semester in Davis – just as I did – , where she met her now-husband – just as I did. Her whole story sounded surprisingly like my own. We met up in Davis in September of 2004 for the first time and have been in touch on and off since then.

When I went to see them on Tuesday, I hadn’t seen them for approximately 2,5 years due to my extended stay in Germany in 2006 and our move to Southern California. Time flies though and so much has been going on in both our lives!

We spent about 3 hours catching up while munching on a delicious savory crêpe at Crêpeville. What a great place! They serve loose tea in a little tea pot and you get a tea glass with a little tea strainer. Too cute.

Also, if you can, would you please take a look at their menu. You won’t regret it. Might give you some great ideas for a nice dinner. I had the Basil Crêpe with cheddar cheese, onions, basil, tomato, spinach, and feta. Divine! I need to figure out the recipe so I can make it for J some time.

But I digress. Seeing Claudia and and her husband was really nice. Stoyan has recently finished his PhD and is currently looking for a Postdoc-position. They told me that they might be looking into moving to Denmark!
Wow. That would be a big move! Although, both of them don’t seem to be disinclined to the fact that they’ll be living – relatively – closer to Claudia’s family. I also don’t think that I am telling a secret, because they told me openly, if I share with you that Claudia is pregnant.

How exciting! There is so much going on in their lives and they’re moving forward to becoming a little family.

Well, you could say that we had two, quite interesting years as well – only that our lives are not going remotely in the same direction right now as Claudia’s and Stoyan’s. Time will tell, I guess.

Lake Tahoe

filed under: fun!, my so-called life

Lake Tahoe is pretty in the winter, surrounded by all the high altitude, snow-covered mountains. Especially when there are no clouds.

Lake Tahoe

I didn’t expect to see Lake Tahoe anytime soon, although I had contemplated, and was about to talk to J about, a possible trip up to the snow sometime before spring comes around. I crave some “snow time” in the winter.

Lake Tahoe is only about 2 hours away. That’s nothing compared to the distances I was willing to drive in Europe to get to some snowy mountains.

Yesterday I got my chance. When I came into the office in the morning, my boss asked “Would you be willing to drive up to Tahoe and pick up our instrument at the field office?” And then the question: “Have you driven in the snow before [not that there was any snow on the roads, but there was potential snow fall in the afternoon]?”
Excuse me? Just because Californians – no offense – freak out and lose all their driving skills, if water in any shape or consistency falls down from the sky, doesn’t mean that I, who grew up with “real” winters in Germany, can’t drive a car when there’s some snow on the ground.
I was a little perplexed by the question. Also, usually my other co-worker gets to do those kind of tasks. But as it turned out, he was caught up in some other project for the whole day and we really needed the instrument by today.
I got the keys to one of the governmnt vehicles [= SUV :)] and off I went.

It was a great drive. Nice scenic route through the Sierra. I wish I could have stayed at the Lake a little longer, or, even better, could have brought my snowboard for a little ride :) Oh but wait, that’s still in Germany. Next thing on the list to bring back here. Renting gear sucks.

It was a good day. I only got a few hours of work done at the office, but hey, I certainly did like getting paid for going on a drive to the snow :)

Where did the week go?

filed under: fun!, my so-called life

Damn. This week went by fast. We had a couple of interesting things going on at work and that always seems to make time go by faster. We had a meeting with the Regional Director of the USGS on Wednesday and she talked about the realignment of the leadership teams and scientific visions for the future. Since I had been contemplating beforehand if I should go to this meeting or not, I am really glad that I went. It’s always nice to meet the “big shots” in person and realize that there are, after all, just people! ;)

Now it’s Saturday – the second day of a four-day weekend for me. It feels like a mini-vacation and I kind of regret that I didn’t plan anything special with J [like, hopping on a plane for a 72-hour trip to Bremen to attend Kim‘s and C’s birthday party :)], not only but also it was Valentine’s Day this week.
But to be honest, neither I nor J particularly care about V-Day [although we did go out for dinner! Sushi at Miyagi‘s! YUM!] and we don’t need to go places to enjoy our time together ;)

Besides, I had also already made some beauty-appointments for this weekend. I went to the hair salon yesterday with the result that you can see here and I got a manicure today. Girl time!! :)

Now it’s 6 p.m. and we are getting ready to order pizza and watch a movie. We also have two discs of X-files, season 4, waiting for us, so we’re pretty much set for the night. Sounds like a perfect Saturday to me!

Spontaneous Shopping Spree

filed under: fitness, my so-called life, shopping

Here’s my theory: If you go shopping for something specific, you’ll never find it, but if you’re not looking for anything, you’ll find the coolest things.

True!?

At least for me, that’s why I went on a little spontaneous shopping spree last weekend.

First of all, I went to Target to shop for some household items when I came across a really cool, marked down workout shirt and some black workout pants. Given the fact that I am trying to go the gym at least three times a week now, I could justify buying some new workout clothes, because I really don’t have that many shirts and pants.

See, even though I haven’t made it to the gym more often then twice or three times a week yet, my attitude is on the right track. Therefore, I also went to REI this weekend to get J and myself a “must-have” waterbottle. I am sick and tired of buying and wasting the small plastic water bottles from the supermarket and therefore decided that investing into something “durable” would be a responsible move – not just for our wallet, but also for the environment. You can’t argue against that. And you also can’t argue against the style of this bottle. I love it.

my stylish new waterbottle...

Last but not least, I made an impulsive online purchase yesterday. My roommate got those really cute, new Keen Sandals. She told me that she bought them online for 50% less of what you would pay at the store. Including shipping. She already had me at “50% less”… but I also had to get these shoes, a) because I’ve always wanted those kind of shoes and never got them, and b) because they are red!

New sandals :)
Aren’t they just pretty? I love spontaneous shopping sprees, because they are usually – surprise! - so unexpected ;)

The rest of the weekend was just awesome, too. Great sunny weather, springlike temperatures,  X-files marathon and a great Sunday morning breakfast at Baker Square.

Time to say…

filed under: friends, my so-called life, yes!

Happy Birthday to someone special :)

San and Kim 
© November 2007, Long Beach, CA

Today is my girl Kim‘s birthday. She isn’t too happy about turning 31 this year, so hop on over and tell her to have a fabulous day and not to worry about the number!

I also want to let you know: Just keep in mind, sweetie, that I am almost a year ahead of you and it really isn’t so bad ;)

I am grateful to have you as my friend and I wish J and I could come and celebrate with you guys next week. We really appreciated the invitation :) Once again, distance sucks, but we hope that you’ll have a great time and that we’ll see you guys some other time. Soon!

Last night I went to another Sacramento Kings game with my co-worker. She has season tickets and whenever she can’t go – or like yesterday, her husband for that matter – she asks at the office if someone would like to have the ticket. My arm usually raises up much quicker than the two guys in our office can yell “I do!”. So I got to go with her last night.

We stopped for a quick bite to eat on the way out and then headed to Arco Arena. Having a season ticket holder navigate the car, definitely saves some time finding a parking spot and making your way to the seats.
Since we were a little early, we were going to get some drinks at the bar and of course, Michelle was also acquainted with the bartender from coming to the games so regularly. Awesome. We got preferred treatment right there [and a soft drink for free :)].

I know my Dad would start crying right now if he read this. He has wanted to go to a NBA game for forever, but whenever he came to visit, it was off-season. Unfortunately, it looks like he has to wait until he retires, which won’t happen for another couple of years, because the school breaks, when he can travel, are always in the off-season. So all I can do until then is keep telling him how much fun it is to be actually at the game and that he really really has to come with me sometime :) Do you think that is too cruel?

Well, the Kings lost last night to the Seattle Supersonics with 92:105. Part of the reason: Brad Miller, starting Center for the Kings and named Western Conference Player of the Week last week, missed the game after cutting his index finger on Sunday while doing dishes! Holy crap! When I heard that story on the radio the other day, I thought they were making it up. It just sounded too crazy. He got nine stitches because he basically cut open his whole finger. Dang!

Anyway, we still had a great time and I definitely would like to do that again. Michelle is great company, not only at the office :)

Super Tuesday

filed under: excitement, I can't make this shit up

A part of me wishes that I could vote in the primaries. Because it seems important. Because it seems like it really matters this time more than ever.

But I am not a US citizen, even though I have lived and breathed this country for the greater part of the last six years and this other part of me is relieved that I don’t have to face the difficult decision today: Clinton or Obama?

After my – and J’s – favored candidate John Edwards dropped out last week, the decision has become tougher by the minute.
Although my political knowledge is relatively superficial, I had made up my mind, with the help of online quizzes and articles that I read and by talking to J who knows a whole lot more about politics than I do, about which candidate I would officially support, if I was to cast a vote.

Here in California they still gave out ballots with the names of all initial presidential candidates on them. Does that mean you can still vote for someone who’s not even running anymore? That seems like a wasted vote to me, so why didn’t they take the drop-outs off the ballot?
I surely hope that everybody who has gone and still will go to the polls today has followed the campaigns closely enough to know who is still running and who isn’t.

Another thing occurred to me today. I don’t understand why you have to be a registered voter for a certain party to vote for their candidates. That make no sense to me whatsoever.
How many votes do you think will not be casted today, because of the fact that a person might have been registered for the wrong party, or no party for that matter, this time around?

Admittedly, that kind of person could have taken care of changing the voter registration a long time ago, but fact is: Why can’t everybody vote for whomever they want to vote for without having to be registered for a certain party? A simple state ID should do.

I am clearly curious and excited about who will make it on the Democratic side today. The issues between the two remaining candidates seem to be much greater than just the question with whose policies one conforms. The more basic question is: Should one vote for a woman or a black man?

Honestly, if you ask me, either one of them would make a splendid first-timer in the Oval Office and since it’s not up to me to help make this decision, all I can do is sit back and hope for the best.