Politics

Well, the sun is out for the first time in a week, so I don't feel like I am in a cave!

My friend Igor, complained about my lack of postings so here you go!

Watched CNN this morning as I usually do to catch up with what happened overnight in the world and heard a lot about the Iraq bipartisan committee report. Wonder how it is all going to "fall out". I am hard pressed to believe that J.W will do an about face. He is too arrogant and bold for that. Besides, he still has ole Dickie baby at his right ear. The scary part was the WH announcement today that they will agree to talk with Iran IF Iran ceases nuclear pursuits. Now isn't that more of the same rhetoric? sounds so to me.

On another US shakeup, what about Bolten? Condo had a bright smile on her face when he announced his resignation... fixed for the camera or real relief... time will tell I suppose. JWs 'previous track record concerning recommendations doesn't give me much hope for anyone any better (more diplomacy and less big stick).

Yesterday we had a "bomb threat" at the Vochshochshule where I take German. It was only a practice thank goodness. We laughed as we stood outside, and postulated that maybe some right wing European thought he/she could wipe out a bunch of Auslanders (immigrants) at one sweep!! Best to keep a good humor these days.

My discussion group the American Forum, meets again tomorrow night and we talk about 2 books:Why the Christian Right is Wrong, by Robin Meyers, and The End of Faith, by Sam Harris. Igor tells me I should be careful, but hey, this is fun, being on the edge for a change. I have mostly considered myself a fence sitter unless really pushed. In this case, I must admit I look for spy cameras when I go each month.

German Stufe 4

Well, one day into the new course and I am so glad I stuck to it. Most of our Level 3 class continued with 4 new additions. One of the teachers stayed on as well (the one I like the most, so that is a big plus!). The new team teacher is very good; she has a great sense of humor which will make the bitter pill go down easier!
Class will be over just in time for Christmas holidays.

Is this really worth it?

I am now in week 4 of my intensive German course. I had been saying for 12-14 years, "just let me retire and I will take German and learn it this time" [I have taken 3 entry level courses over the last 18 years!] My 2 teachers are really good in Level 3 where I ended up. I tried level 4 for the first week, and by Friday, my eyesballs were literally rolling in my head! so I asked to go down to level 3. Good Idea!!! This week we are studying articles and personal pronouns and their often incomprehensible cases: nominative, accusative and dative, when modifying a noun which also have the three cases!
Get the picture? Me neither.. but I WILL PERSERVERE.

First snow

The fog became thicker as we approached the Hoherodskopf in the Vogelsberg yesterday. The temperatures have dropped daily since the first of the week and snow had fallen above 700 meters on Thursday.

We have made a many walks around the top of this old volcanic mountain over the last 15 years, so we know the sites we usually see. This time however, only the close trees on the edge of the path were visible and the silence one encounters with heavy fog was deep. Most of the birds have migrated already and the deer kept hidden in the fog. Few walkers were out and about but as we neared the midpoint of our walk, we encountered hunters so had to bypass one of our favorite spot, the Taufstein - a small peak with the dried up remains of a spring where Bonifacious performed baptisms.

Hunting is very rigidly structured in Germany and done under the direction of the Forester (Forest ranger to USA folks). The area is closed off and monitored by officials to prevent accidental shootings. As this is a protected area, the forester has the right to determine when and how many of the wild animals will be taken every year.

After a brisk 90 minute hike, we had lunch in our favorite restaurant on the mountainside. It is very gemutlich (full of atmosphere) complete with open fireplace and old beams. Jürgen had Pfifferlinger (special mushrooms found in the area) and noodles whilst I feasted on Wildschweinegoulash (wild pig cooked in a rich hunter sauce). As we waddled our way to the top of the mountain (we must ALWAYS make the top), I struggled over the black basalt path dreaming of a cup of coffee!

On the way back home we stopped at another favorite coffee place in a small spa village, Bad Salzhausen, and enjoyed yummy cake. Not so many guests as usual. Jürgen says not many folk take Kur in November.

Speaking of wildlife and such, Friday I saw thousands of geese in multiple Vs heading south. What a glorious sight and the accompanying calls added to the breathtaking view. I stood on the street watching them for 1/2 hour, almost being late for my German class!

Jürgen starts his new Airport job on Monday and we both look forward to a normal routine again. He looks quite smart in his Security guard uniform. He will be posted at the english speaking security sites such as the special one setup for all flights to the US. More on this later.

Bad Schwalbach revisited

Saturday, 14 October, we drove back into the Rhein Taunus for another hike around Bad Schwalbach. The hike we had done the week before was so super, we could not resist trying out another roundway we had found in our Walking book. This one started from the opposite end of the village, up near the Kurpark. Following a well marked trail, we headed out around the lake and up a steep climb, into the forest. The mixed hardwoods, Beech, Oak and Birch with an an occasional clump of "volunteer" pines, set the background for a fabulous day. The Beech are beginning to take on the "Copper Beech" colors and along with a few maples, showed some bright spots on the mountainsides. We have no trees with red leaves which add the pzazzz that I miss from NC fall foliage. Oh well, can't have everything. In NC it was a 3 hour drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway to see colors in October; from Frankfurt, we are lacing up our boots and ready to hit the trail in less than an hour! Of course, all our destinations are not so close, but the Taunus is right at our doorstep so to speak.

After 4 weeks, Jürgen is still plugging away at his Security course. One more week and we will know whether he will make the grade. He has surely studied hard enough for it. At least in Frankfurt Rhein Main airport, you can be assured the folks checking your luggage and carry-ons are well trained and know exactly what to look for!

I started my German Intensive course on Monday. The last formal class I took was in 1994, so needless to say, I had a few trembling knees when my turn came to say "auf Deutsch" why I was in the class. I should not have worried however. I had been placed (after testing my knowledge) in a midlevel class and found that the other members were at much the same level: lots of Strassendeutsch, not so good grammarr, but anxious to become better. The class looks like a meeting of the UN: 3 Italians, 3 Poles, 1 Czech, 1 Bulgarian, 1 Chinese, 1 Pakistani, 1 Persian (Iranian), 1 Algerian, 1 Congolian, 1Ukranian, 2 Japanese (cabin crew who work for Lufthansa), 1 Indian (Asian), 1 Serbian, 2 Spaniards and NO Americans....Yeah!!!! The interesting thing is that all also speak English. I read in the BILD newspaper today that there is a movement similar to that in Frence, to clean up the German language of "Denglish". From the complexion of this group, it looks like a hopeless project to me.

Our weather is turning cooler and I make the heat on in the mornings. I expect to see our first frost soon. I understand from nephew Francis and my friend Peggy, both of whom were traveling in the NE of America last week, that the first snowstorm of the year has occurred. Bet the Ski resorts are counting the green already, looking forward to a white Thanksgiving holiday.
Well, all the news for this week.

Back on the trails

After almost 10 months of virtual inactivity due to my second knee operation, I am FINALLY able to climb and hike again. The last time I was 100% fit was 1998, so this has been a "long haul"for us.
On Sunday, 8 October, we drove into the Taunus over towards the Rhine to Bad Schwalbach. From the outskirts of the village, we started a 14 km (around 8,5 miles) hike that took us through magnificent forests and up onto the high meadow lands. Along the way, we saw horses in the pasture and sheep in the fields, as well as a small herd of Scottish cattle with the lovely long auburn hair.
A field of wind turbines reminded me yet again how far advanced Germany and Europe are in conserving resources. The 7 we saw would provide enough energy for two villages in the area, with some left over!

I have become involved with a new group in Frankfurt named "the American Forum". We meet monthly to discuss current events involving America and the rest of the world. Using Chomsky's book Failed States, we had quite a lively discussion last week. Everyone agreed that the current administration had a severe and potentially deadly case of "do what I say, not what I do". Next month we move onto the hot topic of Climate change and will use Al Gore's book An Inconvenient Truth. Should be quite lively. The group is 3/4 German English speakers and 1/4 American. More on this meeting next month.

I was saddened to hear yesterday that a pathologist I worked for at Würzburg US Army hospital was killed in a paragliding accident in New Mexico. He was 46 years old and leaves a wife and 4 children oldest 16, youngest 6. They are a Morman family and surrounded by a community to care for them, but what a hard blow. Life is so short sometimes, but an event such as this just prove swe should live every day to the max........

Retirement continues to be a good life. Jürgen took his annual mountain-top hike from Oberstdorf in the Allgau, to Bozen Italy. While he was gone, sister Rebecca and cousin Marynell and I took a 12 day cruise to Norway, Iceland, Shetland and Faroes Islands. What a gorgeous part of the world this is. The fjords were magnificent and the terrain of Iceland, unforgettable.

We even passed thruough the Arctic Circle as we sailed around the northern Iceland coast.

In mid August, Rebecca and I met in NC to take sister Susie Q to Garden City Beach for 2 weeks. Great fun was had with family and friends coming in for various short stays. Amy and Eliza came without "the guys" and we played on the beach, ate great seafood and just sat around and talked. [I have uploaded 2 pictures but they don't seem to want to appear!] Oh well.

Curry

Christmas week 2005

Well, here it is only 4 days until Heiligenabend (Christmas Eve). We have had lots of snow lately to really put us in the mood for a trip to Poland on the 23rd.

This was taken Saturday, along the Lahn River in the Westerwald edge of Hessen, the state we live in.

Where we go in Poland already has about 1 meter (about 3 ft) on the ground! My knees are still not so good, so I will have to be content with a beautiful horse drawn sleigh ride instead of a 2000 meter mountain climb.... oh well, maybe next year.

Did all my Christmas shopping online this year. German postage is soooooooo expensive: a Christmas card to USA is almost 2 dollars; so you can translate that into how much a small package would cost to mail.

Sister is spending the holidays with her children in CT, so I am missing our everyday chats using Yahoo. However, hope to talk with her today on Skype. Aren't these new freecall sites just wonderful. I hardly ever use the telephone anymore and when I do, I use the lowcost numbers we have here instead of high priced Telekom.

Here are the pictures I included in the few cards I did write.














CW and JS
Christmas 2004 in Braunfels Germany




Cass and Alanna

Son Chris is home safe and sound and Cass is one happy girl. I keep the Mothers of soldiers still overseas somewhere close to my heart this season and count my blessings that he made it home safely.

I will post again after Christmas