Celebrity Sightings

There is much to update the world of ChrisinthewestofEurope followers on, however I have deemed it of the utmost importance to address the 3 famous stars I saw on my way back to the boat today. Now, if I can just get these seagulls to shut up I could concentrate, kus I forget the third one. Anywho, the first was Johnny Cash, in his older years, 50s I guess, not the youngster portrayed so aptly by J. Phoenix in "Walk the Line". The second was a hobbit, and since I've never seen the real thing before today, I can't say for sure which one, but if the costume people did an accurate job for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, then I would have to say I saw Bilbo. I also saw him last night at a bookstore by the way. (Photo compliments of Obi) First I thought small homeless, possibly gay dude, but perhaps the simplistic nature of hobbits lends them to looking naturally poor and homeless in our world. I do say though, there was really an aura emanating from him that is no doubt a direct result of his ridding himself of the burden of the ring that night after the birthday party. (I cannot believe he even surprised Gandalf!!!)

And now for the third celebrity spotted in the old town of Nurnberg, once center of the HRE. (Damn seagulls!!) Well I saw a Hulk Hogan look-alike in the locker room last night, but there was someone today... well it is going to have to be continued, i have to catch a train.

The Day of the Pigeon

Last night someone asked me why it said pigeon on my wrist. Caught off guard, I looked down in confusion, only to remember instantly that it was I who penned the word in blue ink, that is now smudged, on the inside of my left wrist. And now that I am here, I am fulfilling the goal I had in mind when I first wrote the word; to write about the pigeon I saw during class on Friday.

The week seemed like a long one. A lot of information going into my head. It was my second full week, after we started with only a 4-day week due to a holiday. I am still unaware what that holiday was. Actually, it was Labor Day. Erste Mai. I remember studying American Labor and learning of an American Labor Day on May 1 as well, but for some reason we now celebrate that day in early September, and as a student, the significance it had for me was the signaling of a new school year. In Deutschland, and maybe the rest of Europe, they celebrate holidays exactly on that date. I think this practice helps in holding on to the tradition of why that particular day is a special day. In America, with a few exceptions, we always make the celebration day(no work or school!!!) of a holiday on a Monday or Friday so it is more convenient for people I guess.

If the week seemed long, this day seemed even longer. I guess the everlasting cloud cover of the week and of that Friday were some of the culprits. At any rate, I noticed a pigeon, a bird that I have come to disdain since moving here, bobbing its little head around on a ledge across the way. It seemed like a weird place for it to be hanging around. Usually they are hanging around the streets waiting for food or trash to pick through. The idiots here really enjoy tossing a pretzel arm, or a Nurnberger bratwurst to them. I have even seen scattered birdseed out the back door of some restaurants obviously intended for the flying rats. Let's just say, feeding these kind of animals became a practice I do not agree with after my last job. Although, I don't mind a nice bird feeder in the backyard- depending on where you live.

I saw the pigeon carrying a long piece of grass, or perhaps the dried stem of a dead flower in its beak. She then took it to the edge and dropped it. Weird, I thought. Then I paid attention to the lesson again, but kept my peripherals on alert. Then came the pigeon again, with another long piece of organic mater in her mouth again. And once again, dropped. I couldn't see the ground from where I was seated, but as I was on the 4th floor, 5th floor to all you Americans in the crowd, I guess it was a pretty long fall. I saw the pigeon repeat the action one more time, then fly down. After that the story continues in my head. I imagined it then went and found the things 5 stories down for a nest somewhere. Must either have good eyes or a lot of time to bob around trying to find the pieces it chose.

Experiment.

You know when you have an mp3 player, ipod, if you will, and you get bored of the music on there? Well, if you don't know this feeling of ennui, I do. And, in case you do not, I will tell you a little about it now and a possible solution to the aforementioned problem.

So, with 2 ipods in the rotation now, thanks to the good Doctor, and to the one whom some of my former colleagues referred to as my fiancee, one is used for workout use exclusively, and the other for all music types and videocasts and movies. While the movies take up a lot of space, even after your girlfriend has magically made them smaller, they are extremely helpful for those long overseas flights or short domestic flights with crappy, or no movies. They are also very handy when you are sick as a dog, bundled up in your sleeping bag like a caterpillar whilst the wind whips cold rain and ice crystals at your face in the middle of the night and dark at Dead Horse State Park.

To the ennui. So the music at McFit is no good. Sure, they play a good tune from time to time, but not enough for me to go ipodless. Even so, soft music, and hearing always the same stuff can drive a man crazy. Therefore, as of yesterday I have renovated the workout ipod to not just contain 1 run/workout mix, but to have the entire library workout ready. I have deleted all the soft songs, although 1 did sneak up on me yesterday. Now I can simply shuffle songs on the whole device, and with the newly added songs containing much 'energy', it is like a whole new world. I once tried working out with the other one, but I guess my choice to support the cause of breast cancer research by purchasing the pink armband has backfired, and is maybe actually just for the ladies. A little too small when the biceps get going.

The experiment. To see if this lasts, or will I, in time, become bored of the new music selection. And at that point, I am really sure that I'll remember to let you know. Probably not.

A lot of Chickens

Well, I know a lot of people were betting against it, but I have now eaten a bowlful of chicken hearts twice in as many weeks. If I would have discovered that you could be a package full of chicken hearts before, it would have been a lot more. Still, somehow I feel weird sitting down with a bowl full of little cooked chicken hearts in front of me. I remember one time in college I found "Chicken hearts and lungs" at the local supermarket, and there were only a few hearts in there. what a rip. Anyway, the last couple minutes were heavenish.
In other news, After 2 official weeks of Deutsch lessons, I seem to be coming around. I would say I am a better student than speaker right now. I guess I need some more practical experience. The class is compromised of 2 Americans aside from me, 2 Iraqis, 1 Croat, 2 Russians, and 1 Italian, and 1 Indian. Besides myself and the Russians, no one else seems to be grasping the whole idea of the course. There are some who must have been living here for awhile and speak some kind of part German, part their own language and part mumbling. For example, the many, many Turkish people around speak a made up form of German. When I hear it, I sometimes wonder how much acting out these people must do in order to get through a whole day communicating with others. Do they ever really understanding what others' are saying?? No idea.
After a lovely weekend with a lucky lady, I will get to work now on my homework, then catching up on some crossies, with the possibility of some review of other tongues and a necklace creating session.
In closing, I would like to suggest Last.fm for all you who are bored of the songs form their music library you hear over and over again. It is a pandora type deal, and personally, I like it because, for one, I am getting a good dose of 90's music that I thought was gone forever. The link will be on the page here somewhere.