More library characters

Mrs. Mouth-off = She's that customer who always has something to complain about. She's never satisfied. I want to stuff her mouth with oversize books, then kick her out the door.

Sena = A little two-year-old who knows the library as if she's worked here in another life. She strolls in, surveys the kids' room, and then strolls right on over to the kids' movies.

The Marco = Cute middle school teacher. Very courteous, tall. I guess I kind of have a crush on him.

Mr. WWE = The loudest customer I've ever heard in my life. But the coolest too. He recently shared that he's waiting for his replica of the WWE Championship belt to arrive in the mail. "What are you going to do with it?" I ask. "Wear it around the house, of course," he replies. Funny guy and tattooed like crazy!

Stay tuned for more library characters.

Two birds are better than one.

This is dedicated to my sister Carla because she loves birds so much. I miss you, Car! When I whistle-talk in the house, no one whistle-talks back.

Weekend

My weekend was very fulfilling. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I did the following things.

I watched Miracle on 34th Street, Annie, Cinderella Man, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, On Golden Pond, The Polar Express, West Side Story, and the Star Wars trilogy.

I read The Bridges of Madison County, a biography of Booker T. Washington, and three issues of Cosmopolitan. By the way, I've decided I hate that magazine because it's the same content every month but in different words. Plus it makes me feel huge compared to the women in it.

And each day I went to the gym; 45 minutes on the cross-trainer and 15 minutes lifting weights.

I did not clean. I did not do laundry. Or dust, vacuum, mop, or tidy up.

Tonight I'll make myself soft tacos for dinner.

BAM!

Times x

I told Carla the other day that I was going to miss her when she leaves. "I'm going to miss you times a million, Car."

Her response? "I'm going to miss you too. Times zero!"

Ah, sisterly love.

Oh, tree so ugly

This is one of the ugliest trees I've ever seen. But then again, it is winter. Perhaps you are more beautiful in spring, Tree. I'll be back to visit you then.

Living in Germany

I pass by this automobile each time I go to work. Carla finally agreed to stand by it so that it's easy to see just how tiny it is. I bet if I tried just a little, I could turn it over on its side. Just a thought.

Carla phone home. This is the typical phone booth in Germany.

I love the way Germans are so environment-friendly. Here is Carla disposing weisglas (white glass), braunglas (brown glass), and grunglas (green glass).

Soon it will be Auf Wiedersehen (goodbye) for Carla; she leaves on Friday. :(

News news

I try to keep up-to-date with world news, but sometimes I'm more interested in vegging out in front of the TV watching the fourth season of The Shield or Project Runway or The Gauntlet II.

So here's my plug to stay in touch with the real world. Read the International Herald Tribune. Go Team Read!

Sad news

I just learned my boss is resigning in March. I'm so sad. Excuse me while I weep.

Ad in base paper

Things to do

1. balance checkbook
2. get eyebrows waxed
3. stop biting fingernails
4. iron
5. prepare library budget
6. send postcards/check my mailbox
7. go to the gym
8. organize digital pictures
9. fix office
10. buy taco stuff
11. file personal papers
12. read
13. water plants
14. make doctor's appointment
15. make dental appointment

Think color

I'm thinking color today because it is the gloomiest day ever here in Germany.

We've got dense fog, icey roads, gray skies, bare trees, dirty cars, dirty snow, slippery steps, and cold temperatures.

Here's hoping it's more colorful in your area.

You want ME to do it?

One of the things I dislike is being in the spotlight.

Today I had to give a Library tour to a group of Girl Scouts. It was a small group of eight girls each at the age of six. But I was still nervous as hell. I realize that they're only children--harmless and innocent. I just don't enjoy being the hostess or speaker of such events. I had to do it because I was short-staffed today.

I'm more of a behind-the-scenes type of person. I'll support any projects at my work. I'll write a report, catalog items, answer reference questions, show someone how to use the databases, interview employees. I just hate being the sole speaker in front of a group. I prefer one-on-one interaction.

I don't know why I'm like this. Well, I guess I do know. You see, I'm bashful. I swear. I was even voted Most Bashful in high school.

In February, I'm teaching a class (of adults!) how to use the library databases, and I'm already getting anxious. I know it's part of my job, there should be nothing to it. I just hate being in the spotlight.

I need to grow out of it already.

Do you get nervous speaking in front of groups too?

Switzer-food

Chocolate--one of my favorite things in the world.

I'll never desert dessert.

Is that the smallest carton of eggs you've ever seen, or what?

A Swiss old time

Lion Monument"The dying Lion of Lucerne" is one of the world's most famous monuments. It was carved out of natural rock in memory of the heroic deaths of the Swiss mercenaries at the Tuileries in 1792. Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world".

Bird Soup

Soldiers

Swiss me off my feet, please.

The polizei were present, and this one made Carla and I melt like fondue! :)

McDrive

Once in a while, I actually crave McDonald's. However, the experience is slightly different being that I go through McDrive and not the drive-thru.

Luzern, say what?

Tomorrow Carla and I are taking a trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. Stay tuned for pictures and thoughts.

SNOW!

It's a cry for SNOW!

Whoever wrote this on the lawn next to the clinic: I'm with you, man!

Oh, foggy day

It's been really foggy here in my parts. And the snow on the twigs look like they're hanging on for dear life, unwilling to fall to the ground. Spooky.

Pain in the brain

In the past two days, I have had this mild pain in the right side of my brain. It's not behind my eye or the back of my head; it's in the right side of my brain. Lasts for just a second, then disappears. Is it a headache? Is it just part of aging? Is it stress? But I'm not stressed. Carla says it's cancer. Brain cancer. Thanks, Car. I can always count on you for a diagnosis.

R-ball

This kind of thing irritates me.

Is it racquetball or racquet ball?

Either way, I am the Racketball Champ in the Carla vs. Raquel Tournament.

(Merriam-Webster says it's racquetball.)

Mmmm-mmmm-good

Blessing

"God, bless this house and the year 2006."

That's what the writing in chalk on my front door says. Every new year, German children dress up as the three wise kings, go door to door, and mark your home with this writing. Any donation you give them is given to charity.

I had learned about this tradition last February and was happy to see that my home has been included. Unfortunately, I wasn't present when they stopped by.

Let's hope it works.

Fake can be pretty.

Fake,
but
still
pretty
to
me.
You
likey
too?
No
no
drama.
No
no
no
no
drama.

Bubbly bubbles

This is one of my top three favorite pictures in the entire world. It was taken on Easter Day in Fairfax, Virginia in 2003. Khayleb was almost two years old here. I post this because not only does it have Khayleb in it, but I remember being healthy and feeling good that year. Even my hair was bubbly.

Bubbles rock.

To Marxie

Congratulations to Marxie, son to my sister Zina. He graduated from intermediate class and will now move on to advanced. Woof-woof, Marxie!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Say these to me, and I'll laugh.

Dost thou have Pepto-Bismol on thee?

She hates you. Times a million.

He lookie like, like a man.

She's a witch with a b.

A talk with myself

Whoa, lady! What's all this moving around? What? What? We won three out of three games of racquetball against Carla last night? Yeah, Boo! Rather, Boo-yeah!

No wonder there have been tingles throughout our bod. You're waking up muscles that have been in hibernation for who knows how long. What? What? We've lost two pounds? That's what I'm talking about.

Treadmill? Cross-trainer? Oh, those are our new friends? Okay, I can deal.

What? What? When Carla eventually returns to the States, we're going to continue exercising? Okay, copy that.

I love you, Raquel. And thank you for taking care of us.

Wein (wine)

Dear Mom: Bad news--that bottle you see in the picture is empty; Carla drank all of it in one night while watching Gilmore Girls. Good news--she stopped smoking. :-)

Cola light

Cola light means Diet Coke. Had I not moved to Europe, I probably would never have known that. I'll have a Cola light with my fiesta plate, please.

Cochem

Carla and I had a lovely day despite the gloomy weather.

That's-ah-me.

A castle with a view

Cochem Castle

Mosel River

A view of the Mosel River taken at Cochem Castle. (Does it give you an idea of how far up we had to walk?)

Ice Smoothie

Last adventure 2005

My last adventure for 2005 was to ice-skate for the first time. They say skating comes back to you just like riding a bike, but it wasn't so for me. The longest I went without hanging on to the side was 20 seconds. I'm willing to give it another try in 2006. Carla, on the other hand, was an Ice Smoothie.

Happy New Year, People!

Trier @ 4:43 pm

I just loved this shot.

How much is that kitty in the window

Too much. I'm a kiddy person, not a kitty person.