Incoherent Scribblings

Odds n’ Ends

So I tried really hard when I went downtown today to observe something that would be blog-worthy. Unfortunately, I didn’t have too much luck.

I saw a really cute guy of about 20 on the train in his traditional “Lederhosen” on his way to Oktoberfest. He was really tan, had thick dark brown hair, and extremely clear skin. I thought about making a pass at him, then I remembered: 1.) I am married. 2.) He was way too young for me! (Eek! When did that happen?!)

Speaking of Oktoberfest, I think this is the last weekend for it. I am not completely sure as I haven’t been to one since the first year I was here. When you don’t drink beer, Oktoberfest is only marginally interesting…

Then when I was riding the escalator an old man behind me complemented me on the color of my hair. Just when I was about to say thank you, he asked me if it was my natural color! I am used to that from women, and I always secretly enjoy telling them that my color does not come from a bottle, but men don’t ask me that too often.

Otherwise, I spent today getting ready to leave on my trip tomorrow and finished my 10 hour rotation on “Cat in Garden.” I have worked through my existing pieces and am ready to start a new one.

I have a smallish kit that I bought a while back that is my Zodiac Sign (Gemini) and I think that I will take it with me on my trip. Sometimes I take cross-stitch with me when I go places and sometimes I don’t. However, since A. has to do some work on this trip, I may actually have a little time to stitch.

The interesting thing about this kit is that is Danish (or perhaps Swedish) I am not sure… the word “Gemini” on it is “Tvillingarna” and that is not German. (Help me out fellow expats… is it Danish, Swedish, or something else?) In German, “Gemini” is “Zwillinge.”

It came with a really neat gold-glitter hoop for framing and also contains an alphabet, so I can stitch my own words. I may do it like I do the English/German Fruit Series and put both the English and German word on it. We’ll see. Thus far I haven’t examined it close enough to know whether or not both words will fit.

Anyway, the blog will probably be kind of quiet the next few days, but when I get back I will have a report (and pics!) of my trip.

As Tigger would say, “TTFN - Ta Ta For Now!”

Quiz Time!

David Hasselhof - Rock Star?

When I was studying in Paris ten years ago, I had a little clock-radio that I listened to in my no-frills dorm room. I had a Discman (I was on the cutting edge back then!), but I have always liked listening to the radio and it really improved my language skills to listen to those French DJs.

The station I listened to was a random pop station that, for the most part, played awful music. However, they also played a whole lot of French pop music. I didn’t think about it at the time, but a couple of months ago I read that The Voice of America was encountering problems in France because of a rule that a certain percentage (around 50%) of every broadcast must be in French.

I didn’t follow up on the story, but today I read that some German politicians want to introduce a bill that would require something like that here. (article) Apparently, only about 10% of music played on the radio here in Germany is actually in German.

I don’t doubt it. I don’t listen to the radio much these days, but when I was listening to Bayern 3 (I have a crappy clock-radio that barely gets any station) a few months ago, I very seldom heard a song in German… mostly they just played crappy American pop or hip-hop.

I think that is too bad. I have discovered some pretty decent German bands that sing in German and think it would be doing everyone a favor if more bands like these had success here in Germany.

I mean seriously… I read that one of the biggest music personalities ever imported from the US to Germany is David Hasselhof!! Now, if that fact isn’t just screaming out for some native musicians to have some success here then I don’t know what is!

SBQOTW

And now, for the Stitching Blogger’s Question of the Week:

Would you or have you designed your own cross stitch design? If you have can we see it?

Yes I have.

The thing that motivated me to begin stitching again last year was that I wanted to make Christmas presents for my family. At that time I hadn’t located very many stitching supplies in Germany and couldn’t find the patterns I was looking for online. (e.g. free and very small - I was doing fingertip towel borders … Never fear! I have located tons of free patterns online since then.)

In addition to that, I had a specific theme in mind for my step-sister; a sea theme. I was feeling creative and had some graph paper so, I designed some little motifs.

However, in the end none of these designs made it to the towel I stitched my step-sister. Instead, I designed a repeating dolphin pattern for her towel.

In addition to that, I have also designed a couple of small pieces for myself.

And finally, I have also designed some charts that I have never gotten around to stitching. Someday… someday…

A Little Holiday

On Friday, we will be leaving for almost a week to visit eastern Germany: specifically, we will be going to Chemnitz, Freiberg, and Dresden.

A. has something related to work to do for part of the time in Chemnitz and since I have wanted to visit Dresden ever since we came to Germany, I am tagging along.

I don’t know too much about Chemnitz, but I visited their online tourist office today and the town looks quite nice and offers some walking tours that I am planning on doing while A. is doing his thing.

We are going to Freiberg, a mining town since Medieval times, as part of activities planned for the group that will be in Chemnitz, and that should be very cool. We visited the Salt Mines in Salzburg a year or so ago and I loved them.

Dresden is just a stop that we are planning since we will be in the neighborhood. The main thing I want to see there is the world-famous Opera House, but from what I understand there are lots of other neat things there too.

Look for photos from my trip soon!