Category Family

Who Needs Grammar?

Many years ago, I had some friends who moved to an Arabic speaking country to open a business. That meant learning the language. I don’t remember much of what they used to say about that country, but I do remember the pronouncement that “Arabic is stinking hard,” a sentence with I would nod appreciatively but […]

Comfort Food

My son came for a visit last week. I assumed one of the reasons was to enjoy some of my cooking. Why else leave sunny Rome for cloudy Sulzburg? I asked if there was anything he would particularly like, and he said no, which left it up to me.   I enjoy cooking. It’s partly […]

The Kids On The Bus (Cultural Differences X)

When I was a child there were no school buses in our neighborhood; we had to walk to school. My mother tells me I was insistent on walking alone on my first day of kindergarten. I had not yet turned five. Supposedly she trailed me at a distance to ensure my safe arrival. Unnecessary really […]

Thought For The Day

It’s not me. But to keep peace in the family I’m not going to say who it is. Maybe it is you.

Succumbing To Click Bait

Sometimes technology scares me. Not so much the machines themselves, but what can be done with them. For my first couple of months in Germany I didn’t bother to change the time on my computer. It seemed unnecessary. Maybe it was a coping mechanism as I adjusted to this new reality. Eventually though I set […]

The Nativity Set

Today is the second Sunday of the Advent season, the day we light the second candle on the Advent wreath. I should be able to tell you what that candle signifies, but I can’t off the top of my head. When I was growing up my family didn’t do anything special for Advent. Probably had […]

Christmas Market in Lippstadt II

Just a few photo impressions today. If you need words, try yesterday’s post.  

Christmas Market in Lippstadt

I have visited Lippstadt before, but always in the warmer weather. I didn’t know what to expect of their Christmas market.  We had already visited the Advent Market held in the little town of Laufen, an event that matched the town for size. It was pouring rain and I didn’t take any pictures. Nor was […]

Advent 2017

It is that time of year again. Time to put op the tree and decorations in anticipation of Christmas. We won’t have a Christmas tree this year, I don’t think. I am sure i could go into the Black Forest and cut one down (though that is probably illegal), but then I would have to […]

The Mini Golf Course

Real estate agents have a mantra: “Location! Location! Location!” When choosing where to live it is always important to consider the local amenities. How close is your prospective home to churches, schools, shopping, transit, recreation and a myriad of other options? Each of us shuffles the list into different priorities. I never considered putting the […]