My new toy

Yesterday I got a new toy that I hopefully will be able to build up by the weekend. It is a Jamis T1 triathlon frame and this is what it looks like so far with the Xentis Mark1 TT wheels on it. :-)

Why Obama versus Clinton

Check out this video by Lawrence Lessig on why he supports Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. According to Lessig, Obama conducts himself with more character and integrity than Clinton. It is very interesting to listen to and words such as "Rovean Democrats" hit home hard.



Thank you John Jones

Go Barack go

It looks like the momentum is finally going the right way. As a resident alien I actually can't vote, but I want to give my support to Barack Obama as I believe he is the man who can take this country to a new level.

As I said, I can't make my vote count, but you can. Do your duty and vote.

The costumes of the Rottweiler Fasnet

There are several different characters among the roughly 6,500 total costumes.

The Narrenengel leads the parade and there is only one



The Biss is a male figure and the counterpart to the Gschell (worn mostly by males as it is very heavy)



The Gschell is considered a female figure (worn by females and males)



Two Federhannes in action (worn by males and females, but mostly by males)



Schantle with child Schantle



The Schantle figure is usually a costume for an older person and comes in all kinds of colors and fabrics (worn by males and females)



There is only one Schiermeiers Guller



Fransenkleidle with child Fransenkleidle (A female costume typically worn by females)



One of eight Benner Roessle (Two herders with wips try to control an out of control horse)



Plus here you can see some of the costumes of the Rottweiler Narrensprung in action



And I am actually "featured" in this clip from the 2008 Tuesday afternoon parade

Rottweiler Fasnet

Before my dad died he was very excited that I would wear his Rottweiler Fasnet costume (Rottweil Carnival costume) and he told my mom about all the things I would need on those 2 days. In his honor I decided that I would take part despite his recent death, because I knew in my heart that is what he would have wanted. So here are a few impressions of the first day.

I am arriving there at 7:30 to get my Rottweiler Fasnet 2008 card stamped for insurance reasons



As far as the eye can see there are "Narros" getting ready for this parade



It is now almost 9:30am and there are still lots folks who are waiting to go



Ok, we are almost through the "Black Door" and from then on it is mask down



This is how the spectators see the parade and the various costumes when they come by



Finally, here I am a few hours later at the end of the parade with the mask still on my face

Opa

Recently I had a chance to spend time with my Opa (grandad) in Germany who is an incredible 94 years old. He is fit and very spunky and only his eyesight is slowing him down a bit. Tomorrow I'll be seeing him and several other relatives again in his hometown of Rottweil.

The witches have been liberated

In Southern Germany the crazy Fasnet time has started and in my hometown in Ostrach they liberated the witches on Wednesday evening. The witches showed that they are ready for multiple days of partying by dancing around and jumping through a big fire.


Here they are indeed jumping through the fire




They also picked up one of their own on their brooms and dropped that witch into the fire

Cloverfield blows

I watched the much hyped and guerrilla marketed Cloverfield movie with friends on Saturday night and it was a waste of time and money. The crappy previews for other movies should have been a heads up as to who the target audience was, but we ignored these warnings and sat through the complete 80 minutes or so. We thought that maybe we were just too old, but several teenagers and folks in their twenties booed at the end of the movie, and the faces of the audience spoke volumes. "Cloverfield blows no matter how old you are."

Detroit Auto Show

I feel a bit guilty that I am not excited about a very cool new energy saving car, but this Mazda just looks too amazing. So I am excited about it.




Pics © core77.com

My new toy

While Amy is all and everything I really wanted for Christmas, I still appreciated the Garmin I found under the Christmas tree courtesy of Amy.

As you look closer at the screen shot of that beautiful new Garmin, you may notice that the correct vehicle is actually featured on the screen. :-)

Papa

Ich vermisse dich schon sehr und werde dich auch immer in meinen Gedanken haben. Schaue doch auch immer wieder mal vom Himmel herab und zwinkere mir zu.

Animals are not clowns

I wouldn't consider myself a radical animal rights activist, but have refused to go to a circus since I was a child. Well, I have been to several Cirque Du Soleil shows, but they do not have any animal acts in their shows.

The coolest, most down to earth

I wouldn't call myself a big basketball fan, but Steve Nash has got to be the coolest, most down to earth big time sports athlete ever.

Always wear your helmet

Below is a very fine example why you should always wear a helmet when riding a bike.

Eric's 15 minutes of fame

My friend Eric's Fox wagon is currently featured in a new VW advertising campaign. Very nice my friend.

Christmas in South Carolina

Amy and her Dad looking suave



Georgia, Chuck (with Simon), Amy, Amy and Ron (with Boo) ready for Christmas eve church



Amy's mom was happy about our visit and her gifts



Grandmama Georgia is such an amazing person



Amy and I got some nice pics among many other great gifts



Here I am with my Christmas booty



We also spent time with the Herins in Charleston



Despite the holidays, Boo is not too happy about visitors



Flora on the other hand was quite friendly



Simon was visiting too



Wheezy was asleep most of the time while visiting SC

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas / Froehliche Weihnachten

Communication is key

When ordering something for a special event it is always recommended to communicate clearly what you want. Plus of course it is equally important to make sure the company/person you order from understands exactly what you are saying and what you desire.

Otherwise you might have an interesting surprise like this cake ordered from a Walmart bakery.



I assume the conversation in the Walmart Bakery went something like this.

Walmart Employee: "Hello, how can we help you"
Customer: "I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week."
Walmart Employee: "What do you want written on the cake?"
Customer: "Best Wishes Suzanne" and underneath that "We will miss you".
Walmart Employee: "Got it."

It's looking a lot like Christmas

About a week ago when we left Hot Springs, VA there was a lot of snow on the ground and for a while it even looked like we might be stuck there. By about 1pm we decided to give it ago and Amy took a picture of me focusing on the snowy roads. It certainly looked a lot like Christmas.

My way or the highway

Dr. Kevin Ade, a veterinarian at Middle Valley Animal Hospital in Hixson, TN lives on Pope Creek Road near Highway 11. He has several dogs that have attacked and chased runners and cyclists on Pope Creek Road, and after a few folks who got bitten filed complaints with the local police, Ade came up with an interesting solution. Warn the cyclists, because keeping the dogs on a leash or within an electric fence would really infringe to much on his own rights. Plus if you run there, you're shit out of luck.

Plus since Dr. Ade apparently knows that his dogs are out of control should he not be worried about the safety of his dogs too? Or does he truly just care about himself?

Inconsiderate parkers

Right in front of the new Greenlife grocery store and the new Rock Creek Outfitters location, there are several parking spots set aside for pregnant moms and also for low emission vehicles (LEV). Each of these parking spots is very clearly marked but apparently either people can't read, don't understand what Low Emission Vehicles are, or are basically super inconsiderate folks.

Here are a few pics of some of these inconsiderate parkers.

A unique online shopping experience

The Dutch company Hema has a very creative website where online shopping becomes a unique experience.

Pimping it in Virginia

I went with Amy to Hot Springs, Virginia for a few days and on Tuesday night we got to go attend a black tie event. I love dressing up and I think Amy and I look great together all pimped up. :-)