B L O G E N S P I E L

STALEMATE

2010-03-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

MY FAVORITE TIME TO PAINT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

2009-07-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I shared a room with my twin sister. We shared the same room for 17 years strait. After so long- its only a matter of time that change needed to be administered. But because another bedroom wasn't an option, and we weren't yet old enough to move out, we had to make change within our own four walls. Thus became the ever-changing living quarters that was our bedroom.

I can't count the amount of times that we decided to rearrange or alter our room. but when we did- it was in the middle of the night on a school night, or the day before leaving for family vacation. The point is, when either of us ever had a hankering for change, we couldn't wait till the next day, or a more opportune time. We'd be dragging furniture across the room as quietly as possible, opening gallons of fresh paint and pulling out the ladder- hoping we wouldn't wake mom.

The other night, I had a night like this. It was the last night I would spend seeing a white wall stare back at me from my bed. Me versus wall... and I was going to win. I didn't have paint, and all the stores were well closed. But i did have coffee. Ive never done it myself, but ive heard of cofeestaining before- and i thought that it was just the look that i needed. I'd say that tea could give a similar rustic look and feel, but it was a bit too orangy/ yellow for my taste.

The warm brown that a strong brew of coffee left on the walls was the quick and cheap alteration that i needed. And the scent of coffee filled the room - just like the anticipation of change did that initially urged me to paint. in the middle. of . the . night.

BY REQUEST:

2009-06-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

this is a bike. kinda a dorky bike, but to get around- its not so bad!
this is a bunch of american food that got delivered to my house the other day. a family i babysit for very generously gave us all of their food before moving back to the states.

shoes. i bought these in vienna - they are fuzzy, and they were only 8 euro!

here is my new sewing machine! also free. (like the food) i really love it

a bag i made with the sewing machine. its called the: dri-stitch tee-shirt bag! haha. i made it just with 3 lines of stitching- including a lining. how schoen!

beth asked me to take a photo of a bag i just made out of a t-shirt-
myself- my new bike, and just anything i wanted to show off- :) so just some pics

ASLEEP TOO LATE, AWAKE TOO EARLY

2009-06-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

A club's closing party. A 'cool- NY-80's-Hip-hop styled' doorguy, wearing sunglasses at night. A secret room with plenty of coke. Exclusivity is their slogan. Music not in all rooms. Weak sound system. 2 dj's- is their strong point. Old, vintage house- in the midst of gritty east berlin- takes too long to get to- and only can arrive by tram. Stuffed trams. Filled with colored mohawks and beer, dogs, and the oder of stale cigarettes on the jacket standing next to you. -being on the guestlist made it a bit easier to swallow. Its not so bad its closing.

ACUPUNCTURE MOXA & ME

2009-06-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today, I had an appointment with an acupuncture specialist. Well not exactly... As it turns out, there are a ton of benefits that go along with babysitting.

1. Its off the books. Therefore, I can continue being an illegal alein (although im not illegal... just working illegally)

2. All of my friends are under 5 or over 30- therefore, have stable, well paying jobs, that I can sometimes reap the benefits of.. or can run around and play hide-and-go-seek with.

3. There are various gift that I receive by knowing these families. ie: my full size bed came from one family, free; my new sewing machine, a gift; tons of dinner invites; v.i.p. tickets for basketball games; and now, today, we add to the list: acupuncture.

SO> back to the topic. yes, acupuncture and moxa are forms of eastern medicine/practice. no, they arent used for voodoo or satanist ceremony- well maybe they are- i'm no expert. But the point is, i got a few needles stuck in me today, at various crucial points of my hand, releasing bad spirits and ghosts and goblins, and then- i am healthy for the latter of my life! hehe, no but in all seriousness, im a fan of non-pharmaceutical, mind-over-matter, herbal, alternative forms of medicine. Just like my grandma-ma's and great grandparents' involvement with Christian Science.

OH MONSTERS

2009-06-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

saw this one on tv today..

CLIMATE CHANGE< CHANGE OF MIND

2009-06-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

If there is, in fact, global warming, or any other climate changing force, I have to change my expectations in order to keep the disappointments to a minimum. If our modern calender says it is 'summer' - we expect that it will be sunny, warm, and a season for the beach and swimsuits. Today, and days before, have proven otherwise- both in Berlin, and in Chicago- and Im sure the list doesnt stop there. So I'm proposing we change the calender as we know it- and take note of the everchanging, and unpredictable weather system. We should abolish the idea of 'seasons' in a linear sense.. and create a school of thought that allows for sudden and abrubt alterations in daily weather. No longer will there be spring fashion lines, or summer sales, instead all stores will carry clothes for nearly any weather occasion. Full winter jumpsuits, next to the bakini section, sunglasses next to the ponchos, and sweatpants next to the gasmasks- incase another airbourn pandemic shows face. i will take it day by day- and today feels like the last day of fall- so I will sport my wool brown jacket, accompanied by my orange beanie, and have my bakini on underneath just incase the weather decides to shift by nightfall. April Flowers brings May June July showers with a good chance of hail....

New News

2009-06-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

New things i have, Materialism, aned changes that you would otherwise know nothing about, considering the miles (kilometers) we are apart.

MIDDLE ASH BLONDE HAIR DYE Welp, probably no one was aware of the recent red color i tried for my hair, it was horrible at first, great after a few days, and then I got tired of trying to match my hair with my outfits. So- here it is, back to brown- it is called "middle ash blonde" I like it. Its a refreshing, cool take on my usual fiery experiments...

YAKS TEETH NECKLACE

Although this is not very 'Berlin' nor was it even made in Germany, I cant help but to snag up any decorative ornamant made from animal remains- I am a strong advocate for utilizing every part of an animal that is killed- Unless it was killed strictly for that purpose.... of course... I think I am a decendant of a Native Indian Tribe.. OH- AND- i recently had to cook a whole chicken- take it apart, clean out its insides, and ick, unhinge its joints for a boy i was babysitting... almost passed out. I was just thankful I didnt have to behead it or de-feather the poor little thing. (oh, and i almost kept the wishbone, but really couldnt bring myself to taking him apart anyfurther...)

KHAKI PANT

They look a bit like baseball pants, with a fancy twist to em, but this recent purchase was made in hopes to have something to go with my blue and other colorful shirts. Last I checked Blue Jeans and Blue shirts just is too monocramatic for my taste- and Blue jeans with any vibrant color is a bit too colorful for my extremely particular, sense of style...

CLICK ON THE FLICK TO SEE MAY

2009-05-31T15:49:00.001-07:00

HIBERNATION IS OVER>

2009-04-20T02:19:00.000-07:00

The winter was rough... I bet not as bad as Chicago's... but, it was still low. Seasonal depression, not wanting to venture outdoors even for a good event, colds, eating a lot of soup, baking and baking and baking for some warmth in the kitchen and in the belly, and the like. I wont say i hate winter. I don't even 'dislike' the season- but after a while, the cold hits you- and the snow becomes less of a luxury and just another barrier to dodge on my way to work or school. Oh, and Senioritis mixed with the wintry elements just made it that much harder to finish school! Class? Id rather sleep. Snuggle in the warmth of the apartment.

But now, now, its warm, the air smells alive, and a breeze can be quite refreshing... it was worth the wait. Here are some flicks some outdoor adventures I was able to brave, now that spring is here!

Rooftop at the 'Soundcloud' office up the street from us- they had an open invite for breakfast barbeque- which of course went on till the evening- good time to lay out in the sun and enjoy a nice becks, or bionade in my case. Hanging out in a really large park in Kreuzberg called Victoria Park. Babysitting has really brought me to alot of parks and playgrounds- ive probably been to about 15 thus far... lol

And in the same neighborhood (Kreuzberg), there is a turkish street market twice a week- good for fabrics, and veggies mainly- but there is a pic of a basketballhoop and bags and bags of tees availiable there.

There is a district called Erkner, outside of berlin. Its one of those places that would confuse people when you mention it- "why did you go there?"
Well the weather was nice, and Ike and I were up for an adventure- so we went the absolute farthest we could east on the Berlin city trains (BVG). Our initial hope was to see some former east Berlin destruction, huge, abandoned buildings, industrial ruins... and history that has been lost in the city due to new constructions. We saw none of that. Erkner was interesting. The ride out there was like a Metra ride out to Plainfield. Big houses, suburbia, and lots of land. Take a look.

I MOVED TO BERLIN 6 MONTHS AGO, AND JUST NOW BECAME A TOURIST.

2009-04-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

A friend visited the city, and he wanted to see those sites he's heard of- and cover as much territory as possible in the short week he had here. And, if you don't have endless months to just stumble upon those sites.... being a tourist is the only other option. Unfortunatly, with being a tourist, comes crowds, lines, and other annoying tourists.

I thought I'd make a postcard- me, traveling in the city- checking those sites that guide books classify as "must see" attractions, and spend a bit of time getting to know the history behind this once divided city. This adventure and interest began 6 months after my arrival. Six months after becoming part of the city. And I wonder if Id ever have done it if I hadnt got a visitor!

I came here and became one who is looked at by the tourists, not one of the tourists. I suppose I felt I didn't need such an introduction and determined attitude to get to know the city. Since moving here, day by day, I discover new parts of the city, uncover secrets I've never even dreamed of imagining, and piece together the history of Berlin- Its my own unconventional self-led tour of Berlin-

MEET THE ROOMATES

2009-04-07T08:08:00.001-07:00

Max Von Senger on the left, Jakob Krueger on the Right. They adopted 2 Americans, and are quite a pair of characters- (as seen in image above) Max and I went to the same Uni, and Jakob goes to one is a far away place called Potsdam (not shown in diagram below- but just imagine a place further southwest)

We live in Mitte, and to give you a better idea of where that is, it is right where it says it is- 'middle'. All those little names are the equvielent to new york burrows, or chicago's 'neighborhoods, like little italy, or ukranian village. and here is my best attempt at coorelating each area with the neighborhoods of the chi:

mitte: loop
prenzlauerberg: wickerpark
wedding: rogerspark
kreuzberg: humboldt park
tiergarten: uptown
charlottenburg: lincoln park
wilmersdorf: oldetown
shoeneberg: andersonville mixed with pilsen
neukoelln: Southside mixed with west side mixed with pilsen

-but really.... they cant be compared... its just different.

and here is the massive train system! (click on it to enlarge)
its based on the 'honor system' primarily, although if you get caught without a ticket.... you get to pay a handsome fee of 40 euro :)

THE MEAN STREETS OF BERLIN

2009-04-06T03:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, a big city usually coincides with big violence- or calls for 'street smarts' I automatically watch my back, and make sure no one is following me in when I open my building's front door at night. Making sure my cell phone has enough juice to make it home, and even put my mean-'dont mess with me face' on when i am out by myself- but these routine precautions were learned in Chicago.

Berlin is different. And although I never felt super threatened in Chicago- there are places that you know not to go- and things you know to look out for. And stories youve heard, about rapes and muggings. And then there's Berlin. Berlin is like a big, gentle giant. I really don't have to do anyof that. ever. Now, this isn't to say that I let my guard down completely... but I mean walking down the street bymyself at 3:30 in the morning, almost anywhere in Berlin is just about as scary as walking down the yellow-brick-road in broad daylight... the worst that could happen is that i run into a stranger, that ends up wanting to be a friend, or find myself in a new and glorious place- like Emerald City.

heres the latest street-violence reported in berlin:

Jogger mugged by 7-year-old boy

Published: 30 Mar 09 09:05 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090330-18319.html

Police have returned a 7-year-old to his parents after the child mugged a teenage jogger in a Berlin park on Sunday afternoon.

The boy overcame the 17-year-old girl while she was jogging in the Wedding district, a police statement said. He hit and kicked her, then took her mobile phone and attempted to flee, but she held him down.

Witnesses observed the attack and held the boy until police arrived, the statement said.

“The officers conducted a disciplinary discussion with the boy and informed his parents of the event,” police said. “The responsible youth services office was also informed.”

The jogger was not injured.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What part of 'American food' is trendy exactly???

2009-03-24T03:26:00.000-07:00

Fri, 03/13/2009 - 2:00pm

OBAMA FINGERS' ON SALE IN GERMANY- (SPIEGEL ONLINE)

In an attempt to profit off Obamamania, a German company has created a new food: Obama-Fingers.

The packaging says the product is "tender, juicy pieces of chicken breast, coated and fried." A curry dip is included.

Putting the African-American president's name on fried chicken might not go over so well in the United States, but the company, Sprehe, said no racist overtones were intended. After the company's sales manager told Spiegel Online, "We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment," "Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like (Chancellor Angela) Merkel."

For Americans in Germany, though, there is a risk that the product might be seen as racially insensitive. Fried chicken has long been associated with African-Americans in the US -- naming strips of fried chicken after the first black president could cause some furrowing of brows.

Witting told SPIEGEL ONLINE the connection never even occurred to her. "It was supposed to be a homage to the American lifestyle and the new US president," she said.

Finger-licking good, anyone?

____________________________________________________________________

well, it may be offensive... but how the hell are the Germans supposed to know? all they know is that fried chicken comes from the states. Just like you think that everyone wears 'lederhosen' here. So if this actually makes someone angry--- these delicious, readymade, chicken strips available to Germans- are just one more thing that prove, that Americans are welcome here!

I'm more intrigued about the statement: 'American products and the American way of eating are trendy'-- what does that exactly mean? with the occasional exception here or there, I eat the same way these people do- i think- But perhaps its nice to know that there is, in fact, a culture forming for America...And if 'Obama Fingers' are 'American', then, im proud to be one.

BERLIN_POST-GRAD_BERLIN

2009-03-23T06:57:00.001-07:00

Graf. About a block from my flat

Well... i would love not to say this- but im lost.
perhaps i should look for a job in the photo industry.... considering . . . i just finished my degree- in PHOTO...but. really, id like to do other things. i often just spend 40 grand... to just go on and do other things....no, but in all seriousness- I suppose, Im better then a camera and some 2 dimentional work. I want to know more about science, more about technology, more about skateboarding, more about food-science, more about it all... Maybe i should become a scholar- get paid to go to school- until then....im still taking photos...

Ike. smiling. hackescher markt.
street tram

view out my window. i love the strings of buildings.
hackescher markt street view- lots of boutiques

more graf

CHICAGO COMRADES

2009-03-12T16:59:00.001-07:00

A SIMPLE EQUATION

2009-03-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

JENNY + OTTOMAN I SAW AT LUMINAIRE

IT JUST REMINDED ME OF HER HAIR SO MUCH!

MY CHICAGO TRIP

2009-03-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

So, this isnt really Berlin related, but i thought i should share anyway.

I went to the chi for my bros wedding. it was gorgeous. the bride was gorgeous.

2 years ago my brother Dave asked me to shoot photos of him eating nuts and bolts at the dinner table. I never did it, never got around to it- you know how these things go.

Anyways, He is the brother that got married, so I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to fulfill the request! I took the idea and thought id be great if i created a domestic/ post war, American dream themed photo series, where the wife is at home cooking and the husband out working hard as a laborer- as their wedding gift.

MUSIC vs. ART

2009-02-11T04:58:00.001-08:00

Everyday around 10pm I find Ike sitting in the living room, with his studio headphones on- ignoring his surroundings for hours to make music. He says he's trying to make something that will please himself, but i know, he is secretly aiming to impress his favorite DJs-

But, no matter what the reason...music makers are subconsciously paving a new path for the music world.
Its a race, sort of . No one ever really wins though. People feed off of each other, try to impress one another, and the good thing is, there is enough space for everyone. Music is nice that way, there are infinite possibilities, millions of old work to reference, and a huge audience to play it all for.. to influence or alter the current condition of the art. Visual arts are like that too- but then when you evaluate the music community/world with its seemingly similar Art world counterpart, the differences are overwhelming. The Art community- there's a buyers and sellers market- the makers are left completely out of the equation... creating work who's value- they cant even personally afford- and when an artist, like myself, realizes how backward it all is- the hope and passion gets drained out and left barren-

And so... there is something nice about Music- something increasingly more refreshing- musicians can support other musicians - there aren't tracks that are worth tens, of thousands of dollars, and there surly aren't auctions full of people with toy poodles, and multimillion dollar homes, trying to fill there house with artwork that they could not possibly comprehend, or care to understand at all. Music is not about decadence, and even less about fortune. its about the plain, refreshing notion of doing it simply for the love of music. Because, lets face it- no one is getting rich off of it- and the people who are, are working hard- really hard- and communicating to their community- not an entire other community of 'buyers' and auction houses.

I see Ike doing this- along with so many other friends who make music... i think that Music is more about a conversation between peers- its about having a good time with its community and much less about fame, fortune, and a 'jeff koonian' approach. Don't get me wrong. . . there are artists who make art for themselves, use creation as a type of personal therapy, and even make things that are supposed to be enjoyed for their conceptual appeal, and not held on a pedestal for its monetary value... and those things are fine, initially. . . until the art community grabs hold of it- and turns that same piece of art into an empty, soul-less decoration.

heres a company who is releasing a couple of Ikes tracks: Trackdonalds-

Maybe i'm just a skeptic...aren't all recent grads of whichever profession, supposed to resent the last four years of their life, along with everything they'd learned during that time- as a sort of 'payback'??? --- well.. if not, that's how i'm responding...

ME AND WOLFGANG LUCIUS

2009-02-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

my german professor :) he's as jolly as he looks-

and he claims he doesnt speak english- its his ploy to make us try as hard as we can

(but i know he can... haha)

THE BAADER-MEINHOF COMPLEX

2009-02-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

Watching a violent film is one thing. Watching a violent film that is based on a true story is yet another. And watching a violent film, based on a true story in the city where it happened is almost surreal. I felt this as i walked out of the theater. The Central Kino is just a stop away from our apt- with grafittied walls, cobblestone drives, and walls on all sides. And as we walked through the Hackesche Höfe (the name of this enclosed maze of courtyards and buildings where the theater is-it felt like i was living in the film. Perhaps there had been a similar feel when i stepped into the streets of chicago after seeing the latest batman movie- but because 'the baader- meinhof complex' was a true story, it felt all the more real- i never heard of it before i got here to germany, but its about this group called the RAF (red army fraction) who functioned in Berlin and other european cities for nearly 40 years- fighting against war and imperialism...but in such a violent way- that they were considered terrorists. By the end of the film, there message grew unclear and their actions more aggressive- and in the end, they are sorta just these hippies trying to stand for something and reacting the only way they knew how.

FLAG TO PLANT IN BERLIN

2009-01-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

BERLIN, BERLIN

2009-01-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

i live in a neighborhood called mitte now. "mitte" means - middle in German, so therefore, I am in the middle of the city, the middle of the action, the middle of a sentence...

There is so much to explore, and such a lack of crime, that you can feel comfortable pretty much anywhere anytime. Its the feeling you get in the subburbs of a city, that sense of safety and security- but all the while being amidst a super interesting urban center.

There is a sense of magic here- a feeling that will fade as i experience the city, meet more people, and learn more german words. But for now, Berlin is my own private society where I cant possibly see a familiar face, hear a familiar word, or not have a question about something new that i come across, constantly finding things that inpire me.

And besides that mystery and excitement, i think that berlin is at a moment right now that wont last forever, a moment in music and art history that will be influencing others in the near future, noted, quoted and recorded in the future, and referenced in the more distant future still.

Im lucky to be here-

BERLIN GRAF

2009-01-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

so. graffiti's everywhere here- and with a new city comes new styles and new names to get attuned to- theres so much, that i haven't even begun to document it, but here are some flicks to get a preview.

S IS FOR SUNDAYS, AND SUNDAYS ARE FOR SKATING.

2009-01-25T02:20:00.000-08:00

Because 75 percent of the city fails to open, i'm constantly looking for things to do on a sunday... and its always a scramble on saturday night- to get groceries for sunday, or buy this or that to keep you occupied for the next day. Thankfully the Art museums and Galleries are open, and yesterday i went to an indoor skatepark called Skatehalle who also realizes that people are alive on sundays. There are 2 outdoor parks in berlin, but berlin is not a city you would exactly come to for its perfect weather... actually- i am pretty positive that there hasnt been a day with no precipitation since ive arrived.

SO Berlin Skatehalle is massive, with a redbull half-that has to be 12 feet tall or somthing- 4 foot bowl, and mini, and various street courses-i have video of it, but ill have to post it later- so here are a few flicks.

i brought the only friends i have here in berlin: jasper (10), louie (8) and Autur (11)-

CTM- Club Transmediale 2k9

2009-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

"festival for adventurous -music and related visual arts"

heres the website: http://www.clubtransmediale.de/festival-09.html

We went to the opening night of this fest yesterday, and arrived just in-time for the second half of a Dub documentary entitled: dub echos-i think they start the fest with dub- because it was the beginning of the 'dj' - thus the beginning of electronic music.

so anyway-- we wait in the guestlist line for the show (ikes work is sponsoring the event) and this line was easily 4 times longer than the regular line. When we finally enter, it felt like stepping into the interworkings of a futuristic/ cosmic 3-d version of a flash website. Lights flashing everywhere, projections on everywall, and crazy visual illusions above the bar to display the drink list. The space, decor, and overall atmosphere was really amazing- check out a short clip and photos:

(sushi room, fully equipt with zen painting, and pebbles for a floor...)
Lounge-
1 of 2 stages - w/ projections surrounding the whole area

(stage)
another lounge- those letters were really coming off the wall! like styrophome installation or something!

- dancefloor- before dj went on stage.

MORE G-10 PHOTOS

2009-01-22T15:34:00.000-08:00

Richard Avadon Exhibition - Martin Gropius Bau- Potsdamer Platz, Berlin. -

2009-01-22T14:42:00.000-08:00

*' the chicago 7' - didnt know much about this group before the exhibition. But pretty interesting poltical pranksters. - funny how their style looks like what is back in fashion now-

'the factory'- really impressive larger-than-life portraits of Andy Warhol and the other 'factory' inhabitants/workers/artists

(no cameras were allowed, so sorry for the slanted/ not quite composed- photos ;)

2009 ACHIEVEMENTS THUS FAR...

2009-01-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

1: I learned how to whistle. I finally pulled myself aside, and said- this week I will learn to whistle. I put my mind to it... and wow. At 23 years old, I can finally whistle (Although it is only on an inhale)

2. I made money without having to work!!! I found 20 euro on the street on my way home!

3. I have finally spotted wild boar- I have been looking, searching, asking, and waiting... and then one winter day heading out to babysit by train- I saw them! Take a look :)

making cookies.

2009-01-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

So I really would like everyone to have cookies. And only about 5 years ago, I discovered that they are one of my favorite things to eat. I mean . . . they were always good, but- never something i craved. Of course I mainly just eat the cookie dough, and if someone wasnt always there, asking if I was planning on just eating the whole bowl of dough, making me think twice about it, I would probably never cook a cookie ever. So heres a recipe that you should try, to make everyone ( or atleast a large piece of your community) happy with some cookies.

CRISPY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

40, 000 lbs. sugar
30, 000 lbs. butter
192, 000 eggs (yolks only)
1, 000 lbs. molasses
120 lbs. vanilla
500 lbs. baking soda
700 lbs. salt
42, 000 lbs. flour
32, 000 lbs. chocolate chips

Bake at 340 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes. Makes 200 million (45 to 50, 000 pounds) chocolate chip morsels. No preservatives.

NEW YEARS EVE II

2009-01-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

It was like a war-zone out there, on the streets around Brandenburg gate- explosions everywhere, small fires on the street, people scattered around- but everyone was in great spirits! It was new years! The strange thing was- when the clock struck 12- there were counting down, and cheers, but no stranger-to-stranger contact...no hugging left and right, and definatly no confetti. It was strange amongst a mass of a half-a-million, you still felt like you were alone.

NEW YEARS

2008-12-31T16:22:00.000-08:00

MOVED IN

2008-12-31T09:07:00.000-08:00

Neues Wohnzimmer (New Livingroom)
Neues Kuchen (New Kitchen)

Neues Badezimmer (New Bathroom)

Neues Schlafenzimmer (New Bedroom)

G10 PHOTOS

2008-12-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

NEW FLAT: BERLIN MITTE

2008-12-20T08:25:00.000-08:00

Finally. after days of searching, emailing and visiting wg's, We found our dream spot :) http://www.wg-gesucht.de/1401636.html Check out the photos. This is the site we had to look on, translate, and navigate! I will say, I now know many words in german that have to do with house amenities. haha

We move in on the First, or second. And Our roommates said that Visitors are always welcome! so! See you in berlin, stay with me for free.

NEW DIGI :)

2008-12-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

Two days ago my new camera arrived after a long journey beginning at B&H photo in Newyork to Jenny's new place in Chicago and then all the way to Berlin Germany, where I thought I was going to get charged 17.5 percent because of Duty fees! To my surprise, being a student granted me a 100 discount from this duty/tax charge! So happy birthday to me! That is the best student discount ive seen. So here it is: The lastest, the Greatest, and by far, the most expensive birthday gift I bought for myself: the Canon G10:

THE REAL PINOCHIO

2008-11-30T14:03:00.001-08:00

I cant be sure, but I think- my nose is getting bigger. I don't exactly have evidence- but i mean- look at this! i mean i know its not a close up, but just use your imagination... thankfully- there is a solution!

And if this doesnt work, Rudolph is in season!

- Understand cartilage: Cartilage is malleable connective tissue that protects bones from rubbing together too much so whatever you do to it will not move.
- Cartilage is also used by the body to shape and support other structures, including the nose.
- Over a lifespan cartilage can be replaced by bone in certain areas, including the nose.
- Cartilage can be manipulated because it is made principally of water, about 70% of cartilage is water.
- Cartilage can be redistributed with movement, but cannot be made smaller with pressure.
- Other components of cartilage include collagen, proteoglycans, and chondrocytes, proteins and cells that help support and build the cartilage.
Understand that to make your nose temporarily smaller using this method you are doing home surgery by manipulating the cartilage in your nose.
Wash or moisten your nose area. This isn't compulsory, but it's a little easier to do this on smooth skin.
Hold the top of your nose with your thumb and index finger.
Slowly bring your fingers to the sides of your nose. Don't press or pull because this might make the nose bloat up a little bigger and can damage the cartilage.
Do this for two to three minutes, starting at the top of your nose each time.
Repeat about 50 times a day or even more.
The results may be visible in 2-3 months time.
As soon as you stop, and if you have not permanently disfigured your nose, your nose will return to its normal shape.

wow looks like i found a new hobbie!!! hahaha

more on noses:

http://dienekes.110mb.com/texts/greekmorphological/

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/Azgaser/p3.html

http://www.jstor.org/pss/984657

http://www.enotalone.com/article/3988.html

WHO KNEW... YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO WASH WOOL.

2008-11-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

I actually did know, but I didnt know it was wool. Plus, It's as ridiculous to say that sheep can't get wet!! I mean if wool shrinks so much... wouldnt the sheep too when it rained? I guess i never gave a sheep a bath...

When I took on this babysitting job, they called it 'kidtending', and some 'light house keeping' Well apparently it is more like being a maid, cook, and friend for the household... I felt like Alice Nelson from the Brady Bunch... but instead of a perfect day, this one was near perfect until I did the laundry.
I arrive at their household 2 hours before the boys get home from school. In this time, I am to gather the laundry from the rooms fold all the blankets and put them at the foot of the beds, do the dishes, iron what is necessary, and make lunch for the boys upon their arrival-

Well I was doing laundry, and for one particular item- it was on the ground in a ball in a bedroom- id say that is a sign of laundry. I should have known it was wool, but my goal is to clean the clothes, and on to the next task. I checked for a tag, there was no tag... so i washed it- and it came out as a miniaturized version of what it was an hour before... too bad I wasn't Alice, or else Mrs. Brady would have happily given her shrunken sweater, which was now the perfect size for her a young girl- to her daughter Cindy. And then, Mrs. Brady's teeth would have sparkled when she smiled at Alice while saying " no apology is necessary, Alice, We are just happy that we have such a sweet maid like you, who would tell me the truth, and mistakes are just part of life-and this is for the best". Fade to Credits, End episode.

My episode wasnt as picturesque. It ended with a dear apology letter stating that I am quite embarrassed, and that I would be happy to replace it- Her response: the sweater is quite expensive, so I dont think you would want to do that- and it was my favorite Jumper that I owned. Thank you very much.

We will see if they will be calling me again to watch the kids-

LIONS, TIGERS, AND BOARS!!

2008-11-29T07:01:00.000-08:00

Wildlife is not the first thing you think about when you are exploring a new metropolis. And although i have yet to see one, I am really on the hunt for a pack of wild boars that are living in Berlin! Supposedly these things are aggressive, hungry, and quite populous and within the City of Berlin alone lives 10,000 boars! This mammal, like the Sasquatch and Unicorn- have been spotted on multiple occasions, but this creature is so abundant, that it is more hopeful that I see one. I will update the site when there is a sighting or hint of one. Look at the Babies! they look like little antelope- How am I ever going to smuggle a Grey Giant back home, let alone a baby boar?

Here are a couple of articles on the BOAR WAR IN BERLIN
(ive been researching it for sometime now---)

http://www.nwf.org/NationalWildlife/article.cfm?issueID=104&articleID=1316

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,583377,00.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Berlin-
tiergarten_luetzowplatz_herkules_20050506_p1030068.jpg

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/24115/newsDate/04-Mar-2004/story.htm

Oh! and it happens in HONKKONG too !

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/bizarre/news/article_1431929.php/Wild_boar_is_shot_dead_after_five-hour_rampage_in_Hong_Kong

PUFFY SHIRT

2008-11-18T10:18:00.002-08:00

so... i know im a bit quirky... but, i honestly dont think that this shirt is that crazy- am i wrong? I need some opinions- or does it remind too much of that seinfeld episode -

BERGHAIN TIL 6 IN THE EVENING

2008-11-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

If you dont feel like going there at open (midnight), and you are too tired to go there at 2 am... just go at sunrise, or noon the next day- no worries it doesnt close till 6 pm on sunday and there will, no doubt be people there from the night before, the bald, topless- super buff gay crowd will have thinned out a bit, but the bass and the music goes the whole way through. Minimal Techno in the main room (berghain)- and Chicago house in the smaller (but still large) room called Panarama bar upstairs - im not sure why one place has two names, but i suppose its big enough to. Anytime you do decide to go, there will for sure be a line. We left at 530am and there were about 150 people waiting to get through security and in the club. You wait in line like there is a rollercoaster at the other end, but instead its just another line- one for guys and one for gals to get patt down and have your camera put aside before entering. No cameras- no mirrors in the bathrooms- just raw concrete, and your experience kept in your memory. Ike is convinced it was a missile/ gun factory- but i think it was actually a train storage building way back when- either way its supposedly the techno centre of the world right now! It was a really good night- before a full day of babysitting the 2 devil children (1.7 years old and 7 months old) all on 3 hours of sleep.

OBAMA WAY!!!

2008-11-09T10:00:00.001-08:00

Well I was extremely dissapointed that I couldnt be at Grant Park on election night- But I cant really complain- being in Berlin. Thankfully- this election brought so much interest all around the globe, that Berlin was quite energetic and excited about the event. This theater had hundreds of people littered outside its doors celebrating before the decision was made. And the resturaunt/bar we had eaten at right before- had a live band singing original tunes poking fun at american politics and the current state of the country. It was all in good fun, and it really made me feel at home. The singers had a southern/ sort of folky twang that I could only put up with because of its hilarity. After this I went home-and went to bed-but Ike decided to party till the decision would be known. He finally wondered into the apartment, turned the tv on and began chanting Obama like things- 3 AM Berlin time- on a school night. Well I suppose I couldnt sleep on such a historic day!

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL, BUT NOT FOR DEUTSCHLAND

2008-11-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

I know im here for school, I love learning, and being in the German classroom, but I am just beyond ready to graduate. This is my 1st semester overseas, my 9th semester in College, and my seventeenth year strait in school. Enough is enough already. According to Snapple "Real Fact" #275: I could have walked around the world atleast 4 times in the amount of time ive been sitting in classrooms- imagine what could have been accomplished during that! With that in mind, I cant really blame myself for feeling a tad bit undermotivated to do my best. But, I have a 3.7 GPA, $40,000+ in debt, and 4 German Professors to impress, so I suppose, working for just a few more months will pay off.

MAYBE IM NOT THE BEST INFLUENCE...

2008-11-04T04:12:00.000-08:00

This is Ellie- she is one of 5 of the kids I babysit here- I dont like babysitting all that much, nor am I even that fond of children, but its tax free- i dont need a permit to work, and it gives me time to work on school stuff or rosetta stone :)- so i say babies and diaper changing will do until schools out!

APPARENTLY, HALLOWEEN IS AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY...

2008-11-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Ike and I get all ready for a party in Friedrichstein on Halloween night. . . costume, face paint, the works. Its only natural on the 31st of Oktober, when youve been doing it your whole life. We leave the house, and for every 200 people we see, we see 1 person who is also partaking in such event- We had so many looks and glances in our direction. "they must be American"- is what all of the Berliners were thinking.... and with my red white and blue costume, there was no doubting that was where I was from.

BABYSITTING BULLDOGS

2008-10-28T12:20:00.001-07:00

And this is what i did on my first night of babysitting... Ellie was sleeping when I got there, so me and the puppy hung out while watching some fashion shows on German's equivilant to Direct TV.

THE GERMAN GIANT

2008-10-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Now, if i didnt see one in person last year... i would think this were a hoax... So heres the story- beth and I were in Vienna last summer- one day we took a train out to the country (maybe like 40 minutes outside of the city). Gazing out the window i noticed something protruding upward from the bush. And sitting still, about 3 feet from the recently cut crop, was a GIANT RABBIT- we were going so fast, and i was in a daze because of the lengthy ride, so we were never SURE that we saw what we saw- and today- I find out that yes indeed, these things do live - in reality, and not just in the minds of christine and beth!!! wow- its like when the unicorn was found earlier this year! what a great world~

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-426231/German-farmer-breeds-bunny-big-dog.html
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_giant_bunny.htm

MY NEW BOSS IS ON WIKIPEDIA

2008-10-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well I may not be worthy of a Wikipedia Page, but my new boss is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Jacobsen

...no im not a photographer, or a gatorade girl... im his new babysitter. haha I'm babysitting their 2 year old girl, ellie- shes pretty cute.

I feel like babysitting is quite possibly the best way to meet successful people in this town-
The Jacobsen's are the second family that contacted me to babysit-
the first is a CEO of a company that trys to place Freelance artists into permanant positions in European companies.

Heres his site: http://www.designerdock.de/

he wants me to help him with his next photo exhibition. Nice surprizes. Everything is comin up milhouse!

EVERYTHING IS SMALL HERE!

2008-10-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

What if one day, everyone dissapeared from Europe, just like a snap of the fingers- all the people, all photos and historical documents- all memory of such land. Once the cities were 're-descovered', anthropologists would undoubtably believe that the people that once inhabitated Europe were smaller than the people of the rest of the world. I mean what people would own such small things !!!

For the amount of Bakeries there are here- youd think they would need more sugar!- this is a 'large' bag of sugar. the scissors are almost bigger than it!

A standard size frozen pizza....

Their standard milk carton- the bowl is almost bigger than it!And of course, to keep all this small food- their small refridgerators!
-even their ash trays have to be small, but for the amount that Berliners smoke, they would definatly benefit from a larger reservoir.

Charottenburg, Berlin, Germany

2008-10-18T11:42:00.001-07:00

-our flat is in Charlottenburg, which is in former West Berlin. The area is a bit touristy, but the architecture here is incredible. My favorite are the block long buildings- kinda like the merchandise mart- here is a church, that's about 2 miles down the street we live, Kurfurstendamm. It is no longer functioning as a church, but just the remains of it after it was bombed during WWII. (notice the missing top)

This is a mix of coke and orange pop- its a Berlin favorite, you see it in all the gasstations, and the Getranken shops (huge stores that sell nothing but drinks- like a liquor store, but with more than beer)- I personally thought it was just okay..

Sprechen ze Deutsch????

2008-10-14T14:58:00.001-07:00

My first day of school was quite challenging... Try three hours of lectures and orientation all in German. Yeah, we've been using Rosetta Stone for about a month and a half now- but you seem to forget just about everything when words are spit out at normal conversation speed, and when they arent complimented by nice- narritive images. I came home and had to take a nap from so much brain activity.

The paperwork i have to fill out is just as confusing- this form for example-
is to get 110 euro because i am a student- the top of the form states:

antrag aug gewahrung eines einmaligen bergrussungsgeldes in hohe von 110 euros

and here is its translation it into english:

request August gewahrung a unique mountain smoking money into high of 110 euros.

hmmmm.....haha the language barrier continues...

the people of berlin

2008-10-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

They look alot like this...notice: there are no smiles...

Would you rent to us???

2008-10-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

heres a like to the website where we are searching for apartments/ wohnungs...
are we marketable enough?!

http://www.studenten-wg.de/mietgesuch_506079.html

Maybe they are going to Sturgis???

2008-10-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

We stayed out till 5.30am this morning... trying to embrace the ways of Berliners. But with staying up late, comes waking up late- so thank god these german bikers decided to come down Kurfurstendamm at 12.30. I woke up to endless horns, and noises of this traffic jam- but different from stergis, most of these bikes were crotch rockets. SWEET.
I can really understand the sleep schedules of people who live here- well for the ones who work real jobs anyway. The only way it seems to work- is by sanctioning sundays as a day to sleep- Thank god Berlin is still influenced by Christian traditions. Everthing is closed on sunday- grocery stores, banks, libraries, and even IKEA. So after staying up till 7 or 8 in the AM, you can sleep all day, wake up for a couple hours before nightfall, and get ready for another work week.

Hot Dogs and Hot Dog Dogs

2008-10-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

The dog population in Berlin seems to parellel chicago's. Except- the breeds differ from the ones that are prevalant in the states.
All of them seem to be a variation of the 'hot dog' dog, and all the others seem to convey a wiser look- attributed to their greyish, scruffy, longer beard hair.
American dogs seem to have a more vibrant, interactive, nieve, exploritive attitude. The ones in berlin have buisniess to tend to it seems:

they have buses:
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL144087920080901

and pay taxes:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9902E5DA143AEF33A25750C2A9679D94689FD7CF

Berliners like their Vices

2008-10-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like a warm glass of wine in the morning. Of course I wouldnt know, but Ike felt it was necissary this morning cuz- it was just sitting on the kitchen counter, staling, from the night before.

Theres been a lot of new vices, and things i've seen since the start of my stay here. And in 8 days, i've seen a total of 2 cop cars, Zero fights on the streets, 2 kids doing coke in the midst of the crowd at a electonic club- dog poop littered about, recycling bins that separate green glass from white/clear glass, paper, plastic, and then the just plain rubbish. You can walk the streets with beers in hand, posess an 1/8 of green with no penalty, and you dont get carded for anything- (except for the hard liquors i guess)-

It seems as though people party much harder in Berlin. Any venue where music is being played, is filled, and about 90 percent of people are dancing. 3 o'clock is the appropriate time to go out at night. Anything before- is just plain early!

WG # 1

2008-10-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

As romanic and nomadic as a hostel sounds... we were ready to retire to a WG. Its this system that they have - which like many other things here, makes a lot of sense. Its works like craigslist, but its specifically for finding and renting rooms that are furnished, include heat, electric and often include other roomates- and are w/o contracts (its basically like your subletting- but you dont have to bring all your shit there.

And for just 300 euro a month, we get this lovely room decorated with IKEA -its basically standard here- a cool german roommate- named Katha, and all the luxuries of german living, including a washingmachine in the kitchen.

(the first photo is a view out of the bedroom window)

BERLIN!!! but it was a bitter-sweet arrival.

2008-10-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

We had finally made it- Deutchland! We got our passports stamped, and now- I have a total of 8 stamps, while Ike made 5. (pretty good for just beginning his international adventures just 3 weeks ago)

The day we were SUPPOSED TO arrive...

2008-10-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

Youve heard of the Twilight Zone, even probably seen some episodes... but when it comes to actually being caught in it- its worse than you could imagine. I think we were half asleep the entire 24 hours that we were stuck in Stansted airport- London. We missed our flight to Berlin- on account of Air India. And the Germans had absolutley no sympathy- we lost the tickets. Period.

Long Long story short, we had to pay 800 extra bucks to buy new tickets to Berlin, send our luggage separately and after many many complaints, much angst and sadness, finally arrived in Berlin- 1 day later than expected. And after all the hell that we went though, London seemed much less attractive (as did we after the 40 hours of traveling).