Paris is still there

This last weekend we took a little trip over to Paris. The French are very different from the Germans with the exception of their shared hatred for bringing you a check at a restaurant.

While the Germans will not cross the street in a deserted part of town against the don't walk signal, we watched what seemed to be a set of World Cup qualifying matches being played behind a sign saying "Ball games are strictly forbidden". The sign was well placed since the park was located between several busy streets and the ball would fly past the makeshift goals and into rush hour traffic.

Yet the similarity when out to eat was striking. We'd sit down in a smoky restaurant and get our food within 30 seconds of ordering. After about two hours we figured that we had poisoned ourselves enough with the combined Marlboro and Camel fragrance and wanted to leave. However our waitress disappeaed for a another half hour and then ook even longer to bring "l'addition".

However, the food was very good. Sarah's veal stew and my mint and chevre stuffed rabbit leg were both fine examples of good French coooking. The quick lunches of grilled panini or other sandwiches are much better than Taco Bell.

Nothing's Happening

I've been wanting to blog about something, but the problem that I've had is that there hasn't been anything of significance to write about. Then it hit me: nothing happening is something happening!

That means that we have reached some 'normality' here in fair Germany. Things are unremarkable. We have an everyday lifestyle that is unchanging. Let me talk you through our days. First, there are two types of days. One is when I am working and the other is the other kind.

A. Working days. These days also vary, but the pattern is the same. Today I am working nights (7pm-7am) so take it as an example. I wake up at 3pm plus or minus an hour. Sarah's already been up for 7 hours. She is likely to be out working out and picking up fresh bread for my sandwiches I'll bring for lunch. I read the newspaper ads that are dropped off several times a day at our house. I then read the news on the internet trying to find out what's the latest with K-Fed and Brit. We eat dinner and I leave for work, getting there at 6:45. I stay in my chair for 12 hours until the guy I relieved comes back. I go home and go to sleep.

B. The other days. These are usually spent sleeping, playing scrabble and talking about what trips we'll take during the next set of days I don't work. However that schedule has begun to cut into our actually traveling.

So that is our new normality. Seems a lot like normality anywhere in the world.

Up in smoke

I forgot that there was one issue that I did care aboue: the smoke free Ohio initiative. The voters of Ohio were smart enough to see around the chicanery and hijinx of the smoke less Ohio initiavtive. (FYI for non-Ohio folks, the smoking coalition wanted a constitutional amendment that would make bars and restaurants excempt from all smoking ban laws.)

A smoking ban would not succeed in Germany. They love their cigarettes here. All restaurants smell like food outside and smoke inside. Even when no one else is in the restaurant, it smells like a team of French authors are holding a meeting at the next table.

The picture is of a german smoker doll. I've heard that you put insense in it and it appears to smoke. That's how much they like smoking. They are willing to burn and smell insence just to have a an idol of a man smoking to worship. This particular idol looks much like any given German walking around my workplace. I thought they would wear pants and shirts or sweaters. However, most men wear lederhosen and a fun hat. Generally, their mustaches are bigger than the one in this example.

I look forward to returning to Ohio to eat dinner or have a beer without washing my clothes and showering when we get home. Thanks Ohio!

I'm glad I don't have to vote

I was watching the news today, and by news I mean the Daily Show and Colbert Report. It seems that all you people in America have an election to go to. I'm glad I'm here and I can't vote. Well I probably can, but the effort required far outweighs the satisfaction I get out of it.

Here's the alternative that I like. I get to criticize all countries' governments and their politics. The one guy who makes sense during this campaign season is Borat. Nice. The French have their own problems with riots and xenophobia.

I made this decision despite the Armed Forces TV ads reminding me that I can vote and should vote. However, I actually don't even know who is running in my district. I feel that should deny me my right to vote.

My favorite one has a medieval knight asking his feudel lord to allow him to go home to vote. They load him into catapult and shoot him home. You may think that I am leaving something out, but that is it except a voice over saying to remember to vote.

That is compelling.

So I wish everyone who knows the issues and the candidates well. Make good choices for all of us who don't vote. Our future is in your hands!