5 May 2009 - Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

[Just with the Cinco de Mayo reference, I feel I should give a Latin track. I'm going with La Camisa Negra from Juanes, who is perhaps almost as hot as my May 5 delivery, as described below. Almost.]

Hudson has finally arrived and it has been worth the wait. Such a handsome devil with such menacing-looking “eyes” as you can see in the photo (but which are even more fierce when you see them in your rear view mirror approaching at a rapid speed).

As I believe I reported earlier, it took about 2.5 hours for the dealer and I to come up with the configuration for this specific vehicle, versus the one or two minutes it might take in the US due to reliance on packages and far fewer individual options. It took about the same amount of time to explain the features to me, which took place in a special car delivery room at the dealer. The salesperson was kind enough to do so in English, though I have insisted on keeping the controls in German which will be a bit challenging.

For those of you who care, here are a few specs:
- Audi A5
- Deep sea blue pearl effect (not quite Priser Blue)
- 3.0 TDI (oh yes, diesel.... Can you hear the throaty growl through this blog?)
- Six-speed Tiptronic transmission with paddle shifters (yes, I got an automatic)
- Quattro with sport suspension
- 19” wheels

So, why Hudson? Well, the sleek and hard lines of the car strike me as very masculine, like a guy with a six pack (of abs, not beer). So I wanted a good German-sounding first name. I was leaning toward Fritz when I went to configure the vehicle and the salesperson noted that, um, “Fritz” would be speaking with a woman’s voice on the navigation system. Ohhh…. So I solicited input from people on androgynous sounding German names and all they came up with was Kim. I am not driving a car named Kim (like Bonnie is so much better….). So I was discussing this with one of my best friends (code name Green and as mentioned in the back home posting) and she volunteered to allow me to use the name she has in mind for a daughter, should she ever have one. That’s right – Hudson. I liked it. Not exactly German, but it reminded me of several things. Rock Hudson. (No, not that awful Hudson Hawk flick with Bruce Willis.) The Hudson River. And let’s not forget the Hudson brand of American automobiles that was phased out in the 50s or 60s after AMC bought it. (Seriously, though, what were they thinking? That people would really rather buy a Nash or a Rambler than a Hudson?)

So there you have it. I could go on about the individual options, but, well, I’d rather go back down in the garage, curl up in a supple leather seat, pop in a DVD, put a beverage in a cupholder, open the sunroof, and have an androgynously-romantic movie night with Hudson.

1 May 2009 - When Consumer Products Collide

Beer. Shampoo. Not a lot of things in common between the two items that I can think of. In fact, it sounds like one of those non-sensical analogy multiple choice problems you might have on the SAT exam. Unless you live in Germany where one can buy beer shampoo. Not joking. I have it.



Now, before you go thinking that I have a morning drinking problem, let me assure you that it is truly shampoo and not made for internal consumption. In fact it doesn't even smell like beer. Much. It is part of the Guhl brand line of haircare products. (I agree, saying you'd like to put some Guhl on your hair sounds about as bad as saying you'd like to pour some beer on your head, neither of which would seem to be statements issued by someone with a clear (if not clean) head.)



So the background.... I ran out of my American shampoo last week, but made a conscious choice when I was in Chicago over Easter not to restock since clearly there must be something over here that would do just fine and that Mario could set me up. Alas, Mario has quite the waiting list and I don't have an appointment with him until next week (let's ignore for now how the grown-out scissorhands 'do looks and pains me each morning).



So, hoping to score some Wella or Schwarzkopf (literally, black head) products, I headed to the DM (which I am told is short for Droggerie Mart -- and who doesn't love a good drug mart?). I only saw Wella styling products, not shampoo et cetera. There was some Schwarzkopf action, but then I saw the Guhl line. They appeared to be color-coded. Naturally, I gravitated toward the blue line, but then caught out of the corner of my eye the phrase "Bier Shampoo" which would be part of the brown line (neither of which lines should be confused with the blue line and brown line Els in Chicago).



Apparently (this is based, of course, on my nascent German skills, unassisted by a dictionary there in the DM aisles), the brown line is designed for (go figure) brown hair. It is not a coloring product, but is supposed to enhance natural color. (Jury is out whether the yellow line would assist unnatural blondes....) I had had something similar in an Artec product way back when, though it was actually a color-depositing product, if I'm not mistaken. I have also heard tales that if you mix double-strength coffee with shampoo, that has a similar affect, though I never tried that out. I just have not traditionally considered pouring beverages other than water onto my head a normal thing to do. But I'm trying to expand my horizons (and perhaps downplay some of those, um, silver highlights in my hair). Anyway, the brown line's first step is beer and is to be followed by the walnut conditioner. I think there should be some sort of special treatment (weekly or something) product that would be kind of like dessert. I would recommend a dark chocolate base....



In case you were wondering, the blue line is not for older women with blue hair, but apparently is their "clean" line. By comparison, then, one must assume the brown line is a dirty, nutty, drunk product line.... And I kinda like it!

30 April 2009 - Breaking the Fast

[Perhaps "Breakfast at Tiffany's" or was there a soundtrack to The Breakfast Club?]

Breakfasts here are a bit different from what I'm used to (some form of protein, a few carbs with Actimel and coffee chasers). When I was staying at the Liv'in (which now seems like a very long time ago), they had a breakfast buffet of sorts. It included cold cuts of meats (generally containing pork, I was quite certain), fresh cheeses, some fruit, yogurt, some muesli type cereals (for which not-very-cold-and-certainly-not-skim milk was available), sliced cucumbers, and a wide assortment of breads and rolls. They would also make some scrambled, boiled or fried eggs upon request. Hmmm.... There were too many options for me to make any sense out of and I usually just had some yogurt and a roll with some cheese and cucumbers, the latter of which always made me think I was having lunch.

I suspected that this type of spread was not generally available in the typical German household, but since you don't really discuss your domestic situations, this didn't exactly come up in casual conversation. A few weeks ago I was in a baking mood and mentioned to my neighbors that I was going to bake some muffins (cranberry and currant muffins from the Mayo Clinic cookbook that are surprisingly tasty and not too bad for your health). The recipe cranks out about 18 muffins, which obviously I could not consume, so I asked if they would like some (before I realized that muffins might be a decidedly American thing). They graciously said they would love to have some and suggested I bring them to their place and join them for breakfast. Oooh. A real German breakfast! I am totally in....

So we had breakfast out on their balcony, which is about 25 feet from my own balcony. While breakfasts may vary by family, theirs consisted primarily of fresh baked rolls from the corner bakery (not to be confused with Corner Bakery). You slice the roll in half (which can be difficult when they are so fresh they are still warm -- yum!!!), and slather it in 100% butter. You then top it with a slice of good cheese (it's like good aged cheese but cut in large slices that you folder over to fit on the bread). Like a double fat sandwich. Mmmm..... Another alternative is to put preserves (true preserves, not some of the products that pass for jam in the US) on top of the butter layer, yielding a double carb sandwich. Delightful. And they seemed to genuinely like the muffins (as opposed to the Girl Scout Dos-e-do cookies for which they couldn't eat a single small cooking, practically spitting it out and saying, "Oh, Americans!" -- I tried not to be horrified by the waste of a Dos-e-do, which I consider a classic American delicacy and which had been carefully smuggled in by Dena along with the animals).

Speaking of which, as we were scarfing these down on their balcony, I heard a horrible sound. Turning, I traced its source. My own balcony. It was a beautiful spring morning so I had left the doors open to the balcony so the cats could hang out there. While the wind was blowing the wrong direction, they had apparently figured out that I was on the neighbors balcony and they were just howling. I'm not sure whether they were more upset that I was stepping out on them or that I was having food and they didn't have a chance to beg for some. So I went back to my apartment, served them some moist food on the balcony, and everyone was happy and full. Animals....

We finished breakfast on my balcony with some coffee from my cool coffee machine. The neighbors appear to be even more fascinated with the machine than I am (which leads me to believe I overspent on the machine relative to what is considered necessary for in-home consumption, but...). We have several other such coffee clatches on my balcony, so I have had to invest in coffee service pieces. The mugs that I brought from home do not even fit under the machine and each serving from the machine provides about 2/5 of such a mug. So I got some cool coffee and espresso cups and matching saucers (which saucers are rounded triangles!) because one wouldn't dream of serving coffee without the saucer. A sugar bowl (forget about Splenda over here) and cream pitcher in contrasting colors were also added (taking up precious space in my limited cupboards, I might add).

When I served the neighbors coffee the first time, I set out a small 3" vase in which I keep wooden coffee stirrers. "What, did you steal these from Starbucks?" No!!! Apparently it is not common to have those at home here. So I purchased a set of espresso spoons that seem even smaller than spoons for infants. (I feel compelled to share that I purchased a set of six such spoons, but the package contained seven. Bonus! But clearly they must not have been produced in Germany where such an oversight and lack of precision would not have been allowed.) So the next time the neighbors were over for coffee, I was prepared. Until they laughed at the spoons. Apparently they were overkill and it was fine to just use regular spoons. How was I supposed to know?! Somehow I have moved from American mugs to Euro coffee service snob. Who knew?

So I am getting used to the breakfasts here. When I have time, I still like to make some eggs (which are sold in 10s, not in dozens, incidentally) and otherwise have some yogurt (can't find cottage cheese here). But I have now started enjoying fresh rolls with fat and additional carbs, particularly on weekends when I have time to sit on my balcony and just enjoy the experience (see photo above, in which you can see that scene, include the balcony of the neighbors that is much more properly decorated). This also generally follows a run or other sort of exercise so I can justify this new habit.

One of the interesting things here, too, is that even though pretty much everything is closed on Sundays and holidays, the bakery is open at least half a day. Cuz you have to have fresh bread, right? The bakery also has coffee. Which is served with stir sticks, not espresso spoons....

28 April 2009 - Night of the Museums

There is a fascinating annual event here in Frankfurt and neighboring Offenbach called Nacht der Museen or Night of the Museums (www.nacht-der-museen.de) With the purchase of a €12 ticket, you have access to pretty much all of the museums in the cities as well as a shuttle bus that runs between certain venues. The more interesting part, though, is that the event runs from 7 PM until 2 AM. Now, I have gone to several benefits at museums that are at night, but none where you go museum-hopping at the same time others are going bar-hopping. Then again, I haven't lived in Frankfurt before.

There is a long string of museums in old houses (more like stone mansions) along the river known as Museum Shore or something like that. It is within about a 10 minute walk of my apartment and is also along the route I take on my weekend runs. So that's where I started at around 10 PM. They had the street along the river blocked off and it was just packed with people with other crazy people on bicycles weaving their way through the pedestrian traffic. There were a few street stands selling gigantic pretzels and -- I know this may come as a shock -- quite a few places selling beer, which is apparently fine to carry around in open containers, including glass bottles. There were also a fair number of people gathered along the shore of the river having what appeared to be little picnics or other nighttime gatherings.

I was struck by the variety of people who were attending the event. I had been a bit concerned that I might be a underdressed for such an evening event, but there were people in everything from shorts (yes, in Europe -- bizarre, huh?) to jeans to clubbing clothes to attire bordering on formal. And it wasn't just the black turtleneck-wearing intelligentsia who turned out. They were there, to be sure, as were the monied people who were sponsoring the arts through silent auctions and the like. But there were a surprising number of families (yes, at 10 PM and beyond), teenagers, college students, and plain ol' adults like me. Interesting group.

Considering the number of museums that were open, I was surprised at the lines to get into some of the museums. And few things are worse than standing in a long line with strangers without the Kindle on hand or something else to do. In the end, I didn't end up buying a ticket, but just wandered around people watching, which was certainly enough to keep me occupied for a while. They also had several performances going on in the public areas, like people juggling flaming batons or the Frankfurt Flyer team of trampoline gymnasts who were doing some rather remarkable things. All in all a fascinating evening. And I've now scoped out some museums I'd like to visit in the clear light of day, if not at next year's Nacht der Museen.

27 April 2009 - Wandering

One of the things I have found interesting while driving around in Germany outside of the city is random, solitary people walking in big fields. There are narrow paths that they seem to be following, but it's not clear to me whether they are using the paths to go somewhere, are getting some exercise, want to commune with nature, or what.

I think I find this noteworthy because you just don't see that in the US for several reasons. First of all, there are a lot of fences enforcing boundaries. This is likely because of a desire to enforce property rights and lines, but also to keep people out. Second, and related to keeping people out, is that trespassers create issues like potential liability. Think back to law school or even business law about the "attractive nuisance" that draws in children who are curious to explore potentially dangerous things -- like bridges, railroad tracks, abandoned buildings or equipment. So the property owner has to take safeguards (like building bigger fences) to reasonably prevent injury and, hopefully, to prevent parents (who probably weren't properly supervising or instructuring their children in the first place) from filing lawsuits against the property owner. And finally, there's potential damage to property and littering issues, usually from those "punk kids" (the teenagers who have moved beyond the curiosity of attractive nuisance issues to being bored enough by life to do just about anything for a thrill). Not that I have opinions about these things....

All that aside, yesterday I became one of the wanderers. On Friday I had seen from one of the highways a brilliant yellow field -- not amber waves of grain, but truly yellow with some sort of plant clearly in bloom. I asked around and apparently they are rapeseed fields. Rapeseed, as background, is the source for canola oil and can also be used to create biodiesel. In other words, it's very green despite being very yellow.

So yesterday I set out to try to find a field where I could take some pictures as it was a bit difficult to do so from the highway while driving at a rapid speed. Imagine my delight when I saw a field and near it was a little area where a couple cars were parked and where a narrow path led into the field area. Oooohhhh.... So I parked and started my trek. In addition to the rapeseed fields and some other crop, I also saw some orchards with a beautiful field of buttercup flowers covering the ground and what look to be some gigantic patches of wild raspberries. And it was apparently fine to just wander around in all of this.

I also saw other humans. Some by themselves (often with a dog or two), some with others. Just walking around. And they were friendly, greeting me with a "Hallo" or "Guten Tag" as they passed by. What I did NOT see was human-generated trash. Or destroyed property. Or punk teenagers. Or fences.

Beautiful day. A nice wander. Some good photos. Friendly people. Respect for nature and the property of others. What have the Germans figured out that we haven't that makes something like this possible?

20 April 2009 - Dining in Eschborn

[Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf."]

Our office is located in a sort of corporate park in the suburbs of Frankfurt. There are not a lot of good dining options here, which is why I was so excited that a new place opened up today. More on that in a bit. First, though, a brief summary of the other options.

The Sandwich Place. Not it's real name and I'm not certain whether it even has signage. It's kind of like a grungy Subway; "eat fresh" is not their motto. Still, it's not bad and is a nice change from some of the other options, but requires a seven minute walk or so to the other end of the corporate park. There are a few tables so you can eat on the premises.

Mediterraneo. This is an Italian place across the street from the building and which is visible from my office window (unlike Russia, which I hear can be seen from some kitchen windows). It's a sit-down establishment and there's an older Italian waiter who flirts with me when I go in and teases me about my German, which I actually kind of enjoy. They serve a mean gnocchi sorrentino and I rarely vary from that. However, it's a bit time-consuming for most days and the cost would add up.

The Best Wurscht in Town. I have not been to this place because it doesn't appear that they would serve something that doesn't contain pork products. Nevertheless, it fascinates me. It is an old Airstream camper that is permanently set up at the corner here with a window cut into the side. Classy, yet interesting from a kitsch perspective. There are high tables (like you'd have at a cocktail hour) in an area near the table where you can stand and eat your wurscht. I particularly found it interesting to watch people bundled up to the max during the winter, but calmly eating their wurscht outside in the cold.

Beyond. You're probably wondering the same thing as I do each time I go there -- "Beyond what?" I don't have an answer for that, but it may have to do with their dual venue setup. When you walk in, there is a low-budget kind of cafe that has a few specials each day, like chili, quiche, or an Asian item. Nothing particularly exciting and there are only a few tables for eating inside, though outdoor seating is now available with the sunny spring weather. If you wander "beyond" the seating area, though, there is a staircase going upstairs to an unmarked area. That is the restaurant portion of Beyond. Like Mediterraneo, the food is good but would add up if you ate there every day and service is kind of slow. What fascinates me most is that they have a collection of wooden nameplates that they place on tables to reserve them. There is also a generic one with the firm's name, but I want to know what I have to do to get a Preuscher name block.

Sushi Mobile. This is a weird little truck with a cabin on the back where someone apparently serves up some bento boxes of sushi. I've seen it parked in two different places on the walk to the sandwich place. I am not certain whether they move to keep away from dissatisfied customers or what the deal is. There's something about mobile sushi, though, that just strikes me as, dare I say, fishy?

Williams Crepe. This is the little brick-red building featured in the photo above. It is as small as it looks. Like a double-wide garden shed you might have in your back yard. If you go during lunch, it is just packed inside (and with a line out the door) with people waiting for their custom-ordered crepes, both of the sweet and entree varieties. I am a big fan of their Mexican crepe. Lots of chicken, some lettuce, some sort of cheese, and they put a quite spicy sauce on it. Yum!! I can never eat the whole thing. There are two things that fascinate me about this place. First, as you may not be able to see from the small picture, there is seating on top of the place. There is a metal staircase on the left hand side and you just go on up and hope there's an empty place. There usually is not. They also have little blankets up there for when it's cold, which I have seen at other places here and find quite charming. (No blankets spotted outside the Airstream.) Additionally, there is some sort of oven or other cooking facility that is behind the building. One day as I was walking up the staircase, one of the employees (there are only three, which is crowded in their cooking area) was rounding the corner with a pot of apparently just-out-of-the-oven roasted chicken. Hmmm.... I'm not sure how I feel about food in the great out-of-doors before I have the chance to take it there.

Mann Mobilia. Yes, this is the same Mann Mobilia where I have purchased items of furniture and which will be delivering my closet system one of these days. On the fourth floor, they have a cafe/restaurant that reminds me of an upscale IKEA cafe without the lingonberries. You have to drive a short ways to get there, but it's a nice change of pace when you want to get out of the office. (And it provides an excellent view of the nearby KFC -- yes, of the Colonel Sanders KFCs) -- in case you weren't able to smell that grease a mile away.) Based on the experience of one of my colleagues, I would NOT recommend the all-you-can-eat buffet. Some things are suspect no matter where you are in the world.

So today, we got a new place. Thai Time. It is the deluxe (nearly triple-wide) whitish shed also featured in the photo above. It is slightly more spacious than creperie with a full galley kitchen on the back wall and a little bit more space inside where you can stand and eat. It's a rather extensive menu for such a small place. I ordered something that sounded interesting with chicken. I realized later that it also had small sea creatures in it -- shrimps, I think. Dirty sea pig! Otherwise, it was relatively good. They are generous with their fortune cookies, which are in English on one side and German on the other. It is perhaps a good thing I waited to open mine until the end of the meal as it noted, "You should strengthen your immune system." At least it didn't say digestive system....

19 April 2009 -- Slinging and Streaming

["Only a Boy Named David" -- yes, from the days of our very young days at church. There's a sling involved, it's the only thing I could think of that was roughly on point.]

One of the marvels of modern technology is the Slingbox from SlingMedia. I now have one. In a nutshell, you buy a device (I got the Pro HD version at Best Buy for $299 or something like that). You then hook it up to your cable or satellite box as well as to your home network. Then, with the installation of some software on your computer and some additional configuration, it's ready to go.

"Ready to go" meaning what, exactly? Ready to sling local TV programming to anywhere in the world where you have a high speed Internet connection. You can even stream the programming to your BlackBerry (well, not my low-budget, no-camera version) or other smart phone. When you log in, you can see the programs that are currently on, which admittedly doesn't help me that much because in weeknights I'd be getting soaps and other fun daytime programming. BUT, it also features a virtual TV remote that allows you to view whatever has been DVR'd. Ooooohhhh.... Can you say Law & Order? Colbert Report? Bears games?

Now, one drawback to this is that, um, I no longer have US cable service. But Seth and Dena and have graciously agreed to host the device at their house. They, of course, also have the ability to use it wherever they go as well. And obviously I am subject to their whims of whatever they want to record, but Seth already records "The Colbert Report" and also has hooked me on "In Plain Sight." I am lobbying for inclusion of some Law & Order action to be included as well. And, when the season comes, Bears games. Oooohhhhh..... Sooo excited!!!

And this is a fiscally responsible decision, too. I have been paying $1.99 an episode through iTunes to get "The Colbert Report" and regular "Law & Order" so I figure the SlingBox will actually pay for itself (though admittedly I will no longer be able to download the episodes to my iPod, but how often did I actually watch the episodes on that tiny screen?).

I love toys....