The rare 29th of February

This last week, my mind has continued to jump back to thoughts of, "This time last year...". I guess that's because my life, in the course of one year, has taken on such a different look yet really is still very much the same as it always was, and it's kind of fun to compare.

And you know what, today I can't think about how much more will be changed one year from today because today is LEAP DAY! I can only ponder what my life will be like 4 years from today. Or what I was up to 4 years ago, which was when I was a senior in college and so I was probably freezing cold in Wyoming and watching Bloomberg  and depending on what day of the week it was I likely attended a hockey game that night or baked a cake or had a Top Model marathon with my roommates. Hard to say.

We (world) are currently making up for the fact that we neglect a quarter of a day each year that should really exist. Good for us for being semi-responsible keepers of time. Also, aren't we clever in America to have Presidential elections during leap years? It makes it really easy to remember either that it's a leap year or that it's an election year, depending on which you tend to better remember.

I hope you do something fun and kinda quirky today and enjoy the extra 24 hours of 2012 :)

This life, I tell you what

Sometimes I can't even believe that I live here. How in the world did I pull this one off?

Birthdays galore!

Happy birthday!

... to both my sister and my mom! Allison's birthday was on Thursday, and my mom's birthday is today! Both of them have now officially entered into new decades of life, and I hope they've enjoyed the first sweet moments. While science proves that celebrating someone's birthday is 100% more fun when you're with them on that day, both Skype and Amazon have helped me make sure that sister and mom know I'm celebrating them, even all the way over here in Europe.

Last year was so fun, as I got to have Allison with me in DC for a week over her birthday, and since I flew with Allison to and from Wyoming, I got to see my mom twice around her birthday! It's now been 7 months since I've seen either of them, but the good news is that my mom booked a trip out to see me in May! It might be her birthday, but that is certainly a gift to me.

My family is really something special to me. We've experienced such unique things together, and we're a close-knit bunch. My mom is the rock, unwavering and strong. My sister is an inspiration to me, brave and compassionate. And while I'm talking about my family, I might as well add that my brother is a blessing, understanding and someone who has become a true man. I hope everyone feels the love I'm sending and enjoys the birthday festivities! You guys are definitely a reason for celebration!

xoxo

love always,
E

Photos: Fastnacht

I haven't posted anything since Valentine's Day! For Pete sake, how did that happen? Anyway, I feel like I've just mostly been posting photos to my blog recently, and so I promise some real words in the  very near future. For now, please enjoy another round of photos, brought to you by Fasching/Fastnacht/Karneval in Mainz this past week! Helau!

The Fassenachtbrunnen in Schillerplatz

A thousand posters, fliers, advertisements, etc

Even the transportation website was showing its spirit

Spotted: Chicken.

Meine Rosenmontagmaske

two more and then i swear i'm done

here is what today looks like in my neck of the woods. <3

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxoxoxo

happy valentines day!

love always,

e

Love is in the ... chlorine, apparently.

I can't get enough of this video. So, in the spirit of the upcoming Valentine's Day and just because really, who doesn't adore Matt Grevers' back... I mean... sweeping romantic gestures, I give to you-- Matt Grevers "popping the question" at the Missouri Grand Prix to girlfriend (and phenomenal swimmer) Annie Chandler. 

I know. <3

Edit

I'm still learning how to get the max out of Picnik, but this editing software is fun! Too bad it's services go to Google+ in April.

On Moving

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

~Walt Disney

I counted today, and in the last 10 years I've moved 10 times, and that doesn't include the in-betweens where my lovely mother let me come home and pile my things up everywhere and sleep in my childhood bed and eat the food in her refrigerator. It also doesn't include the times my friends have let me crash on their couches and pile my stuff in their living rooms while I transitioned from place to place. I'm staring a potential 11th move in the face as soon as one week from now, and I have to say that stability has a bit of an appeal right at this moment. Plus, I'll miss out on all the Spring wine fests here if I move, among other things. Aw, man! But I'm choosing to look at it as an adventure, a test of my being, and a chance to grow professionally and personally. Ready or not, here I go!

Da Bears

It's SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! go America!

But really, sorry everyone out there rooting for Tom Brady errrr I mean the Patriots. And sorry to everyone rooting for the Manning brother who actually gets to play in Indianapolis this year errrr I mean the Giants. Why sorry? Because I don't care who wins. That's right. I don't care. I'm a Bears fan, so I'll take the side of the NFC and therefore side with Giants fans on this one, but all I really care about is this:

Take it away, Shufflin' Crew!

Call it what you will...

Karneval. Fasching. Fassenacht. Mardi Gras... whatever you want to call it-- it is upon us! Mainz does Fassenacht BIG TIME. While Rosenmontag isn't for another couple weeks, the store windows are nonetheless decorated in Mainzer blue, red, yellow, and white. Take a looksie.

Hellau! Hellau! Hellau!

Freeze Face

It is COLD here! Winter has kind of forgotten about Germany up until now. It's been chilly enough to be obnoxious but not cold enough to whine. Well, for the next week here, it will be into the low-mid 20 degreesF during the day, and is to dip into ... you know what, I'm sorry. Stop for a second. It smells like dog in this coffee shop suddenly. Ohhhh that's because people bring their humongous dogs into restaurants here. I forgot. ... the mid-teens at night. There's a blustery little wind going on, too, just to make sure we all are truly chilled.
This is what weather.com is warning me about today:

High disruption due to extreme low temperatures for Saarland Und Rheinland-Pfalz

In den kommenden beiden Nchten ist verbreitet mit Frost zwischen -10 und -14 Grad zu rechnen. Auch tagsber sind keine positiven Temperaturen zu erwarten.

What does "high disruption' mean? Disruptive to life? Highly disruptive rosy red cheeks eveywhere? High amounts of cell phone service disruption (don't be silly; we don't have Verizon Blackberrys here...)?  I am apparently countering this warning because everything I've done during this weather has been productive. Take that, weather dot com alert!

What I'm really liking about this weather is that everyone is walking around with their Freeze Faces on. You know, when it's so cold outside that it kind of looks like everyone is trying to smile because of the way that their faces squinch up, and draw back many of the same muscles as smiling does, as the cold wind bashes them in the face ? Ultimately, the Freeze Face just makes people look like they're probably about to be sick. 

Example of my freeze face. It just looks like something is horribly wrong.
Also, I've developed an allergy to my pillow, so don't mind my eyes today.

That, and also that if you're out and about in this chill, you have to really mean it. I like that extra bit of purpose. "Yeah what?! I'm out here! I have important business, man!"