Sunday, June 21, 2009
Good Fart, Out Fart, Fucker ????
No comment!
Wedding Meike & Jörn
The wedding of Meike and Jörn was a beautifull day at Ahrensburg close to Hamburg. We’re very, very happy for you guys.
The bride and grooms car gets usually a flower bouquet. Since they both work for the HSV (Hamburger Sport Verein – Hamburg sports club) they had the logo as their bouquet.
The groom and René
Some people have a special pose… And Owen is one of these. His girl-friend Meike(photo below) is usually not that happy, if he does the pose, because he is doing this in each
and every picture ;-).
Sometimes she can’t help herself and just joins the pose.
And, we couldn’t wait to do so, too!!!!
Since Ownen was able to export his pose, Julie needed to give the Ugly Face to the UK as well.
Hm, later at night René found an air guitar to play with ACDC…Friday, June 19, 2009
Hamburg
For Jörn’s and Meike’s wedding we drove to Hamburg and since we were there one day early we had some hours to visit the very beautifull city of Hamburg – 255 miles north of Düsseldorf.
In addition to René’s mom and Harald we visited Hamburg with Bertine and Francis – very good Belgium friends that René’s mom knows from childhood.
City hall of Hamburg.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunny Sunday in Düsseldorf – The Japan Day
Japanese population (people say almost the biggest outside of Japan).
Check this out: http://www.japantag-duesseldorf-nrw.de/
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Cooking Duell for the 1st time
The rules: Someone will be the host for the duell and provides his/her kitchen and drinks for the night. The hosts is also responsible for creating the dinner for the people who are invited. The guests have to bring the groceries for the dinner that have will be prepared by the
host. Of course, the main point of the duell is that the host doesn’t know which
groceries the guests will buy and bring to the cooking duell.
Even the guests are not really allowed to coordinate with eachother! It is allowed to talk a little bit about the ingredients, but just in the way that they don’t bring kilos of meat or fish or just carbs. The host should be able to prepare at least a four course dinner! This time Julie joined for the first and we played for the first time since fall 2007. Host was René.
The starter: Zwieback with grilled goat cheese
and marashino cherries…
Rabbit butt … preparation of the fresh rabbit that Julie bought.
Orange-trout filled with garlic sprouts and peaches.
Self made spring roles
I guess the rabbit was delish
For a good meal you need also some goooood wine, of course.
Even though Morgan sometime gets some people food in addition to her cat food, but this time she also got some Shiny Cat from Henrike and Christian which looks almost like “real food”.
You can see the shrimp and tuna, amazing for cat food.
Ok, the cat on the cover looks a little bit retarded.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The green hell – 24h race
The Nürburgring, a racetrack, with a distance of almost 16 miles per lap is also called “The green hell”, because of its more than 70 turns and shape like a rollercoaster.
During the 24h race more than 200 cars/teams compete with each other. Professionals and amateurs on the race track try to win or even finish the race – it is exhausting.
This car (number 43) is a continuation model of the famous Ford GT40 from 1966. Unfortunalety, after thrilling, leading laps a technical problem made it stop and a new Audi R8 won the race.
In this race you can find modern-, rare-, spectacular- or just cars that you know from the past and some have a special cliché. This car (number 120) for example is a Opel Manta which was a “sporty car” in the beginning of the 80th.Every Manta driver/owner used to wear cowboy boots, had a blond hairdresser as girl-friend on the co-driver’s seat and a fox tail on the antenna… Of course this kind of car has not chance to win the race anymore but it was a competitor of the winners between 1979 and 1982 (Ford Capri and Fort Escort).
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Convertible Tour
Timbered houses (Fachwerkhäuser)
With a co-worker of René we drove to the Siegerland (area 20 miles south of Cologne)
and had a very nice day at one of the country sides of Germany.
Cute villages with timbered houses and small winding roads.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
After a long period of hard winter-training…
… the Marathon-day came and we had to run. We ran the 42,195km (26miles 385yards)
with Debbie and Sue who came all the way from the US. Thanks for the special support of René’s Uncle Klaus (pictured above), Aunt Maria, Mom (Gisela) and her boyfriend, Harald.
Harald, Maria, Klaus and Gisela – our special support! (from left to right)
Thanks mom for running a part of the marathon and handing me some Gu.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sheep on the Rhine in Düsseldorf
Sheep in the middle of the city?? Can you believe this … one day during a training run on the Rhine, we almost tripped over a whole flock of sheeeeeeppp!!!!
They are so, so cute!!
The Space Needle of Düsseldorf and the Sheep of Düsseldorf. Almost everyday they can be found grazing on the banks of the Rhine.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Impressions of Masstricht (Netherlands)
René went for work to Maastricht. Just to give you some impressions of this nice city in the Netherlands very close to the German border here you’ll see some pictures:
Sometimes you find statues… that remind you of something…
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Easter egg search at ‘The Red Lion’
On the morning after The Red Lion, I found this Easter basket with delicious Reeses peanut butter cups – thank you, Julie!! I got an Easter basket!!!
The gang at The Red Lion, the ole favorite. Of course Julie and René met here, so this will always be the favorite place to go.
Ki, June and Libby. (Strike a pose.)
Suds!
Another round!
A beautiful day in NYC
Anna – Thanks again!!
Next Stop ‘The Red Lion’
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
NYC Easter Karaoke
Upper 5-mile loop (http://www.centralpark2000.com)
Jeff, Janine, René
Ok, there was the horrible run, but before that we needed to make a visit to our favorite karaoke place in NYC. Here we’re getting ready for an evening of singing at Anna’s.
Thank you, Anna!! Thank you so much for the accommodations!
We were with Robyn (above) and
Janine, Jeff and Debbie (below) at Quattro Gatti on E. 81st Street for a delicious pasta refreshment ante-karaoke.
Jeff, Debbie, René, Janine, Julie and June at IZU – favorite karaoke place in NYC.
So good to see you, June!!!!
Rock it Janine!!
Woo hoo!!!
“Excuse me…” and who is a teacher – now? ;-))
Debbie and Jeff
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The cat is doing good!!
Any idea? Hm?Btw: We have these Post-its all over the apartment to learn the vocabulary.😉
Some kitties like cat grass or special cat nip treats – Well, our Morgan prefersweeds.
After the winter we started cleaning off the balcony, removing debris and dead plants. Within one big pot of old, dried-out flowers and other botanical species, a small, fresh weed was found growing. During Thumper’s short tours out on the balcony, she started to nibble away on this particular weed. Every time she went out, she went straight to this little, growing weed and nibbled its leaves, and so we decided we had to keep it. Nowadays, you’ll find that the weed has been transferred to a brand new big pot, and it’s the tallest plant on the whole balcony – yes, the cat’s weed!
That’s my tree!!Sunday, March 15, 2009
Bavaria and Castle “Neuschwanstein”
A week long seminar for René’s job, brought us to Bavaria. The little village where it took place was very close to the famous, fairytale castle „Neuschwanstein“ (the model for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle) built by King Ludwig II who died in 1886 seven days before the castle was opened to the public. His death is still kind of a mystery.
http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
In front of the castle, there was a small snack shop. We laughed at the menu which was presented in at least three languages…
How do you say “Schnitzel” in Japanese? Or is that Korean?
In the distance behind us, you can see the castle on the mountainside(look right above René’s head).
… not Jägermeister … This is a house of one of them 😉Monday, February 23, 2009
Helau!!!! Street Carnival and Parade on Rosenmontag
Later we switched to another bar in the Altstadt to 
finish off our Street Carnival day.
Who’s the real statue??Sunday, February 22, 2009
The 5th season being continued….
Superman and Maya The Bee were also with us…
Ice, Ice Baby!!
Even a pilot needs his “guitar” in the cockpit… 
“Wayne’s World! Wayne’s World! Party time! Excellent!”
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The 5th season of the year… Old Hag’s Day “Altweiberfastnacht”
On Old Hag’s Day called “Altweiberfastnacht” which is the Thursday of Carnival celebrations.The pilots are waiting to board in the hallway…
On Carnival Thursday the women enter the Town Hall to capture the Mayor and take over the administration of the City ;-). That marks the official start of the “street carnival” in Düsseldorf.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Impressions from Düsseldorf
The Burgplatz
Fear not! Starbucks is here as well…
Düsseldorf’s main train station area at nightSaturday, January 24, 2009
Andreas’s 40th birthday bash
Everybody was required to show up with a 70’s costume at Andreas’s birthday party at the Pauls. A very smal New York style pub.
Chair dacing
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Katzenklo, Katzenklo ja das macht die Katze froh….
Morgs’ new German potty or “Katzenklo” (including a peek at our bathroom).
Check out this song:
/Katzenklo.mp3
Monday, January 12, 2009
European Vacation: The Gairs
We met up with Maria, Martin, Ian and Max at Saskia´s house outside Frankfurt (highschool friend of Maria´s). The Gairs were at the tail end of their holiday travels in Europe including trips to Scotland, Austria and Germany, and the timing allowed us to spend an afternoon together.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My new home town
There was snow all over Düsseldorf for the first couple of weeks that we were here. Snow is actually quite rare here even in winter, but a big storm brought a record 20 centimeters just days before we arrived.
Here are some shots of the snow-covered city…
TV Tower (the skyline’s most iconic structure)
View of the Rhein River and the Altstadt with the old RheintowerFriday, January 9, 2009
Welcome Party!!
René’s friends threw us one fabulous Welcome Party just days after we arrived in Düsseldorf. They cooked homemade classic German dishes, such as Haxe, Erbsen Suppe, Bretzeln, Weiss Wurst, and Mettigel. Unbelievably delicious! They brought over warm food, plenty of beer and festive German-themed decorations to make me feel welcome in my new home… it was a wonderfull night.
“Looping Louis” – a children’s game which has dangerously gotten into the hands of these adults. When mixed with vodka or other liquor, this game can provide hours of entertainment and fun for the whole family.
Alex & Dieter
Marta
Tom
Andreas
Want some chicken? (actually Haxe)
Surprise! They brought me a costume to wear throughout the evening…. a traditional Bavarian “Dirndl” for girls.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Welcome to Düsseldorf!
René’s mom, Evelyn and Christian gave us a warm welcome at Düsseldorf airport.