Saturday, March 25, 2006

Spring in Rümmingen

Yes we have the beautiful flowers popping up.......















We have spring yard projects started......



















There are seed booths at the farmer's market.....















But it is not spring in Rümmingen until the signs and barriers for the frog crossings go up!





... do not laugh, Richmond, VA has it's own salamander crossing!


Thursday, March 09, 2006

DOH!

Ever have one of those days? you know, when things are going pretty well, then you do some bone-headed thing to mess it all up?

I had mine.

I brought a monitor home from the office to check my G4 (just to make sure it survived the trip in a crate). Got the computer unpacked, checked for damage (none noted...which is always nice) and plugged it in...no...wait...did I really just plug it in? I mean, did I really just plug it in WITHOUT first switching the power tab over for European settings? Um. Yeah. 

POP. Fizzle. ssssss...the lovely smell of burnt power supply in the afternoon...it smells like...well, it smells like I need a new computer.

Now I'm faced with the prospect of either getting a MacMini or getting a used power supply...you do the math.

I need some sleep.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Not since 1929...


...has there been this much snow in the Lörrach area. And it is still snowing off and on. Most unusual, according to the locals. Kneedeep on the Vosteen kids is deep, for them...and now they know what snow-tunnels are!

We have food, water, electricity and a mom-and-pop store within walking distance so it's really not that big of a deal...now that the driveway has been cleared from the snow-plow pile. O'course, now I will REALLY be able to tell my grandkids "when I was your age I used to have to walk to work in the snow, uphill, both ways" (but don't worry mom and dad, we can actually drive...unlike in Richmond, where two inches of snow can bring the city to it's knees...God bless the Winterdienst!!).

Thursday, March 02, 2006

In Prague

Arrived in Prague yesterday evening. Why Prague? Well, I've never been, and it seemed like a good idea, and after all, it's in Europe, right?

Well, no, not really...I'm attending a meeting of a whole slew of other media professionals from our company. We're going to be sharing resources, tools, tips and tricks...it should be a good trip. Yesterday we spent the majority of the time talking about what we are doing right now...and that was a bit odd...you see, I've only been here since January (exactly 2 months as of today) and most of our time has been spent getting settled in (first in the Ferienwohnung, now in the house) getting our crates unpacked, getting the kids into the schools, and generally trying to adjust...and, wait, I have a job, too? On the up side of this, seeing and hearing what other offices are doing to help their personnel has been very inspiring. It's VERY cool to be working for an organization with so many bright and able people.

I'll post some pics of the city, and since I may not get back out during daylight hours (our schedule is rather packed), these may have to suffice for the view of Prague...