02/06/2008
flood zone
We've had heavy rain, snowfall and winter storms these past few days. Our back yard looks more like a pond and on my way home today I had to take a detour.
Anthony Boulevard was closed right before the bridge over the Maumee river because of dangerously high water levels. People living on Edgewater Road needed volunteers to help with sand-bagging.
A few more roads along the St.Joseph and St.Mary's rivers were also closed for the same reason. Good thing I know my way around town by now. I had no problem coming up with an alternative route home. 
19:20 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
01/03/2008
it was about time...
....that I went to have my teeth checked and cleaned for the first time in over two years. I was prepared for the worst, but got away with *only* 150 minutes of scaling and root planing. Two old fillings will have to be replaced in May this year, which is going to be nothing compared to today's marathon session at the periodontist's office.
When my new dentist first examined the full x-rays she had taken, and probed into the deep pockets in my gums, she told me horror stories about bone loss and root decay as the inevitable consequences of my *severe* periodontal disease. Well, this was the first time she saw my teeth - so it's understandable that she was shocked.
The specialist, she had me see, found that it wasn't all that bad - at least my condition is stable (I knew that) and with good oral hygiene after today's procedure, I should be OK for quite a few years.
The two dental offices, I have seen in the USA so far, look very similar to the ones I'm used to from Germany. With one main significant difference: there is no cuspidor. My periodontist explained that OSHA had outlawed those in 1985 because they pose a high infection risk. Makes me wonder, how I survived all those years in Germany.
The other big difference is insurance. Coming from the government controlled public health care system in Germany to the *fend for yourself* system in the USA was an interesting experience. The attention you receive here from health care providers is excellent, but you also pay quite well for it - even with insurance.
18:00 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
11/02/2007
Döner Kebap, the Greek/Mexican way
Immigrants from Turkey brought one very delicious addition to Germany's fast food menu: Döner 
A toasted pita bread, sliced open to form a pocket, then filled with shredded lettuce, turkey or veal scraped off a big vertical rotating skewer, tomato slices, onion rings and a spicy yoghurt sauce. I must admit, I really missed that.
Turkish food hasn't made it to the Midwest yet, but Greek food is available. Now, you can't tell the Greeks (or the Turkish) that you think their food is similar, but you can still enjoy a gyros sandwich as a substitute for Döner.
The bread is thinner, so it can't be cut, but has to be rolled around the contents. And for some reason they skipped the lettuce. The *King Gyros* restaurant, where I got my gyros sandwich for lunch today, is operated by Hispanics, like a lot of food places in Fort Wayne.
Life is good!
12:40 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
08/25/2007
my home is my castle
On some weekends, when we don't have time for big adventures, it's always fun to take on a smaller project at home. Like decorate a wall in the basement with Tom's extensive collection of coasters. Or work in the garden, watch our tomatoes grow.
I enjoy having a spacious home with lots of room for my creative ideas. I like to build and make stuff, instead of just buying and then consuming things.
12:59 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
06/08/2006
Second jobs for everybody
Following the tradition here Tom and I got ourselves some small extra jobs: Tom works part time as a security technician, controlling the area's power supply. And I work a few extra hours from home as a virtual call-center agent, handling inbound product order calls for various companies.
Extra cash, extra security, extra options - but less spare time. Seems like you can never have it all your way. I think I might enjoy the call-center from home more than my daily commute, and if/when that happens, I'll switch priorities. So far I'm just testing the waters.
07:29 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/25/2006
Meet Armani
Our newest family member is a 3 month old black labrador-chow mix. We went to the animal shelter and adopted him. Alejandra picked the name (her affinity to fashion clearly visible).18:15 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
05/07/2006
House Warming Party
We had obviously picked the perfect day for our house warming party! Sunshine and very pleasant temperatures helped make this an enjoyable event for everybody.
We had potatoe salad, pasta salad, veggies with dip and fruit salad for sides. Hamburgers, hot dogs and beef brats on the grill. I had prepared a dozen German Pretzels (need to practice and fine-tune the recipe), which everybody liked. Tom's chili was very much appreciated, as always.
Five kids on the trampolin at the same time proved a challenge for the smaller ones. But everybody liked it so much, that Penny couldn't resist and jumped too - carrying James and Tiana.
12:35 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/22/2006
We planted a tree
Trees are an ancient symbol for many things. Firm roots, strong branches, steady growth, giving shelter, supplying food. When you plant a tree, you demonstrate that this is your own land. You strike root for years to come. You show confidence in a prosperous future.
So, today Tom and I went and bought an appletree. We carefully selected one that would survive cold winters. We looked for healthy leaves on flexible branches.
Our tree will produce gala apples after a while. It was getting dark already when we finally found some time to plant it. Tom dug a hole, Mollie watered the tree, and I had to take pictures of the event.
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04/14/2006
We moved into our house
Good Friday is one of the few holidays widely respected in the USA, so I got a day off work. Unpaid, of course, but at least free to do whatever. We made good use of this three-day weekend and moved most of our stuff out of the rented apartment into our own house. Tom, Mollie and I stayed at the house while Alejandra preferred to sleep in the apartment one more night. 
The weather was very cooperative, nice and sunny, and pretty yellow daffodils were growing in our backyard to extend a warm welcome. My knees and back are aching, I can hardly move, probably because of carrying too many boxes with heavy stuff in and out of garages and up and down stairs.
Feels good to be sleeping in my own bed again, after three and a half months. There's still a lot to do in and around the house, but we're not that much in a rush anymore. I'll unpack one or two boxes per day, Tom might clean up the yard and the garage, we'll build a cabinet for Ted and storage shelves in the basement. There will be more time to sit down outside, on the patio, or inside, by the fireplace, and enjoy.
14:35 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/13/2006
Talking about gas prices...
It seems like some things are just the same world-wide: like the things that people talk/worry about the most.
It was the price of gas in Germany - and it still is the price of gas in the USA.
The only difference is the proportions people are talking about.
Taking into consideration that in Germany the price is Euros per Liter, whereas in the USA it is Dollars per Gallon, and looking at an exchange rate of about 1.20 Dollars to the Euro - you still end up with gas being half price in the USA.
But then, people need to drive twice as much. So you end up even again.
The best thing (in my opinion) would be to stop using fossile fuel alltogether. There's plenty of alternatives available. 
14:55 Posted in 05, Getting settled | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this