Yaaaay! I returned home from Germany after traveling 21 hrs, Tuesday evening. I got to see my hubbie and my puppies and sleep in my own bed. Mmmmm, sleep.
As I sit and reflect about my time in Germany, I realize I have many good memories to hold on to. This is the measure of a good thing, I think. I would definitely go back for work and definitely return to Munich again - I like it there.
I forgot to mention that I went to Dachau one afternoon with Eugene, after shift. It was an... experience. If you've never been to a concentration camp before, it is really a moving experience. What the people went through, their oppression, torture, sadness...all very important to see once in your life if you can. It really made me appreciate the wonderful life I am blessed to have. I'll post a pic or two when I can.
In addition to that, the mission ended successfully, we had a post-undocking party at a local restaurant in Steinebach and said goodbye to my new friends at ESA. The plane ride home was pretty fun - I sat next to Eugene and little did I know, but Delta's in-flight entertainment system has a trivia game in it! You can play like you do at the bar: type in a name, play against other players in different seats and win points. We tag-teamed this guy named "GJ" in seat 40E (?) who was schooling us and finally won a round. There were high-fives and hoots of glee all over the place! Then "EEE" stepped in and gave us what for. Talk about good times! I will have to remember that for the next time I fly Delta overseas.
Since I've been home I did some homework, laundry, dog-petting and now I'm watching another round of 2.5 hrs of class. It never ends and always stinks. Please let this semester pass without too much more agony...
Oh yeah - my 29th bday was yesterday. I got wishes of happiness and prosperity from a whole bunch of friends and family - it is really nice to know how much I am loved. Charlie and I watched the Bourne Ultimatum and I fell asleep during it. I'll try again today, I think. I did get a gift certificate for a massage, which I am super excited about. How nice!
...and that's all I can think of. Oh yeah, one more thing. For Valentine's Day charlie emailed my coworkers in Germany (1 of which he didn't even know) and asked that they pick me up some flowers for the occasion. Both of them did and voila!...flowers. It was very thoughtful and super sweet.
...okay, that's my life story.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
A Total Kloster
K
loster Andechs, that is. Two days in a row after our shift, Eugene and I went to Kloster Andechs in nearby Andechs, a short 10-15 min drive from the DLR/Columbus Control Center here in Oberpfaffenhofen. Kloster Andechs is a monestary in the middle of some farmland, but it is almost as famous for its home-brewed libations of dunkles (dark) and helles beer. I, of course, fancied the swanky Radler beer/lemonade .5L at a time. Eug went straight for the full 1L version. We sat in the brewery house, ate some fatty but decent pork roast and potato salad, swapped old war stories and laughed while we watched the other masses of locals eating HUGE pig knuckles and swilling the drink. It was quite a good time.
Since the weather here has been chilly, but relatively beautiful - sunny during the day, clear and starry at night - and we were hopped up on libations, Eug and I decided that we should take a walk through the nearby forest.
After taking in some good scenery, I can't remember who decided (ahem, Eee-U-Genio) it would be a good idea to start scaling some nearby, steep hillside/cliffs. Granted, neither of us were prepared for romping through the forest, but especially not me. I had on my cheapo Sketcher flats and the forest was riddled with treachery - frickin' leafy hillsides, slippery iced rocks, unstable twigs and pebbles - I mean, it was brutal. Even so, we successfully scaled the cliffside and even found a waterfall nearby. It was pretty! Pretty amazing we didn't kill ourselves. Onlookers nearby must have thought we were completely nuts...their assessment was pretty spot on.
Anyway, we spent the next afternoon swilling brews on the sundeck as well, so I guess I found a favorite local hangout in a circa 1455 monestary. I'd probably go there everyday if I could - I bet you never thought you'd hear me say that...
Favorite Words of the Day: Radler, Walrus, Spritely
loster Andechs, that is. Two days in a row after our shift, Eugene and I went to Kloster Andechs in nearby Andechs, a short 10-15 min drive from the DLR/Columbus Control Center here in Oberpfaffenhofen. Kloster Andechs is a monestary in the middle of some farmland, but it is almost as famous for its home-brewed libations of dunkles (dark) and helles beer. I, of course, fancied the swanky Radler beer/lemonade .5L at a time. Eug went straight for the full 1L version. We sat in the brewery house, ate some fatty but decent pork roast and potato salad, swapped old war stories and laughed while we watched the other masses of locals eating HUGE pig knuckles and swilling the drink. It was quite a good time.Since the weather here has been chilly, but relatively beautiful - sunny during the day, clear and starry at night - and we were hopped up on libations, Eug and I decided that we should take a walk through the nearby forest.
After taking in some good scenery, I can't remember who decided (ahem, Eee-U-Genio) it would be a good idea to start scaling some nearby, steep hillside/cliffs. Granted, neither of us were prepared for romping through the forest, but especially not me. I had on my cheapo Sketcher flats and the forest was riddled with treachery - frickin' leafy hillsides, slippery iced rocks, unstable twigs and pebbles - I mean, it was brutal. Even so, we successfully scaled the cliffside and even found a waterfall nearby. It was pretty! Pretty amazing we didn't kill ourselves. Onlookers nearby must have thought we were completely nuts...their assessment was pretty spot on.Anyway, we spent the next afternoon swilling brews on the sundeck as well, so I guess I found a favorite local hangout in a circa 1455 monestary. I'd probably go there everyday if I could - I bet you never thought you'd hear me say that...
Favorite Words of the Day: Radler, Walrus, Spritely
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Good People Are Hard to Come By
So another day goes by on my quest to assist the european flight control team into being "all they can be". It was a rough shift, but somehow we survived it. My Italian counterpart is doing an excellent job and I'm quite proud of him...
I don't have much to say except it is nice to know that there are other people out there that you can relate to. Yes, it is possible for me to make friends (hahaha...ha......haaaaaaaaa. *sigh*), but seriously...It's true and it's certainly nice when I'm far away from home and my little bubble of comfort to be able to have some semblance of normalcy - at least what I call normal.
It's time for bed now - 4p in the afternoon. Some of you shouldn't be surprised by me going to bed early in the day, since my normal bedtime is 9-930p cuz I'm such a rockstar, but alas it is even earlier now that I'm on the night shift (.....working on the NIGHT SHIFT!). Tomorrow begins anew and I have made arrangements to meet my dear friend Michael Serth for lunch. It should prove to be a good day, so long as I fax in my incomplete and totally incorrect homework prior to shift start. Vielen gluck!
Nite nite - jaimers
Favorite Words of the Day: FTPS, "A Dollar Twenty-Five Pah", Craptacular
I don't have much to say except it is nice to know that there are other people out there that you can relate to. Yes, it is possible for me to make friends (hahaha...ha......haaaaaaaaa. *sigh*), but seriously...It's true and it's certainly nice when I'm far away from home and my little bubble of comfort to be able to have some semblance of normalcy - at least what I call normal.
It's time for bed now - 4p in the afternoon. Some of you shouldn't be surprised by me going to bed early in the day, since my normal bedtime is 9-930p cuz I'm such a rockstar, but alas it is even earlier now that I'm on the night shift (.....working on the NIGHT SHIFT!). Tomorrow begins anew and I have made arrangements to meet my dear friend Michael Serth for lunch. It should prove to be a good day, so long as I fax in my incomplete and totally incorrect homework prior to shift start. Vielen gluck!
Nite nite - jaimers
Favorite Words of the Day: FTPS, "A Dollar Twenty-Five Pah", Craptacular
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Another Day, Another Dollar
It is the end of the 5th day of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on orbit and my shift is nearly done. I've sneaked (is that a word?) a few minutes to update my blog. I have been in Germany for a week now and will be here for another week, maybe until 2/18. Hopefully this means I will be home in time for my birthday on 2/20, the big 2-9. One more year until I'm 30! Gosh, how time flies...In any case, for the past two days I have been a bit down for some reason, must be hitting my mid-mission blues. Must be. Or maybe I just miss my family at home - puppies and the hub (puh-puh-puh-puppies-and-the-HUB!). So far all of my shifts have been zooming by, but I think that my 4.5 hrs of sleep before yesterday's shift started slowing me down. Our flight control team over here (about 8-10 of us) went to a nearby 'billiard' hall called the "Spieloase" and had a beer + pool fiesta (I had a Radler, which is a beer/lemonade mix. I like it!). It was quite fun considering I hadn't had much sleep and considering I am stinky-riffic at pool...I'll never do my Dad any justice with my lack of pool skills. They even had a pet parrot that screamed (yes "screamed", no squaking for this guy!) every few minutes to keep us on our toes. Eugene was playing air guitar on his pool cue and I jumped a ball to try to make a shot (nope, I was not successful)...this is the best I could do. It was fun either way and I was glad to get a whopping 7.5 hrs of sleep last night, so I WIN!
Today's shift is going pretty slowly, which is kinda lame. However, there is Indian food and some city shopping in my future. Mmmmmm, delish! Can't wait to eat "real" food again, cuz boy am I getting tired of my daily meat and cheese snack, with yogurt. Every meal, every day. Or as Eug would say: "Same sheise, different tag".
Talk to you all soon, that is all - One.
Favorite Words of the Day: Geo-Metro, Duner, Hund, Va Funculo
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Sleeping and Working
That's all I do since I got here to Munich: sleep and work. By "sleep" I mean no more than 6 hours of the stuff and by "work" I mean crack it up with my coworker Eugene (Herr Schwanbecker if you want to get right down to it) for 10 hours, starting at 2am when our shift starts. I guess some eating is thrown in there, if you consider mawing down on meat and cheese snacks, plus some fruit, instant soup and chocolate, "eating". Maybe I'll come home a few pounds lighter? Maybe I'll just come home fat on some breakfast cheese.
Our meals at work here are 'catered' once a shift - our catering consists of meat and cheese and fruit and bread. Not bad, but as my cohort here says, "That's what I eat at home." Today when I got to work, there was some leftover hot soup with weiners in it. "The wein". It was a fine alternative to the coldcut scene, but still I ask for more. How ungrateful I must seem to all of those in need in this world.
After working 10 hours, Herr Schwanbecker and I went to get some S-Bahn Thai food (S-bahn is the local metro system). It was a crap shoot that this teensy place by the metro would be open on a Saturday (and that it would be tasty), but it was delish. I think we had some kind of cashew chicken food. The place only serves one dish per day, so you just get what they're serving. They even had these cute little soy sauce plastic fish containers that I think Eugene stole 17 of. They were cute though, worth fencing (sp?) for sure. Today the ride home from work was uneventful, since Eug and I were both fricking tired. Yesterday was hilarious riding home because we busted out in song the whole ride home. Speaking of songs, we sang a lovely duet today when we got to work - Pictures with Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock. Dang, we're good.
...but now I sit in my room, waiting for 3 or 4 o'clock to roll around so that I can go to bed. Only 2 more hours to go! I think I'll pop in a movie (the last one made me cry my eyes out and snivel like a child - "Away From Her" (2006)) and then hit the hay.
Favorite Words of the Day: Magnum P.I., McSteamy, D-bag
Our meals at work here are 'catered' once a shift - our catering consists of meat and cheese and fruit and bread. Not bad, but as my cohort here says, "That's what I eat at home." Today when I got to work, there was some leftover hot soup with weiners in it. "The wein". It was a fine alternative to the coldcut scene, but still I ask for more. How ungrateful I must seem to all of those in need in this world.
After working 10 hours, Herr Schwanbecker and I went to get some S-Bahn Thai food (S-bahn is the local metro system). It was a crap shoot that this teensy place by the metro would be open on a Saturday (and that it would be tasty), but it was delish. I think we had some kind of cashew chicken food. The place only serves one dish per day, so you just get what they're serving. They even had these cute little soy sauce plastic fish containers that I think Eugene stole 17 of. They were cute though, worth fencing (sp?) for sure. Today the ride home from work was uneventful, since Eug and I were both fricking tired. Yesterday was hilarious riding home because we busted out in song the whole ride home. Speaking of songs, we sang a lovely duet today when we got to work - Pictures with Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock. Dang, we're good.
...but now I sit in my room, waiting for 3 or 4 o'clock to roll around so that I can go to bed. Only 2 more hours to go! I think I'll pop in a movie (the last one made me cry my eyes out and snivel like a child - "Away From Her" (2006)) and then hit the hay.
Favorite Words of the Day: Magnum P.I., McSteamy, D-bag
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Made It!
After an uneventful flight, I made it to Munich. I'm all set up in my hotel room, checking email and getting ready for a small nap. I did not sleep at all on any of my travels - still not sure if that's a good or bad thing. I also forgot it is Fat Tuesday today and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, so I think everything is closed here. Awesome. I just want to go to the Hit (grocery store) and get some noodle soup and clementines. At least I brought oatmeal. I can survive on that, right?
On the way over I also did not do much homework. I tried to, gave it a Grade C effort, but so far only 2 of 4 problems have any progress. Only 1 of those 2 is complete...or at least turn-in worthy. *SIGH* Instead, I watched Beowolf (disturbing), Dan In Real Life (Steve Carrell - I liked it!) and The Invaders (Nicole Kidman and new James Bond guy - it was fine). Oh, and I had the whole 2 seats to myself - my flight was really quite empty.*
Weather is great here so far, I can see the mountains from my balcony again! ...wish I had found my point-and-shoot camera before I left. Didn't want to lug around the ol' SLR this time around since I know I'll really be working only this trip, so I left without a lens in hand. Man, is that a weird feeling.
Anyhoo, I'm here and life is good.
Tschuss!
ps: I also have a BMW 3-series for my car. Built in GPS and she drives great. Thank you National Car Rental for the vehicle!
*pps: I am thinking of using some of my per diem (if any is left over) to offset the carbon footprint my half-empty 9:10 hr flight across the Atlantic Ocean contributed to. Gotta find a valid way of doing that - I wonder how much it costs?
On the way over I also did not do much homework. I tried to, gave it a Grade C effort, but so far only 2 of 4 problems have any progress. Only 1 of those 2 is complete...or at least turn-in worthy. *SIGH* Instead, I watched Beowolf (disturbing), Dan In Real Life (Steve Carrell - I liked it!) and The Invaders (Nicole Kidman and new James Bond guy - it was fine). Oh, and I had the whole 2 seats to myself - my flight was really quite empty.*
Weather is great here so far, I can see the mountains from my balcony again! ...wish I had found my point-and-shoot camera before I left. Didn't want to lug around the ol' SLR this time around since I know I'll really be working only this trip, so I left without a lens in hand. Man, is that a weird feeling.
Anyhoo, I'm here and life is good.
Tschuss!
ps: I also have a BMW 3-series for my car. Built in GPS and she drives great. Thank you National Car Rental for the vehicle!
*pps: I am thinking of using some of my per diem (if any is left over) to offset the carbon footprint my half-empty 9:10 hr flight across the Atlantic Ocean contributed to. Gotta find a valid way of doing that - I wonder how much it costs?
Sunday, February 3, 2008
To Germany...Again
Today is Superbowl Sunday and I am busy doing laundry, packing clothes, eating leftover porkchops with curry couscous and delaying the inevitable, dreaded homework that awaits me.
Tomorrow I head to Munich for work for about 2 weeks. "Ooooh, Munich!" they say. Yes, Munich was great back in December with all of the Christmas Markets and fun times to be had - of that, there is no doubt. This time around, however, I know we are going to launch that darned space shuttle and it will be all work, no play. Especially since I will be working the 2am-11am shift (that's the ~7p-4a CT shift) :(
...yeah, yeah, yeah - poor Jaime gets to travel to Europe, again.
Don't get me wrong, I love to go to different places across this great planet and experience things. It is my favorite thing to dream about. But I do not consider my work trips to be "travel", necessarily. I always consider the word "travel" to mean exploration, adventure, history, culture. A life-enriching experience. Going someplace to sit in a room for 10 hours and then go home to crash out on a hotel bed isn't necessarily life-changing.
I will say that I definitely DO appreciate the opportunities given to me through my job - getting to travel at all, even better internationally, is nothing to snuff at. I enjoy it, and working abroad is an adventure all on its own. I am happy to be going abroad and Munich is a great city to be able to work in the vicinity of. As far as the "excitement" part, we'll see if I can drum some up. Now if I can only find some time in there to "travel"...it would be almost ideal :)
In any case, I plan on making the best of being somewhere special and out-of-the-ordinary. That's what life is for. Making the most out of each day we are allowed to gaze upon the beautiful blue sky, breathe in a crisp February breeze and soak in the sunshine as it kisses the apple of our cheek.
Tomorrow I head to Munich for work for about 2 weeks. "Ooooh, Munich!" they say. Yes, Munich was great back in December with all of the Christmas Markets and fun times to be had - of that, there is no doubt. This time around, however, I know we are going to launch that darned space shuttle and it will be all work, no play. Especially since I will be working the 2am-11am shift (that's the ~7p-4a CT shift) :(
...yeah, yeah, yeah - poor Jaime gets to travel to Europe, again.
Don't get me wrong, I love to go to different places across this great planet and experience things. It is my favorite thing to dream about. But I do not consider my work trips to be "travel", necessarily. I always consider the word "travel" to mean exploration, adventure, history, culture. A life-enriching experience. Going someplace to sit in a room for 10 hours and then go home to crash out on a hotel bed isn't necessarily life-changing.
I will say that I definitely DO appreciate the opportunities given to me through my job - getting to travel at all, even better internationally, is nothing to snuff at. I enjoy it, and working abroad is an adventure all on its own. I am happy to be going abroad and Munich is a great city to be able to work in the vicinity of. As far as the "excitement" part, we'll see if I can drum some up. Now if I can only find some time in there to "travel"...it would be almost ideal :)
In any case, I plan on making the best of being somewhere special and out-of-the-ordinary. That's what life is for. Making the most out of each day we are allowed to gaze upon the beautiful blue sky, breathe in a crisp February breeze and soak in the sunshine as it kisses the apple of our cheek.
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