There is a comic book store here in Marburg and I decided to pick up a little green book. “Auch das Noch!” is a collection of simple comics with an underlying sardonic quality. The book was written by Adam of adamtoons.de.
Translation: Hansi dreams… …how he saves the world. …how he destroys the world.
I also purchased Calvin & Hobbes – Die Rache des kleinen Mannes.
There are some investments in life that, for some unknown reason, end up costing you more than what you originally intended to allocate to them. Last week while riding my bike, which I had just purchased not a week before, the gear cable snapped. Since it was bought used there is no warranty.
A rather unfortunate series of events happened two days ago to my friend. While in class someone stole the seat off of his bike. He purchased a new seat that day and affixed it in place. The next night his bike was stolen from the parking structure. After he fumed about his bike gone missing, he assured me that my bike was still in the parking structure.
This morning when I mounted my bike it was clear that something was wrong. The front tire was completely flat. At first I thought that this was a mere “So ist das Leben” (Such is life) moment, but then I noticed that my small tool box on my bike was hanging open and all the spare tools missing. I inspected the other bikes on the rack and sure enough, their tires were also flat.
After class I purchased an air pump and rode my bike down to BikeMaxx in the Einkaufzentrum to be fixed. I sure as hell hope this is the last time I have to put any more money down on this thing.
Starting today our Studentenausweis (Student Identification) allows us to travel within the federal state of Hessen using any combination of buses and trains, with the exception of Intercontinental and Intercontinental Express. A small group and I went to Frankfurt to take a look around. I went because I knew the city and could show them some interesting points.
The other people were sluggish from the beginning because last night our friend Mert had his birthday party across town. Some did not sleep so well during the night and I had not fared to well either. Too many Getränke (drinks) caused me to find a comfy spot on a couch and slip into an ethereal world of semiconciousness. I took a cab home with some other people and was promptly awoken by the sound of someone buzzing my doorbell. After the initial realization that I had not brushed my teeth, my penance for the previous nights activities had passed. The others walked at a snail’s pace through historical Frankfurt. It was clear that the cultural significance of St. Paulskirche, the Main Tower, and other attractions had not been enough to overcome their desire to find a flat surface for a few hours. It is no suprise they took the early train home.
I stayed two hours longer and Frankfurt to take a few more photos, but instead found myself casually buying chocolate, candy, and various schnitzel just to satiate a German tapeworm that demands such things. The Currywurst was so delicious I ordered a second.
About three stops before my home a confrontation happened on the bus between two parents and some punk kids riding in the back. Though the parents were sitting in the front, the mother came all the way to the back with her baby to confront one of the boys who was smoking on the bus. She demanded that they stop smoking since it was unhealthy for her child. That stopped the situation for a whole five minutes before the Kippen (slang for cigarettes) burned once more. This time the driver stopped the bus and came to the back. He demanded to see if the kids had a pass. Nope.
The driver took them to the front of the bus and made them all pay for tickets. But, oh, that driver a clever one was he. The driver then demanded 40 Euro from them all, which is the fine for Schwarzfahren (riding without paying). Of course there was much to be said about forking over that kind of money. The driver then asked “Mochten Sie mir die Polizei (police) anrufen?” With 240 Euro promptly placed in his hand the driver then kicked the kids off the bus.
The masked marauder strikes again.
Today I made it a point to see Elisabethkirche and was not disappointed. It stands today as the oldest example of gothic church architecture. It is also the final resting place for former Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg. I must have come to the church just at the right time, because I was able to nab a magnificent photo of die heilige Maria mit Christus just as the sun was shining directly on the statue.
Awhile back I received a letter here in Germany from my former employer Festival Foods. In order to “properly mail your W-2 and close your employment file” you have to send back the form included properly filled out. I highly suspect that it may be illegal to withhold a W-2, but I decided to fill out the form tonight anyway.
Nowhere on the form does it say that I have to use English. Hence for question two I answered.:
Q: While working at our stores, did you feel appreciated?
A: Ich war eine bedeutungslose Kogge in einer großen infernalischen Maschine. (I was a meaningless cog in a huge infernal machine.)
Apparently my supervisor thought that I was good enough to rehire. Perhaps this may come back to bite me. We shall see.
Last night was the first time I ever danced to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” at Reit’s in the Marburg Oberstadt. Unfortunately the music heathens I was with were not familiar with one of the best tracks on the Footloose soundtrack. Only my British confidant Jamie appreciated the event as much as I did. By the time we got home it was 4 in the morning and 5 by the time I finally got to bed. Thank God for the N8bus and Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund.
Today after class I decided to walk around Marburg. It felt like die heilige Elisabeth (St. Elizabeth) herself was calling me with her siren song towards her church. I really want to take photos of this magnificent church, which I see at least twice a day on my commute, but there is a reconstruction project finishing up in front of it. Along my wandering I found an abandoned building and some great street art I wish to photograph. I also had an “oh… yeah…” moment where suddenly the layout of the city seemed to make sense.
On Thursday my language course is taking a trip to Wartburgschloß (Wartburg Castle). I have a feeling that of my diverse demographic of friends I may be in the minority with understanding the religious and historical significane of this place. You do not attend a WELS Lutheran grade school and not pick up on the yearly indoctrination.
My search for a Fahrrad (bicycle) turned up nothing this last weekend as I refused to pay the average 500 Euro that most shops were asking. Luck would have it, however, that this Sunday is a Fahrradbörse (bicycle exchange). I will hopefully pick up a mode of transportation on the cheap.
Last night I decided to join my chums on a venture to the Kino (cinema) at the last minute. Cinemas in Germany are different from in the US as they are treated much like sporting events. You receive a designated seat based on the time you arrive or whether or not you reserved a ticket. I’m very thankful that I made the choice to go. Pan’s Labyrinth was a magnificent movie that I had heard nothing about. It was very brutal at times and sometimes the language hard to follow. But the fantasy was so ensnaring that it did not matter. Do yourself a favor and see this movie. Truth be told I shed a tear.
Ü-tag + 18
All operatives now work for the front company, which will provide funding for our extended operations. Einhornjäger GmbH is a public service that does what its name says, hunt and kill the nefarious and magical unicorn. All employees are to henceforth be known as Meistereinhornjäger, or master unicorn hunters. Trust me on this one… I know what I am doing.
There comes a time in every man’s life where the fire dims to but glowing embers. Genesis 3:19 states “…from dust you are and unto dust you shall return.” It is my wish after I shed my mortal coil that my ashen remains be placed in the care of loving family members. In their undying love for me they will distribute my ashes in pepper shakers secretly placed in restaurants throughout the greater Green Bay area.