Once again, the day is saved!

I have once again made a new blog.

I know what you're thinking.

Actually I don't.

http://sputniksparrow.wordpress.com

Something something one year anniversary

Happy one year to us! 

B is pretty awesome like that.

(Sunday afternoon)
B: Come on, it's time to get up.
Me: .....
B: Nikki, it's time to get up.
Me: .....
B: Time to wake up!
Me: ..... (finally sit up and stare as B walks in and out of our bedroom)
B: Okay, you don't really have to wake up. I'm going to organize some stuff on my computer.
Me: Then why did you wake me up?
B: ...I don't know.
Me: If you're going to work on your computer...?
B: Uhm... I just thought... you'd like to sit outside with me?
Me: Oh.
B: Hang on.  (He leaves and I hear the door shut. He comes back five minutes later.)
B: Here... I got you some chocolate. I'm sorry I woke you up.

Let freedom ring

Bastian: Maybe on the fourth of July and October third, we should put up the US flag and the German flag on our balcony.
Me: Or just have them up all the time.
Bastian: All the time? Isn't that a bit... much?

Funny videos I've been watching

Burn-E from Mauro Flamig on Vimeo.

Baked in America

I just got this book from amazon.de and its measurements are in CUPS and OUNCES and GRAMS. So you can use all three if you're feeling flighty. I've only gotten recipes online and while it has served me very well (allrecipes.com, for example, will convert measurements and change the serving size if you so wish, which comes in handy for only two people), I really wanted a book. Yes, I'm one of those people who prefers books over e-readers (and while I acknowledge the practicality and environmental friendliness of the whole shebang, I am not opposed to those good old days as portrayed in Mad Men,

before cell phones, the internet, cell phones with internet, before pollution or recycling or women's equality or the dangers of smoking existed, oh those were the times).

Speaking of eras, B and I had a slightly serious conversation* (which we're not particularly talented at doing but it can happen sometimes) about which time period we'd like to live in (having grew up in that time so as not to require weaning off current technology) and we were pretty self-deprecating towards humanity. Anyway, he mentioned living in the colonies. As in, the American colonies. I laughed because I thought he was kidding and then turned it into a "harrumph" kind of sound, which, if you've heard my laugh, is no light task. I asked what he'd do in the situation of being pursued by, you know, the Native Americans, which I think made him change his mind.
"The Middle Ages, then," he said.
"The Black Death?" I asked.
"Oh, right. Well what do you think?"
"The 1950s. It was a good time in America. If you ignore the role of women. And consumerism."
"The Korean War. Cold War. Segregation."
"Okay, okay."
"But you couldn't take me with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well suppose we go to the US. Not that I could even go to the US at that time, but also, no one really liked Germans at that time."
Silence.
"We'll just tell everyone you're Austrian," I say.
"But Hitler was Austrian."
"Yeah, but it sounds better."
"Maybe. Probably not though."
"Hmm. Okay so maybe after the 60s. But then you have some wars."
"Yes, yes you do, and I still couldn't go with you and what are you even doing in the GDR anyway?"
"Sight-seeing? But anyway I'd at least want to live after the whole 'Oh wait fellow doctors, maybe we should wash our hands every once in a while' thing."
"That is a very valid point."
"And the Enlightenment."
"True. How about 1920s Paris. Artists, writers, thinkers."
"But then we're misogynistic again."

So books, right. It was very painful to part with my books in 2008 but I did it. The pain fades but when I visit my parents I still go into my room and caress and smell my books. Don't judge.

We have a ton of cookbooks. Bastian didn't make a great decision in marrying me in the sense that I don't really like cooking. I can't even explain why. Half the time I don't enjoy eating near as much as he does. I mean, I'll do it and all. But I really like baking. I like to think that if I were in any means inclined in the sciences, I'd become a chemist. My old chemistry partner, if he ever read this, would laugh or sigh or ligh. I didn't do any of the work in high school chemistry. I stood there and talked incessantly while he took notes and conducted the experiments and told me to put 3 drops in this one or measure out 150 mL of this. I'd take home the notes and copy everything. Kind of like in the movie "Juno." I feel pretty guilty about this nowadays (and this was the only reason I passed chemistry) but I actually enjoy these kinds of things now. I mean I don't go out and read stuff about chemistry but I like measuring things and mixing them together. I like trying to figure out why the texture is like this or the taste is like this. I think back to all the ingredients and try to figure out what to do next time. This is a good thing because Bastian doesn't like baking. He'll do it and all. I'm always surprised to see that he doesn't seem 100% comfortable with baking. But if you tied one hand behind his back, threw him a couple vegetables, maybe some meat and maybe not, some spices and a stove, he'd figure something out. Me, I'd just order pizza. But I'd bake you some FANTASTIC COOKIES.

I thought about getting this book because it seems very good and has lots of delicious-sounding goods but to be honest, I was put off by the connotations of "Goddess" in the title. I get it and maybe I should prove how much I don't care about those kinds of things by ignoring it and buying it anyway, yeah! But no. Now, as in on this sunny morning of February 11, 2013, I feel put off by it. I will probably buy it another time because it does look pretty amazing. But I'm just saying.

Amazon and their tricks. Shower curtain for 13€ and with spending 20€ it's eligible for free shipping. So I look around for something around 7€ I could get. I find this book I've wanted for a while and it's 14€ and already has free shipping. So then you think, hmm, well it already has free shipping so... I could get another thing for 7€ and still save money... right?... Alas! I stood my ground. And I walked out with one more thing than I planned on getting. Not as bad as Target. I win! Right?

*Edited and shortened for clarity. Apologies for being sometimes offensive towards humanity.

Some practical information

We were really sick that day. But we had a good breakfast. It's the little things.

We went to Erfurt for New Year's. It's really pretty. Case in point, above picture, Krämerbrücke. We walked around most of the time, sometimes the same streets again and again, just happy to do that. When you walk around Erfurt you feel like you've just stepped into a postcard so you'd better not make any sudden movements.  Our plans were pretty sketchy but Bastian was really intent on having some potato dumplings and that was the only thing we really made sure to do. Oh and spending midnight in the hotel, watching a terrible tv program set in Berlin with a countdown and some pop singers we'd never heard of because you can call me an old lady, but dodging drunken firecracker activity with a cold isn't my idea of ringing in the new year (we had fun anyway because the hotel room had a tv, which we don't have, so we watched tv with the kind of fascination that a . The next day we returned to Dresden and Bastian got really sick and I was all, "gee, glad that's over," because when one of us is really sick, the other isn't, or maybe just a little. And pretty much the second that Bastian became chipper, my upper respiratory system had a conniption and I lost my voice. Anyway.

Do you see how happy we are? It's because we got to sit down.  

There are some things about weddings* that nobody tells you. I don't know why. That's just how it is, man.

Look at that smirk. LOOK AT IT.

*There are a million magical things about weddings. We had a great wedding. We were happy to be surrounded by our friends and family. I am not down on weddings by any stretch of the means. But some things? People should tell you.

Consider your claimer dissed. Or something.

1. You won't ever get to sit down. You won't notice until you finally get to sit down how much you've missed it and taken it for granted. Every chair will appear to have a glowing choir of angels singing around it.
2. My cousin's wife told me this, which sounds painful and is completely true: If you have a veil, be careful while hugging people, especially when you're short. People will hug you around your head and unintentionally pull your veil down, which pulls your scalp down.
3. If you have kids at your wedding, hit the dollar spot at Target or dollar stores for some coloring books, crayons and stickers.
4. Sleep. This is really important and not to be messed with. We woke up around 7, did last-minute stuff at the venue, picked up the cake and a million other things I now forget. My cousin curled my hair and my aunt applied mascara. My cousin's wise wife (who gave the tip about the veil) made me some toast because she said I wouldn't get to eat (and I think maybe she should become a bridal consultant). I didn't wear any foundation (like always) because I am afraid of it. B and I drove to my mom's house and got dressed in a couple minutes and drove away to our photo location (Botanical Gardens in Alliance). I stuck my veil on while running out to the car. And friends, that's how it is sometimes.
5. If you are planning on writing your own vows and saying them in a bilingual fashion, try to translate them more than 10 minutes before the ceremony (poor Bastian).
6. Pay people before the day. I had to write a check really quick for someone and I couldn't find my purse. Kate came to my rescue and brought my purse. And then I didn't have a pen. The smallest things can seem tragic sometimes.
7. You will barely talk to anyone. It's a shame because they're all here for you and then you can't even really talk to them. And then sometimes you blurt out details of the circumcision debate in Germany because you don't know what to talk about.
8. This was also shown in "How I Met Your Mother," but you won't get to eat much. We were lucky to have lots of leftovers after the ceremony, which we took to a park for a picnic the next day, but we didn't really get to enjoy eating anything until afterwards. That includes the cake too.
9. We ordered cake from a local bakery (Checkerboard Cheesecake in Alliance, Ohio, if you're curious and let me tell you, it's amazing). We got 3 round cheesecakes and 1 sheetcake for 100 people. It was way too much. We didn't think about the fact that some people leave early, some people don't eat cake, and some parents will take one piece of cake for two of their kids to share. We just went along with what the bakery suggested, which I think was an honest estimation on their part, but for us we ended up with way too much leftover (one whole cheesecake and one whole sheet).

10. Even if you book a nice rustic hotel at which your husband will later tell you he had the best burger of his life, you have to be careful if it's like 40 minutes away by small back streets. We had a really lovely wedding night/next morning and later a lunch there and the food was amazing and the rooms were adorable (Spread Eagle Tavern). But driving 40 minutes at like midnight after doing wedding preparations, ceremony, pictures, reception is... difficult (B kept me awake by telling me stories).

Happy New-ish Year

New Year's Day is always a good time to set new goals, supposedly. 

We haven't done this yet I don't think (B isn't a big believer in these kinds of traditions).

We went to Erfurt (both of us for the first time!) on the 30th to take a small trip and celebrate New Year's there. Before we left we felt sick but didn't think much of it. 

We had dinner on the 31st and then took a walk and there are some of the most adorable streets in Erfurt. Everything is so pretty there that I immediately wanted to move there but I don't really think my city boy could handle it. 

Then we spent our midnight in our hotel room because we had colds. I didn't mind. We laid in bed and talked about 2012. 

2012 was kind of rough for both of us. We got married in August and that was terribly exciting and sweet and romantic and we were so excited when the maid at the hotel of our wedding night asked if we were going to come back for our anniversary and we laughed because anything was possible and we could make decisions like that together and for the rest of our lives. 

I am grateful B and I had each other last year. We grew up a lot in 2012. I am kind of happy it's over now. I have no idea what 2013 will bring but I think it will be good. 

ESL for kids--worksheet website roundup

After teaching adults for four years, I recently started tutoring a 9-year-old girl in English. All my resources were aimed towards adults and I had no idea how I was going to keep her interest and motivation high. Of course I had to turn to the internet. 

In our set up, we don't have a board, overhead projector or any kind of multimedia. Therefore we don't do any listening activities and we work primarily from worksheets and pictures. I am probably going to do some Christmas songs pretty soon though.

• Anglomaniacy (pretty great name) is my favorite site for sure. Here you can find everything you need. I mean. In the voice of Gary Oldman. EVERYTHING. 
• ESL HQ is a good site for all kinds of information but I use the Worksheets page the most. You do have to weed through good and bad worksheets but they have exercises, games, matching, anything you need. Plus there is a "Make a Worksheet" page if you don't find anything you want/like. The Forums page lets you search for specific things. 
• ESL Kids creates worksheets, flash cards, exercises and games from themed vocab words. 
• Tools for educators lets you make all kinds of games with vocab. 

Two dogs dining

B and I laughed so much watching this video!