Marco made his first turkey. It came with sweet, diced carrots, mashed potatoes and delicious gravy. The turkey was in a fool-proof bag with a popup-sign to see when it's ready. It was cheating a little but still useful for the first try on a very good dinner. Of course, we didn't finish the 12 lb turkey in one evening. We will eat it up next week as soup, burgers, fajitas, whatever we can do with the leftovers. We tried to find some variants on the Internet.
After dinner we went to the Pritchard House in Wallingford. Joey Pritchard invited all the members of the International group at Yahoo over to celebrate Christmas. It was a nice bunch of people there. Joey got up at 5 am to make a over 20 pound Turkey for his guests. Jessie from China was there. We first met her at a Meetup and later had a Thai dinner together. Joey, estimated 45 years old, was a tourist guide. He spent some time in Bavaria - Berchtesgaden, Bad Aibling and on the Chiemsee. He showed us his home which included a Bavarian Beer-Corner with a lot of Original Bierkruegen in the basement next to his Sixties Corner. ;-) (reordered til here) He and a guy, who does the firework on the Spaceneedle for New Eve, told us about dating in Seattle. The first sentences repeat always like this, they said: Where do you live? Downtown Seattle or suburb? Are you a house renter or owner? Is your car used more worth than 25' bucks? If you answer sound not appropriate enough the conversation is over soon. Sounds nice, doesn't it? ;-) Both had some women you were used to call them if they needed help. Without any interest in a relationship or a long friendship. Both guys helped them out for a couple of time, moves, giving lifts, maintenance and do-it-yourself jobs, but then they refused after they were not even saying "Thank you" anymore. Finally the girls were mad about them. But I think they were very nice that they helped them at all. Joey still had some back injuries from moving her stuff. Such nice guys can't be obtained everywhere. Joey made a party for all Internationals at Christmas Eve, too. He wished no one has to be alone, he wrote. He had visitor til 2 am. Then he went to bed and got up on 5 am to prepare turkey for his guest for Christmas lunch. Isn't this impressive? But being nice pays off. Joey got a new computer with keyboard, mouse, printer and a digital camera from the International group as a Christmas gift. And he was really moved by this gesture. He is a perceived host for events of the International group. His next party will be at New Eve. Maybe we will join again.
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Merry Christmas to you all. Celebrate a beautiful holiday, eat something tasty, but not too much and get some nice gifts. All our neighbors have grazing reindeers, lights in the garden and even more somewhat exaggerated frills. But get used to it slowly. Even stumps are wrapped in fairy lights. Crazy. I wanna go shopping today. I wish I'll find a bucket to clean the house. At the super market you can meet a lot of people. It's a good place to make Marcos' and my wishes come true, because we both like buying delicious food. I particularly like Marco's smile when he finds something interesting and new to eat (last time pancake with nuts in a little box). He is like a little boy in a candy store.
Everytime it occurs someone asks me for advice about what he or she should cook or if I know how to prepare meatballs or cake. The requirement for this is to know all about recipes and ingredients. I wanna help out but I'm not a cook. I can help with wine selection if someone would ask. Unfortunaly, this never occured before. But on my wishing website (bezauberer.de), I recommend to do good things to raise your personal karma account. At the supermarket you have plenty of possibilities to do random acts of kindness. For example, you can help elderly people with their shopping, bringing bags to their cars, assisting with products on high shelves. In Europe it's rather common that there is no help from clerks or assistents. In America there are even people who put your stuff in bags. It's very convenient - the stores are open Monday to Sunday and til 10 pm or for 24 hours. Staff doesn't have a problem with this. Its a good customer service and significantly different from shopping in Germany. Germans would call this a "shoppers paradise". Once a month there is a meeting in Seattle to meet the German. We have Leberwurstbrote prepared with mustard and pickles and then on to Peter. He and his girlfriend Barbara have a great house in Capitol Hill. We were the first and get tasty Merlot. By and by then the guests came. You could say "elustre guests".
A gay Austrian who is "married" to a black man who is for luxury hotel chains widerum Mystery Shopper and therefore was not included. Sometimes he gets undercover name as "John Schneider" or so, which then appears somewhat incongruous. He has his friend probably met at a party SM what he just did not want to tell - but what could coax him funny Jewish woman from Pittsburgh. She was sending you with her German husband and their three children there, who wanted to decorate a Christmas tree times because of her Jewish upbringing. Since the hosts had one and did not get to decorate, it was finally possible. Unfortunately, then was broken only the fairy lights. The Jewess (I have unfortunately forgotten the name) aligned well very happy and has therefore changed their swear words - of motherfuckers on Mother Father and while driving she scolds those who annoy "smurfs". After a guided tour and a couple of liverwurst sandwiches the first guests already went again and we stayed with a German couple who is in Seattle for 4 years and the hosts are still sitting in the kitchen. The German pair (Kikimaxx) told how they came together was what has also a funny story. They were together in school and after graduation, she has to Sweden for an internship and he said he would be in Sweden. Somehow he was too proud (stupid?) To ask her where she really was and so he then has six weeks that they spent to look in Sweden. When he did not find her, he's back home, met at a party and a girl pregnant and married them. When the marriage then he was and after a Women's abstinence he went out then pushed back to his childhood sweetheart and they are together in the East (Chemnitz), where it has them do not like and then has a boyfriend to Seattle invited and procured a job at MSN him. Since they are there and would never want to return. Germany is bad and the people are all stupid because they are instructive and would like to make a fun of others. She is waiting for a work visa and wanders through the streets for 4 years - which made me a little scared. Is that what I have to expect too? But no, later I learnt she is a real estate broker and just needs to wait one more year for the green card so she could start her own real estate business. Yes, so what do you learn from this "diversity"? Translated by Google Translate Yesterday we found a funny new store: World Market.
The reason was - I don't like salty popcorn. In the US movie theatres you always get salty popcorn, but never sweet. For the perfect enjoyment we searched for an alternative for me. Fortunately, the cinema was in South Center, which is a pretty big mall and shopping area. One block away was a "World Market" sign. We didn't know this store and decided to go in. Inside we found Haribo Gummibears for only $ 1,25, caramel popcorn with macadamia nuts and more delicious international food. The popcorn was very heavy. We could not eat it all up - until now. ;-) We were to the movie theater. It opened today and we saw it already. :-) Half of the audience was younger than 10 and it was a Jim Carrey parade. As Count Olaf he can make his faces what is really nerving if you don't like it. Lemony Snicket wrote some more books and the movie is a medley of 3 or 4 of them.
The Bauedelaires, three young orphans: Violet, Klaus and Sunny, looking for a new home. One running gag is the extensive subtitles for Sunny (2 years). I expected much more unfortunate events. It was more a strange fairy tale with Jim Carrey grimaces, a lot of phantasic, but very surreal pictures, 2-3 cliffhangers and 7-9 jokes (like the one with the snake). A lot of people discuss on the internet about the movie and it's right to exist after Harry Potter. I never thought about this before I read it - but it's true. It's Harry Potter in a "sheep costume" - it tries to be just as successful but most of all very different. Andrea, our landlady, invited us to join a Christmas Party from her neighbors - 3 blocks down from our home. Andrea came and advised Marco to get dressed (what was not really necessary - one guy in shorts, one in a outdoor outfit). A Christmas tree, some neighbors, plenty of food and plenty of kids under 3 years filled the living room.
We talked a little about politics (what is possible in Seattle), travelling, the engineer work at K2 and most of all: the kids. As we have no friends with kids at home it was unfamiliar for us. But a fun experience. And they organize summer street parties and more - more chances to learn about diapers, breeding, only-childs and adoption. ;-) To be continued... Today we are rumgegurkt in Alki and have looked at us in the near vicinity of our new home . We had to buy a Christmas tree before us , but except in the expensive nursery we have not seen any . So we are even further down a bit and have them one huge supermarket , the Metropolitan Market discovered . Very nice one as loud treats are presented . A true culinary paradise . Opposite we were for the first time at " Jack in the box" eat and that was ok . You know so often not what one expects so at the fast food chains , if you have there tried anything yet. Then we were in another supermarket and when we wanted to back down from the parking lot where we came stumbled upon the back of the building where then was the Christmas tree sales of Hosary School . So we have also done something good and get something krüpplige a child's drawing as a thank you . : -) The tree is not as perfect. Eventually the branches are cut off here just when they are not in shape . And we also do not have a tip but 4 But somehow the tree looks podgy and funny . Marco had already bought a colorful Christmas lights low at the hardware store and then there was at Rite Aid still a cheap bead system . Finish the tree . My super great Christmas tree ornament that I had purchased four years ago by mistake on ebay is unfortunately still in the container on the way to the American mainland .
Since Wednesday I get english lessons from Tracy. Yesterday I met her in Downtown at Tullys Coffee for my last preparation for my job interview today. We simulated my interview and I got satisfied with my phrases.
After my lessons I went to the cinema, watched "Closer". I really like it. It's fresh, intelligent, romantic, bad, cynical, sexy (Natalie Portman - I like Jude Law), sad and goofy. No more to expect from a good movie. I read in the imdb it's the movie with the most walk-outs. I can't believe this. In my screening no one left. Today I met Paul. The job interview went pretty good and we talked about some good ideas for his business. But he has some more interviews and I don't know how good the other applicants will be. Marco picked me up there and we ate Chinese. My fortune cookie predicted: You will make many changes before settling satisfactorily - that sounds not easy but we will see... We were shopping at Safeway . Nutella , strawberry jam , vegetables , apples , cheese , biscuits and so , so I do not starve while I digest the jet lag . ;- ) Then there were a toaster and a hair dryer , because we could not bring our for other voltage .
All went well. So, I am here now in Seattle, starting a new life. My trip was still okay after a flight cancellation, but also a bit stressful. I arrived safely in Seattle and was picked apart and questioned by customs and immigration (well, one get suspicious if someone travels with more than 60 kg of luggage to stay for 3 months with her German boyfriend in Seattle. Looks like someone does not really want to leaving after 90 days. ...; ) But all my concerns regarding the import of German chocolate for Marco were not necessary. I could bring it all. Marco picked me up from the airport and we went to the middle of nowhere to IKEA to pick up a mattress on sale - it was still Sunday ( ! ). Then we went to a Thai place here at the corner of our rental. The food was very tasty and then we went home, to our new very very nice place, which I instantly decorated with some IKEA swag, like rugs , toilet brush , -etc. Internet and television are already set up - so what more do you need to live. ;- ) We are now apparently available at IKEA (as a commodity) ;- )
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AuthorOptimistic, curious, human bee. CategoriesArchives
October 2023
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