A proud American moment
I have to share this with you because it's just too exciting. I got my first anonymous disgruntled comment on a post that wasn't meant to be offensive, but I guess was. An "annoyed American" comments:
maybe it's because of all the parasites and ungrateful brats like you no one can seem to improve anything there.
Why don't you do something for the world instead of being so damn judgemental like the rest of europeans? Make a damn difference yourself.
God, I try and do news searches, and all I run across are whiney brats.
Ugh. I was going to add something, but now I don't know what. I guess comments on comments are redundant...?!
Posted at 05:55 PM on December 27, 2003 | Comments (4)About this thing...(not for the squeamish)
I'm one of those Catholics, that ... are happy to be one. I always was and I'm pretty happy my parents raised me in that faith. I'm not bitter I can't be a priest, I'm not mad at the pope for not distributing condoms and I like to go to mass, pray the rosary and go to confession. Like I said, this post is not for the squeamish, if you can't handle a load of big fat Catholicism, you better run now. On the other hand, when you click on the "Being Catholic" category on the left, you will find maybe... 4,5 posts total from over 170 and there's a reason for it.
I'm a happy Catholic and I don't think all religions are the same but there is something about putting it out there that I don't like. Unfortunately saying that you are Catholic in the industrialized Western hemisphere of the world implies not only what that means but also what it means to non-Catholics or wannabe-non-Catholics, or to "Catholics, but" (those are the ones that say: I'm Catholic, but...) and especially to other Catholics ;). So saying "I'm Catholic" can mean a whole range of different things, depending on who you say it to. I've made the experience that once it's out, it distracts people from seeing me... and ultimately from seeing my faith as well, because what pops up in front of their eyes and mind is the whole "issue" they have with Catholicism and I swear 90% of people have an "issue" and most are dying to tell you all about it. Yeah, I can talk about it from a cultural, political or whatever point of view, but I don't really want to. And what people will try to get at most, is ultimately for me to discuss my faith in a non-personal way and that's impossible. It's like asking an acquaintance to discuss your marriage with you over coffee, where you both express your opinions and judgements in an objective manner about this very personal thing. Uh, right.
I won't put a Catholic flag on this blog, I'm not a crusader, I'm just me. If you want to see something Catholic, you will, whether I call it that or not. I'm sure some of you are pretty relieved and some of you a little disappointed. Which exactly proves my point...
Posted at 09:57 AM on December 26, 2003And a baby makes...3
If you want to have a merry Christmas, you have to see my daughter. :)
Posted at 08:46 AM on December 26, 2003 | Comments (2)Marmelade im Schuh!
Today is my dad's birthday. I can't tell you how old he is, but obviously younger than all of your guesses!
Happy Birthday!
Posted at 05:15 PM on December 21, 2003 | Comments (3)Caring and sharing and caring and...
Due to conflicting schedules we celebrated Christmas this weekend with Lincoln's family (one down, two to go) and it was one of the best I've had, I have to admit. Unlike last year I could enjoy a good meal with no ill before-, during-, nor after-effects. Out of the three things I made, the following side dish seemed to gather the best reviews, so I'm sharing it with you.
It's a recipe from Cooking Light magazine, which you can find here. (pssst.. password is: holidays). Don't be fooled, "light" does not mean flavorless in this case. I love that magazine, although I must've missed the purpose of its title, since I've been known to regularly replace fat-free ingredients with fat-full ones and also doubling portions. :) Anyway, for this one I doubled the vinaigrette amounts - and it was well worth it (ok, I also served at least 2 lbs of green beans, so there)!
Green Beans and Red Onion with Warm Mustard Vinaigrette
The simple vinaigrette is briefly warmed to bring out the mustard's hot bite. You can also heat the dressing in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 1 minute.
1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed
1 cup vertically sliced red onion
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cook green beans in boiling water for 6 minutes or until crisp-tender, and drain. Combine the green beans and onion in a large bowl.
Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, and black pepper; cook over medium heat 30 seconds or until thoroughly heated, stirring vinaigrette constantly with a whisk. Drizzle vinaigrette over bean mixture; toss well to coat. Serve immediately.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
Posted at 04:38 PM on December 21, 2003 | Comments (1)About Saddam...
I don't know about you but my feelings of jubilation and exhilaration are very limited. Don't get me wrong, I am very glad that he was captured, but it's more a sense of sad relief. I always had a problem with feelings of vindication, even when I thought I was really really ready to see someone get what they deserve.
There is something very sad and disappointing in seeing a person on the very bottom, even if they did it to themselves. It's the mirror image of Dorian Gray, all the futility, loneliness and despair of evil (and I am SO reluctant to use this word, George W. just spoiled it for me!) summed up in the face of its victim. Yes, he has to be judged and punished, but it seems he already did a good job of condemning himself.
Posted at 01:58 PM on December 15, 2003 | Comments (3)The Holiday Sweater (not to be taken too seriously)
I don't know if this is an American tradition or if it's just the selective memory of an immigrant in me that forgot about similar customs in Europe but The Holiday Sweater seems to be a cultural staple around here. It's usually made of wool (oops, I meant acrylic of course) or cotton in a knit pattern and displays in cheerful holiday colors a christmas tree, candy canes, snowmen, ornaments or all of the above. Some of those just seem to scream: LOOK AT ME I HAVE THE MOST CHEERFUL HOLIDAY ATTITUDE EVER!!! . Some will also have the good old Giraffe - the oldest of all holiday symbols!?
At the risk of offending all of you, who have one or several of these in the closet, I'm telling you: don't. Dispose of them silently. I know it seemed like a good idea at some point, when you were in the most warmest cheeriest holiday mood, but really, ornaments are supposed to be on the tree and snowmen in the yard. Unless you are 7 (yes, they can pull it off) or an elf, there is no reason to succumb to the annual temptation of wearing a holiday-themed sweater. No, not even for Thanksgiving.
Posted at 04:59 PM on December 12, 2003 | Comments (7)Urgent Elf Message
Please go see this movie! It will be one of the funniest Christmas classics soon! For my friends in Vienna - go see it. (I know it says "Komoedie fuer Kinder" but it's just as funny for adults like me :) I recommend the English Version of course... who could dub Will Ferrell?
Posted at 09:36 AM on December 06, 2003Bestandsaufnahme
Just like last year around this time the weather turned white:
Only this year, I could see my feet:
Because this one showed up:
And it made me so happy that I built this:
Actually I have no clue why I built the snowman. Was it the fact that I haven't made one in ages? Or was I inspired by the presence of a child in my life? Or was it just the excitement that I could create something a n d finish it, in fifteen minutes even? Probably the latter. Oh, the days when one could start a project, not be interrupted and feel the accomplishment - all in one day!