I Heart German Design

Surely you are all aware that Germany prides itself in creating beautiful design. One look at a Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, or BMW should tell you that. The really great thing, for me, is that this design is not just limited to big companies and industrial applications. No, this design overflows into the public sector, infusing kitchen gadgets, office supplies, and home furnishings with fun features and cool colors. Furnishing a home in Germany (or really anywhere in Europe) is fulfilling a childhood dream of surrounding yourself with "gadgets".

I thought I would show you some of my recent purchases, to inspire you in your quest for fun things. A lot of these items were found at local shops or online at design3000.de, my new favorite site for internet browsing. I'm not sure if they ship to the US, but for those of you that know me well, I can always be persuaded to "import" something for you on my next visit home. :)

The Clarktoberfest Gallery of Fun Design, Volume 1

"Lucky" Monitor Cleaner by Koziol

I gave this monitor cleaner, aptly called "Lucky", to my cousin for Christmas. Isn't it so fun? First of all, monitor cleaners are useful because your monitor always gets dusty, and no one ever cleans them because it's boring to do, right? Well, this little guy lovingly licks your monitor clean with his microfiber tongue. Plus, his tongue is shaped such that it can "hook" onto the top of a flap panel or laptop monitor. Genius.

"Emma" Orange Peeler by Koziol

This is another Koziol product that is adorable (I really like Koziol stuff). It's an orange peeler shaped like a snail. You loop your finger through its "shell", use the little triangular piece to pierce the rind of the orange, and then glide it across the fruit until you've got it ready for easy peelin'. In addition to the advantage of avoiding turning your fingernails yellow, you get the added bonus of feeling like a kid when using it.

Bandit Letter Opener by Indigo Design Group

This was also a Christmas gift to one of my cousins. Sure to amuse your clients and brighten up your work space. Everyone should have a lawless rebel slashing open their bank statements. The world would be a better place.

Kitchen Scale by Tchibo

Maybe not everyone will appreciate this, because the US uses mostly volume for measurements in cooking, but here in Deutschland everything is by weight. Having a kitchen scale is very important. And if it's not cute, is it really worth buying? This one I love, because it's cute and red, and because of the well-designed bowl...right-side-up it's a bowl, upside-down it fits over the scale to minimize space. Looooove it.

And finally, our most recent and prized purchase, the "Ray!" nutcracker (as in HooRay!):

Ray! Nutcracker by Troika

How great is this? You place a nut inside, pull it back inside the balloon, let go...the nut flies into a steel plate with such impact that it explodes the shell (with a satisfying bang!, I might add) and leaves you with a ready-to-eat nut. When has eating nuts ever been this much fun?

Happy New Year!

I trust you all had a nice, relaxing, fun-filled holiday as we did. :)

In the spirit of the new year, I am going to help you all with what I'm sure is a new year's resolution: improving your geography skills. I must admit, my prowess in this area is nonexistent. In the past, I've been known to require three guesses to pinpoint Connecticut on a map. It's not my fault! Those wooden puzzles of the states always just lumped the NE into one puzzle piece!

Anyway, all of that will soon be behind me, now that I've found the most addictive, infuriating, self-deprecating geography quiz out there. Did I mention addictive? We play it all the time! Just to have it show us over and over again how little we really know about the world. Ah, but each time I'm learning and am convinced that someday I'll be able to get through all 12 levels, instead of just the first 7.

You've got to try it. It's my gift to you. Enjoy!

O Night Divine

Just a little greeting to wish you all Happy Holidays. As our little present to you, here's a clip of the greatest "O Holy Night" recording of all time. Even if you've heard this before, I promise it'll make you laugh again. For those curious Georges out there, here's an article about the true identity of the singer. I hope this song raises everyone's self-confidence in their singing ability! Enjoy!

O Holy Night (off-key)

Those French people know how to cook!

As you may know, we took at trip to the Alsace region of France back in August. We were completely charmed by the cities we visited, so when we found out that they all have Christmas markets in December, we knew we had to go. So, last weekend we took a day trip to the region, along with our friends Rebecca & Victor, and set off to visit the markets in Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Colmar.

Wrapped into our Alsatian Christmas market visit, was a dining experience never to be forgotten. We had lunch in Zellenberg at Le Maximilien, a one-star rated Michelin restaurant. Not to spoil the suspense, but---it was amazing. Delicious food, local wine, rustic breads, fresh ingredients, and impeccable presentation. I was too embarrassed to take pictures of each course, so I'm relying on descriptive prose to relay our fancy schmancy French meal.

The restaurant is set on the slope of a vineyard, with lovely views of nearby grape vines and the town of Riquewihr off in the distance. We took our time pondering the menu, which required some translation from Rebecca since none of the rest of us speak French. :)

During this time of pondering, we were served miniature Tarte Flambée. For those who aren't familiar with it, it's similar in idea to a pizza. They consist of a paper thin crust topped with seasoned cream, sliced onion, and chunks of ham. Mmmmm. We finally decided to go with the set 4-course "Gourmand" menu, as it seemed to be the best way to taste their specialties without spending a fortune. We ordered a bottle of Riesling called "Prestige" from a local vineyard and awaited the never-ending flow of food that was soon to follow.

It was a little awkward being a regular Joe in a restaurant like this. I couldn't help but wonder if they somehow knew that we'd all changed in the car from jeans & sneakers to slacks & dress shoes just before walking the steps up to the restaurant. I think we always feel a little bit like small children when we go to nice restaurants. Like we wanna be loud and silly and giggly, just because it's so unbelievably quiet in those places. It's hard to act grown-up sometimes, ya know?

Anyway, after ordering they brought out a tray with choice of three bread rolls (white, tomato and olive, or a rustic farm bread) to go along with our second mini-course: a salmon sushi roll (tasted French, not Japanese, even though it looked like normal sushi), and a dish with crab meat, celery, tomato gel, and a whipped foam on top. As Rebecca commented, and as we've noticed before, nice French restaurants have some strange fascination with foam. It was good though. The crab part was very nice.

After all the "starters", it was on the main event. The first course was undoubtedly my favorite. It consisted of three layers: the bottom was chopped lobster tail with cream and red onions, the middle was slices of fresh sea mussels, and the top was caviar. This was then garnished with a curly pile of fried mashed potato strings. Beautiful and wonderfully tasty.

We then moved on to the second course, which was Andy's favorite. This was a Parmesan risotto, with two each of large sea scallops and jumbo shrimp, garnished with flash-fried spinach and more grated Parmesan. I have to say that those scallops were the best I've ever tasted, and that Parmesan cheese was amazing. Wish we knew where to buy more of that!

Next up was roasted pigeon (yes, pigeon...it's a specialty in the region), served with sautéed truffle mushrooms, steamed asparagus, and a pumpkin/sweet potato-pistachio sauce. Although it seemed a bit strange to be eating something that most people associate with dirtiness and disease, the pigeon was actually tasty. It was like a cross between chicken and duck; darker than chicken, but not too oily. And the sauce that went with it was verrrry nice.

While feeling a bit full and wondering how we were going to be able to finish our last course, we were served a surprise pre-dessert (apparently this is normal, but it was a surprise for us since we don't usually eat at fancy places!). Arranged on a silver tray were 4 mini-desserts for each of us: a small glass of passion fruit mousse, a small fried doughnut coated in caramelized sugar, a macaroon cookie, and a light cake soaked in schnapps and topped with a dollop of fresh cream. They were all good, but the passion fruit mousse was the hands down winner. Incredible.

Renewed by the sweet goodies, were eagerly awaited our real dessert: a mixture of fresh berries, vanilla sauce, and cubed pieces of gingerbread, topped with a spiced ice cream that tasted like ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Very nice. However, as good as it was, I have to say that Rebecca's dessert put ours to shame. She's vegetarian, and so ordered a la carte, and had selected a warm, chocolaty, lava cake for dessert, served with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce. I could eat one of those every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was that good! :)

Finally, after all that delicious food, we decided to have a cup of cappuccino as the finale to our meal. Those were excellent too! I guess when you're paying big bucks for a meal they go all out on everything. We even got home-made, melon flavored marshmallows to go with the coffees. Reminded me of the time I got gourmet cotton candy with fresh blueberries for dessert at a fancy restaurant in Houston. I guess it just goes to show that even rich people crave the food found at girl scout sleepovers and state fairs from time to time. :)

Bears on a Mission

Better than Tickle Me Elmo anyday...

I was just going through the pics on my computer and ran across this forgotten gem. It was taken in a Build-a-Bear store in Salt Lake City. You know, the ones with dozens of kids running around, gleefully constructing their next best friend teddy bear? Kind of like a Frankenstein laboratory, but with cuter outfits. Anyway, in Salt Lake City there is a special outfit for those bears with a higher calling: the missionary outfit. Gotta have a good bear role model for the Mormon kiddies, right?

Sending a shout out to the Stormin' Mormon! Miss ya!

I like traffic lights

The famous Ampelmann walk sign of Eastern Berlin

I gotta say, I wasn't really sure what to expect when we visited Berlin. I mean, people told us it was great, but I just didn't really know much about it. Most of my knowledge came from its recent history: it was divvied up between four countries after WWII, a wall was built by the Soviets that divided the city, and when the wall finally came down it made my mom happy enough that she cried. In truth, much of Berlin is still defined by these parts of its history, but the city's character goes much deeper than that. After spending the weekend in Germany's capital, I've gotta say that I see why so many people love this city.

For me, Berlin seemed to give off a energetic vibe. The city is full of youth in so many ways, and just being there and walking through its streets somehow made me feel more alive. The city itself is a living contradiction: every bit as new as it is old. Its history runs so deep. The Brandenburg gate, the last remaining of several entrances to the former Prussian capital, still stands proudly a reminder of Berlin's triumphs. Just as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church, heavily bombed during WWII, its damaged steeple a reminder of the destruction of war, rises above the stores on the Ku'Dam. And just as segments of the Berlin wall, covered in graffiti and weathered with age, remain as a reminder of the once divided city. Somehow the history of the city felt tangible as we walked the streets, and by the end of our two days we were already planning a trip to come back.

Andy in front of the TV tower in East Berlin, also known as "The Pope's Revenge." During the days of the DDR, the Soviets had all of the crosses removed from the churches of East Berlin. In the meantime, they had been working on constructing this TV tower, designed to be a display to the West of East Berlin's prosperity. When it was unveiled upon completion, the sunlight reflected off the faceted sphere in the shape of a cross, and thus the tower received its nickname.

Fountain south of Alexandar Platz, with the Berlin Dom in the background

Front of the Berlin Dome

Pretty city library near Humboldt University

The inside view of the Sony Center's dome in Potsdamer Platz

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church: damaged ruins of the bombed cathedral alongside the newly built memorial church.

View from inside the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Trabants. Once the main car of East Berlin, people were on 10 year waiting lists to get one. Now you can rent them and drive around the city on a tour, but be forewarned...they stink!

This parking lot was the location of Hitler's bunker in Berlin, where he committed suicide here, along with his wife, shortly before Soviet troops arrived at the end of the war.

Surviving section of the Berlin wall. Note the ceramic pipe along the top; this was used in lieu of barbed wire, since its circumference makes it impossible to grip.

Picture of the dome that Hitler planned to build in Berlin, which he wanted to rename "Germania". Ridiculously grandiose in scale (see comparison with the Berlin Dom), the laws of physics would make it impossible to build. It was to be so big, that it could fit 200,000 people at once. It would've rained inside just from the moisture produced by when everyone breathed!

Moving war memorial sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz, who herself lost two sons to war

Us in front of the Bradenburg Gate

My One Hour of Glory

"Drive as fast as you can around this curve, and when I signal I want you to brake as hard as you can. "

Them are fightin words if I ever heard any, and the first time I tried this I braked like an old Lady. Actually I did it the second time, too, only moreso like an Accountable Adult - gently turning the wheel to avoid the wall of cones. But the third time I nailed it in a way that would make Will smile with glee. I crushed that brake pad so hard that I thought I'd break the damn lever. But my Stuttgart Stallion took it in stride, and brought me from 90 km / h to 0 in less than 15 feet. Holy Geez that was awesome. And I was just gettin' started.

My birthday present this year was extremely unique and a sexy way of kicking and screaming into The 30-somethings. For one whole hour, I commandeered (legally) an atomic-bomb red 2006 Porsche Carrera S and careened it around a specially-designed racing track the way you're not supposed to drive: hard and fast. Sure, I took it easy around the curves that scared the bejeezus outta me, but as soon as I had a clear shot ahead I punched the gas and didn't look back. The track is wet? It's 36 degrees F outside? I'm driving an 80,000+ Euro car with ZERO insurance on a track that was designed to mimic five of the most challenging curves of modern tracks? Exhilaration vandalizing every stone in my head, each twist leaving another spatter of paint obscuring .. well, whatever was there before.

No better than to learn the track from Sebastian, my Porsche Racing Instructor, who I fondly remember leading me out of a tight corner and saying "now go as fast as you can." God I love this guy. The first moment of sadness that day was watching him crouch down into his midnight-blue 911 Turbo huddled adjacent to our 911 Carreras. The second moment came when I realized there was no way in Hell I was going to keep up with that guy! Hey, I never said I stopped trying. He introduced me to the Bus Stop, the slalom thru the row of cones, the tight curves, The Hill and subsequent down-right-sharp curve, the tight s curve that I may have fishtailed out of (and recovered nicely I might add) when I asked for a little too much torque. The last moment of sadness arrived as I realized I waited 30 years to do this. All that sadness washed away remembering that my wife gave me this opportunity. And I Prost!'d this best I knew how: I ate it all up and left nothing behind but an awful smell Sebastian called "a Porsche Driver's Chanel No 5".

That tour may have been only one hour by your standards, but in my head it was hours of analysis reading the Carrera's responses to all of my questions. I ripped through that track testing the steering's range, the suspension's forgiveness, the strength of my hands holding that steering wheel, and also a fellow student's patience as I kept urging him to drive faster. At the end I walked away with electricity in my feet and the re-aquaintenace with an AMA-acceptable heart rate. But in usual form I thanked Sebastian properly and reminded him that we'll be seeing each other again. Soon.

Since we never received the official "ticket" for the Porsche Experience, there's still a second chance..

http://www.porsche-leipzig.com/en/leipzigangebote/leipzigpilot/default.aspx