Neuruppin - the 'most Prussian' of Prussian towns...

So I feel like I have been doing nothing but studying since January and was going crazee! So I went with my dorm peeps to a town called Neuruppin. According to Wikipedia (and I hope I have said this often enough so that we all know that just about anything I write on my blogs info-wise comes from the Internet in some way ;) "Neuruppin has the reputation of being the most Prussian of all Prussian towns, due to its former status as a Prussian garrison town."

Our tour began here at the Temple Garden which Frederick the Great used as a vegetable garden when he was just a prince (before he became king).

It was later sold to private owners and they turned it into a 'Turkish villa'.

Here we are with our very own guide, Herr Luckow. He takes us on a variety of trips and knows A LOT!

Until I came to Berlin I had never heard of this guy. One of the reasons Neuruppin is famous is for being the birthplace of Karl Friedrich Schinkel. He designed just about every famous building in Berlin! It's intersting that he lost his father in a devastating fire in 1787 in Neuruppin - he said that it was watching the 'rebuilding' of Neuruppin that got him interested in architechture.








This whole area was burned down. Schinkel's family home was located in the grassy area just off to the left...









Schinkel's dad was a pastor and this was a home for pastors' widows and their children.

Schinkel's mom lived here with her kids for a while before moving to Berlin.









This is Theodor Fontane. He was also born in Neuruppin and unfortunately I hadn't heard of him either. He is a very famous for being the 'most important 19th century German language realist writer'.

?

Apparently he was famous for showing what the inner lives of the people were like at the time (mid-late 1800's).

This is Fontane's Geburthaus (birth house)....















Frederick the Great set this up as military housing for married soldiers. These are ORIGINAL buildings! And people STILL live in them! ;)









This is St. Trinitatis built originally in 1246.













This is the largest 'multi-functional'(?) (sometimes German terms REALLY confuse me) steel sculpture in Germany. Hmmm....

Anyway, the idea comes from a Middle Age story from the area...I THINK! :)



















Au revoir, Neuruppin! We're off to Rheinsberg!

Interesting Statistics...

So, I thought it was 'romantic' to have Jill as my 'front page news' for over a month, but apparently, according to her blog, she's moved on and added new posts ;)

So, hence, I must show how I can also live a balanced/non-obsessive life without her being my current blog post...so here's to trying...

Here is something I found very funny. I sent it to a lot of my friends in London which might explain the 'virutal silence' from their end ;)

Quotes from the email follows:

Hello everybody! I saw some results of the study they just conducted in Britain the other day and I must say, now I feel better knowing that we, the Americans, are not alone in our ignorance (ex: such and such percent of Americans apparently can't find the 'suchandsuchland' on a map; etc.)

I'm sure you've already heard about it, but an English friend of mine just sent me the link and so I thought I'd share it with you: http://uktv. co.uk/gold/ stepbystep/ aid/598605

Top ten historical figures that the British public thinks are myths:

1) Richard the Lionheart – 47%
2) Winston Churchill – 23%
3) Florence Nightingale – 23%
4) Bernard Montgomery – 6%
5) Boudica - 5%
6) Sir Walter Raleigh – 4%
7) Duke of Wellington - 4%
8) Cleopatra - 4%
9) Gandhi – 3%
10) Charles Dickins - 3%


Top ten fictional characters that the British public thinks are real
1) King Arthur – 65%
2) Sherlock Holmes – 58%
3) Robin Hood – 51%
4) Eleanor Rigby – 47%
5) Mona Lisa -35%
6) Dick Turpin – 34%
7) Biggles – 33%
8) The Three Musketeers – 17%
9) Lady Godiva – 12%
10) Robinson Crusoe – 5%


Of course, I guess we could understand the logic of 'if Robin Hood is fictional, then naturally the king he seems to like a lot, Richard the Lionheart, would be fake, too', right?

But, and especially after having gone to the Imperial War Museum in London - how can any Brit think Winston Churchill was a 'fairytale' legend that your mom and dad tell you when you go to sleep at night?! ;)

Anyway, just thought I'd share and as a historian, I find this VERY worrisome....

Happy 'V' for Victory Day, Jilly-Bean...

For many of you I realize that this will be hard to believe/accept, but I do indeed have a girlfriend and her name is Jill and 'I like her uhlot!' We met on this loverly website called LDSLinkup.com and have been talking since 24 Oct 2007, 15:49 hours. I went down to Mesa to visit her and we had a great time. Now we're just getting to know each other better via 'the Intranets' and I'm getting ready to show her Berlin-town just as soon as she can get over here. Hurry it up, would ya!? ;)

Happy 'V'ictory Day, Yil!

Hanging out with Jill, the Sequel...

Oh yeah, I know....PHOENIX!! So that is where I left the darkness behind and exchanged it for +70 and sunny, sunny sunshine! Loverly....



Speaking of loverly, 'there she is, Miss....' Hmm...well, hands down she'd win the Miss Used-to-live-in-Utah-now-lives-in-Aridzona-served-a-mission-in-Nicaragua!! Fo shizzle!



Smile for the camera, Jilly-Bean....

As Jill and I walked around P-hone-ix waiting for our Motocross adventure to begin, we were doubly grateful for Phoenix Public Works and how they make sure we're all on the same page! ;)

I would like you all to notice this picture. Last second we decided to play 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'. I looked at the photo and realized....'hey! Why am I done with my movement for 'rock' and she's still half-way deciding...'ohh..ohh yeah, paper, that's what I meant/wanted to do.' Cheater, cheater!



I showed this evidence of cheatery to her and she unashamedly admitted to it....I don't know....'when winning is everything...' ;)

There be the Motocross race track. I was really hoping for them to do those 'tricks' that they do, but alas, the night was dedicated to TCB...not Y...











I was so proud of me li'l camera! It has such a hard time taking 'movement' photos, but I kept it 'focused' and ready and as soon as the riders made their way around the corner (and proceeded to crash into one another, which, after taking into account the crowd's reaction, was the crowd's favorite part of the race)....those are fireworks bursting off as the racers make their way through the spills of humanery all around....





Again, ahhh....'the family that spectates at motorsports...' I don't want to end that sentence. ;)

















'Climb every mountain....' or at least drive up it for the view! ;) Here is a view of part of 'the Valley' from Fountain Hills area. Everything was greening up because of recent rains....




Jill took me to the 'highest fountain in Aridzona' - I'm just glad we were there for it....it lasted maybe 10 seconds...literally....



I don't know where the water comes from, but the area was 'watered with recovered waste water'....so....the whole 'no swimming' is probably wise in this case ;)


Pee-yoo!





So I am standing right there....trying to give Jill a wink or two to let her know that a kiss is on my mind, when she suddenly drops to her knees and kisses the frog!!



Women-to-Men interpreters, PLEASE HELP! What does this mean?



Sadly enough, the time came and passed all too quickly. We said our goodbyes and now she sits in Aridzona and I in Berlin, alas, a lass, Lassie...alas....

NoPo Christmas...

And that surprise was....SUSAN! My sister-in-law's mom. She's a friend of mine and for one reason or another I was talking to her in November. I had realized I had a 'companion' ticket that she could use to go to Fairbanks for Christmas. I asked her what she was going to do for Christmas and I asked her if she wanted to be my birthday present to Mel (my sister in law). She said 'yes' and so we had our secret rendezvous in the Phoenix airport.



So I asked permission to come visit Mel and David when I get back into Fairbanks at 2am. I walked in and asked Mel if she wanted her birthday present...in walked her Mom! Let's say there were tears, joy, hugs and it made my day! I love to surprise people!





So we got back to the Homestead around 3am and this is who met us - a crazy man painting everywhere he could, desperate to get things ready for the carpet layers who were going to show up in 5 hours!!



Julia, who had been working the whole day, and I took to painting...however, it got to 'drunky' point around 3:30am or so and Julia decided to decorate herself. See picture below...









But in the end I guess it was all worth it - the look of fulfillment and joy ;)

A very 'fumey', from the paint, and carpetless house awaited the workers...

What family holiday meal would not be complete without 'the pose', i.e. everyone around a table just like this? Except major renovations had now been complete and we were inaugurating the new dining room's first flight....




















So the girls and I decided to wear some hats from Hong Kong that were downstairs....fun times...





I am learning....you want to become a kid's best friend, just play with them and feed them every now and then and they'll love you 'FOR-EVER'...or just dress up in 'silly' clothes and answer to 'Enen' (Aaron in Annie-ese).








'The FIVE CHILDREN....' I know...it's time to let go, but I just can't ;)





So, a fun time was had by all. We ate, we played, we stayed up with Dick Clark and rang in the New Year...albeit 4 hours later than he actually did, but so what, eh?!





HAPPY NEW YEAR!!








And with that I flew off into the darkness (there is a lot of that in Alaska during the winter ;) to arise again like a...oh you know...what's that...bird? It burns up and then it....

Julia's Graduation

So I left Berlin and went and hung out in Alaska for about a week. It was great to see everybody again and especially to get reacquainted with my nieces. They are SO kyoot! We then went on a 'jet plane' and arrived in another place....





So, any guesses on where we are?





Yes, the home of the Vikings....err....I mean...they're not that anymore, so we're are BYU-Idaho, formerly known as Ricks College....























We assembled for the occasion of occasions in Julia's academic life. The time that she'd end being an 'under' and enter the world of gradumicated-types. Who no haw tuh spell realll gyood!





This is the Hart Building(?). We sat through a ceremony and I at least was thinking 'okay, this is great!' Little did I know that the fun was just beginning....

















Everyone then separated into their different schools. Julia graduated in Advertising and so we set off for this, in my opinion, 'cool' non-traditional LDS building, called the Taylor Chapel.





















'There she is...Miss United States...' right as they are calling her name to become gradumicated...






























What a rip-off! All of that time and money and you don't even get a diploma....no worries, I think someone said it was 'in the mail' or something....yeah, it'd better be or else...

























Julia took us around Rexburg. It's a lot different than I pictured it....it's kind of up on a hill, at least the college is. Here are the apartments where Julia spent many an hour of freezing, cold Idaho joy!


















Here is a view of some new buildings on campus - the Ricks and Hinckley buildings...























And then the piece de resistance - THE TEMPLE! And what a BRIGHT temple she is at that, so says I...





















Night shot...






















I just find this hilarious - apparently a personal 'highlight' for some was to go to the 'dollar' stores in Rexburg. (This photo is totally staged, just in case you couldn't tell... ;)
































So Julia took us down to the 'Sand Dunes' - apparently all the 'cool katz' go there...because apparently there isn't much else to do in Rexburg, but don't tell them ;)





And keeping up the 'coolness meter' of the Dunes, Beyonce started playing on the radio and we all had a spontaneous dance...spontaneously....oh that Beyonce!










Because all hotels were full in Rexburg, we actually stayed in Idaho Falls. There is the Idaho Falls Temple with 'the Falls' and some Christmas lights. Very purdy, if you ask me....










So we drove down to Suzanne's place in Provo. She took us up to the 'Y' mountain and we got to look over a spectacularly clear, beautiful day!





I love Utah Valley SO MUCH! It's SO beautiful!!















Only in Utah - two LDS chapels side-by-side!!
















Suzanne and I dropped Julia off at the airport and went driving around. Here's what all the restoration work looks like on the Utah Capitol building. Looking sharp!





And then Suzanne dropped me off - Thanks Suzanne! - for my next adventure. I just felt like I should go to Phoenix....Arizona.... ;)

Meeting Jill in ARIDzona...

There she be, Jilly-Bean! Rockin' away on a 'Guitar Hero'-like game. Yep, I know what you're all saying - 'be careful Aaron, she looks like a wild one....'





So Jill and I met on ldslinkup.com - I think it's a great site! I recommend it to you all, and please realize it's not just for dating, but people can find ex-mission buddies, etc.





Jill and I began our time together. Much fun was had, but I also had some time to myself when she was at work, so I explored 'the Valley', i.e. Mesa, Tempe, etc....
























This here is the Mesa LDS temple! I always liked pictures of it and it was cool to be able to see it and go inside....








I just think it's funny what we as humans get used to and how others find the 'boring' thing amazing, i.e. I'm used to seeing snow, the Northern Lights and moose....for others these things would be extraordinary, but for Alaskans they're just ordinaryordinary.... ;)





Anyway, I don't have a conscious memory of me ever seeing oranges on a tree! That is, on the temple grounds, and all over Mesa they had orange groves everywhere! How cool is that?!












After a long day at work Jill entertained me by taking me to the Christmas lights on the Temple grounds....








And there she be, all sparkily and glittery at night...loverly...

Driving through Mesa I found my street! I don't know what it means though when it says I'm 'not a through street' - me no understand....

Ahh....how kyoot! If only my dumb camera would have focused on us rather than the dumb 'Phoenix' sign....

I forgot how pretty sunsets in the desert are....

So I waved 'goodbye' to Jill as she drove away talking on her cellphone (grrrr...) and I in our rental car. I had a few hours to kill so I decided to go to Phoenix and look around.

Here is the Arizona Capitol building....

....and the Capitol is flanked on both sides by the State House of Representatives...

...and the State Senate.....

A view of one Central Street (I think)....it was fun to see all the palm trees....

And away I went....off to North Pole, Alaska and -30 F!!

But first, a plan sprung many moons ago had to be brought to pass....