"When Obama comes to town...."

In all honesty this blog is dedicated to Ms. Courtney Young, Esquire.....

She has made it no secret whatsoever that she hearts Obama A LOT! So here you go Court, this one's for you ;) ...............


I heard Obama was coming to town and I wasn't sure if I'd go, but took my camera along just in case......As it so happened, I was in the area at the right time ;)

Here is the Siegessaule (Victory Column) where Obama (we say that so much I am starting to think that is his first name ;) was to try to follow in Kennedy and Reagan's footsteps....

Glad that there were enough coppers around (don't worry Courtney, your Obama was safe) - all of those are Polizei vans...



The masses gather.....(to the tune of AC/DC's 'Thunder') 'OBAMA!' 'OBAMA!' No, not really ;) But they did have a guy singing that sounded a lot like Bono.... (that almost sounds like those 'Holiday Inn' commercials ;)









This is the June 17th Street, named in honor of the uprising of East German workers against the GDR in 1953. Berlin closes it down every now and then and turns it into a carnival location whenever they want to have a party - and this was, in a way....the rock star was coming to visit US! US!! ;) (That was the feeling anyway....)

Off in the distance is the Brandenburg Gate where Reagan spoke, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!'. Obama wanted to speak there, but German political-correctness got in the way (only PRESIDENTS, not candidates (and for that matter, he isn't even THE Democratic candidate ;) get to speak at the Brandenburg Gate) and he was relegated to speak at the Siegessaule.

The Siegessaule (Victory Column) used to stand in front of the Reichstag (until Hitler moved it to its present location) and was made to celebrate Prussian/German victories over Denmark, France, etc. in the late 1800's.

Again, German political-correctness (given their past, they REALLY DO NOT LIKE WAR - celebrating them, etc.) was evident with some wondering 'should Obama speak in front of a memorial that celebrates war?' ;) Every country's got their 'sore spots'....




After seeing the Siegessaule so much, it was interesting to see it with an American flag nearby....this was an American flag hanging off of a sausage stand ;)

It was definitely a 'party' atmosphere, but more subdued...beer, sausages were in abundance and A LOAD OF PEOPLE! Security was SLOW and SLOW, but I was admitted to the mosh pit, I mean....inner sanctum ;)











Well, finally that 'magic moment' arrived and Obama spoke to 'the people'. He is just off to the left of the guy with the noggin in the middle.












The people listen....in....English....amazingly enough though, apparently a lot of people understood.

I don't know...Europeans have a 'joke' they like: what do you call someone who only speaks one language? AN AMERICAN!!' Haha....hee....ewww....

Point is, when the former LDS president would travel to another country, he'd at least get a translator, he didn't just assume that 'everyone' spoke English. Anyway....I just didn't like it....it strengthened the 'arrogant' stereotype of Americans that Europeans already have....oh well.....

I don't think the opposite situation would have gone down very well in the States, i.e. foreign leader giving complete speech in non-native language....I honestly think Americans would be like 'ya come to the US, speak English!' Wait...it seems like I've heard that elsewhere....



So, yes! There he is! Isn't it hilarious! That was, from much further back, more or less my view of the rock star - a 'teleprompter' 'head' with a body in a suit! Haha....if only I wanted to make some comments, but I won't - I don't know Mr. Obama well enough yet.











Haha...interesting....















'And then there were none...'


I don't like the human/German habit of throwing their trash all over! Interesting how much they clapped at his 'take care of the environment' comments, but then when the 'practice' comes into play....GRRR....


NEWS FLASH EVERYBODY! As soon as we all, me included, stop being hypocrites, then there will be massive changes in the world!
But for now....'be the change that you want to see in the world" - Gandhi.




I went around the Siegessaule to get one more glimpse....













And the crowds disperse....


My Mom asked me what I thought of what he said. I wrote her:

"peace, peace, Berlin Airlift, overcome communism, keep on going in Afghanistan, hand over Iraq to the Iraqis, peace, love, freedom.... in other words, not much and even though they clapped, they (the Germans) didn't (think much of it) either.....they were like 'he didn't say anything specific!' I also mentioned the 'speech in English' thing and how that just proves that it wasn't for Germans/Europeans, it was 'look at me! I have so much 'international' experience now! Don't worry, I can be your president, US of A!'

Which of course I find pathetic, almost just as much as I find McCain's sell-out left and right! (In 2000 I actually liked McCain, but he wants the 'prize' BAD, and thus he has been willing to do wrong things/give up on things he once believed in!) Obama...you can't go 'visit' Iraq, Jordan, Berlin, Paris, etc. in a WEEK and wipe away the 'I have NO international experience'!! (I agree that living abroad is very helpful, HOWEVER, living in Indonesia as a child doesn't count as 'high-level' international experience!)

Okay, okay....enough, enough.....

But here you go....here's to hope! Again, I don't know what and how he'll do it (he wants a world without nuclear weapons - GOOD LUCK!!), but here's to hope!

Just Randomness...

So I finally decided to do something about my TMJ'd jaw ('Jabber, Jabber, Jabber....Jabber, Jabber, Jabber Jaw!). As I was waiting in my doctor's office I looked through yonder window and saw....

And yep, the song started to play in my head ;)

This is on Ku'damm (fancy/richo street where my doctor's office is) inside of an old mall that was 'the pride' of capitalist West Berlin called 'Europa Center'.

Anyway, it's a 'Water Clock'....or as Wikipedia says:

"The "Clock of Flowing Time" (Uhr der fließenden Zeit) in the western courtyard portrays the passing of hours and minutes in twelve-hour cycles. Globules of coloured water flow up and down a tower through a system of communicating tubes in such a way as to display the current time. The system is emptied every day at 1am and 1pm and the cycle begins again."

You can see on the 'left' the larger 'hour' (let's call them globes- I don't like the word globules ;) globes and then the smaller '2-minute' globes to the right.

Can you tell what time it is? Count the larger globes for the hour....and then count the globes to the right for the minutes....

YEP! It's almost 5 o' clock! And what's cool is when it hits 5 o' clock, then the colored water in the 'minute' globes drains down and water is then pushed into the 'hour' globe and fills it up. It's interesting to watch it when they all drain/get filled up.

Some randomness for you all....enjoy!

Thanks for the Memories!

So Jill and I wanted to see each other sooner rather than later and a miracle shall we say occurred! lastminute.com had a GREAT deal!

So I hopped across the 'Pond' and arrived in P-hone-ix.

David had just moved there - poor guy! It was 115 outside! 115! It felt like you were a chicken in a convection oven! Needless to say David, Jill and I loved going to the Diamondbacks game! We were sitting right under the AC! Oh the sweetness of coolingness from above! ;)


Jill and I hung out with David for a few days and then we set off for SLC to meet her family.

I really enjoyed the drive! I LOVE red rock and have for a long time...

These are some pix from the Navajo Reservation. Beautiful red earth all around....






There were shopping spots along the way where the Navajo sell jewelry, etc. There was one that was REALLY funny....they had signs that said 'Nice Indians!' 'You can turn back!' 'No, really, it's ok!' ;)










After meeting Jill's parents (who are VERY, VERY nice people! Hi Carolyn! Hi Stephen! ;)
....we set off for the wonderful world of IKEA where my nieces, Mel, Susan and Suzanne were waiting.

This is a pic of the girls 'playing' in a bed....who knows if that is legal, but oh well, whose going to arrest cuties like these, eh?





Here is a pic of Jill and I 'skipping' with the girls. We also played hide n' seek with them....I don't think IKEA approves of this behavior - but we did have a great time!











So, ONCE AGAIN! Any of you who are fans of dis blog, will surely know of my 'issues' regarding Jill and her 'affinity for frog culture' ;) Once again, here I am standing RIGHT THERE...and she finds a stuffed frog to kiss! So far it's been bronze, chocolate and now stuffed.....what next?!













Jill and I hung out with her family doing a variety of activities. We then hopped down to SF to hang out with Mel, Susan and the girls before they, too, left for AZ. Here is one of those 'priceless' 'cute' photos that they'll hate when they're older.....

Pig tails, messy-chocolate face, lickin' away....













And then suddenly!! I don't know....I put this one up....because it kind of 'scared' me ;) The 'ecstasy' of chocolatey-goodness, became more of a freaky-Gremlinlike state of 'HAAHA! I HAVE YOU!!'

What a gal....so emphatic in her conquering of the cake-mixer-dingy ;)













But just to show you what a proper, little lady A-babe can be, here she is modelling off hat/bag ensembles I brought back for them from Germany.

H-babe...interesting how her 'entertaining' moments of dance and song, often look like 'fiery preaching' to me - I witnessed this once again in a mall in AZ ;)

Love you lots, A & H-babes!

Grrr........need I say more? ;)

So Stephen/Carolyn and Jill proffered up their loot from their last bank robbery (don't ask, it's a long story - let's just say the Young's are 'the Wild Ones' ;) and gave me my first Lagoon trip ever! We went with Jill's nephews and their dad. Andre. It was LOTS of fun. Anyone who knows me, knows that I get queasy with rides/cars/the rotation of the Earth, etc. ;) So of course we all decided to begin the day with the ride called 'Wicked'. Umm.....I read beforehand how it uses magnets, etc., etc....needless to say that it went SO FAST that I have very few memories of the ride. All I know is that at the end, I felt like the right thing to do was to fold my hands into a 'prayer' style and my leg was twitching on its own....

I watched for a lot of the rest of the day....but it was fine....I enjoyed the time, especially the water and the fountain (I was the lone adult playing in the fountain with the 8-10 year olds....hmm....I'll grow up some day....hopefully ;)

One of the activities that we did with Jill's family was go up Mill Creek canyon. Jill's dad Stephen had this cute idea of taking empty water bottles, tying them with some string and then the kids could go 'fishing'....cool idea - kept the kids busy for a long time and they enjoyed it!

I liked being in a canyon again....the water felt nice on my feet.... maybe I'm BIG FISH!

We had a great time in SLC seeing Jill and my family. I'd have to say my favorite part was when Jill forced me to hike Ensign Peak. I'd never done it before and I was VERY full from a Brazilian restaurant. But little by little, she got me to the top and....BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! That sight is still in my brain.....

Jill and I drove back to AZ and hung out a bit with my cuties again....

I call this one 'Mel as Momma'....to me it just shows different moods of children - H-babe, the actress/wanting attention; A-babe being comforted/getting loved; and I-babe just 'chllin', but rolling over for more 'feed me' time....

Loverly....you're great Mel!

Oh Jillian, Oh Jillian...I've seen transporters on TV, why can't I use them?! We'll work something out....till then, adios and have fun in your 115 degree 'paradise' ;)

Just wanted to take the chance and say thanks to the Young's, Bartlome's and Jacobson's for feeding us, taking care of us, talking to us, having fun with us, us us us....and usus.....

;)

GRAZIE MILLE!!

Remembering D-Day....

You know....I was on the Internet and it said something about 'D-Day' and I was like 'is that right now? Hmm...'

PATHETIC!!

Pathetic how I forgot and how so many of us seem to forget! I thank God that He allowed the fall of Nazism! And what's interesting is to talk to Germans and to hear them say 'I'm glad we lost the war...'

So here's to you guys/soldiers! Especially those who never came home! I hope we won't forget you and your sacrifice!

Stewardship - we WILL be held responsible, people!

Please read the following story from CNN:

After five years of futile efforts to find or confirm sightings of any Caribbean monk seals — even just one — the U.S. government on Friday announced that the species is officially extinct and the only seal to vanish due to human causes.
"Humans left the Caribbean monk seal population unsustainable after overhunting them," Kyle Baker, a biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this led to their demise and labels the species as the only seal to go extinct from human causes."
A Caribbean monk seal — the only subtropical seal native to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico — had not been seen for more than 50 years. The last confirmed sighting was in 1952 at Seranilla Bank, between Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula.


OK PEOPLE! I don't know...I guess I'm just in 'a mood', but here we go....

I'm not an 'enviro-nut' - I think we're all part of a 'big cycle of life', so I don't think it's wrong to eat meat (have vegetarians ever thought that plants have 'vascular systems', can 'feel', have spirits, etc. too? I guess they think 'oh, animals move therefore they're 'alive' - SO ARE PLANTS! but anyway, I digress...), wear leather or mow your lawn...BUT GIVE ME A BREAK! And apparently this is happening all over the planet - species are becoming extinct left and right....

Now granted...apparently this was from overhunting....in the Caribbean....two things that I have NEVER done/been, etc. AND MAYBE they might find a seal next week - but is that REALLY the point? NO! And the point is....I don't know....I don't know what to do about this or about anything having to do with it....one thing I do feel very strongly however is that this news story made me sad and that I truly believe we'll be held accountable for how we treat this beautiful earth that we've been given!

So....just something to think about....

'Ya'all come back now, ya hear?!'

Jillian then went and saw Nebuchadnezzar's Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Pergamon altar (in photo)....

Notice how time seems to have 'slowed' around her....

Oh Jillian, I hope you enjoyed your time here, I did.

Then Jillian 'got on a jet plane'...and I 'don't know when she'll be back again'....

'WHY YOU WANT TO LEAVE ME?!!' (The Dad in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' says that to Tula(?) when she wants to go study)

COME BACK!! COME BACK!! (Flick says that on 'The Christmas Story' to Ralphie after his tongue gets stuck to the flag pole)

In other words, Jillian, thanks for coming to Berlin and hope to see you around these parts sooner rather than later...

Two Days in Potsdam...

Welcome to Potsdam everybody! I hope you like it, because I certainly do. The best way to explain what Potsdam was is to do the (old) SAT relationship questions:

Versailles is to Paris as _______ was to Berlin.

The answer is Potsdam! Potsdam is where the royals used to truly hang out. The place is full of palaces and all wanna-be princesses are guaranteed a wunderbar day! ;)



This is called the 'Dutch Quarter'. They brought Dutch workers to Potsdam back in the....1700's I think. This goes as a shout-out to Jeff and Allies who both served their missions in Dutchland. (Jill wrote me an email and mentioned her brother, Jeff, and his wife, Allie, but forgot an apostrophe before the 's'. So I read 'Jeff and Allies' - I thought Jill was just being funny because Jeff's wife and his kids are definitely allies....of sorts... but I liked it and so the name stuck. So now when I refer to Jill's AZ Fambly, I say 'Jeff and Allies...(does anyone else think this is funny? ;)



This is called Alexandrovka. It is a Russian 'village' in the middle of Potsdam built in the 1820's. It's unique because apparently you can't find this type of Russian architecture in Russia anymore - ONLY in Potsdam!









The Russian Orthodox Church - during Soviet occupation the officers' wives would go to church here....

I truly felt peaceful inside...





'










I was excited to see this, Pentecost Hill, because I hadn't seen it yet.

Princess Jillian communing with her realm....

If you squint you'll be able to see the Funkturm where I live off in the distance.....oohh....oops, it's just a photo - but doesn't it 'seem' SO real that you're truly there?!!! ;)

Views of Potsdam from the top of Pentecost Hill...

The horse chestnut tree blooms look like little Christmas trees!

Again, from the top....

I loved playing along with 'Princess Jillian' too....I would hold my arm out and have Jill place her hand on mine and then in my most arrogant 'snooty' tone, we'd talk about 'the commoners' and what they were doing and how much we loved our palace, etc.

PRIDE = BAD!! ;)

Right next to Pentecost Hill was the old Jewish graveyard! What is with me? I LOVE graveyards! They're so beautiful and peaceful....

Ok, so one of my favorite things about Europe is sitting at a cafe and having a bit of something while you rest your weary, summery feet....

I thought this was cool! Look in the water of the glass....

So we made our way to Sanssouci (without cares) and Jill kept on jumping in front of the camera! I had to say 'Jill, it's NOT ALWAYS about you!'

Then she started pouting and getting teary-eyed, so I relented....

What a beautiful Jillian she is....

This is just off to the side - it just seemed totally 'Sacred Grove'ish to me....

'I AM 'WITHOUT CARES'! WHO ARE YOU?!!'

From the side....

'But Aaron, that view makes me look 'fat'!'

I hate it when my pictures 'talk back'.... ;)

The Orangerie - back in the day you were quite the 'fat cat' if you had oranges....oh what people do to show off their wealth....(where are my Gucci/RayBan/D&G sunglasses? ;)

On our way to see the other things to behold, we came across this.....this.....'CHESTER COPPERPOTT!' That's all I could think of....

Here I am applying my near-genius Mathematikal skillz in order to find out where the buried treasure is....

(Jill was laughing and laughing - I kept on saying 'see! this is what I hate! It's like in a movie! It's SO obvious that this tells us where buried treasure is, but I am too stupid to figure out where and what it is saying!!! ARGHH!!)

So, this was probably Jill's favorite part of the day....dancing on a pavillion.....

We did the waltz....I taught her a bit of a 'German' dance....and then we dipped!

...but the 'lady of the house' was none too impressed and was more like 'PUHLEEZ leave this place NOW! I'd rather read me book!'

Hmmph! Can't please everybody I guess...

And there in the distance, one of our targets for the next day: Neues Palais! This will be my THIRD attempt to get in, will it work?....hmm....

Jillian as happy as can be.... 'Yep, I could live there, Aaron. Please!'

Jill and I then spent FOREVER trying to find the 'Chinese Tea House' built by Frederick the Great....umm...I'd only been there FOUR OTHER TIMES, you'd think I'd know where I was going....but no! OH well....eventually, right?

I still like this thing....it's interesting to see what people thought China was like and what Chinese people looked like....

Ignorance is funny! Hahah....oops....sorry....

We then ended the day by seeing these 'African' statues from back in the day.....FREAKY!!

So the next day Jill bought us tickets to get into all the palaces we could go through in one day! So we went streaming through Sanssouci, Neue Kammern, the historical Windmill, and ALSO NEUES PALAIS! It was definitely cool to be there and 'odd' to know that the last German emperor also lived there! Hmm....

Here I stand guard protecting Princess Jillian's new real estate acquisition.....until I got hungry and then....

Poor Jill, what a trooper though! I think she was palaced-out by this point, but she kept on truckin' for me! This one is called Cecilienhof and this is where Truman, Stalin and Churchill/Atlee signed the Potsdam Agreement that split Germany into four zones of occupation after WWII. It was COOL to see where they had sat at the table/where it was signed! (I had been wanting to see this one for almost 2 years! Thanks Jill!)

Cecilienhof is where the German royal family lived after WWI and Germany became a republic.

Here is the inside courtyard complete with Stalin's 'star' of red flowers that he had especially put in for the Potsdam conference (I bet Churchill loved that one! :)

Au revoir, Potsdam! And thanks Jillian for being such a trooper!