tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195505282024-03-19T06:01:52.156+01:00The Road to Hell is paved with cookies...in your face suckersKathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.comBlogger637125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-26822771529951476192012-04-11T12:20:00.001+02:002012-04-11T12:25:28.743+02:00Peaceful<div><p>There was a tsunami warning issued following an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.</p>
<p>Staying up high on the mountain in Phuket in safety, glued to the tv. Just heard reports that the water has receded... We will see.</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fUIVqzx3hWo/T4Va7FfqSzI/AAAAAAAAB4U/1PQoD3tNH3A/1334139687775.png' /></div>kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-79196308566223093582012-02-18T18:02:00.001+01:002012-02-18T18:02:34.210+01:00Lost in the Snow {#Project 365–Day 49}<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Uzq0P1NYaQs/Tz_ZoAHuZlI/AAAAAAAAAIg/oKSBG9jUy8c/s1600-h/2%25255B18%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2" border="0" alt="2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8MWMl_g1vHk/Tz_Zpe1yv5I/AAAAAAAAAIo/x9LS5iX2h58/2_thumb%25255B16%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="484"></a></p> <p>This is a picture of my trusty Samsung smart phone. It contains pretty much all the things I need on the road. Phone numbers and addresses of family and friends, photographs, emails, the Social Network stuff. It’s always by my side from the moment I go to bed at night to the moment it wakes me up in the mornings and provides me with the first news. On a side note, in the mornings I gather news as if I was a contender in the Presidential Election.</p> <p>I read Twitter, then check N24’s, The Guardian’s, the Washington Post’s, Spiegel Online’s, Stern’s and the Irish “Independent’s” apps for the latest news. (Is it any wonder I have to get up about 45 minutes before my husband?) Then I head into the kitchen to make breakfast, on the way there I turn on the TV, where I watch not one but two News magazines back to back while sipping my coffee. Luckily for my sleeping rhythm I currently don’t have a daily paper but I will again very soon. This should be interesting but I digress.</p> <p>What I was trying to say is that I have come to heavily depend on my smartphone and being without it makes me feel almost naked. Not that I’d have a problem being naked – after all, I am East German :)</p> <p>Where was I? Oh yes, the phone. Listen to this. Last Saturday we went to a friend’s house and as this was a spontaneous visit, the four of us decided to order Pizza. When we called the Pizza place though, they told us it would take at least an hour to have it delivered. So the four of us agreed that we might as well go and pick it up. So we did. I grabbed my phone from the table and put it into my coat pocket and we were out the door. It was freeeeeeeezing cold that night. 15°F to be exact. So the guys decide to head into the Pizza joint to pick up our dinner while the girls were to remain in the cozy car. We were sitting there for about two minutes when a car wanted to drive past us, out of a driveway but couldn’t because a gigantic pile of snow was in its way. So I got out, ran around the car and moved it so the other car could pass. It was then that I reached into my coat’s pocket and said out loud to my friend, hmm I wonder, did I leave my phone at home? Then the men got into the car and we drive home. When we settle at the table I notice that my phone isn’t there. </p> <p>Naturally I am freaking out but the hubby, who at this point is beyond hungry, calms me down by saying that it probably fell out of my pocket and into the car seat. He goes to check but it isn’t there. By now I no longer care about the food. I have hot and cold flashes. This is my private phone. All my data, all my photos (okay I have backups but you don’t want a stranger finding photos of you and the hubby hugging a scared looking cat in bed – it’s a long story...) and it didn’t come for free either.</p> <p>I don’t use a screensaver on my private phone because I always thought, what the heck, I have it with me all the time. Who will get their hands on it? To top it all off it seems that I am too lazy to enter a four digit pin or draw a simple pattern to unlock a screen. Serves me well. I’m in panic mode now and the hubby still sits there calmly chewing down his Pizza. When he sees how pissed I am though, he jumps up and we drive back to the Pizza joint and when we get near to where we were parked in the first place I scream for him to hit the breaks because there, in the very busy driveway, I see my phone, lying screen down in the snow. By now 90 minutes have passed and I jump out of the car and go running towards it. All the while hoping against hope that nobody drove over it and/or it did not die lying facedown in the snow in 5°F... I scoop it up and it looks intact. Not a scratch. It responds a bit slow to my touch but it seems all is good. I turn it off and keep it in my hand like a bird with a broken wing until we return to our home that night. I am too scared to turn it on so I wait till the next morning and there, it works. It WORKS. What a relief. I immediately secure my phone with a screen lock and hope that I will not ever have to go through that scare again.</p> Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-32498184456010970232012-02-17T16:54:00.000+01:002012-02-18T17:00:49.011+01:00Coffee table–Part II {#Project 365–Day 48}<p> This grainy shot is a photo of my long awaited coffee table and it doesn’t do the table any justice. However a certain someone has been bugging me to upload it and just couldn’t wait for a better shot.</p> <p>The year long search for the perfect coffee table ended last night when returned from work and found the table we had ordered waiting in our home. I especially like the way the wood looks old and used and the size is just perfect.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GpweJacAKd8/Tz_LJl98yEI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/qW9RM-DBHjM/s1600-h/3%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="3" border="0" alt="3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7OOk6eFmoV8/Tz_LLZEnpBI/AAAAAAAAAIY/bJOj84C55Gw/3_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="484"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">(shot with my Samsung SG II)</font></p> <p>If I can be bothered to get a decent shot with my Nikon, I will update the blog. I wouldn’t hold my breath though.</p> Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-47483732898536280132012-02-15T19:09:00.001+01:002012-02-15T19:09:07.700+01:00Who needs Valentine’s Day {#Project 365–Day 46}<p>when you have a husband that gives you flowers on any given day throughout the year…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZpeSC0E9c34/Tzv0vWMVfgI/AAAAAAAAB3w/fojdQBl2mO4/s1600-h/DSC_3799%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_3799" border="0" alt="DSC_3799" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-utbXnUDM_kM/Tzv0wgY4KQI/AAAAAAAAB34/_JRFhPZlqv0/DSC_3799_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>We both don’t really care about Valentine’s Day because we feel that we do not need a special day to express our love (isn’t that what anniversaries are for? Mwahaha) Seriously though, we do celebrate our love with little surprises for each other throughout the year. The hubby for example, knows that I just LOVE tulips so when he came home from doing the grocery shopping today (that in itself is THE most awesome gift he can give me- doing the grocery shopping) he brought home not one but three bouquets of tulips. Two of those I bundled into one and they now decorate our coffee table. </p> <p>I cannot stop staring at them. With all that snow and the icy temperatures they are a beautiful and much needed speck of color.</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-37539476492903520492012-02-12T11:19:00.000+01:002012-02-13T11:31:21.329+01:00That yellow ball in the sky {#Project 365 - Day 43}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fu5XSQnnIU/TzjkGBMVv1I/AAAAAAAAAH0/kasLVBtPCIM/s1600/Lilly1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fu5XSQnnIU/TzjkGBMVv1I/AAAAAAAAAH0/kasLVBtPCIM/s1600/Lilly1.JPG" /></a></div>
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This weekend we had a little photo shoot with our former neighbor. As the sun was out and there was snow on the ground, we thought we might as well shoot some of the photos outside.</div>
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Sure enough the cat thought she would throw in a few moves. Here she is sulking at the big yellow ball in the sky. Drama, Baby!</div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-55683925988849176882012-02-10T16:45:00.001+01:002012-02-10T16:45:42.123+01:00Ich bin ein Berliner {#Project 365 - Day 41}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PJFdT4ToYU/TzU45Kt6nqI/AAAAAAAAAHg/bXf87IsyKQ8/s1600/20120208_082946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PJFdT4ToYU/TzU45Kt6nqI/AAAAAAAAAHg/bXf87IsyKQ8/s640/20120208_082946.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(snapped with my Samsung Galaxy SII, uploaded via Blogger)</span></div>
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I thought I am going to be nice to my co-workers and decided to bring a box with a variety of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krapfen" target="_blank">"Krapfen"</a> into work from our fantastic local bakery. Needless to say that the team was pleased and it was not long before a lengthy discussion about the word "Krapfen" ensued.</div>
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The original is called a Berliner Pfannkuchen and is a jam filled, sugar coated doughnut but there are as many variations (filled with cream, custard, baileys...) as there are names for it. Since we're such an international team, I wrote about it <a href="http://inyourfacesuckers.blogspot.com/search?q=international+team" target="_blank">here</a>, the discussion was hefty but in the end we agreed to disagree and everyone is going to call it what they like as long as they are tasty and available. Nom, nom, nom.</div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-84848481857482323392012-02-07T21:17:00.001+01:002012-02-08T14:05:54.172+01:00In Pieces {#Project 365 - Day 38}Some days I feel like I am falling into pieces but I keep on smiling.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tZ8NUhbLN80/TzGGwFJmhhI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/GjzJrZTYWKs/s1600-h/Puzzle%25255B6%25255D.png"><img alt="Puzzle" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K5Ip3p4decQ/TzGGznb-wGI/AAAAAAAAAHY/2bLhrV0pXzk/Puzzle_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Puzzle" width="355" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Snapped with my Samsung Galaxy SII, “puzzled” with Picnik, uploaded via Windows Live Writer)</span><br />
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Just wanted to add that today isn’t such a day. I have just been fooling around with Picnik.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-66501741076557911312012-02-06T10:32:00.000+01:002012-02-06T10:32:23.568+01:00Almost Siberian Temperatures {#Project 365 - Day 37}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Holy cow. Remember when I posted that <a href="http://inyourfacesuckers.blogspot.com/2012/01/winter-project-365-day110.html" target="_blank">photo of that rose</a> that grew in our backyard in the middle of January? Up until then the winter was way too mild and I was confident that that is all we were going to see this winter. Boy was I wrong.</div>
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It has been freezing the last couple of days. Took this photo of this morning's weather forecast on television with my cell phone. That's -15°F where we live and -18°F where my parents live.</div>
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On the upside, it is so cold that it's too cold for snow and we're luckily not buried under a 7 foot snow blanket as they are in Austria or Serbia. Just in case, our pantry is well stocked and just in case, I forced the hubs to buy more wood, in case of a powerloss. Besides, even if that doesn't happen, there's nothing like sitting by the fireplace when it's this cold out.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uhLcDLdHzQI/Ty-XnN8Eh6I/AAAAAAAAAHI/hxBHNcGEXOU/s1600/DSC_3415_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uhLcDLdHzQI/Ty-XnN8Eh6I/AAAAAAAAAHI/hxBHNcGEXOU/s640/DSC_3415_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(snapped with my Samsung Galaxy SII, uploaded via Blogger)</span></div>
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The cats are majorly confused. The sun is shining as if there's no tomorrow and so they sit there in front of the window, wanting out. However, the moment you open the door and the cold air hits their noses? They slowly retreat backwards.</div>
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It's funny to watch and a little mean because they would love to be outside. Please keep your fingers crossed that some warmer weather is headed our way soon.</div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-68961760965683274542012-02-01T20:33:00.000+01:002012-02-02T08:45:05.660+01:00Crystal Clear {#Project 365 - Day 32}These seemingly endless chains of Swarowski crystals are hanging above the entrance of the two storey Swarowski store in Prague, Czech Republic.<br />
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I find them fascinating. Like drops of water or looking up in the shower. Simply beautiful.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkQr3f1kZeI/Tyo-Nqar1JI/AAAAAAAAAG4/WpluJjEa3q8/s1600/swarowski.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkQr3f1kZeI/Tyo-Nqar1JI/AAAAAAAAAG4/WpluJjEa3q8/s640/swarowski.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-60235786378015859952012-01-31T22:12:00.001+01:002012-01-31T22:29:29.989+01:00Odd {#Project 365 - Day 31}<p>I have had a tough day in work today and there wasn’t really any photo opportunity. That means I was sifting through my vast photo archive and thought to myself that I would share this photo with you, which I took in the ladies room in Dublin Airport’s arrival hall.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HuoOxAiGWX0/TyhdNSR5x1I/AAAAAAAAB3g/L0ux1uzCDVY/s1600-h/2012-01-08%252520Backup%252520Fotos%252520Samsung%252520SG%252520II%252520233%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012-01-08 Backup Fotos Samsung SG II 233" border="0" alt="2012-01-08 Backup Fotos Samsung SG II 233" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TQQ9CF4OVR8/TyhdOF90uuI/AAAAAAAAB3o/YvuBUYn_jyc/2012-01-08%252520Backup%252520Fotos%252520Samsung%252520SG%252520II%252520233_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p>Just how this is hygienic & sterile is beyond me but it sure is quick & easy because you know – stepping off a plane looking like a million dollars now just costs € 2 and fifteen minutes of your time.</p> <p>I’ve never seen a “hair styler” in a ladies room in Germany but then again I’m trying to avoid public restrooms.</p> <p>The reason why the picture is a bit blurry is that I had to concentrate hard not to shake too much as I was chuckling like a nutcase.</p> <p>What’s the oddest thing you’ve come across or didn’t expect in the ladies room?</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-89843075432497936272012-01-30T22:18:00.001+01:002012-01-31T09:30:12.278+01:00Guess what it is {#Project 365 - Day 30}<div>
Saw this while shopping at the Hardware store today.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJrxypKttcg/TyektH47_7I/AAAAAAAAAGw/TnEdxei1cEM/s1600/orb-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJrxypKttcg/TyektH47_7I/AAAAAAAAAGw/TnEdxei1cEM/s640/orb-it.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
*Update: As this post was published via smartphone App last night, the photo was a tad on the "small" side and I just uploaded a bigger one.kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-53599364601729445532012-01-29T22:01:00.001+01:002012-01-29T22:01:08.788+01:00No pictures PURRRLEASE {#Project 365– Day 29}<p>Lilly is opposed to having her photo taken today. She is tired of the darn paparazzi chasing her. The paparazzi don’t stop. Ever. They invade your privacy and even catch you while you’re asleep. In the end she just gave up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5sfS1rp8Q5I/TyWziohSl4I/AAAAAAAAB2o/O0Ch8XtDFw0/s1600-h/20111028_214606%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="20111028_214606" border="0" alt="20111028_214606" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J1M7qFbH54E/TyWzjQ3KIuI/AAAAAAAAB2w/U9Y6Pg8LvWU/20111028_214606_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wmeff5C1WEo/TyWzkJRd4XI/AAAAAAAAB24/zcG3a0_Ux8Q/s1600-h/2011-10-28%25252022.12.59%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011-10-28 22.12.59" border="0" alt="2011-10-28 22.12.59" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vU-VIlHzjpc/TyWzkx6TZLI/AAAAAAAAB3A/INw44a6h-Rs/2011-10-28%25252022.12.59_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="484" /></a></p> <p><font size="1">(both taken with the Samsung SG II in less than perfect lighting conditions, uploaded via Windows Live Writer)</font></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-56659260188165202752012-01-28T13:25:00.001+01:002012-01-28T13:29:11.898+01:00Finally some snow {#Project 365–Day 27}<p>Taken while sitting in the car while hubby ran into our favorite butchers for a “gscheite Leberkäs-Semmel”.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ibb6o4bVTqM/TyPpOhwSJ8I/AAAAAAAAAGg/700KX19a1mk/s1600-h/Gasthof%252520Obermeier%25255B6%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Gasthof Obermeier" border="0" alt="Gasthof Obermeier" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EWwoa1JKEbw/TyPpR27oKsI/AAAAAAAAAGo/QQHbmnxEsps/Gasthof%252520Obermeier_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="363" height="484"></a></p> Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08612715383466452941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-17403528598501794322012-01-26T21:20:00.001+01:002012-01-26T21:21:01.198+01:00I can not wait to go back {#Project 365 - Day 26}<p>Flights have been booked and I can’t wait to return to Thailand in the not too distant future.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jUgWmZZrkqI/TyG1iHGKsZI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/qoxYuvY8Xw8/s1600-h/385%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="385" border="0" alt="385" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qOW_Maw63xc/TyG1jMp5_KI/AAAAAAAAB2g/3sZw4pNF4Ms/385_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-67247947834118219612012-01-25T23:11:00.001+01:002012-01-25T23:11:01.807+01:00Sun {#Project 365 - Day 25}<p>Today was a sunny day in the weirdest winter I can remember. It’s either been rainy, or snowy but it’s definitely been cloudy most of the time. So when the sun was showing her face today, I ran outside to lap it up and it felt so good, it reminded me of this beautiful day during the summer of 2011.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CnjR48u2ciA/TyB98P3Ln1I/AAAAAAAAB2I/CATfTXfMC74/s1600-h/DSC_3041%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_3041" border="0" alt="DSC_3041" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QJD8XYaKOVo/TyB99KoKj0I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/qqiE2glAvS0/DSC_3041_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-29396437067006899852012-01-24T19:49:00.000+01:002012-01-25T09:50:40.224+01:00John Deer {#Project 365 - Day 24}<p>For about a year now, I have been obsessed with deer. Spotting a small group of deer on my drive to work or decorating with it… This is the latest decoration item in my ever expanding collection . I call it John Deer :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0Az_OnE1Zsc/Tx_CF_hGtKI/AAAAAAAAB14/ES-Pjmsi0mQ/s1600-h/DSC_3493%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_3493" border="0" alt="DSC_3493" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FIpg0d09h1w/Tx_CGr5VVVI/AAAAAAAAB2A/QWIrfz4wCMs/DSC_3493_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="518" height="772" /></a></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-18407347160488377032012-01-24T10:47:00.001+01:002012-01-24T10:50:22.060+01:00Farewell to Picnik<p>The end of all the fun.</p> <p>It’s no secret, I love photography and I could drool over cameras like a guy would drool over power tools, cars or computers. Mostly I take pictures of daily things, like on my way to work or the way my office is set up or food or people. I have no idea why that is but I get a kick out of looking through these shots years later and remember how things were back then. Every once in a while a photo needs some work to bring out its full potential. Now I have an old version of Photoshop, that I never use to edit my pictures, mainly because it’s “too” much for a complete layman like me and all the features I need, I can get for free from <a href="http://paint.net/" target="_blank">paint.net</a>. </p> <p>If it’s just a bit of fun editing I am after, I prefer to use <a href="http://www.picnik.com/" target="_blank">Picnik</a>. </p> <p>Picnik is awesome and in a way it can be considered one of the pioneers in easy photo editing. It has all the fun features that we now take for granted in our photo editing Apps on the iPhone or Android or whatever smartphone you’re using and it gives great results instantly. Well that era will now come to an end as Picnik is moving its photo editing tools to Google+ in April. Until then they give you the Premium features for free – as a parting gift.</p> <p>I’m not too fond of Google+. Mainly because there is not a whole lot going on over there (which is an entirely separate post) but now they have Picnik, minus some awesome features. The photo editing tool is now to be found under Creative Kit but I am less than impressed. Picnik, sorry Creative Kit on Google+ has some of Picnik’s features but it lacks features and it is certainly not fun and easy to use – I would even go as far as calling the user experience painful.</p> <p>There may come a time where using this becomes easier – or I get used to the new look and feel but I guess I will just have to look for another online image editor like Splashup,  Pixenate or… neither of which is as easy and fun to use as Picnik.</p> <p>What photo editors are you using?</p> <p>So long Picnik (I’ll see you on the dark side) and thanks for all the fish.</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-82184534322933467042012-01-23T22:07:00.001+01:002012-01-23T22:07:26.838+01:00Baked Beans {#Project 365 - Day 23}<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yiFyY5MNtYw/Tx3MCh_2b2I/AAAAAAAAB1o/pkcRz-OiB4s/s1600-h/P1010500%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1010500" border="0" alt="P1010500" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cba5rv2llrc/Tx3MDQJx89I/AAAAAAAAB1w/oPPQObak-lg/P1010500_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p><font size="1">(taken with my Panasonic DMC-TZ8, uploaded via Windows Live Writer)</font></p> <p>More than half a decade in Ireland left traces in my life and tasty baked beans are hard to come by in Germany. So whenever I can get my hands on some Heinz Baked Beans, I just have to by a couple of cans. This is today’s loot. So next Saturday it’s Beans & Toast and Toast & Beans on Sunday! Yay</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-38238806120042969492012-01-23T12:02:00.001+01:002012-01-23T12:06:37.416+01:00It's all fun and games till someone cries<div>
Initially, this was supposed to be a post about complaints but one of my New Year’s resolutions was not to complain so much anymore, which is the reason that this topic will have to stay on the backburner while I will share with you my love for my job.<br />
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So far this year I’m really enjoying my work. That was different just a couple of months ago for reasons I cannot disclose on here. After all, I don’t want to be dooced. However, the reason why I now enjoy going into the office every day is this: I love working in an international team – and my team? Is i n t e r n a t i o n a l . <br />
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Every morning, as I sit at my desk, sipping my coffee while reading through a seemingly insurmountable batch of emails, I am greeted by my teammates as they come into the office. The door opens and you’re greeted with a happy “Good morning” in at least six different languages. Languages including Bulgarian, Hindi, Hungarian, Slovak, Thai and German. How awesome is that? In my previous job I worked in an international team as well and that was without a doubt the best part of my work. <br />
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Working in an international team has taught me a lot about different cultures, politics and best of all, different foods. It has also filled my vocabulary with an irreplaceable repertoire of the best swear words. The French were especially resourceful inventing swear words and to this day, I have the ability to swear like a French hooker outside a dockside bar. <br />
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Just this morning I learned about five new swear words in Slovak when my co-worker threw his rental contract on his desk– which was about 20 pages of legal stuff. In German. None of it can be repeated here but I was in stitches. Best of all, the other day, my Hungarian colleague treated the entire team to some original Hungarian Goulash. It was awesome. The taste was heavenly and afterwards we were all so full and happy that a nap seemed the appropriate alternative over our return to work. <br />
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Now if only things could stay that way until I retire… </div>kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-83767955420273281432012-01-22T21:18:00.001+01:002012-01-22T21:18:42.123+01:00lego {#Project 365 - Day 22}<p>I missed a couple of days of posting here as the in-laws were in town. The hubby and I took Friday off to spend more time with them. The weather was awful and sightseeing in town was a bad idea so we decided to just walk around in the mall. Good thing we did too because the heavy rain had turned into heavy snowfall and the roads were horrible.</p> <p>Here’s a photo of the back wall of the LEGO store. You can buy LEGO pieces by the cup – in all the colors you can imagine. When I was a kid there were three colors. Red, blue and white LEGOs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PBigVLtWbQc/TxxvG9GrZLI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Cr20UG4nfGo/s1600-h/071%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="071" border="0" alt="071" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MlbZHQkgzew/TxxvIaeXgjI/AAAAAAAAB00/4kbl1lY-YHE/071_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-71142170700705950402012-01-18T20:52:00.001+01:002012-01-18T20:54:54.369+01:00SOPA and PIPA<p>You won’t find a better OR funnier explanation than on <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/sopa" target="_blank">The Oatmeal.</a></p> <p>For crying out loud: Do it for the kittens! Do it for L O V E!</p> <p>End Piracy, not Liberty and sign <a href="https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/" target="_blank">the petition</a>!</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-53360553943098581152012-01-18T20:27:00.001+01:002012-01-18T20:27:45.321+01:00sun {#Project 365- Day 18}<p>Is this the sun peaking out from behind the bushes on our way into work this morning?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AuMWGuKEZsc/TxcdKy_7ifI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/f6dLaBCsYQ8/s1600-h/P1010474%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1010474" border="0" alt="P1010474" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xjw7lub5qMo/TxcdMJjorrI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/Ktl9KPGXBx8/P1010474_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p><font size="1">(shot with my Panasonic DMC-TZ8 from behind the car window, uploaded with Windows Live Writer)</font></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-91168598075638334352012-01-17T21:19:00.001+01:002012-01-17T21:21:40.566+01:00coffee table {#Project 365 - Day 17}<p>Missed uploading a photo for #Project 365 yesterday. The weather was beautiful and it was sunny and freezing cold. There would have been plenty of things to photograph - everything seemed to be covered in sparkling frost. Alas I was in no mood of taking any pictures.</p> <p>The hubby and I attended the funeral yesterday morning and it was overwhelmingly emotional. When you live in a small village, where relationships are closely knit, you expect many people paying their respect. Especially when the deceased was a well liked fellow citizen. What we came to see however, simply left us speechless. The road leading up to the church was lined with cars for about 1.5 miles. The church was crowded and people spilled out into the churchyard. So we were stood between hundreds of people, saying our last good-byes.</p> <p>Sigh</p> <p>As part of the photo project I will therefore upload pictures of coffee tables we were looking at over the weekend. Unfortunately, the one we liked best is simply too big for our couch. It is difficult to find a table that we like AND that goes with the rest of the furnishing in our living room. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BVrlwLuvDZM/TxXXrScL_lI/AAAAAAAABzA/HcynaiUNg20/s1600-h/20120114_125705%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="20120114_125705" border="0" alt="20120114_125705" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wswhSInslvs/TxXXsadVhtI/AAAAAAAABzI/0_w1cauEO7c/20120114_125705_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MDc_CLHxUdY/TxXXuXmm0WI/AAAAAAAABzQ/XjP102mHuKs/s1600-h/20120114_130403%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="20120114_130403" border="0" alt="20120114_130403" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dlsjKrulvIE/TxXXvba-bhI/AAAAAAAABzY/0IELJ_iLR0A/20120114_130403_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z9wHI7OF9LM/TxXXxTh-_gI/AAAAAAAABzg/dPyJio-gkL0/s1600-h/20120114_131138%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="20120114_131138" border="0" alt="20120114_131138" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w2KesQiop_8/TxXXyhs5TEI/AAAAAAAABzo/voIMtWRrcD4/20120114_131138_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-33xT0t1c24w/TxXXz0VswGI/AAAAAAAABzw/D83LrB-8AqE/s1600-h/20120114_125930%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="20120114_125930" border="0" alt="20120114_125930" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RE9Xyz7jYP8/TxXX0licVsI/AAAAAAAABz4/qwEqHzg42Hc/20120114_125930_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n7NbD9OHwz8/TxXX17U7toI/AAAAAAAAB0A/EqMOI8Cf7tY/s1600-h/20120114_125940%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="20120114_125940" border="0" alt="20120114_125940" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V14AQVo5mZw/TxXX26uhG5I/AAAAAAAAB0I/l3i35R_UeU8/20120114_125940_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p><font size="1">(all photos shot with a Samsung Galaxy SII, uploaded via Windows Live Writer)</font></p> <p>What to do? What to do? I think the search will continue.</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-90126911158445290412012-01-15T20:56:00.001+01:002012-01-15T20:56:41.956+01:00flying cars {#Project 365 - Day 15}<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G05YbmGgs6A/TxMvWFWGFiI/AAAAAAAAByo/PgAQjUVyZPg/s1600-h/CIMG1263%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG1263" border="0" alt="CIMG1263" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-60IitLXCJ_E/TxMvd39W6eI/AAAAAAAABy4/DVWivPuoeSM/CIMG1263_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19550528.post-19568269087345477272012-01-14T20:51:00.000+01:002012-01-15T09:08:32.125+01:00grief {#Project 365 - Day 14}<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HSNCnMayS7c/TxKFr6o8T2I/AAAAAAAAByg/uvv1IfBY1IM/s1600-h/P1010469%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1010469" border="0" alt="P1010469" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Fl2bgSuN_PU/TxKFs8VAdhI/AAAAAAAAByk/rJauv0bm69c/P1010469_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="486" /></a></p> <p>Late last night we learned that our good friend and neighbor had passed away. He had only just turned 49. We still cannot wrap our heads around it. </p> <p>He was a wonderful human being. Our hearts go out to his wife and two teenage kids.</p> kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00924699142778576556noreply@blogger.com2