OK, the title of this piece has no relevancy whatsoever. However, I was asked recently to use 99 Luft Balloons, and I just can't do that. First off, I already use too many references to 80s music. Second, there are better bands out of Germany than Nena, though they weren't that bad, actually. Grab a pen, Heather. Christina Stürmer, Juli, Die Toten Hosen, The Donots, just to name a handful. Check all of these out, and then, if you want something really fun and cute to listen to, check out Tokio Hotel or US5. Then, for a final bit of Deutsch Musik, Rammstein.
Last week I entered the weekend with a bit of sadness. After many miles of action packed adventure, I no longer own a car. Yep, my father has completed the transaction, and now, if you happen to see a silver Golf with a Spanish auto sticker on the back, it will be sheer coincidence. The car was good to me, and I'm sorry to see it go. Sure, it wasn't doing any good just sitting in front of my parents house, but it was nice knowing that I always had wheels somewhere in the world, even if I'm on foot most of the time.
On a more serious note, I've discovered that the next door neighbors of my parents are having some challenges. My parents still live in the house I grew up in, and virtually all the neighbors have been the same. My 4th grade teacher and her husband have always been a part of my life, at least while I was in Richardson. Though I haven't seen them all that much in recent years, we'd certainly keep tabs on one another (though my parents). Well, Mr. Sword was found to have Alzheimer's last week. This week, they're moving into an assisted living community, primarily to insure that he can get the care he needs.
So, two of my links with Dallas have now disappeared in a very short time. I have good memories with the car, but it's just a car. Nice sound system, though. The Swords, on the other hand, that's another thing. I'm sorry not to have an opportunity to speak with Mr Sword again, and hope that Mrs Sword can find her strength through her tough time.
I was reflecting a little about the past last weekend as I headed out for the first day of the Bornhiem Kerb - a festival that takes place in my neighborhood each August. This was the 400th, and I've found that most people (English or German) are not too sure of the significance, but that certainly doesn't stop the festivities.
Last Saturday afternoon, opening day of Premiership football, I headed out on the plaza to have a few beers and watch the parade go by. As parades go, it was OK, but basically full of the same kind of floats you'd see at just about any parade. In short, parades are little more than an excuse to have a couple of beers, and since when do I need an excuse for a couple of beers.
It was a bit alarming to see the neighborhood fill up so quickly, though. More and more people came into upper Berger strasse. Lots of kiosks were set up to sell beer, and after catching the end of the Liverpool match, I joined John outside the pub to watch a band called Heartbeat play on a little stage. They were billed as a rock and roll cover band, and they just weren't all that great. The lead singer was a woman who used her voice a little too much, and it made things a little annoying. However, from time to time, the rhythm guitarist sang, and his voice was a bit more listenable. But, an opportunity to stand around outside in a crowd of people is not something I'm going to pass up, particularly at my first Bornheim fest.
The crowd continued to grow throughout the evening, and I kept right on having pints, and thankfully paused to have a burger, only slightly helping the beer to food ratio. I'd sms'd Stefan earlier in the evening, and he finally came out around 10pm. We proceeded to continue the festivities until the wee hours of the morning, and as usual, instead of stopping at the sensible moment, I overdid things with a couple more beers and maybe a couple of shots of jager...
Sunday came with only a slight twinge in the head. I got up about 11am, did a few domestic things, then headed next door to watch Arsenal. I'd already cleared it with Donal; he was NOT to give me any beers during the match. I was only going to have coffee and OJ, along with a breakfast.
Like every year, I was totally excited about the opening Arsenal match. I was giddy, and feeling ready for a new season, one that should be much better than last year.
54 seconds after kickoff, however, things took a nasty turn. Our keeper, on a normal clearance, casually kicked the ball right back to the on rushing forward of the opposing side, and he tapped the ball into the net easy as you like, and suddenly the score was Arsenal 0, Fullham 1. What the fuck.
Two other Arsenal fans had walked into the pub 2 seconds before the howler, and they were immediately in foul moods. Chris texted me with the same question, "what the hell?" and for the next 70 minutes I was feeling pretty bloody awful.
After more than enough chances, we finally equalized on a penalty conversion. Relief. I'd take the draw, and hope like hell we'd do a few different things in practice during the next week, starting with the keeper having to run tons of laps for his mistake.
Well, in injury time, Hleb brought a ball down, turned his defender, and scored the winner, and just like that, Arsenal started the season with a win. So we can come from behind after all, eh? Yep.
I stayed true to myself, and drank OJ the whole match. Afterwards, I went home and hung out on the internet, and hours later realized that it was time for bed. I went to bed thankful that Arsenal had won their first match, and ManU had been held to a draw.
Monday brought the shocking news that the president of the division of the company I work for was fired the previous day. Gulp. That was the guy who hired me back into the company. I was feeling a little down for him; I was sorry to see him have to leave under the circumstances, but truth be told, this industry is always harsh. With the way things have been going, it was only going to be a matter of time before executive management would make changes.
My German teacher notified me that she'd have to skip class that night, so I headed instead to the pub for a little dinner. John and I had a little chat, then elected to get silly with a bit of port and brandy. I never thought I would enjoy that drink before, but with the right type of port, it's actually really really nice.
Right now, Tuesday is my best day of the week. There's a cool German girl Simone who comes in to the pub to practice English. We've been having some really nice conversations, and it doesn't hurt that she likes the Sisters of Mercy. I'll spare the rest for the moment, but it's refreshing to chat with her, and keeps me smiling.
Unfortunately, we always stay out too late, so Wednesday came too quickly, and I had loads to do. I ripped through a busy day at work, then took five minutes to chat with my boss as I was heading home from the office. "It's only 5pm, what are you doing taking a half day?" he joked.
We discussed a few things. I was going to be out the rest of the week, and he's off on holiday for the next two weeks. I wanted to be sure everything would be covered.
The Bornheim Kerb festival ends on the Wednesday, and the scoop was that it would be mighty crowded around my street from about 5pm on. The party would carry on into the wee hours of Thursday. Thus, anyone living in the vicinity was better off taking Thursday off because even if you wanted to sleep Wednesday night, you wouldn't be allowed to with all the other folks out and about.
I got to Bornheim by around 6, quickly put my stuff down, and headed to the pub. Minutes later, the usual suspects showed up. Philip, Max, John, and then Derrick walked in. The band playing Wednesday was Dr. Evil, a cover band that played mostly hard rock. Judas Priest, AC/DC, Rammstein, and other "metal" type songs.
After two quick beers, we stepped outside to see the show. Oh, by the way, check out www.irishpubbornheim.de, and you'll see the venue, my local. In the picture section, you might even be able to see the back of my shirt.
So, this band started with a vengeance, and I was pretty impressed. Sure, the set reminded me a whole lot of a junior high dance gone terribly wrong, but that was the beauty of it. I never like to admit that I nod my head along to a Whitesnake song, but sometimes that's what you have to do.
A German girl (another cool one, actually, who looks devastating in DMs) leaned over to ask who sang one of the songs, and I had to respond, "Linkin Park." I was hoping to NEVER have to admit I know who that band is. (note - actually, I spent a frightful summer making Derrick listen to Good Charlotte every day as we drove for a coffee, so perhaps I've got some issues.) It was all really good fun.
The beers kept flowing, and once again, we all seemed to forget to eat until it was too late. When that happens, you know what the next step is: have another beer. Stefan showed up around around 9 or 9.30 just as the band was finishing a set. We had a nice little place carved for ourselves in striking distance of the bar, but in great position to see everything.
The band finished their break, started a new set with a great track, and suddenly the sky opened up and it started raining like hell. We held our ground, and stood through a considerable rain shower as the band continued, "Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law..."
So, we got totally soaked, and then I turned around to find Simone standing there. She was out with her sister and friend. They were headed down the street, but would come back. Meanwhile, we just kept grooving. For some reason, listening to a band play covers of "Whole Lotta Rosie" just hit the spot.
During the evening, I checked out the Arsenal match. They were playing away to Sparta Prague for Champs League qualification. Mona, one of the waitresses, kept giving me the update, and then excited told me when we scored the go ahead goal. I eventually got inside the pub to see the team score another goal, ensuring victory, and I was by then most definitely a happy drunk idiot.
The rain didn't really deter the crowd, though apparently not everyone was drinking at the same clip as those of us who'd scheduled off for Thursday and Friday. Eventually, Stefan turned to me and said, 'I'm damaged," which is his way of saying he's done. Of course, by this time it was past 12, and most of us were in some state or other. Most of us were still wet, even though the rain had stopped a bit earlier.
I don't know how we continued, but we kept ordering pints, and those of you who have stuck around on a St Patrick's parade day on Greenville would have been proud. Every 5 minutes or so, you'd hear the sound of another glass breaking as it fell from someones hand. "Wow, can't these people control themselves," I said as I tapped glasses with the girlfriend of a guy I met. "Er, I'm really sorry about that," I whispered as her glass basically broke in half with the contact from my glass. Oops.
Well, at some point I remember sitting on the stage between Sina and Heike. Derrick and Philip were around, and after I almost drank from the wrong beer a third time, I knew it was time to go. How nice to know that home was just steps away.
I smiled on Thursday morning, even with a pounding head. How cool Wednesday night was. I did a few reports early in the morning, then went back to bed for several hours. Later, I got up, had a bit of breakfast, then took a nap. Around 8 I got off the couch, then watched a James Bond movie, then went to bed for the night, dreaming all the way.
This morning, I realized how much I'd needed to take a couple of days off. I had a couple of coffees during the morning, then cleaned the crap out of my apartment. Around 1.30, I went to the gym, worked out like a banshee, then stopped by Saturn on the way home to buy a little subwoofer for my pc. Now, I'm able to get a bit more base in the house, and I'm quite impressed.
I've been listening to a lot of rock en español over the past couple of weeks, which has been a nice reminder of last year. Throw in the constant barrage of Alkaline Trio, Thought Riot, and Street Dogs, and you can imagine what my neighbors might be saying right about now as their walls are shaking.
So the weekend is now beginning, and I'm hoping to stay on the pace. There's loads of work to be done, I've still got the same challenges in the office, and next week, the new president comes to see our repair site. Neat. On top of that, I may have some legal excitement in the coming weeks as I try to get my visa application submitted, albeit a few weeks late.
I'll just smile and say, "thank goodness things are going ok right now."
keep the faith
bryan
soundtrack
Street Dogs - Hard Luck Kid
091 - Fuego En Mi Oficina
Alkaline Trio - For Your Lungs Only
El Ultimo De La Fila - El Loco De La Calle
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