(e:paul) got a little obsessed with the Amish while were down in Brushwood. Apparently Pennsylvania Dutch really means German, and they have their own crazy bastard dialect. Paul thinks we can learn it to profit off of the massive Amish economy. I'd like to get hoch Deutsch down first.


Sponsored by Monster?


When we got home we had our own Amish experience. The power went out on at least three different circuits in the back of the house, including the kitchen, living room and stove. Flipping the breakers did nothing, so who knows what is going on with the wiring. Getting ready for Mother's day was so fun with a fridge full of spoiled food, a dead dishwasher full of dirty dishes, and no oven or microwave, but we managed to pull it off.

I've been trying to do immersion with everything German to practice my Deutsch,. I've been using these "Hörspiele" or radio plays from Tim Staffel. (e:paul) and (e:terry) met him at Paul's school in Jena, and had one of his CDs "Stopper". I did some googling and found another called "CB-Funker"

I can't always understand every word, so I last week I wrote him and asked for the texts to the ones I had. Awesomely, he wrote me back with both transcripts and his newest play.

It's crazy to think how accessible the internet makes language learning. Even 20 years ago I think your only resources for self-taught language learning was the library, and whatever media you could order in the mail. Now I can write a German author about a play he wrote 15 years ago and get the transcript of it almost immediately.

He wrote back:

Lieber Joe Herzig,
es freut mich sehr, dass Ihnen meine Hörspiele gefallen. Ich erinnere mich auch gut an Paul und Terry und denke sehr gern an sie zurück. Vielleicht können Sie sie ganz herzlich von mir grüßen.
Ich schicke Ihnen gern die Texte; sie sind urheberechtlich geschützt.
Der 'Stopper'-Text stimmt wahrscheinlich nicht gänzliich überein mit der Hörspiel-Version.
Ich schicke Ihnen noch ein zusätzliches Stück - Das verlorene Paradies - vielelicht gefällt es Ihnen auch. Das Hörspiel schicke ich via WeTransfer.
Ihr Deutsch ist super - 10x besser als mein Englisch ...
Herzlichen Gruß, Tim

Dear Joe,
I am very happy to hear that you like my radioplays. I remember Paul and Terry well and like to think back on them. Maybe you can give them my regards.
I am gladly sending you the texts, they are protected by copywrite. The "Stopper"-text is probably not the same as the radioplay version.
I am sending you an additional piece - Paradise Lost - maybe you like it too. That radioplay I send via WeTransfer.
Your German is super - 10x better than my English.
Best Regards,
Tim

After rushing back from camping we had to get ready to have Mother's Day dinner. We thought we just had to clean the messy house, but it turns out, the power in the kitchen and living room went out. Candlelight dinner anyone?

Luckily (e:mike) had bought the food and prepared some of it at his house, and we still had a stove. He definitely saved the day on that one.

(e:Paul) and Mike's parents came, and so did mine, plus Emily and Daniel. Everyone seemed to have a really good time. I was really happy at how great our familes got along.


Random snacks on the fox tray

Grillmeister Paul

A bunch of delicious food - I'll have to take everyone's word on the steak, shrimp and chicken though.


Fancy fruit and whipped cream and chocolate drizz in champagne flutes. Presentation is always important


Dessert time

Then it was dark and we couldn't really clean in a candlelit kitchen. We watched Teen Wolf before passing out super early.
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Yesterday we got back from the first camping trip of the year at Brushwood. Absolutely good times.


It was such an amazing day - an emergency called camping came up so I had to leave work early. We met (e:heidi) and (e:dianne) down at the campsite.


The Brushwood hoarder bus (e:paul,58969) wonders about


Someone hung tampons in the tree - glad they weren't used


The first night it rained most of the time. (e:paul) was not a happy camper.

But he did have a gaybrella to keep himself from melting


Dead things



On top of it the rain, the car died after the first night because things kept running off the battery. Just enough battery was left to hit (e:terry).


The next day was a lot nicer weatherwise. Paul and I even got to go nackt. Not long enough to burn though.

Lots of frisbee and balls

The patent-pending firebuilding method from Paul



Schoen









Terry made us a nice eggy breakfast Sunday morning. Then we packed up to head home and get ready for mother's day.

Kyoot.
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Thursday, it was absolutely amazing out. So after (e:terry) got home, we went over to meet up with (e:yesthatcasey) for a night ride. We explored Black Rock a little before getting on to the Riverwalk, which we took up to Tonawanda(city). It felt like a summer ride. Thankfully it was night so we missed most of the toxic air pollution along the river.


Almost derailed the train


On the way back we rode through Ken-Ton. (e:paul) had gotten home from a work party and was with his friend Tim. Total betrunken aber spass.


We stopped at this Tops before we turned around. These cookies are a thing.

Tim was wearing a New York Liberty WNBA hat (not sure why I know of any WNBA teams)