We're going to Germany! Fuck yeah! I don't think I've ever been so excited for something in my life. Especially since I started learning German two years ago down in Scrody, PA :) (e:joe,58063)

I finally got my check for Squeaky Wheel which I reserved for a trip to Germany. I have been searching constantly for the best deals. Using kayak I found a few amazing deals.

For three weeks in June, we could have gone round trip from Toronto to Hamburg for super cheap - $1800. Anyway we decided to split up the trip from north to south, and finish the trip in (e:paul)'s ancestral home near Venice. So flying out of Toronto on June 8th, and coming back from Venice on the 30th ended up being $2200 total for all three of us. Woop.

Not only that, but I managed to find very cheap passes for the Deutsche Bahn so we can make our away around for a fraction of the normal ticket prices.

We haven't decided everywhere we're going. But we're probably starting out in Flensburg, where (e:paul) went to school the first time around, for the first week. And spending the last few days in Venice.

The list of things I want to do:
1. Ride the high speed ICE bahn train
2. Go naked swimming legally
3. Speak German to people
4. Eat some Turkish food

A picture of Flensberg from the air,

I like Gratwick Basic Science Building, the building (e:paul) and I work in. Despite the asbestos and radiators that constantly overheat me, I think the old school lab feel is practical and comfortable.

Since it's 7 floors tall you have a pretty good view of downtown and even the lake. The parking wasteland is ugly but you can get a nice view of the sun when it goes down.


From Paul's desk you can the most ridiculous traffic I've seen in Buffalo. Every day, a 15 minute long line queues up outside the valet for people waiting to valet park. It completely closes off the street, everyone honks, it's crazy. I definitely see why they have the service - if you're sick or disabled, it's probably very helpful. But that can't be everyone in this line - you definitely could park in the visitor lot and walk over by the time you got through.

Maybe if more medical campus employees biked, walked and railed to work there would be parking for disabled patients who need it - instead we drop $40 million dollars of health care money on a parking ramp. Why doesn't the medical campus spend $40 million dollars subsidizing transit, bike, or carpooling incentives? If you don't like parking 5 blocks away into the Fruit Belt, the residents don't either, and you don't want to pay the (already subsidized) lot fees - maybe you should find another way to get to work.

I'm behind again. oops.
Last Sunday (e:terry) went to a birthday party for this girl Felicity and her friend Oliver. We didn't know many people there but I did run into my sisters old classmates. We got good and crunk and since everything started at 7pm we were safe and sound under the table by 1.

When did I become a homeowner with (e:Paul) and (e:terry)?

We are mostly done with the new study. On Saturday we picked up a new desk for (e:Paul) down in Orchard Park (thanks (e:Heidi) for letting us use your truck rental). He hates it because part of the desk isn't solid wood and has a chip on it. But I think the room looks pretty complete. we took down an old rug and put out the plants and a chair. it's pretty cozy in the daylight. Paul also ordered curtains.

We might buy one more desk from my dad, its very nice and solid hardwood.

Paul also started to repaint the back hall upstairs. The wall texture is pretty shitty but I started to scrape away all the bubbled wallpaper. Unfortunately there are large diagonal cracks down the wall from the settlement of the front foundation. Personally I'd love to rip out some walls to redo electric to modern standards, insulate and add fireblocking. I think we'd have to be ready to do multiple rooms though because I know how quickly that snowballs.

Somehow once again I managed to fit two dinners in one day, and one stomach. I wish we could somehow combine them.

it was crazy warm outside so we rode our bikes to (e:paul)'s parents. gotta burn dessert beforehand.

I stayed there for a few hours and had the amazing risotto and candied yams. Paul made a tasty cranberry sauce with grapefruit and cloves.

Then I sped over to my parents for round two. My mom managed a falafel tukey stuffed with vegetarian stuffing complete with drumsticks! Pinterest worthy, mom. Thanks.

We had the usual relatives and dogs over and 10 different pies. =7 too bad there's no gluttonous emoji.

At the end of the night, Paul and Terry stopped over to say hi to my family. Paul managed to make a few minutes before he started going full allergic. (he did have to bike home to black Friday with (e:mike).) pretty good day!