We can always find them...

Happy Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Since we can be thankful at any time: I'm thankful for the people who have been and continue to be in my life.

People often ask me if it's hard to move around, to start over somewhere new just as I'm starting to get settled. The best answer is in German: Jaein. In spite of living so far from my family and many of my friends, this has become a blessing in disguise. It has taught me to appreciate the people in my life while they're right there accessible to me. But it's also taught me that the people who matter will always be there. As Sirius Black said (although I think it was Dumbledore in the book. Maybe Lupin. Blast), "Those who love us never really leave us. And we can always find them...right here (puts his hand over Harry's heart). With modern technology (refer back to my love of Skype) there's no excuse to lose touch with anyone. It's a small world after all. I've found some of the most unexpected connections between people that I know from different spheres, or even different continents. So I figure there are two types of people in my life: people who stay, and people who go. They both leave their mark. Besides, people have a way of popping up again.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.

Happy Holidays! No really.

No one needs to know...

I know some people are doing a "30 days of thanks" sort of thing in light of Thanksgiving this month. I'm not that cool or consistent, but I have been thinking lately of things I'm grateful for. For example: Skype (or any other video chat application). And let me tell you why. Phones have long distance fees and are nothing more than scary disembodied voices in your ear, but skype is like having a face-to-face conversation, only I can completely control almost all other factors.

1. It does not matter how messy my room is. I just sit in a clean corner and everything behind the computer could be a war-zone. They don't have to know that it's laundry day and I have two piles of dirty clothes sorted and one clean load hanging up to dry all over the room.
2. I can sit anywhere. That includes laying in my bed (although that one still depends on the person)
3. I can multi-task. I'm not sure that I would make/sit down and eat dinner or clean the kitchen if someone came to visit, but on skype, it's suddenly ok. No need for hospitality.
4.No germs. I doesn't matter if I was just coughing up a lung. No one is going to get a single germ from it. And although I do love brushing my teeth and frequently do so before skyping (or sometimes while-refer back to number 3) there's no reason to be self-conscious, even about morning breath or garlic breath.
5. No one knows what I'm wearing. I can be wearing my sweatpants and slippers, or that really ugly stained t-shirt. Just keep the camera high.
6. Fat days. No one needs to know.
7. Time differences are suddenly not a problem (except when someone does the math wrong and you end up waiting around forever). Not only that but they're a plus. And the fact that I'm in a different time zone only grants me more leniency.
8. Mute button. If I don't want someone to hear me. They simply won't.
9. Screen grab. Just when your friend decides to cross one eye. BAM. Captured forever. When I can remember the key shortcut, that is.
10. Dispute resolution. When it comes to that impass in the conversation where that random world fact must be resolved (either to appease your sudden curiosity or to resolve a conflict) the world is already at your fingertips. What's even better is, if you were wrong, you can sometimes just not mention that you looked it up and hope that they didn't.

I only hope that no one I skype with is reading this, otherwise I've just outed myself. Puh-lease. Like you don't do it too.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.

Watches and Deodorant

The funny thing about cultural differences is that they lurk in the most unexpected places. People expect differences in speech, personal space, diet and clothing. But what about those everyday things. I think I've mention this before but Germans are not afraid to use milk with some fat in it. None of that skim business here. However, it's also not possible to buy a gallon... But on the lurker list here are two of my personal faves: deodorant and watches. I happened to mention to my friend that I have been wanting a watch. She was kind of weirded out by this since I'm not traditionally a watch-wearer (which actually isn't entirely true. I wore watches in middle school and even high school. I think I traded them in for a cel phone). Maybe it's just me but I feel like, in the US, watches are worn by business men. Or really any man with a profession. That's pretty much it. And my mother (who seems to kill them). But I don't know many young, American, adult women who wear a watch. German women do. Who'd think? But it's actually quite sensible. I wish to be in the watch-wearing-women club. At least for a trial run. I just haven't picked one. As for deodorant, this isn't recent news to me, but it was just reiterated the other day as I walked into the locker room after working out. My nose was greeted by anything but the smell of sweaty people. The girls informed me that the people that had just left had pretty much doused themselves with deodorant. It's not that we don't have people dousing themselves in the US, just not with deodorant. I'm just so intrigued by this concept. I'm tempted to try it. Maybe someday before I leave. Maybe. I guess it does make sharing more sanitary. 

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.

My Toothbrush Hits the Ground

This is not a subtly blatant cry for reprieve from the overwhelming stresses that are swallowing me up. I actually just really like this video for several reasons, and, since I'm sure what Milow most desires in his life is my approval--blog style, I'm going to put my two cents worth in.

1. I appreciate clever lyrics. No need for profanity or sexual innuendoes. Just a clever and relatable story which RHYMES! And what's up with him being able to do that in his non-Native language (yes this is me being jealous).

2. I love simplicity in music. Just him and his guitar. No autotuning, excessive bass/drums, or fireworks. There's  a time and a place for those too, but sometimes they're just a crutch.

3. I appreciate authenticity in performance. Playing with the audience, messing up his own lyrics, chuckling at himself. It always tickles me a little bit to see that. People, we do not need to take ourselves too seriously. Performers are just people that, for one reason or another, everyone wants to see.

4. He mentions his toothbrush. I love toothbrushes.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.

The "Smokey Eye"

I know what you're thinking. Initial thought: Holy crap that is a very close up picture of an eye. Ew. Then, if you were able to get past the creep-factor, you thought, "Wow. You have a lot of freckles on your nose." As my youngest brother once said "Some families are black. Some families are white. Our family is white. Except Felicia. She's polka-spotted." Thank you. But once you moved past these shockers you (probably only if you're a woman) became jealous of my subtle mastery of what I believe is called the "smokey eye". This is a highly sought after look, particularly for going out in the evening, and possibly having something to do with vampires. People pay big money for Carmindy to teach them the secret. Well I have it. It's free and takes me literally no prep time. Jealous? Unfortunately I don't think the matching nose normally comes with it. I guess that's just an extra special perk.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.

So, who did YOU vote for?

The US election is over. Over the past few months of election season I've found a couple of things surprising.

1. How much I hear about it. I'm ashamed to say that I am not exactly the most politically informed person, but I didn't expect to hear so much about the election while living in Germany. I don't remember hearing this much about most other countries elections when I lived in the US. It came on the news on the radio or even the advertising screen on the train/subway. My non-American friends have been posting about it on facebook and people have been asking me my opinion. Which leads me to the second shocker.

2. I didn't realize how uniquely taboo political leanings are in the US. It completely threw me for a loop when someone came straight out and asked: "So who are you voting for?" I guess it didn't occur to me just how oddly private we are about it.

And I bet now you're thinking: So... who DID you vote for?! Bah.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.

Revolutionizing your silverware drawer...