Summer Vacation 2009

So- I am just getting done with my summer vacation. I'm in New Jersey at the beach. Joachim met my friends and my family- and I think they all liked him a lot. I like him a lot more now than I did three weeks ago when we left for vacation. Its amazing. We spent the last three weeks together, with very little time apart, and we aren't sick of each other. Also- he really impressed me. He's not selfish at all. A few times I felt like I really needed his support or encouragement and he never let me down.

Right now I'm in the hotel room getting some relaxation time and Joachim is at the beach. Hopefully he will get back soon and we can go to the pool together.

I'm really happy i got to see my family and my friend's, Miriah's, wedding was really awesome in Boston. I miss the girls a lot.

The only thing I'm disappointed with for my trip is that I always brag about United States hospitality and how american's are really friendly to customers. Now after just about two weeks of being at hotels and eating at restaurants- I've decided that I prefer Europe. I prefer anywhere but the United States. This trip definitely feels like its pushed me towards feeling a little more love for Europe. I guess it has something to do with the bad ecomony in the United States- but that still doesn't give people an excuse for treating customers like they are the enemy. I guess it was only a few bad experiences- and we made the best of it. I guess most of it for me is that I don't like being around so many people. The east coast is too populated for me. Maybe I'll try the west coast next time- or maybe we'll go to Hawaii like Joachim wants to do in February.

Thats it for now. :)

Frustrations

Sometimes I get really frustrated with work and generally this is because I have certain limits and I'm not sure how to get around them. In so many ways I'm really organized, but in the ways that I'm not I feel like I really suffer. Also- I procrastinate so much! I think teaching a child from a young age the consequences of procrastinating is a really good idea. I thought I'd post a photograph of me from years ago today. Also- I thought I'd let my family know that I'm definitely coming home in August for a few days. :) This photograph is from 2005, back when I was really thin and ran even when the snow was coming down. Wow- how things have changed. :) Now- no more procrastinating today. Lots to do and very little time.

Betty & Jo

So- I decided to post another, nicer, photograph of Joachim. Also- I thought I'd write about things I'm really looking forward to in the next 6-7 months. I'm looking forward to introducing Joachim to my sister Holly in Paris/France on a vacation we'll take in June. I'm looking forward to introducing him to Deb when she comes out to do some awesome outdoor activity with me and I travel with her to Berlin to see her husband! ;) I'm looking forward to taking him home to introduce him to mom & dad. :) I'm looking forward to taking him out to my favorite restaurant- that one could even happen tonight- but I bet it will happen a few months from now. (I really like to look forward to things). :)~

I'm looking forward to finding song that I actually sing well and singing it to him at Karaoke night. :)

Okay- here is a photograph of him from the first week we started dating! :) Yes- he is cute. I know and this one you all can actually see his face. :) ha ha.


And the one at the top of this entry is a photo to prove to mom that I am still really silly! :) 30 years old isn't making me grow up! Not at all!

Happy me.

So- a lot has happened in the past few weeks. Mostly my brother danny came to Germany and we had a great time. I'll post one photograph of him and me from that trip. Next- I'm totally in love and I'm really happy. In just another 6 weeks I'll get to visit my sister Holly in France and go to Paris to see Julia. ;) That will be a lot of fun.

Okay- so I have to run- but I thought I'd post some photographs.

First Danny-boy and then a cool photo of my boyfriend. :) Yeah- he's really cute.

Learning German

Okay- so today marks the day that I will begin a full attempt at learning German. I decided I'll try to learn 10 words a day for 5 days a week for the next five weeks. Then I should know 250 new German words and an additional goal is to really try to use those words in speaking with someone. Also- it will be okay to speak all English but those words. Also- in the next four weeks I want to make a list of all the words I already know so that I can make flash cards for the words I need to know.

The nice thing is that many German words are the same as English. My first set of words are Der Koerper (the body), Gefuehle (feelings), haus Woerter (house words), and Alltaegliche Ausdruecke (general Expressions).

I also found a nice website to help me learn German. I've included an image: http://www.languageguide.org/im/body/de/

Daniel is coming to visit

So- I'm not sure what to do with my brother. The first trip we ever went on was to the Wind Rivers in Wyoming, followed by a very high mountain hike, followed by a trip down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (where it was 112 degrees in the shade), followed by giving him 50$, a hotel room and a night to himself in Las Vegas. :) And I think at that time he was just barely 18. I'm a really wonderful sister- I know. ;)

Anyway, then last time he visited me we went to Switzerland and did a kletter steig and also hiked to the top of a very tall mountain (Schilthorn-- where a 1970's James Bond movie was filmed).

Now I'm thinking of taking him to a european city or to Slovania. :) He doesn't know that yet- but he'll do whatever I tell him to- its great. :)

Okay- lets see if I can dig out a photograph of Danny and me.

Mountains are where my heart is..

I'm not sure why mountains feel like home, but they do. The number of times I've hiked up the side of a mountain probably only reaches the number of years I've been on this planet. However, I really treasure each of the steps I've made towards the summit of a cowering mountain. This easter weekend I travelled down towards Oberstdorf to a small town called Steibis. I had a wonderfully relaxing weekend and I feel like I really couldn't be happier. I'm exhausted now and am going to go to sleep- but first I wanted to post a photograph of me. In the photo I felt really silly and definitely felt like life couldn't be better. I also crashed into a ball into the snow after the photo was captured which helped in making me laugh! :)

What a wonderful weekend. More photos from this trip will be posted at some point- I'm sure of that. I hope everyone in my family had a wonderful Easter. I can't wait for Danny to come to Europe and I'm really looking forward to seeing Holly, Terry and maybe even Brett in Europe in the coming weeks. I feel really lucky!

Spring and Summer

This is definitely the best time of the entire year! I am loving it. This weekend I'll go to the mountains- and also I'm having dinner tonight with some friends to celebrate Easter. Tomorrow night I'll sing Karaoke with a few people from the office. That will be nice.

Right now I should be working on writing a grant, or one of my papers but instead I'm writing here in my blog. I feel like I can't get much done today. I worked for an hour or two on the grant earlier today and then met with a bunch of people- but I think i should just call it a day and get out in the sun for a bit.

Yeah- yesterday I met Jo's family (at least some of them) and that was really nice. I was a bit nervous since I speak so little German- but you can really tell when people are warm, happy and nice and I think I only made them a little nervous- which is really the worst thing about not speaking a language. I really hate making other people feel uncomfortable. ;) I'm definitely motivated to learn German now -and I feel like I understand more and more, which is really awesome. :)

I also got an awesome package from my mom with some candies from when I was a kid. Admittedly they are way too sweet for me now to eat more than a few of them- but my office mates also had some of them today. She is so sweet to send a package all the way to Germany.

This reminds me I have to do something.. be back in a minute... Okay.. flowers purchased. :)

I miss all my friends in Salt Lake City and sometimes I wish I could just jump into a worm hole and find myself in the foothills near downtown Salt Lake. I also miss Margarita, Miriah, Cory, Oscar, Dave and last but not least my siblings in PA. However- Danny is coming to germany once again- and I'm pretty excited! Okay- peace out for now. oh right- a photograph.. lets see if i can dig up a funny one.. Ok- there is a blast from the past. Me from 2005 in the Panolab with super long hair and a goofy setup on my head.

Block Praktikum 2009

So- this past week I learned a bit more about what it would be like to teach. First- I realize that I really like to teach- especially if it involves being nice to students. Second- I realized that it is a tremendous amount of work.

Anyway- I don't have much to say except for that it is late at night- I can't get to sleep and I have to wake up early tomorrow morning and hear some students give a presentation on the work we did last week together.

I have a photo of how sleepy I am these days. I'm looking forward to some beer and pretzels tomorrow after we are done. It has been four years since I was in Germany for the first time. So much can happen in four years- it is really crazy. Life is good in general- but my mom is right- i still go where the wind takes me.

New beginnings..

Life is pretty good for me these days. I applied for a bunch of jobs and surprisingly when I came back from Christmas I was already a lot happier here in Germany than the months proceeding my five week trip home.

I'm so excited again because my baby brother Daniel is visiting me again in late April/Early May. Then Holly and her family come to Paris in late June. :) It will be so much fun. For easter I'm going to the mountains with my boyfriend and at the moment I really have the feeling that life couldn't be better. The springtime is awesome, I like my job and most importantly I really feel loved lately.. and well that last one is quite priceless.

I miss my family- so I guess on that front I could be closer to them- but as I wrote above a few of them are coming over to me and I'm sure I'll be home soon enough- maybe even for a job.. who knows. Life is quite interesting and keeps surprising you- and boys and girls- I think I like that the most about life.. even if I do complain sometimes when the surprises aren't pleasant.

No photographs today.

Back in Deutschland once more

Hello all,

It is late on a saturday night. I'm recovering from a cold- so I slept more today than I normally would- and well that makes it hard to sleep at night. I'm going to sleep soon, but first I wanted to post a photograph of me playing my guitar. I just fixed it today and I went through one of the on-line lessons for learning the chords. I learned a lot by just putting the new strings on. I can be so silly about some things. I hadn't realized that the strings themselves are the different notes. I mean- I assumed that it was ALL in how tight the strings were and hadn't really realized that it must also be the width and strength of the string too.

I'm happier than I thought now that I'm back in Germany. I'm excited about my decision to move back to the states and I hope that in the next few months I will get more job offers so that I can really have a fair chance at deciding where to go based on all the things I want in life. However, I am just grateful that I have any offers at this point and I hope that with the current economy they can last for more than a year.

Tomorrow I plan on joining the gym here in Tuebingen, working on some more animations and going out with some friends in the evening. I'm also gonna try my best to go skiing next weekend- with or without friends. I think I might go down to Andermatt. I really liked that place and I think it wasn't so far from here in Tuebingen.

Healing power of being home and travelling

Hello everyone who reads my blog (all two or three of you). I'm at the airport- a very familiar place to me. I've been here in PA for 4 weeks- I am so lucky. My family is so great and I'm so glad that most of them live here. I was so homesick when I came here in late November and now I'm feeling better. I only feel a slight tang of sadness that I'm leaving to west for some skiing, job interviews and to visit a lot of friends.

My girlfriends in Salt Lake City are the ones I am most looking forward to seeing. I wish they were closer to Germany and I am looking forward to moving back to the states so that I can visit them and have some adventures with them more often. I still need to make them a CD for christmas.

Today I went on a ten mile bike ride with my baby brother. He is planning on biking 300 miles a month for the next 10 months. I think he can do it. Then in October he plans to bike across the United States. This year I bought myself pedals and shoes. If he wasn't in such amazing shape I would seriously consider going with him on the trip. Maybe he'll let me do a week or two with him through the states I'm most interested in.

I wish I had a photo of Danny on his bike- but just for a good laugh here is a photo of me on my bike. I'm wearing my skiing helmet (it kept my ears warm) and some random warm clothes. :) This photo makes me laugh! :) I'm glad I am still somewhat of an athlete- and I still haven't changed since I was a kid... I like bikes and the outdoors and I sometimes dress like a goofball! :)

Still at my sister's house

I have had a really relaxing week! :) I've played with William a lot and I went to Pittsburgh to visit my friends Laura and Kim. I also met a lot of people at CMU.

My sister Lisa arrives from Florida tomorrow. I have all my gifts taken care of (except for my grandparents) and all I have to do is finish my photo album page that I'll give out this year. Making the page reviewing 2008/2007 for me reminds me of all the amazing places I've travelled and the great visitors I've had in Germany.

Tonight I want to post a video of little William. He is so cute. When you blow him a kiss- it is so great- he smacks one back in your direction. Not only that, but he also does it if you just say, "Betty loves you".

Here is one of him enjoying looking into himself in the Mac.




I'll also add a really great photograph that my brother-in-law Ryan, William, my little brother Danny and I took the other day. :) What fun times. I'm so glad I have such a great family.


Right now, Nate, Eric and Ryan are siting here watchign the Giants vs Panthers game. It looks like a nice game. I think I'll join them now.

Hanging out at the Gajecki's House

This year there is a new Gajecki: William. Last year this time my sister Becky was close to 9 months pregnant and little william came to join the family on Jan 1st, 2008. This year I get to see him hanging out and he hardly cries- though he is at the moment. Oh- now his dad just gave him his bottle and he has stopped. :) No more tears- milk is yummy.

Anyway, My brother Danny and I are sitting here relaxing and I have some photographs to share with everyone. The one photograph that isn't me showing William my love-so that he can remember his favorite Aunt from abroad- is my brother Daniel and brother-in-law Ryan. :)

My sister Becky has a great little baby boy and Ryan is a great dad- it is a real pleasure to see them together. ;)

Home sweet home with my grandparents!!!

This is my Pop Pop hunting up at the mountains. I told him he looks like an orange monster! :) I thought the snow looked great and as he showed me the photographs tonight- I imagined skiing in Utah and in the Swiss and French Alps this year! Below you'll see some photographs of me and my Pop Pop checking out his photographs and looking at his computer. :) Okay, that is all for now. It is football time and then dinner.

New photographs.

I'm feeling pretty lonely in Germany tonight. I just ate dinner and I'm gonna relax and watch a movie and then go to bed. It is only 19:00 so that is pretty good. ;)

I decided to upload a bunch of photographs from the last two years. Most of these photographs Oscar took. :)



I think this photograph is in Trier.




Here I am skiing in France. Oscar and I went on a ski tour and it was spectacular scenery. I'd do it again any day.



Here I am again and you can see our path ahead of us- and down, of course.



Here is a photo of me once we got done the path you see above. The mountains are beautiful. I am really excited to get back there and be in the mountains again.



This photograph is of me in downtown Tuebingen by the StiftsKirche. I like how Tuebingen puts up such nice flowers in the city- they are beautiful.

nice day

I played a guitar today- I think I will try to get it all fixed (I need two more strings). Also, I caught up with some old friends. A good friend of mine from the east coast is moving back to europe this spring. That will be great to get to see him more. :)

Today I bought my plane ticket home to PA. I am really excited to see my family. I gathered a bunch of photographs at work to post online, but lets see what photographs I could dig up here on my laptop.

September and October

These top two photographs are some of my favorites from when Danny visited me. Above Danny and I are on top of a very high mountain. Danny beat me by 45 minutes and the trip from where we slept was something like 2000 meters gain and it took him 2 hours and 45 minutes. A revolving restuarant waited for us at the top- and also some James Bond movie clips. It was great to show danny some proper mountains, not to mention a few of some of the highest peaks in Switzerland. It reminded me of the time we went to the Wind Rivers in Wyoming. However, the mountains in Switzerland are somehow more impressive to me than even those moutains. I guess it is the shear height difference at points (see later photo). It seems the mountains rise up out of nowhere and go to such extreme heights! I love Switzerland. The photograph below is when Danny and I first met. I picked him up at the airport and then we had to take the bus home. At least I think this is where that photograph was taken. We both look a bit tired- so I'm assuming so. I wish one of my siblings from PA could come to visit me every weekend! :) That would be awesome. I especially enjoyed playing cards with Danny and Oscar.


I wrote the below part first, and then went back and added details for the photographs:

Fortunately in late September and early October my baby brother Daniel was able to visit me. It was great. We went to Switzerland and did a really nice hike and via ferrata. We also went to Stuttgart's festival, which is similar to Oktoberfest in Munich. :) Danny took a ton of photographs and we had such a great time. I was happy that he didn't have to spend too much money and that we got to do a lot of outdoor events.

Oscar is in the states on a job interview this weekend and I don't feel too wordy- so I'll just post some photographs and videos from Danny's trip.

On other news with me- I have to apply to jobs again this fall. It is a lot of work, but should hopefully pay off this spring with a job back in North America and closer to my family and friends.



Above is a photograph of Danny by the town I live in- Tuebingen, Germany. Sehr Schoen!



Here is a photograph of Danny finishing up the most exciting part of a via ferrata that Danny, Oscar and I did that ended in Gimmelwald, Switzerland. It was really exciting, but rather easy-- other than the constant fear of heights issue. ;)



Here is a video of Danny and me on the Nepal bridge. Fun times! :)

Some cool photographs of Tuebingen

Lately I've been feeling really swamped with work and I feel like I've forgotten how to have fun. I am not sure what I need to do, but I think I need to relax a bit more over the next coming weeks and I think I need to get a few things done for myself at work. I have a journal publication that I've been needing to get done for some time, and I have another one ready to start writing.



I am excited about trying to go biking this coming weekend. I want to go mountain biking in nearby Freiburg. This is a place where we travelled with Oscar's family a few months ago and I really liked it. They also are said to have nice mountain biking nearby. I am hopeful.

I decided to post some nice photographs that were taken by a visiting professor, Jack Loomis. I edited them slightly- but here they are. The first one is Tuebingen's main church from an airplane and the second one is a castle that is nearby, also from an airplane. :)

Relaxing month of August and September

Above is a photograph of the building I work in. It is called the cyberneum and is the greenish building that is hiding behind hte tree. Some afternoons we grab a soccer ball and play a bit up in that grass field that is to the left of our building. This is from the balcony of the very sophisticated and also new building to the south of our building. It is where we had a party recently for a friend who left for Canada. What a traitor! :(

So- recent news for me. Lets see. My mom got a new computer. I'm really excited about that. I decided recently that I won't come back to the United States until I'm happy with the politics in the US. This may take some time, but I don't want to live in a place where the politics make me sick. I also don't want to be disliked anymore but all these other countries. So- this means that most likely I'll search for jobs in Canada this coming fall and a few in the states on the slight chance that by next year this time- politics will be a bit better in the United States and looking up! :)

I've been impressed lately with Obama's speech and also the democratic party lately. I hope they keep up the good work and continue to be a party I can respect. I also like McCain well enough- I just think he is really old! I'm also not so thrilled about his pick of a running mate. I'm a woman, but I wouldn't want to be vice president and I think the person he picked is only moderately more experienced than I am.

Anyway, what do I know. And this isn't supposed to be a blog where I state my politic opinions- but just where I keep up with my family and share photographs of my experiences here in Europe and at work.

Lately, work is going pretty well- but it is a slow month. The last two days I have come into the office and NO ONE is here. And it is 10:30. It is a bit strange although actually it is kind of nice, too. I have a huge office to myself. I like that. I better get to work though on some motion capture stuff. I will try to take some photos of what I am up to lately. I'm doing some animation stuff and I am enjoying my job most of the days.

Last night I went to all you can eat pizza for 5,55. That was good. My friend Mirko is way into American diners- and since I like american diners... I usually try to go with him. :) He is funny. Yesterday he was in a good mood and it made me a bit happier- which I appreciated.

Okay- so for a photograph for today. Lets see. Below is a photograph of me and Mirko at a going away party that we through for a friend of ours from the cyberneum. I was pinching Mirko's bicep. I treat him like an older brother- because I miss my brothers from the states! :) Mirko doesn't seem to mind most of hte time.