The Auslander has landed

It has now been a full week since we've arrived. It has been a whirlwind. I think we arrived on fumes (us, not the plane). In addition to the sad goodbyes came the physical toll of all the packing and carrying of heavy suitcases. We carefully weighed each bag before we left. Somehow I was able to get by with just four suitcases plus carry-on items. For those interested, on international flights you are allowed to check 2 bags no heavier than 50lbs (32kg?). An additional bag will cost money as will any overweight bags up to 70lbs. So technically, I checked three, She checked two.

When we arrived in Frankfurt I came face to face with Adjustment #1:
Air Conditioning is a Privilege, not a Right.

Granted, we arrived at the back end of a heatwave. And I do realize that temperatures are more moderate here and that A/C isn't needed as much. The airport did indeed have the air conditioning going, but it was kind of like visiting that friend who has A/C but refuses to use it until the news issues a warning. Pushing those big heavy bags around the airport while hustling to make the train didn't help either. Each time we entered a new building or corridor I thought "okay, this is where it'll be cooler." Nope. Nevertheless, we eventually arrived in Köln and hauled our luggage up four flights of stairs to the non air conditioned apartment.

The heat combined with the jet lag to give me a pretty awful start to this adventure. By Saturday I developed a pretty wicked stomach ache that only went away when I ate just bread and soup on Sunday. When I visited over the holidays I had the same stomach ache though not as intense or as long lasting. Until then, this never happened. I'm curious if anyone else out there ever came across this after an overseas trip. Hopefully this isn't a recurring issue.

No need to worry about us dying of heat exhaustion. The weather quickly changed over the weekend. Saturday afternoon the clouds rolled in along with hail. I'm not sure I've ever seen hail in such warm weather. Since then it's been much cooler. In fact, as of today it is starting to feel like summer is over. And She always laughed about how extreme the weather is in Chicago. Ha!

Last Friday we registered at the local branch of the city hall or Rathaus (insert joke here). I read my share of expat information in advance of this move and I was prepared for all sorts of red tape and bureaucracy. It actually wasn't as difficult as I had expected. There was just one truly ridiculous moment.

When my number was called, we were told to bring the paperwork to an office. The lady in that office seemed friendly enough. She did some data entry then told us to bring the forms downstairs to another office. This second lady (not nearly as friendly) also did some data entry. Once she was done, she had us bring the forms back upstairs to Lady #1. As goofy as that was, it didn't seem all that different from the DMV back home. However, I have the feeling that was just the beginning of a long process that isn't too different than the beginning of this episode:

Futurama	Weeknights, 9p/8c
Bureaucrat's Joy
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California rewind

No need to worry, I've arrived. Will have lots to write tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy some photos from our blast through California.

Alcatraz Island

View of California Street from back of California & Van Ness Cable Car

Somewhere on Highway 1

Fairly self-explanatory

Finally made the beach

La Brea Tar Pits!

Kermit as the Little Tramp (Jim Henson Studios, formerly Chaplin Studios)

A month of farewells

That's it. Time's up. Just a few more hours and we're off to the airport. This month flew by quickly. We had a great time in California. We saw about as much as possible in the time we had. Of course the best meals we ate on the trip were with family.

For those interested, no, I'm not quite finished packing. What did you expect? Honestly I am shocked at how much we got done before today. If it weren't for Her, I probably wouldn't have started until late last night. We actually had nearly everything done by Sunday. My whole life is packed into about 4 giant suitcases now. Unfortunately more than a few things will be left behind. So much for getting rid of what I don't need.

I was hoping to make this entry a bit longer and more profound but I think I have too much going on at the moment to concentrate. I'll be back soon (and regularly!) so stick with me.

Thanks to all of you who have wished us the best. And a special thanks to those of you who made the time to see us during this past month. I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with each of you over the last few weeks, but you all mean a great deal to me. And of course a special thanks to my mom and sister for all they've done. I love you.

Ride Into The Sun (EP Version)...

Going out to California

We're heading out to the West Coast early in the morning. Hopefully I'll get some time to check in and post a few updates or at least some photos but we've got a pretty tight schedule. For the time being, below are a couple of my favorite California related songs.

A bit about the music on this blog. When possible, I'll try my best to post up live music when it seems legally possibly. As you'll probably find over the next several weeks and months, I'm a big fan of Josh Ritter and you can find quite a lot of his live performances here. When it isn't possible to post up something you can download, I'll most likely use the player from lala.com. Today you get one of each.

Josh Ritter "California (live)" [mp3] (recorded at the Double Door in Chicago, IL)

California One / Youth and Bea...

There's a great live recording of "California One" by Colin Meloy of the Decemberists floating around. It was part of a live NPR concert series. If you can still find it, more power to ya!

You Can't Beat Fun at the ol' Ballpark

Or so Harry Caray used to tell me on WGN. We're off to Wrigley Field in just a bit to see the Cubs battle the Minnesota Twins in the first interleague game of the year. This will most likely be the last game I attend in a long time. Weather looks perfect, if only a little on the cold side. Just checked the matchup and it appears we'll be seeing Randy Wells face off vs Kevin Slowey. Randy Wells has looked really good as a rookie call up. Although he's 0-2, he sports a 1.86 ERA. Not bad for someone who appeared to be brought up just to fill a spot for a few days. I haven't watched nearly as many games this year as I have in the past, but I do know that the Cubs appear to have cold bats whenever Wells pitches. Let's hope that changes today.

Here's an oldie but a goodie.



Postgame update, 11pm. Not a good one. Not by a long shot. Nevertheless, we got to witness history. After catching a fly ball for out number two, right fielder Milton Bradley turned around and threw the ball into the bleachers, thinking it was the third out. He also lost a fly ball in the sun and dropped another one. Not a good day at the office. Nor could the same be said for Randy Wells.

So to answer the above song's question: yes, they do still play the blues in Chicago. After today's ballgame we hopped on the L and rode downtown to see a bit of the Blues Fest. We enjoyed some ribs and a much needed bottle of water while listening to Charlie Musslewhite. It didn't completely erase the stink of that game, but it sure helped.

In which I voluntarily become unemployed

Get rid of clothes: check.
Donate old books: check.
Sort through boxes of odds and ends: check.
Quit work: check.

Wow, we've gotten quite a bit done this week but I'm still a little worried. There's an awful lot of packing ahead of us. Still, we managed to get rid of a lot of things. I am sure more will be thrown out before I'm gone.

Sorry for the delay in writing. I had a feeling it would be like this. I picked Her up last week at the airport. We've got that down to a science. I leave work a half hour early, drive to the airport and park the car. By the time I walk inside, she's pretty much walking through the gate. I am not sure I'll ever get over what a great feeling that is when we finally meet up again. The visits back and forth are worth it if only for that first hug at the airport.

We've spent a lot of this past week going through the checklist above. We've also managed to squeeze in a little time for fun. Last Friday we went to see the new film "Up." I definitely recommend it. Maybe it was just the timing of the visit, but the opening of the movie really hit me hard. I don't want to go into too much detail and ruin it for you. Just make sure you catch it while it is still out at the theater.

Saturday morning was my last German lesson here in the States. If anyone ever needs a recommendation for a teacher in the Chicago area, I've got a great one for you. Later that evening we visited some friends and enjoyed some Lou Malnati's pizza. Wow, that's going to be difficult to give up deep dish pizza. Sunday we drove up to Wisconsin to visit my cousin. I locked my keys in the car. I don't think I had ever done that before. Word to the wise: don't do that in Wisconsin. Local law enforcement is not allowed to break into your car.

She stayed in and got caught up on some sleep and relaxation during the week while I had to work. Yes, work. It'll be a long time before I get involved in that again. Yesterday was my final day at work. It was an odd week with my last day looming. I tried to wrap up any open projects (rather unsuccessfully), and I consciously did my best to avoid anything new (also rather unsuccessfully). Everyone at work pitched in and we had a little party at lunch time. She was able to come in for the party. I think it was a lot of fun for everyone to finally meet Her. She probably enjoyed it as well because I became the butt of many jokes.

There was a ton of food. Brats, potato salad, potato pancakes, (notice a theme?), dessert. Oh, and beer. Thank goodness for the beer. It was a pretty crappy morning at work, one that reminded me of another reason why I'll be glad to be done working. But the beer worked it's magic and after lunch I was able to settle down and quickly knock out a half-assed project that satisfied the most insistent, stubborn person I've ever had the non-pleasure of working with.

Once that was done we walked through the office and said our goodbyes. It was still a few hours early but I just felt like a big distraction for everyone else. Plus, there was really nothing left for me to do. It felt pretty good to walk out of there. I was just surprised that I got a little choked up at the end. But for all the bad feelings I have had over the years at work, it was rarely with the people I worked with everyday. I will miss you guys. Others not so much.

Come and Find Me

Finally. Tomorrow you arrive. No more waiting. No more sad goodbyes at the airport wondering when we'll be together again. Now it is the two of us. Together. Finally.

Come and Find Me

If I could trace the lines that ran
Between your smile and your sleight of hand
I would guess that you put something up my sleeve
Now every time I see your face the bells ring in a far-off place
We can find each other this way I believe

From the hills and up behind, my town
is naked from the horizon down
The curvature is pressed against the raise
We walked up in the fields alone
And the silence fell just like a stone
That got lost in the wild blue and the gravel grey

Come and find me now

Though I'm here in this far off place
My air is not this time and space
I draw you close with every breath
you don't know it's right until it's wrong
You don't know it's yours until it's gone
I didn't know that it was home ‘til you up and left

Come and find me now

I keep you in a flower vase
With your fatalism and your crooked face
With the daisies and the violet brocades
And I keep me in a vacant lot
In the ivy and forget-me-nots
Hoping you will come and untangle me one of these days

Come and find me now

Josh Ritter Come and Find Me (live)" [mp3]