Thursday, January 28, 2010

Heiliger Sand (Jewish Cemetery), Worms












I am (as some of you know) an avid photographer.






Because of this and the fact that I love architecture pictures, I am always looking for interesting place to take pictures of! My good friend Diane got me hooked on cemetery. I was looking at some pictures of cemetery in Prague and found one not as far and maybe as interesting (even though the history isn’t the same)

So this morning, with fresh snow on the ground, I drove to Worms and with the help of my “handy dandy” GPS found what I was looking for the: Heiliger Sand it is one of the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe. The earliest tombstone that is still standing dates from 1076; the last burial was in 1940. Miraculously, the cemetery was not destroyed under the Third Reich. (WWII)
Here are a few of the pictures that I took this morning. Hope you like them.


For those of you who want to see ALL the pictures (Some of my favorite are in that album) Click on the image below!

Heiliger Sand (Jewish Cemetery), Worms



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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Adventure in Alsace, or what not to do!

I had the most interesting time this morning. Yesterday I decided that I needed some of my French cookie (I love them SO much that I am willing to drive over 1 hour to get them. LOL)
So, I went to my neighbor who shall remain nameless! ;-) Asked her if she wanted to come along or wanted something from me to bring her back.
She said, sure I’ll go to France anytime with you!
So this morning we took out after the kids left for school! I had everything covered in case I didn’t make it on time for Rafael coming home. Got a friend to make sure he was taken care of, and got Damien to take his key. So off we went.
The drive was GORGEOUS! It snowed over the past few days and the snow was a fluffy powder, the kind that stick in the tree and just look like winter wonderland! So we were just chitchatting over our little short drive (only 117km away) and arrived near the French border (which is on the spot we decided to take only the crossing of the river.) The traffic was pretty backed up and we were just enjoying each other company. But then my friend asked me very seriously:

(Nameless friend): “I don’t need my passport to pass the border right??”

(Me): “Well yes you do.”

(Nameless friend): “OMG!! I forgot to take mine!” (Panic face)

(Me): “It is OK, I am sure we will be fine we went several time in France with other friends and never got inspected, so we should be good!”

(Nameless friend): “No, you don’t understand every time that I forget something like that I get stopped!”

(Me): “Nah!! We’ll be fine, don’t worry!!”

So we continue driving along, pass the border and the GPS is telling me to take the second turn after the circle. OK! Then the traffic got slower!! Hmmmm! What is going on!! I looked in front of a big truck and there is a police car parked near the intersection!! I started laughing and told my friend.
OMG!!! She was LIVID!! I was laughing and say, we should be fine. And of course!! We weren’t!!
LOL!! The police signaled me to stop:

“Bonjour contrôle d’ identités!”

I took my French ID card and gave it to him, he looked at my friend. She gives him her US ID!! LOL!! He asked if she had a passport. “No I am so sorry, I forgot it at home!”
He looked at me and told me to follow the car to the “Station” and he would then give me our cards back!
Oki Doki!! Well what he didn’t mention was that the flipping “station” was about 10miles away, in the middle of the boonies!! LOL
So of we are following the French police, and my friend is now totally flipping out.

(Nameless Friend): "OMG!! OMG!!! My husband is going to be so mad at me!! "

(Me): "It will be fine, they are probably going to write down that you tried to enter and tell you to stay in Germany."

(Nameless friend): "OMG!! I am so sorry about that, I should have remember to take my passport!"

(Me): "It is fine don’t worry about it, it will be our adventure of the day!!"

(Nameless friend): Silent… trying to breath!!

(Me): "Come on, it isn’t like they are going to arrest you and put you in jail!! (not sure if they can do that or not) I learned that with the police you just need to stay calm, be polite and friendly and everything will be fine!!"

(Nameless friend): Silent…. Turning a little pale! LOL!!

We arrived at our destination!! ;-) Parked and follow the police in the “Station” after a few minutes of writing down all the information on paper!! (OH OH!!! Now they did ask some very… interesting question!!) LOL!! They get us in a “back” office!!

(Me thinking): Oh Oh!! This is going to be the “interrogation/torture” room!! LOL!!

Oh BTW, I am still LMAO during the all time!

There is 2 desks and 2 police officers, one empty chair next to one of the desk. One of them point at it and tell me to tell her to take a sit! They give us another chair and tell me to sit down. Me smiling the whole time and joking around.
Anyway, after about 40mn of joking around with them and of course getting question asked, translating those questions, getting the answers and translating the answers. We have to sign a paper saying that my dear nameless neighbor (who is a “saint” and wouldn’t do anything bad) is a very naughty lady because she tried to pass the border without her passport! But they did mention that I was as guilty because I tried to get her in!! LOL!! They turned us to the German Polizei across the street! LOL!

The German officer told my friend some blaberish (of course it was something in german) and… we just understood, ID card not valid in France. Please take your passport next time (or something similar!)

So now I just need to do this:

Note to self: When travelling to France with non EU resident, make sure that those travelers are holding a valid passport with their ID card, it might be helpful and you might not be arrested for trying to pass some illegal alien through the border! LOL!!




De blog

Thursday, December 31, 2009

The most viewed Video of 2009

Those were some of the most viewed video of 2009... Some are really fun!!

Playing For Change Song Around the World – Stand By Me



Surprised kitty


Dancing Baby futur Beyonce's Fan


The Piano Stair in Sweden


The wedding march


And Voila this is my last post of video in 2009. you might see some more in 2010, since it is in about 30mn for me! LOL!! no I am off to bed. Enjoy your 2010 and best of everything.
Peace and Humor for the world

De blog

Best Advertisment of 2009

And now to the best advirtisment of 2009. I just love those, I had to share with the world! Hope you dig those too!


















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Best Music of 2009 (for my taste)

I love watching video from the past year every so often, and since it is still 2009 in a few minutes for me it will be 2010, here are some of my favorite music from 2009. Hope you enjoy it and that you don't get "Shocked" over some of my choice!

I loved this video, I thought it was amazing that someone came with the concept of it, and actually turned out this good! Beside I love that song too! Very upbeat!


Another one of my favorite. I just love his music. I think he is one of my favorite artist of the year! I also love his video with Colbie

"Lucky" Official Video With Colbie Caillat

Jason Mraz MySpace Musikvideos

I really like this group too, I love the fact that they mix rock and storyline!

And Follow your dream always!

Nickelback is one of my favorite group. Beside they are great to look at too! So who can complain, good view, good music!! Gotta love them! LOL

I really like this video, I think it is a cute song and the fact that the person use simple graphics make it more powerful!

I really like Colbie Caillat, I think she is a sweet girl that has a great sense of humor and an accomplish artist. I sure hope she keep song coming our way, cause I really dig her! LOL

I also really like Rihanna, weird about the title though? Disterbia?

Matt and I have followed Green Day since the 90th. They still rock and are awesome!!

No insult intended, but I really like this song. You need to know that Lily Allen wrote it after some politic party in the UK made some homophobe comments. Her answer was that song, which I think is perfect. I rarely use that word, but I still think that in some case you can't say anything else but...!

I listened to Paramore once in the States, and didn't really think much, except that they were kinda nice. My kind of music, and Morgane's too! And every so often I find a new song and really like it more and more. My favorite of the year!

I just love this video. Amazing concept and amazing production of it! Just can't stop watching it!

De blog

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Peace on Earth!

Greetings to all,

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Best wishes for this coming year to you and your love one!
As I am typing this letter, I am trying to keep myself from sneezing away on the keyboard. We had a great busy year and if you follow my blog entry you certainly know about it. So I will keep it simple and fast. (Not because I don’t want to brag about my year, but because my head is in the fog, therefore my memories are too!) ;-)
Spring went so fast I don’t even remember much, except the anticipation of waiting to know if and when Matt would be send anywhere with the Army. By late may, Matt called me and told me that his order were here. Station: Heidelberg Germany. Report date: Mid June!! My answer, great, I am going to move on my own again! ;-) so off we go to get all the stuff that needed to be done before moving. Rafael’s passport. Schedule moving day. Get information about where we were going. By the time Matt was gone, I was overwhelmed and thanks God, my mother took pity on me, and came all the way from France to help me pack/clean/keep my sanity (or what was left at the time). For those of you who haven’t followed what happen you’ll need to go back and read my past blog entry, cause it is WAY too long to try to explain now! Anyway!
We are now trying to settle into our Small apartment (very very small) and it isn’t easy. We are enjoying the fact that we are in Europe and try to do something fun every so often with the kids. Again follow the blog and you’ll see! ;-)
Matt is trying to get extension on his order so that we can stay here for another year or two, I wish we will know already what and where and when we are going/staying and everything in between. I guess it is part of the military life that I really don’t enjoy. But you will know as soon as we know for sure! I’ll blog about it! ;-) he he!!
The kids are now a year older.
Damien turned 14 (he could have his learner permit back in IA) and is doing much better at school; he is working hard on becoming a good student and a good Guitar Player. He went with Matt to one of his favorite Band concert in Wisconsin and really enjoyed it! The band: Dragon Force, you don’t know them, check them out. They are the kind of band that are amazing guitarists, super fast, but after 10mn of listening you know you are heading to bed with a migraine! LOL (Or at least it is my case) ;-)
Morgane turned 11, she is a sweet girl with a big temper (like her mama) her dad’s favorite girl and love being close to him now that we are all together again. She is a good student, great Artist and reader, love love to read, and sing and chat online with her friends. (Not necessarily in that order) She is still playing piano and like it (we do need to find someone to get her to play here) She has been diagnost with ADD in Iowa and we tested her again when we arrived here. So 2 different test and tones of discussion later she is now on some mild dose of medication that helps her focus her attention to the right task at hand.
Rafael turned 7, he was still my little shrimpee boy but had a growth spurt over the summer. He is always outside, love playing with all the boys in the neighborhood. He love his Dart Guns and you can listen to all of those boys giggling in the basement and the addict of our new apartment. He like the fact that he can see lots of cool castles. Doesn’t really understand why people don’t speak the same language all over the planet. Ask tones of question about the war and the army and the rules. He is my sweet baby boy and just need to be reminded that he need to be sweet to other as well!
Matt like his job here and really enjoy having us every day with him. He works about 20mn away from home, try to ride his bike as often as he can (except when it is too nasty to take it)
I, for myself, like it here so far. It is way different from a civilian type of life, but it is fun and you meet lots of different people with different background and culture. I am enjoying that a lot. I am a USO volunteer. I have escorted tour to Paris (just once, I was supposed to do the New Year Eve tour and since I am sick as a dog, Matt is taking my place) I have open a little store page for my photos, I haven’t had a lot of time to load too much, but I am planning to concentrate on that over the 2010 year.
We spend our Christmas with my family in France. It was lots of fun and it is always so nice to see everyone again. I was surprise to see some lost friends contact me via email, so we enjoyed a nice evening with them when we were at my mother. It is always so nice to know what peoples are up too over the years. ;-) Matt and I are on Facebook for those of you who are too! Check us out.
Well this is all I can think of. I will leave you with lots of Hugs and Kisses from all of us to all of you.
Wishing you the best for 2010, Health, Wisdom, Peace, and Freedom for all!
De blog

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

December Title & Background

So thank you for all of you who voted, I have now change the blog title/pictures, I now am looking for a background that I can live with. The one I have now, isn't the perfect that I am looking for, I might have to do one on my own. Don't want to start that on top of my so many project!!

Runner-up was the 3rd title picture!! I'll try to change this every month if not every so often. but not too often, cause I don't have the time. I mean you probably saw that I haven't been blogging too much lately!! And I am sorry about that. Just a little too much in my head to get it out I guess! LOL!

Hope you all enjoy your holiday season, I don't know if I will have the time to write anything this week if not I will try over the Christmas break and keep you inform on what is going on!

TTFN

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