Ring in the New Year

Here's looking at you kid!

This will be the last post from frankfurtsanfrancisco. It's been a fun experiment that I will miss, but it's all for the better. I am moving on and focusing my energies on my other website and other projects.

Never say never. Who knows? I just might start up a new blog under a new name if it strikes my fancy.

Only 4 more hours to the new year. I hope that it will bring all of my faithful readers good health, happiness and success.

About the picture: In honor of my last post, I decided to haul out the "big boy" camera and snap a photo of me. Taking self portraits helps me to be more self aware. For example, I realized how asymmetrical my eyes are. Also, my default look, that of a poker face can be quite intimidating. My resolution for 2010 should be to smile more, when it's appropriate of course. :-)

Bis demnaechst! Adieu! Ciao! Adios! Until Next Time...

frankfurtsanfrancisco

German consulate

I'm paying a visit to the German consulate in San Francisco this morning so that someone can certify my citizenship. This needs to be done before I can get the money back, which I paid into the German retirement system. I'm hoping to get back a nice chunk of change.
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Quality of Life

I wish the SF government would do more to improve quality of life problems in the city such as graffiti. These things do impact larger problems. I need to report this graffiti to the department of public works.
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Return to Normalcy

Walk This Way

It was pouring yesterday afternoon, but it seems to have stopped this morning thank goodness, just in time for my pending power walking session.

The return to normalcy in the title refers to my diet. After a couple days of eating festive foods, my stomach is glad to return to a bit of normalcy.

I woke up at 5:45 AM yesterday so that I could get to the mall early enough for the deals that didn't really show up. Bummer. One place offered sweaters for only $20, but there were only XXL and L sizes available. The lesson I learned is not to go to Stonestown Galleria for after Christmas shopping because their merchandise is expensive and I can't check off items on my gift list.

Miracle on Christmas

The attempted Christmas Day attack on a plane enroute to Detroit was a scary reminder of the terrorists that are still out there plotting destruction and damage. These vermin are scum because they try to instill fear in everyone with their scare tactics. Also, now it will even be more of a nuisance to fly because of all the reactionary security measures the security agencies implement every time there is another bombing attempt. Remember the shoe bomber who caused us all to have to remove our shoes. Then the attempt to use explosives that were in liquid form, which resulted in the ban on bottled water. The security measures are getting insane and it not even clear how much safer these measures make us. Pretty soon we'll all be flying naked as many others also predict.

Feeding Frenzy

The holidays are a feeding frenzy in many ways. It's a time to stuff yourself just like bears do before they start hibernating. Not that I've met any bears who told me that first hand.

Then the day after Christmas sales is a different type of feeding frenzy. Because of the sales and discounts, people turn into monsters as they grab at deals. I will likely join the crazed masses tomorrow, but I hope to maintain my sanity and humanity.

Christmas Eve 2009

The pink glow of the sun hangs on the horizon and gently fades into the light blue of the sky. Today is Christmas Eve morning and I must go to work, albeit for only a half day. Most people either take today off or have a company holiday today, so the traffic is very light.

I like how a common German holiday greetings is to wish people a "besinnliches Weihnachtsfest". Besinnlich means contemplative and reflective. More people should be contemplative these days. I wish you a contemplative Christmas.