Ever since we jumped into action and started packing for the US, I’ve had souvenirs on the mind.  Martin and I are horrible about these things.  Last time we made a trip home, I grabbed German chocolate bars for everyone when I went to the grocery store.  Martin and his dad were at the lumber yard at the same time.  They stopped by another grocery store, and well lets just say we probably filled an entire suitcase with nothing but sweets.

That day of double gifting was rarer than the sound of airport security saying please and thank you.  Usually, we totally forget.  

Our honeymoon is a perfect example.  We stayed at a little hotel the last night (after a week of camping and outdoor adventures).  When we asked the owner where he recommended we go for breakfast, he got really excited about this place called Pig ‘N Pancake.  Now if you know anything about the Pig ‘N Pancake chain, you know it’s a greasy place full of families and meat – not exactly the best place for two vegetarians on a honeymoon.

We went there anyway.  I got a glob of syrup on my shorts, and we placed our order.  That was about the time that I remembered that we didn’t have a single souvenir from the entire trip.  It was early on Sunday morning, so Martin quickly scoped out the gift shop.  I thought he’d come back with something like a seashell animal or shot glass.  He didn’t.  He just came back laughing at his own brilliance.  He had a small item in his hand wrapped in tissue paper that he slowly revealed to me like it was magical.

So like I said.  We’re not exactly good at sentimental shopping.  (It’s a good thing your average chocolate bar from Germany tastes better than anything in the US so everyone is always excited to see us when we return, kind of like little kids get when their grandparents come for a visit with gifts.)  We like to limit the clutter and nicknacks as best as we can to keep things simple.  I just don’t know if this is what I expected!  

My husband selected this magnet to memorialize our honeymoon:

True to our word, I’m back with another clue about our summer plans.  As you know, Martin and I can’t spend the season in Germany.  We’re planning a little adventure in the US.  I’ve already shown you pictures of clouds and Martin surrounded by dirty wires, a beautiful country road, and a big hunk of green metal (that was quickly identified, by the way – bravo!).

Now we’re on to our fourth hint about where we’re off to for the summer.  Grab those thinking caps because here it is:

So what do you think?  Give us your best shot!

Cell phones are another one of those things that are supposed to be making our lives easier.  I won’t argue that they’re a great convenience when we’re trying to meet up with someone or an accident happens.  But are cell phones really making our lives easier?  

It seems like people are always on their cell phones.  Few people can wait in a line or walk a couple of blocks without being on the phone.  In the United States, half the drivers I ever see are on the phone (it’s illegal in Germany).  The first thing many college students do outside of class is pull out their phones.  What do you think?  

I feel like cell phones eliminate our opportunity for solitude.  It becomes addicting to see if we have messages or to start calling people; it’s instant gratification.  And I don’t know about you, but that whole cliche about stopping to smell the flowers totally vanishes from my mind when I’m on a cell phone walking across the park.  Even when we choose not to be on our phones, by having them with us everywhere, people have 24 hour access to our lives.  It can be impossible to complete a task sometimes (can you tell your grandma no?!).

Cell phones were another one of those things I didn’t think a move to Germany would cause me to think about.  But it did.  I’d always thought my cell phone use was a harmless habit until I didn’t have it around.  Living in Germany, the talk time I had access to with everyone back in the US was drastically cut.  With a six hour time difference from the East Coast, all the people I knew were asleep when I was awake, working when my evening began…  I had to learn to appreciate the little moments by myself when I was waiting for the subway; I couldn’t call anyone to pass the time.  Not only that, cell phone plans in Germany are so pricey that they make American ones seem practically free.

Of course I don’t even have to go into how much other people’s cell phone use disturbs everyone else in public, do I?

A couple solutions to making our cell phone life easier could be:

With this week’s segment of A Simpler Life Series, I’d be interested in your thoughts on cell phones and simplicity in our lives.  Do you have one/share one?  Do you ever turn it off to let calls go to voice mail or leave the phone behind?  It’s not black and white by any means, so please share – the good, the bad, the ugly ‘N Sync ringtone.

(Image from Flickr)

With hopes of beautiful colors and peace for all, Happy Easter to each of you, our friends.  

Here’s another tiny painting I did on the back of a cereal box.  (Busy hands are the best way to keep away from the Easter candy, after all.)

With the approach of Easter, I wanted to take a deep breath today.  I hope you can all do the same.  Enjoy your families, yourself, your chocolate (?)…  Oh gosh.  Here are some of the things on my mind these days as I try to capture the small things in life before we head off for the next adventure (stay tuned for another clue after Easter!).

This poem was started the day before Easter one year ago.  It’s a very lose style compared to most poems I write if you might notice.  I’d nearly forgotten about it until today.  I just finished it.

WHAT I THINK ABOUT SPRING

soft Easter lilies
near ants and bees,
new blossom trees,
bright butterflies
who dance on leaves

and longer days,
sweet garden bouquets,
the sun’s warm rays–
bringing more
bright outdoor play

ripe strawberries,
a refreshing breeze
(bring allergies),
long tickle grass
up to my knees

with just short sleeves
and silk green leaves,
long picnics at eves
the feeling of spring
and not the freeze

A lot of Europeans really love techno.  I personally opt for NO sound over techno.  That heavy boom-da boom-da reet reet is enough to make me want to walk out the door and shiver.  But once I get past the local love of techno, I really have to say that there is some amazing music coming out of Europe.  The little musician on this video happens to be one of our family favorites:

The British singer, Katie Melua, was introduced to us by a couple of friends in Munich several years ago.  I have never heard her on the radio in the US since, and the only people I’ve known in the US who talk about her is, well, us.  Meanwhile, every European we’ve met knows about Katie Melua and loves her.  (I haven’t befriended any die-hard techno fans, as you can guess.)

Remember when I told you about our favorite American band a couple months ago?  And remember how I told you that we loved to listen to them while we worked on the house?  They were in rotation with Katie Melua.  Varnishing our table and caulking the sink never feel so tedious with good music playing.  I love her music; Martin loves her music.  It’s rare that I can say that about us.

We’re curious about what you think.  Love it?  Hate it?  If you’re hooked like us, Amazon offers her music.  (We recommend this cd.)  I’m also really curious… has anyone outside of Europe heard of Katie Melua?