Finding Joy in Little Moments

I like words. I like lists.  And laughing – lots of laughing.  If you do too, maybe this is your kind of wintery Monday article.

winter in berlin

1. I dreamed that I decided to write this blog in German.  Lucky for all of us, that will NOT be happening.  (I just told my Russian classmate this morning that we need to wear a lot of newspapers when it gets cold outside.)

2.  The scary thing, of course, is that mixing up “clothes” and “newspapers” was a mistake I noticed.  I can’t even imagine what else I have said to people.

3.  This crocodile stuffed animal might be fun to give a little kid for Christmas if you’re a wiz at sewing zippers.

4. You’ll love Maureen’s comment on last Tuesday’s post about reading A Christmas Carol:

    Last month at my elementary school we had a book fair in the library.  One 4th grade girl came up to me and said, “Look (showing me a copy of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol), they already have a book made from that new Jim Carey movie!”
    I had to laugh!

5.  As long as we’re laughing, I might as well tell you something.  I go by Katherine in my German class.  The German pronunciation is “Kat-rin”.  So everyone calls me Katrin.  Well almost everyone.  The Vietnemese students in my class always mix up letters like s, t, v, r, and d.  I really can’t figure out the pattern behind their mispronunciation.  All I can tell you is that they can’t say “Katrin”.  They pronounce my name as…. “Kevin”

6.  I now answer to the name Kevin.

7.  People have been writing to me for a suggestion on my all-time favorite favorite vegetarian cookbook to give as a gift.  (Here’s a post listing my top suggestions.)  But if I had to only pick one, I’d choose this one.  It’s good for beginner and advanced cooks, people who want to eat less (or no) meat, and it has recipes that vary in time commitment.

8.  If you have an expat friend in Europe that you’re wanting to send something to this holiday, I’d suggest something from this list.

Here’s hoping for a beautiful week for you all.  I’m hoping to find the chance to curl up and watch a Christmas movie (or two!) in the next weeks.  What are a few of your favorites?  Maybe we can brainstorm a little.  A Christmas movie collection – that’s one thing we should all have room for in our homes, don’t you think?

-Kevin

(Image of the TV Tower by Martin… at 4:00 p.m.  It gets dark much too soon.)