Questions To Free Your Mind 31 - 40

Continuing stealing from the wonderful Jenni my journey to enlightenment with no. 31 to 40 of the 50 questions to free my mind. I definitely enjoy learning things about me and be challenged to look beyond the surface.

31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
Probably teaching the class at work back in January. This feeling between being absolutely nervous, hoping not to collapse in front of everyone, but truly excited about the interaction and the whole experience.

32. If not now, then when?
Well, depends.. Project baby no. 3 has been approached earlier rather than later. More travelling will happen once the kids are older; we can't wait looking at architecture with them, exploring museums, a lot of things they are not interested or simply too small at this point. All in all, I'm really happy where we are in life right now, so not very many things to postpone..

33. If you haven't achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
Well, thinking about coaxing little kids through museums or big cities doesn't really sound appealing to me, so fun and truly enjoying myself is what I have to lose. But in the meantime, we enjoy ourselves going to zoos or doing other child-appropriate activities, which are fun as well.

34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
There are definitely people who don't need much words. That's been always the case with hubby and me, we don't always need words to know exactly what the other thinks, feels, and needs.

35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
I guess they believe that their religion is the only true one and therefore their message must be brought to others, and if they don't appreciate it, force them to feel the love. Honestly, I don't understand it either. Not the crusades from back in the days, nor the hatred against other religions, or people who are different in general. The legislation about to be passed in Arizona that allows religious people to refuse service to others who are not living according to their standards is just another step up the latter. It is not in line with the Christian religion, and if the politicians in questions would ever open the bible at the right places, they'd know.  I think that it's probably people's own intolerance and bigotry disguised as religion is what's causing the  conflicts.

36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
I think this goes hand in hand with the question about the truth from the last set of questions. Good and evil are not absolute, but depend on individual moral and ethical standards, society, age, and many other variables. Most people will agree that murder is evil. But what about assisting a dying person to end their suffering? Some people go even so far as to justify killing people of other religions (see above) as the will of their deity and therefore a good deed. I know what is good or evil in my eyes, but even these are not always set in stone.

37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
Honestly, no. I like my job. I would certainly cut hours considerably, but wouldn't give up my routine all together.

38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
I have tons of work I enjoy, but honestly, sometimes I'd like to have a little less on my plate these days, as I could work 50 or more hours a week and not be done.

39. Do you feel like you've lived this day a hundred times before?
Not right now, because I'm on vacation, but once I'm really back in the routine, yes, most of my days are structured the same, which again is ok. I like routine, to be honest.

40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? 
That was about three and a half years ago, when we packed up all of our stuff that we could take, got rid of everything else and moved to Germany. We knew that this was the right thing to do for our family, but there was nothing planned out at that point. We knew that we had a place to stay and a little bit of income from the child benefits and parental benefits that everyone receives in Germany. It was a jump into cold water, but two months after that, we were once again on our feet, and things have been getting better and better ever since. We could have failed miserably, but we had the right attitude and simply knew that it will be alright.


To know what Jenni thought about these questions, visit her blog Flying on a Rainbow!

Questions To Free Your Mind 21 - 30

Tackling the next set of questions that I have shamelessly stolen from the fabulous Jenni blogging over at Flying on a Rainbow. Thank you for still being my friend  :-)

21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
That's hard to say. Would the genius be happy, too? I think I'd rather be the genius, because I'm a very, very impatient person. And I'm seriously annoyed by my mommy-brain sometimes if I realize how slow I am.

22. Why are you, you?


Because my passport says so? Because there's this pretty weird mix of interests, neuroses, and even a few strenths that answers to my name.

23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
I have to admit, I'm sometimes phony. I promise things that I end up not owning up to (mostly about visits, because all-too often, life happens). But if it's important, my friends can always count on me. In general, I try to be the friend to others that I wish for myselves.

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
Why would I loose touch with a friend that lives nearby? I know that I don't see my friends as often as I would like to, because I work full-time, I have a family, and on the weekends, there are all-too-often errands to run. But there are always evening phone calls, long emails, and somtimes even overnight visits to catch up.  But back to the question: since I have already had good friends moving away and the contact still continuing, I'd say that losing touch wich a friend who lives nearby is worse.

25. What are you most grateful for?
My family and friends, the people close to me, my job, health, and many, many more things that money can't buy.

26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
That's very difficult. I think I'd rather lose all my old memories. Thinking about my past and the memories I have made, my life only became really, really good after I had met hubby and even better after having children. My (high-) school time was mostly hell, and college was not the best either. So I'd rather keep making new memories with the people I love most.

27. Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
I'd go so far as to suggest that something like "the truth" hardly ever exists, at least in life. Ask 10 people about a situation they have witnessed  and you will most likely hear 10 different stories. In science, new theories definitely always have to be challenged and tested before being proven, disproven, or accepted as probably true.

28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
Luckily not, and hopefully never will. My greatest fear is losing my family, and since I still have everyone here, I'm save for now  :-)

29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
Well, 5 years ago I was pretty content. But there was a situation about that time, 9 months earlier that upset me to the extreme. Everything got figured out and it SO does not matter now! But I sometimes have the feeling that extreme situations like that require me freaking out completely in order to be all fine at the end  :-)

30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
That's really hard to say. I'd like to say my fondest childhood memory is growing up with extended family, cousins, all the big family gatherings a couple of times a year and my grandparents' home. I'm a little sad that the girls won't have this experience that way, but they are certainly growing up with a lot of people around them, who may not necessarily be family, but who love them just the same.


For Jenni's answers, please visit her blog Flying on a Rainbow!

Week In Review - Ten Things Of Thankful Gone Renegade Edition

Somehow it felt weird not having a TToT link-up this week. Or next. This is the time when many things happen, spontaneous, unexpected, happy things that I am incredibly happy for. And just as I was sitting there, I found that the link-up is not so much at pause as I thought...

This week, I am very thankful for:

1. Lizzi, for creating this link-up, even when she's not only in a bad place, but broke through rock bottom and is sitting at the bottom of a 50ft crap pit. You are an inspiration in your strength to continue, to set one foot in front of the next, no matter how strong the wind is blowing. I am thankful to know you, Lizzi!

(now to the more trivial but still important thankfuls this week)

2. The bus driver handing out little chocolate Santas this Friday morning. Oh my goodnes, it SO made my day!!

3. Lily not only bringing home a beautiful heart-shaped wire ornament but also inspired me to finally take down the fall / Halloween decoration from our front door and craft some paper snowflakes with ther and Violet.

4. A spontaneous dinner with our neighbors tonight. So unexpected but fun!

5. "Nightmare Before Christmas" on TV

6. No pre-holiday stress, no waiting in line at the stores on Monday.

7. Plenty of vacation time, and colleagues who are willing to come to work so I can spend almost 2 weeks straight at home.

8. Somehow managing to take the high road in a situation that simply infuriated me. I don't know how I managed, but I did..

9. Cuddling with the girls on the couch, reading good-night stories.

10. More small translation jobs, with a prospect of regular work in the foreseeable future. It's great to be able to translate again, and for being paid for it!


Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend!

North Korea At War

I just came in the news and I'm still kind of shocked, even though I've kind of saw it coming. North Korea declared in their national TV program that they are actively at war again with the south.

Some of my readers are military wives. Some of my personal friends are military wives, and we even have one close friend set to start a tour in South Korea this summer. We are beyond relieved that one close friend has just returned from his tour there and is now safely back in the US.

What I am asking myself is: what is necessary on top of what already happened for someone to step in? I am calling on the US, the UN, the NATO. Yes, I am specifically not mentioning Germany here, because our military is forbidden by our constitution to start a war. That is why our military was not involved in the Iraq war. It was clearly an attack without clear provocation. We were, however, involved in Afghanistan, since it was considered a defensive mission after the Taliban had attacked the USA. We currently have some defensive missiles stationed in Turkey after the government has called for help since Syrian attacks had hit targets in Turkey and have caused casualties among the civilians there. Therefore, without a clear UN or NATO mission, we cannot attack.

But why hasn't the US military done anything? They and South Korea are the first targets, as this madman Kim Jong Un has declared on several occasions (as I recall, Saddam Hussein has not made threads that clear). He most likely has nuclear bombs and missiles that can carry them (Saddam Hussein did not; indeed, in order to justify the mission there, explosives where re-classified as weapons of mass destruction). Why is no-one coming to help the people, who are starving to death and are put away in labor/death camps by the tens of thousands? Didn't the US claim Saddam Husseins acts against the population as another reason to invade? Well, Hussein was definitely no innocent when it came to acts agains human rights. However, the North Korean regime is above and beyond that!

I know the reason why the US has not invaded North Korea, but that's not up to discussion here. What's important now is that world leaders work together beyond primary interests and politics to de-escalate a situation that is probably one of the greatest dangers to world peace and might just develop into the first nuclear conflict after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War 2.

I am scared. I am scared for this world and I am scared for our friends and their spouses. Something has to be done, and quickly.

What is your opinion on the current situation? Are you concerned or do you think Kim Jong Un just rattles his sabers a little louder than usual?

UPDATE: This is the witness statement Ms. Soon Ok Lee, a former inmate of one of North Korea's notorious interment camps has made during a hearing at a US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titles "Examining The Plight Of Refugees: The Case of North Korea". It is a very difficult read describing in great detail the inhumane cruelties the inmates face every single day. I was in tears and had to stop several times, but I would still recommend the read just to know why I feel so strongly about this case.

Violet Standing Up For Herself

Today, I enjoyed a very housewifely day with the girls. I am alone with the girls more often, for example when Richard has all-day orchestra practice or is out for a game. Today was different, because it was a weekday with a normal routine for the girls. Getting up early, breakfast for the girls, brushing teeth, washing faces, getting dressed and off to kindergarten for Lily. After dropping Lily off I went grocery shopping with Violet and had breakfast just the two of us. I cleaned the dishes while Violet "washed" her play kitchen dishes in her little sink. I did some more cleaning while she took a nap and already it was time to pick up Lily again. The three of us had lunch and then, as a surprise for the girls, we headed out for a fun afternoon at Playmobil Fun Park. Folks, I can tell you, it WAS fun! The girls got to play with all the expensive Playmobil toys and I could sit back and watch them playing because I knew someone else would have to pick up after them (which is a BIG plus, as this topic often causes arguments at bed time).

As the girls were playing, I was sitting at a table with the parents of Lily's friend talking about the usual stuff when I noticed that Violet had gotten in an argument with a much older boy in the Dinosaur Pit that started to get physical. As he pushed her away just a little, she went at him flaying her arms at him. I intervened as he pushed her back hard so she fell. I explained to her and the boy that the toys were for everyone to play with and since there were several sets of everything, there was no need to fight over one toy. Violet went to another area of the Dinosaur Pit and continued playing. I went back to our table, keeping an eye on her. And just a few minutes later, an even older boy pushed her back hard and she fell again. Mommies started to arrive from different areas to find out what happened. Obviously, there was an argument because the boys had hogged all the toys and Violet tried to get some back to play with. When they didn't give her any, she just tried to take them; that is when the boy pushed her. His mom made him apologize and he had to leave for a time-out.

I wonder, when has it become ok for a elementary-school kid to bully a 2-year old girl? I am really glad that she had the chance to stand up for herself and assert herself against the boys, but seriously, the situation should not even have happened! In Lily's kindergarten was a PTA meeting the other day where they introduce a model that's re-emerging, namely separating the age groups. Right now, there are kids from 3 years until they enter school (usually at 6 years old). The older kids learn to be considerate of the smaller ones and help them out while the younger ones can learn a lot from the older kids and also assert themselves. Situations as described above are bound to happen more often, especially if the older ones are taught that the little ones only hold them back and prevent them from doing the really "fun stuff". I, for once, support mixed-age kindergarten groups!