Thursday Thirteen #4

13 Things I did instead of studying for my midterm

1. Paid the bills
2. Washed laundry
3. Walked the dog
4. Put the clothes in the dryer
5. Printed copies of Shel Silverstein's "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out" for the girls in my youth group to recite.
6. Made breakfast for dinner
7. Ate dinner
8. Went to Activity Days (youth group) and discussed how we were going to dress up like garbage bags and recite this poem for an "Untalent Show"
9. Drove home
10. Caught up with P. Sunshine about her day
11. Emailed parents a reminder about what the girls will need for the "Untalent Show"
12. Emailed P.Sunshine's math teacher about make up work
13. Typed a T13

Special thanks to http://fruityspirit.com/phoblography/?page_id=2 for the T13 header!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!

Math's not stupid

A couple of semesters ago, I decided that I better get my degree finished as P. Sunshine will be graduating sooner rather than later. I'm taking a math and a biology class. I really thought that I would have a harder time with the math online as math isn't my strength. I have always liked science and thought that it would go pretty smoothly. Well, the last time I took biology was about 15 years ago. A lot of things have changed in 15 years.

And then there's the whole online experience. It really didn't occur to me how much I enjoyed discussion AND that I process info better if there's a discussion...you know the kind where people talk and you actually hear them? Discussion online is not in real time...okay, it can be, but it's so much faster to speak than it is to type, hit enter, click the mouse, whatever.

So, it's taking more time and effort than I thought to retain all this info. And then the old question...what the heck am I going to use this for?! I was whining to Big Man about my stupid math and he said, "the math's not stupid..." If it's not the math...Maybe I'm just ranting today. Next week are my mid-terms and I'm sadly lacking in retained info. Better get back to studying!

Fasching Foray

Someone commented that they didn't know what Fasching was...I didn't know what Fasching was either six years ago! It's the German version of Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. Fasching actually starts November 11 and ends on Fat Tuesday. Most cities have a parade and then parties, similar to Mardi Gras.

If you want more details, search "karneval" or "fasching".

The pictures on my last Thursday Thirteen (T13) were of a nearby village. Not one of the "million" people attended parades - too many people for me! This was a nice homey parade that lasted all of 45 minutes or so. There were many groups of girls wearing costumes and kind of marching/stepping, all the while yelling, "Ally oop!" The crowd would shout it back and then the candy would start flying! I was serious about wearing helmets next year!

I went with a good friend of mine and her kids. I hadn't asked her if I could post pics of her kids, so their faces aren't showing...Most of the kids dress up for the parades and her son was a dino and her daughter a vampire!

We watched from the beginning of the parade, so the kids caught lots of candy. I'm thinking we may just skip the treat-or-treating next year... It was crazy! There were parents running into the middle of the parade route to pick up candy. I was told that at the bigger parades, people bring umbrellas and open them upside down to catch the goodies.

It wasn't just candy that fell from the sky. Little tins of Nivea creme, samples of hair products, bakery rolls (that may have been from one friend to another, but it didn't matter as it bounced off of me to the recipient!!!) Coupons for jewelry, hair treatments, riding lessons...

One of the floats actually had people passing out cups of beer as it passed by! I imagine it was to wash the pea soup (yeah...I know!) that the German Red Cross was handing out as they drove by!

There were kids from the local martial arts haus and kids and ponies from the riding club, local community bands...it was very small townish! Just what I love! When we arrived people made room for our kids, when the goodies came most of them shared. Lots of smiling, laughter and good will were present.

So, if you're ever this way, this time of year - hit a fasching parade and don't forget the helmets!

Thursday Thirteen #3

Thirteen Things About the Fasching Parade...










1. Get there early, at least 30 minutes, to get a good parking spot and be prepared to entertain the kids... (This is P.Blumen and friend rearranging the rock path!)














2. Be prepared to entertain ALL the kids... (This is P.Sunshine!)














3. If you don't entertain the kids, they will entertain themselves! (This is Little Man after crawling around in the grass...ewww!) Carry wipes, paper towels and baggies for the "gifts" the doggies leave.














4. Fasching is a time of letting loose...for EVERYONE! (This is some really tall man adjusting his do.)











5. What's a parade without horses? and horse poop...did I mention that the parade people are throwing candy?!














6. People in costume...no idea what they are...











7. Groups of girls in fluffy costumes...they just walked.














8. No fancy cars pulling floats here - bring in the tractors!!!












9. In case you needed some liquid refreshment...this man is handing out cups of beer from a float!














10. These are the Bunnys - ladies in blue wigs, shorts and tights...don't ask - I don't know!














11. Representing? They did play some "get up and move" rhythms and this zither guy was really moving!














12. And what kind of parade would it be without a balloon, of sorts?!











13. Did I mention they threw candy? little tins of lotion? bakery rolls? I got hit by all of those. Next year we're wearing helmets!

Karneval - well, almost

Ah, Mondays! Lucky me this isn't the typical, crazy Monday. Today is a holiday Monday! In the kindergarten, the kids celebrated Karneval. When I dropped off *P.Blumen (Prinzessin Blumen) , I was accosted by witches, fairies and dragons - oh my! Even the teacher was disguised in a sombrero and curly mustache! Face painting for the girls only (not sure why), candy (lots)and games were part of the fun.

Meanwhile at home, *Big Man and *Little Man were hanging out playing Sonic as *P.GG (Prinzessin GG)waited for her ride to the pool. *P.Sunshine (Prinzessin Sunshine) was MIA, hanging out with her friends. Me, I was anticipating the quiet for Big Man and Little Man were going out for a guys only afternoon after P.GG left.

It didn't last long. I started out paying bills, then decided to indulge and read some blogs. There are all kinds out there. I am still deciding which ones I really like and want to keep an eye on. I enjoy reading about the little things in life...other people's lives. :) (With 4 girls in the house, rarely is anything little!)

Here's a blog that I keep finding myself returning to - I finally put it on my page!Turning the Pages of Life by Gene Bach is a great blog! It has a little of everything - wit, humor, and drama (read the fishing boat story!) a style that is easy going; nicely done. Stop by, if you get the chance and say, "Hello!" to Gene.

Now that P. Blumen and P.Sunshine are home the quiet has ended. They are almost 12 years apart. What can they have to argue over?! Oh well - tomorrow the kids are out of school, too, but we will be visiting a chocolate factory in the morning and then a fasching(karneval) parade in the afternoon. Wish me luck - hopefully, I'll get some good pics to share!


*Names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent. ;)