Who knows shit-wichteln???

Christmas is coming and all these Christmas parties.
Christmas party with your department, your team, club, friends and more.
In the US we always did a pot luck where everybody was supposed to buy something for lets say $ 5 and has to bring it nicely wrapped to the Christmas celebration get together. You draw a ticket with a number and when it is you turn you are allowed to pick a gift. Usually it is allowed based on the given rules to steal a gift from another colleague and he is allowed to pick another gift.
Shit-wichteln is almost the same with one exception; your are not allowed to buy something.
You have to bring something from home, something you always wanted to get rid off, something that is hiding in your basement for centuries. You wrap it like the best gift ever. And a lottery ensures every gift will find a new owner.We did it last week at our department Christmas party. We had tons of tickets, many blank tickets and others with numbers. You had to buy a ticket (or as much as you want) for Euro 2 and hope for the best; a blank ticket. 🙂
The money we’ve raised went to a good cause, which made it an even better event.
We had stuff like a nose hair trimmer (if used; dunno), weird little figurines made in wherever in the world, more „useful“ stuff to hang at your wall, maybe above your TV or so. We had so much fun, laughing so hard tears were rolling down our faces. You have no idea what creepy stuff is out there and folks are hiding in their homes just to bring it out for shit-wichteln.
Ya wanna know what I got?
A beautiful figurine, a girl with a I guess dove in her hand and a cute little dog next to her.

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Wir leben noch…

Ein langer Weg oder Ja, wir leben noch…
Sorry für die lange Abwesenheit.
Viel ist passiert und wenig wurde geschrieben.
Das soll sich wieder ändern.
Danke für die Treue.

Ist schon ne Weile her und keine Updates auf unserem Blog tztztztz…

So kann das natürlich nicht weitergehen.

Also, was bisher geschah…

Das Haus ist fast fertig eingerichtet. Ein paar Bilder fehlen noch aber taaadaaa alle Lampen hängen an den Decken und Wänden. Hat ja auch nur 10 gefühlte 1000 Monate gedauert.

Mittlerweile haben wir uns in unserer neuen Heimat ganz gut eingelebt und geniessen das neue alte Haus.

Man soll es kaum glauben aber dank des nahegelegenen Waldes sind wir auch ein ganz wenig sportlich geworden. Wir Laufen. Ja.

Im Juni hatten wir dann auch endlich mal Freunde zu Besuch. Birthday Burger Bash. 5.5kg bestes Rinderhack verarbeitet zu 42 formvollendeten Burgern gepresst. Ok und dann noch liebevolle 8 handgemachte Veggie Burger. Ergebnis: alles weg, verputzt und gekillt genauso wie Elises picture perfect Mississippi Mud Cake. Yummy.

Für Elise ist endlich Ende der Probezeit und nun können wir endlich in den lang ersehnten Urlaub abhauen. Guess what? Yep, es geht in die USA.

Des weiteren haben wir nun auch endlich mal Zeit in unsere alte Heimat zu fliegen und unsere Familien zu besuchen. Ich habe meine Leute jetzt über 2 Jahre nicht gesehen. Zeit wird's. Elises Eltern hatten uns im Frühjahr einen Besuch abgestattet, was uns sehr gefreut hat. Wir konnten dann doch das eine oder andere miteinander unternehmen.

Jobmässig geht es uns sehr gut. Elise fühlt sich pudelwohl in ihrer Arbeit und ich darf dank neuer Aufgabe wieder öfter in die USA. (wo ich aktuell auch gerade in einem Starbucks hocke)

In diesem Sinne…seid gespannt es kommen wieder ein paar USA Beiträge…

Job Interview Experiences…always kind of exciting

I wasn’t really happy with my last job in an office, working for
the export department of a pharmaceutical wholesaler.
It’d sounded pretty exciting in the beginning, but it turned out kind of boring
and some rules and regulations in this company were a deal breaker too.
So, I decided to get a new job, since I’d missed working with people one-on-one anyway.

My job there was basically working 8 hours in front of a computer
and writing E-Mails with people around the world.
I guess the urge to go back in the pharmacy, where I can
actually interact with customers wasn’t a big surprise.

So, I went on a specific website, where I put an ad that I’m looking for a job.
I’d received a lot of calls and E-Mails and arranged a couple of job interviews.
What I really like about job interviews are the bargain
and how the potential employers try to sell themselves.

I always prepare some questions, but I’ve learned
it’s more important to listen carefully what they tell you.
One lady for example was so talkative, that I’d got informations
that aren’t helpful to get a good impression of her.
She told me that the staff is changing a lot and that she’d been
a former employee before she became the owner.
Actually, the whole staff wanted to leave when she bought the pharmacy.
My first idea was: „Girl, what’s wrong with you?“

And moments later there was a big elephant in the room.
She asked me: „Your not planning to get pregnant tomorrow, right?“
I said: „No, not tomorrow.“
She didn’t like the answer and said: „I know I’m not allowed to ask this question,
but I ask it anyway…“ so she looked on my resume and said:
„since you are haven’t much time left to have kids, because of your age.“

Guess my first thought… DAMN BIAAAATCH.
But I said: „Yes, you’re not allowed to ask this question, so that’s why I’m not answering it.“
I’d tried not to smile, because her head turned deep red after my response. 🙂

You can imagine, that she is not my future boss. 🙂

No, I’ve found a very nice and modern pharmacy with very nice and happy co-worker.
I’m going to have longer work hours 3 days a week,
but there is a nice catch…I’m off 1.5 days/week. 🙂
Can’t wait to start my old/new assignment. Wish me luck guys.

Here are some nice winter impressions taken in our backyard.

  Winter2012 Winter 2012

Winter 2012 Winter 2012

Where is „our“ Food Network Channel…

Yes, we know it has been very quiet the last couple of weeks.
But our full time jobs and decorating the house takes all the time.
We’re still trying to adjust…it’s still rough sometimes, especially the Wednesdays drive us nuts,
since we haven’t had the time yet to find a Line Dance group.

Believe us it’s one of our top priorities.

Another thing is the hunt after US-TV Shows.
Honestly, the German TV program sucks most of the time.
It looks like the program hasn’t changed at all the last 4 years.
I remember people telling us, that US TV isn’t really „Einstein material“,
but seriously German TV doesn’t get a Nobel price either.

Here you find Casting shows after Casting shows, Court shows and
of course Reality TV Shows and Soaps.
But guess what, there are also Crime shows, Sitcoms and
Comedy shows you can think of from the US.
The problem is, we can’t watch it since it’s synchronized in German….yack. Can’t stand it.

Lucky us, some cable channels show for example „Two and Half Man“
or „Pawn Stars“ in English with no subtitles.
Even „Ice Road Truckers“ and „Drop Dead Diva“ are options to watch in English.

Unfortunately, we can’t get the Food Network Channel…what really sucks.
We’ve found Chef Ann Burrell on one channel, but synchronized to German.   
One of our favorites in the US has been „Parenthood“, „Castle“ and „Body of Proof“.
And we would love to see „Chopped“, „(Next) Iron Chef America“, „Next Food Network Star“
and for sure „Man vs. Food“.
I, personally, miss one of the greatest guys ever…Mr. Tim Gunn.
So, please German TV, do me a favor…MAKE IT WORK!!!!  

PS3 Addiction: 1 year later — sober

A year ago I realized I’m kinda addicted to PS3 and Computer games.

See: http://seiffert.info/ps3-addiction/

A year later as of today I can tell I’m sober.

Yes, I had a relapse in the middle of the year.
I’ve found an old friend, a game I’ve missed if not lost for many years.
Sid Meyers Pirates ready for the iPad.
Good for me that I realized that this game had more magic in it when I was 15.
Now it is just boring and repetitive and I was able to delete it a couple of days later.

Do I miss my PS3? Not at all.

As mentioned in the article above I sleep better and I’m less aggressive.
I started writing for myself, working on smaller projects
which gives me more satisfaction as a killed pixel dude on TV.
Taking pictures, playing my guitar, reading good books, getting tattooed,
becoming a volunteer — things like that make me happy and satisfied.

Thought you might be interested; that or if I made it through.

Merry Christmas y’all.