Kirchweih: over (things returning to normal)

The Kirchweih was "buried" yesterday in Zeilitzheim. Next festivity on the marketplace: Weinfest in August. See you then!

Summer in Zeilitzheim

Today (and yesterday and tomorrow) is the annual "Kirchweih" fest in Zeilitzheim. Actually in remembrance of the church's sacrifiwhatever it is now a big party put on by the youth on the village marketplace. Three days of merriment and drinking. And loud (very loud) music. All fun when you're 16 (or 12, or 65) but right now, at 40 (with two kids) my laugh muscles are strained.

Best part is tomorrow after lunch: Kirchweihpredigt. That is when the village youth put on a show to ridicule odd behaviors witnessed in the past 12 months and to sing horribly off-key songs. Ghastly. But a must-see if you ever visit Zeilitzheim in June. For those who can't: I plan on publishing a YouTube video shortly (if Katharina cooperates tomorrow and we can go check this thing out).

iPhone for cheapskates

Yes, we have iPod Touches. No iPhone. No iPhone 3G. No iPhone 3Gs. Just the (older) iPod for "wannabe iPhone users". Fun anyway. Works for IM, too, as long as you're near your own (or an open) wifi connection. And for twitter, which is how I feed my blogs in between blog postings.

Sure, I'd rather have an iPhone but then I'd have two very similar devices (and a whopping monthly bill of about 50 to 70 Euros).

No tech picture today, though. Just another garden pic:

Lavender

It has become cold again in southern Germany. But at least here in Zeilitzheim it is still mostly dry during the daytime (as opposed to other parts on Bavaria, some of which have even seen snow, lately).

The lavender in the castle garden is starting to bloom now:

Castle Garden

Today...

In the Army - Not

Okay, so technically I am still an Army Officer. My obligation was to end 4 years after leaving active duty in 1998. But the "war against terrorism" seemed to have put an end to that and now I am told that I am still "on the books" until next year.

Every once in a while I get strange offers to return to the fold... like the following:

"You've heard the pitch once or twice before - "Army Reserve...Not Your
Everyday Job!"
Well, let me ask you this - Has your unit been living up to this expectation?
Do you want more out of your battle assemblies? Are looking for a change?
If so, have you ever thought about the Army Watercraft Field?
That's right, the Army has Watercraft.
And we are always looking for new Soldiers.
We have positions in the following MOSs (just to name a few):

Enlisted:
25U Signal Support Systems Specialist
42A Human Resource Specialist
88K Watercraft Operator
88L Watercraft Engineer
88H Cargo Specialist
88M Motor Transport Operator
88N Traffic Management Coordinator
92A Automated Logistical Specialist
92F Petroleum Supply Specialist
92G Food Service Specialist

Warrant Officers:
880A Marine Deck Officer
881A Marine Engineering Officer

Officers:
88A Transportation, General
88C Marine and Terminal Operations

For more information contact: ..." (I have snipped this piece of information)

Several observations:

#1: why send such a buckshot message to enlisted, warrant officers and commissioned officers alike?
#2: I am an armor / cav officer, not one of the listed 88... fields.
#3: Is the Army *that* desperate these days, that it spams everyone who served in the hopes he/she might sign back on? In any field?
#4: "Has your unit been living up to this expectation?" please? WTF?

I won't be going back on active duty or into the reserves any time soon. Though the promise of commanding an Army Watercraft does sound very promising... If you do force me back onto active duty, dear army, please let me command a JMLS (Joint Modular Lighter System).

Beer

I shall say no more:



(gotta love the Dutch)

A Door in Zeilitzheim

Note the bag. Somebody must have returned it while the inhabitants weren't home. If you look closely, you can tell that it's not the door into a house but into a courtyard filled with trees. It's one of my favorite buildings in Zeilitzheim; actually the left of two properties. It was formerly the building of a tanner's dynasty with flaps to let in the air to dry rawhide and leather. Zeilitzheim is a tanner's village. There are several remnants of this smelly but proud trade. Ask me when you come visit and I'll tell (and show) you more!

Thank You

I've been in touch with quite a few of our past and future guests from the States and I must say: thanks! It's great to be in touch with people who have been to Zeilitzheim or who are planning a trip here.

Germany / Europe

To most Americans Germany is but a county / state on the landscape of what is Europe. Not so here. Anyway: we hade elections for the "European Parliament" today. No big surprises, though.

Here is a spider I saw in the castle garde today:

Isa`s Toy

Isa loves bears. Probably has something to do with early conditioning (her cuddly friend here is a bear whereas Katharina has a sheep).

Farming - German Style

THE Bavarian producer of tractors - Fendt - was acquired by the U.S. AGCO Corporation in 1997. Most Franconian farmers still swear by the fancy green tractors (see my example of a Fendt Favorit, below).

But if you want to be a really hip farmer, I suppose you need a Porsche or a Lamborghini. The red Porsche Super tractor shown below belongs to the local Vintner, Reiner Mößlein, who uses it to pull wagonloads of tourists through the vineyards. The grey Lamborghini is owned by a farmer who does real agricultural work with it.

Enjoy:

It's here! the flip video cam

Okay, so it defeats the purpose (a little) to show an HD Video in YouTube (optimized for mobile devices) quality. But that is the main reason I got the flip minoHD camcorder that finally arrived today: instant out-of-pocket documentation of stuff happening around the family and the castle.

The first Video I uploaded from the flip isn't too spectacular (fountain in the courtyard) but shows how good the sound is (you can hear my uncle Edzard's grandfather clock chiming in the distance and hear the water trickle off the fountain).

I might just be able to assemble some more interesting video. The first few seconds of testing certainly make me very optimistic.