Germany December 7th 2010

The last month and a half have been some of the most fun, and the most busy\stressful (!!!), since I came to Germany!  Kathi and I have been busy, busy, busy, but I have to say it's been all worth it.

First of all, throughout all these good times, Kathi and I have been working full time and going to classes in the evening and weekends (me, my German Integration courses three nights a week for 3 hours a night, for Kathi her Social Media Manager courses, all day Saturdays, where she is also the TA).  So, each of us is pulling 50hr weeks, which isn't really too much, but throw in super busy at work (mostly Kathi), the dog, exercise, chores, friends, party planning, drinking, and some time to just veg out... and our days have been FULL. 

It started with our Halloween party.  We weren't sure we wanted to have one or not, but I'm sure glad that we did!  It was a total success!  For alot of our friends here in Germany, it was their first ever Halloween party... for me, that kicks ass!  Halloween isn't a new holiday here, but it's not celebrated much.  More and more, little kids will trick or treat, but not much and without the enthusiasm of the US and UK.  So, I had the impression that our Halloween party was not going to be very successful, that nobody was going to either show up or, if they did, they weren't going to wear costumes!  But to my surprise, most people did!!!  And they rocked!!!  Here are some pictures...

It was a great time, I got super wasted, and I want to do it even bigger and badder next year!


November was fairly quiet until the end, and then it was way too much fun!  I had two people visit me from the States... first my friend\old roommate Jessica, though she was only passing through Munich for half a day on her way to Italy.  But then came trouble... Big Sammy came to visit for an entire week!  And during that week, we threw our Thanksgiving dinner... another first for our friends here in Germany! 

Let me tell you, me and Sammy, we did it big while he was out here.  We got wasted pretty much every night, we went all over the city, we partied with a bunch of our friends out here, and we cooked a big fat Thanksgiving dinner... which was also a huge success!  Höfbräuhaus, Tollwood, Killians Irish bar, and partying like a bunch of college kids in our basement... we pretty much did everything we could to have as much fun as possible.  For Sam and me, the first day of winter started while he was here, and all the Christmas markets and decorations as well, so it was pretty much a winter wonderland for both of us!  BTW, Glühwein fuckin rocks!  ;-)  More pics...

So, now what's on tap for December???  Well!!!  I had my German "Stammtisch" last weekend (and another big weekend with the Glühwein... man, that shit is addictive!!!)... Ice skating on Friday, heading to Nüremburg on Saturday, a Yankee Swap party on Sunday, and then, next Friday the 17th, I fly back to America for a little over a week to see my family and friends... and do it big once again!  And of course, we can't forget that New Years will be right after that!

So yes, life is quite, quite, quite busy right now, but quite, quite, quite FUN as well!  Loving all of it, loving my wife and my friends, and just loving being where and who I am!!!

Much love people... much love... and Happy Holidays!!!

As Readers of my Blog...

Some time back, I changed the way that this Google Blogger was imported onto my Facebook fan page. I'm now debating which way I like it best. I'll do my best to explain and hope to hear comments back from all of you.

When I first setup my fan page, the way that I got this blog to be imported onto the fan page was by configuring Facebook Notes to import an RSS feed that is created by each new blog

• an RSS feed is a news feed, usually of a new story or post, offered by most news and informational type websites, and can be read with an RSS reader, of which there are many including most Browsers, most mail clients such as Outlook, and specific programs. These are offered as quick ways to get news and stories without having to always go directly to the website when the new articles arrive.

So, each new RSS feed became a new Note on my Facebook page. From there, you would read the note, and make comments or Like it, or whatever. The problem with this method was how long it took for Facebook to finally retrieve the RSS feed. It took anywhere from a few hours to sometimes as much as several days for a new blog post to show up on Facebook. While this is not necessarily terrible, since I don't use my blog for business or money making, it sure made it annoying. But what I liked about this method was that the blog was now a Note on Facebook, and everyone could make their comments on it, and they weren't redirected back to the Google Blogger website to read the blog.

To fix the problem of the slow feed from Facebook, I started using a Facebook app called RSS Grafitti, which did the import of my blog in a very fast timeframe (I believe it checks the Blogger site every five minutes or something, so 5 minutes after a blog is posted, it will be on Facebook). This is great and I like that alot, however, now when you click on the blog to read it, you are redirected to the Blogger website. This means that you have to go BACK to Facebook if you want to comment on the blog (though you can comment here on Blogger as well). I feel like this will take away from people providing their feedback because I don't actually maintain my Blogger site at all other than to actually write my blogs so if people are commenting on the blogs here then I mostly won't notice and neither will most other people.

So, to the heart of the matter, the question I wanted to ask from the start... which way is better??? Is it better to have the blogs show up as Notes in Facebook, but take a really long time to get there, or is it better that the blog arrive right away and to just let people get redirected to this site and read the blog on Blogger, and then go back to Facebook to comment? I'm torn, I really don't know which is the better way.

I like the Notes/RSS feed method better, but I hate how long it takes. I love how fast the program RSS Graffiti is but I don't want people redirected to another website to read my blogs.

What would you do?

Thanks for the help!!!

FC Bayern!

So, tonight I'm off to my first Fußball game, FC Bayern München VS Werder Bremen! BTW, Fußball is German for Football aka Soccer!

I'm pretty excited! First, never been to a Fußball game... does this make me a soccer hooligan?!? :-) Second, the Allianz Arena here in Munich is supposed to be a very cool and modern stadium... I'm looking forward to see what Fußball fans eat and drink at the stadium!!! Third, since I'm missing out on all the Giants and Niner games (hmmm, not sure I'm actually missing out on the Nienr games! But that's a whole Blog to itself!!!) this is my first opportunity to be a sports nut here in Germany!

Big thanks to Sid for coming thru with the extra ticket!

Check the link for the preview!
http://www.fcbayern.t-home.de/en/news/news/2010/26214.php

Test Post

Please ignore!!!

Germany October 19th 2010 - Random Blog

Today I feel like writing in my blog for no better reason that I feel like doing it... and because I have more time on my hands for computer type things since I got my new job! At Insight, it was work, work, work, for the complete 8 hours. One of the awesome benefits of being in IT is that there is free moments to just be on the computer.

The job is good so far. I'm still not doing so much, but that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm still learning my way around. Kendle is a really great company. While I'm not terribly interested in what we do as a company, how it works and how its structured globally (particularly the IT department) is very fascinating. Also, I've rarely ever felt so welcomed into a company, and treated like I'm actually important, rather than just another worker. That has been a very rewarding experience so far.

Getting the new job was great. It was particularly good for me because it justified my way of being and thinking... namely, staying positive and working hard. I never stopped believing that the right job in Germany was waiting for me... and just when I stopped looking is when it found me. All the hard work I put in to my resumes and online resumes paid off when Kendle found me and recruited me. It just goes to show that you can never stop trying, never lose the positive attitude, and when you do, life will do good things for you.

Now that getting back into my career is checked off the list of things to do in Germany, I can work on the other things on my list. First and foremost, continuing to learn the German language... but that is going to be an ongoing goal that may never truly end! Second, continue saving and paying back debts so that I can travel with my wife the way we intended. Third... I don't actually know right now, but I know there will be more big goals to go :-)

Yeah, I goofed long enough, back to work!

Die Wiesn!

Oktoberfest is TOO much fun!

I've gone now for the past two days and I've been super drunk and had way too much fun! The food and beer, the singing and laughing, the stupid songs you can't help but like (especially when you're drunk)... it all adds up to a great time!

I see why the Oktoberfest is such a worldwide phenomenon. I haven't even gone on the rides and stuff yet! Though I'm not too interested in them... well, except for the 5 loop rollercoaster, that one looks f-ing awesome!

The one thing that isn't so cool though is how expensive everything is. 8.50 euro for a maß, so with tip, its 10 euro a beer! But the fact is, people pay it, and gladly, so they'll keep charging for it! And, to be honest, everything is way cool and they servers are quick, so we're getting our money's worth for sure! Oh yeah, also the beer is WAY stronger than normal, so one maß and you're already buzzed! So, it's all good in the end.

I'll be heading out to die Wiesn again soon... I need a couple days to rest and let my body recover from the vast amounts of beer I've drank! But I'll definitely be there again... and again... and AGAIN!!!

PROST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Insanity - COMPLETE!!!

Tonight, I finally finished the Insanity workout routine. Though it took alot longer than the schedule called for, I'm extremely pleased and proud of myself.

It took 5 months to finish a 2 month program, but even taking that long, I've seen amazing results and changes to my body. Inches to my biceps, definition in my chest and back, strong legs, and even just the slightest hint that there are some abs under there. I can only imagine the results if I'd been able to follow his schedule of 6 days a week for 60 days. I think for the first time I really do believe the "hype" you see on TV. If I could get this good of results just doing 2 to 4 times a week, even skipping a week here and there, then if I'd been able to follow his schedule, I'd be ripped right now.

I've said it so many times since I started working with his routine... if you want to see and feel some real results with a workout routine that you know is working for you, get your hands on the Insanity DVDs and get to work. Forget your excuses. Costs too much? How much have you wasted on a gym membership and gotten shit for results? Don't have the time? I work everyday with an hour long commute to and from, have to walk my dog for an hour, make dinner, do any chores necessary, and spend quality time with my lady, yet I still found the time to workout a few time a week. You make time when you want time. Don't like to work out alone? Then keep your membership at the gym and do the workouts in the stretch area. Invite someone to come over and do it with you. Go to the park and work out outside. I can't think of any more excuses, but if you've got em, toss em out the window and get to work!

Nothing beats bodyweight exercises. No weights, no lame gym machines, and not cardio work either. Bodyweight exercises will transform you from the inside out, making you truly strong, not just having muscles that can't do anything. You get cardio when doing bodyweight workouts. You get great muscle strength. You get stretching. And you balance and agility. And you don't need anything but yourself (though you can use some objects to increase certain moves, but it's still all you and your own weight). Don't believe me? Ask any wrestler... martial artist... military personnel... 90% of their workouts are bodyweight exercise related. How did soldiers for the past thousands of years get strong? They didn't have weights, they used body weight exercises, and I'm sure we can all agree that a Roman soldier a thousand years ago could have likely snapped any of us in half without much trouble at all.

The Insanity program was FUCKING awesome. I can't wait to do it again, but next, I'm going to start P90X. It's mostly bodyweight work as well but it does incorporate some dumbbells and pull ups (still a body weight exercise, but I bought one of those bars for inside the house). I hear that this program is actually easier than Insanity, but only one way to find out.

I expect to continue my great results and I'm doing it without a gym membership, without tons of machines, and having a great time doing it. Try it sometime... you might like it too.

If you want to get into real workouts and do bodyweight exercises, here are some resources..

Matt Furey's combat conditioning... tons of excellent workouts.
Insanity DVDs
http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym/dp/0971407614
http://www.alkavadlo.com/