Grill Season!

Servus!

The weather has finally cleared up enough for me to start enjoying one of my favorite hobbies - grilling. some of you may find this to be more of a way to cook things but for me it is truly an engaging, encompassing hobby - a benifit of which is tasty grub when all is said and done.

For those of you who may want to know, I am a charcoal-griller. And when I say "charcoal" I mean it - no pressed wood-junk briquettes in my grill, only bits of wood that have gone through the charcoa-creationl process fire my grill. Call me a snob if you will - I don't care! ;) My grill - my rules!
Mind you, gas is very practical and efficient but I feel that it lacks a certian amount of artistry. If the correct procedures are followed, you can get consistent results every time. Which is exactly what I don't want! I like that fact that there is a variation between meals, even if I follow recipies and procedures to the letter - each time is an adventure.

My Equipment:

• Weber 47cm "One Touch Gold"
  
• Weber Charcoal Chimney Starter
  
• Cuispino Pro 18" Tongs
• El Cheapo Welding Gloves
• Thuros Grate Cleaner

This is a good basic start - I want to evenually get a remote grill thermometer and a few other small items but this is enough to create some really good food. The best tip that I could give to anyone is to go out and get Steven Raichlen's series of books, starting with "How to Grill". Steven does a great "how to" without making you feel like an idiot and his recipies and techniques challenge you to think of grilling as something more than just a device to burn chicken with and to warm up tube steak and burgers of questionable content.

Really...?

ENFJ- The Teacher You scored 100% I to E, 42% N to S, 23% F to T, and 21% J to P!

Your type is known as the teacher, or the educating mentor. You also belong to the larger group, called idealists. You tend to bring out the best in other people. You lead without seeming to do so. People are naturally drawn to you. You expect the very best from people which takes the form of enthusiastic encouragement which is so charming that people try their best not to disappoint you. You share your personality type with 3% of the population. You need to feel a deep and meaningful connection to your romantic partners, and go to great lengths to understand and please your mate. Harmony is vitally important to you, and you often put others' needs before your own. You have a pretty thin skin and are easily hurt. Although you strive for harmony, when your values or ethics are violated, you can be very emotional, confrontational, and even punishing. However, you are very insightful about the underlying cause of conflicts, and an excellent communicator, so you have the tools to bring about a quick and peaceful resolution as long as you can keep control of your facilities. You want to be appreciated for your thoughtfulness and compassion. You need your partner to make a real effort to get to know you. Above all, you need to be able to express your feelings and have them taken seriously. Your group summary: idealists (NF) Your type summary: ENFJ http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=16567335035599898597

My French Automobile

Servus!


Yes, you read that correctly - I drive a French car.

I'm proud of it.

The first image that goes through everyone's mind when they think of the words "French Automobile" is that horrible little piece of shit that Renault foisted on the American public back in the late '70's - "Le Car (aka Renault 5)". Some older readers might be reminded of the venerable Citroen 2CV series "The Duck" - basically France's answer to the VW Bug. In general, words such as "reliable", "well-built", and "attractive" were never associated with "French Automobile". This was not without good reason - French cars in the '80's were unreliable, ugly little rust buckets that didn't last more than a couple of years and were purchased mostly by hard-up college students who needed a ride and had $50 in their pockets.

Fortunately, this is no longer the case.

In the late '80's, all the major French automobile manufacurers came to the conclusion that they had better do something quick to assure their continued survival in the 21st century. French automobile companies have had a long a distinguished history of bringing significant technological advancement to the public. Citroen designed and marketed the first automobiles with front-wheel drive, front wheel independent supension, and unibody design - and this in the mid 1930's! Peugeot was responsible for thdevelopmentnt of the Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) and 4-cylinder inline engines for racing purposes back at the turn of the century and Renault is credited with designing the worlds first hatchback, patenting the first turbocharger, and numerous other advancements.

But they never sold well in the U.S. after the energy crisis of the '70's was over.

When it was time for me to select a company car, I knew that I wanted a station wagon* - comfortable like a sedan with lots of room for schlepping stuff. I looked at all the available authorized brands ad was only really interested in Opel, as they had the new Astra model coming out and it had been completely redesigned. The Opel dealership did not want to play ball and spent a great deal of time jerking me around about fleet packages and prices. My boss told me to go see the Renault guy, as he had given her a fabulous deal and she was delighted with her Scenic.

But that would mean owning a French car. I was sure there was some law against this for American citizens.

I went anyway - the worst that could happen is that I would walk away and have to deal with the prick at Opel. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. I now own a Megane GT with the 1.9l diesel. Comfortable like you cannot believe, packed with cool goodies like a keyless entry/drive system, pushbutton starter, xenon headlamps, navigation, etc. All this for the same money as I would have dropped at Opel for less car.

Is my Megane ugly? Yes and no - I see it more like that gap in Madonna's two front teeth. It takes a while to get used to but eventually you figure out that it' sexy. Beautiful in a decidedly unconventional manner.

Dare to be different!

Pax,

Jake


*There is no stigma in owning and driving a station wagon here in Europe because there is no market for small pickup trucks.

What Happened?

Servus!

Has it been over a month? Annoyingly enough, I have been bogged down with "work" and it has made my already permanent cynical mood even more intense and I really had nothing to write about other than various gripes and complaints about my life in general.

Well, on with the show....

Pax,

Jake

Radio GaGa...

Servus!

Don't get me wrong - I love living here in Germany. But like many expatriates, there are a few things about my host country that annoy me to no end.

Like the radio.

Not only is there absolutely no reception, there is simply no variety. You get either:

1) Top Forty blended with evergreens up to the Seventies

2) Schlager. This is like schmalzy folk music that is popular if you are over the age of fifty and have lived your whole life in a tiny village.

3) Stations that combine five minutes of classical with four hours of discussion about how global warming will impact the amount of taxes we'll all have to pay into our healthcare plans, followed by five minutes of African drumming. Basically all the shitty bits of NPR.

That's it. There are a few small stations that specialise in things like dance & techno but their broadcast range is roughly on par with a strong walkie-talkie. Combine that with the fact that the same station can be found on about four places on the dial and you have a radio wasteland.

I know that there are some of you out there that are saying "what about Internet radio?" Unlike the States, Internet access costs a bucketful of money and things like High-Speed DSL aren't available in cities outside of Berlin and Hamburg. Flat Rate? Forget about it. Satellite radio is a myth that we hear about on the 'Net.

And if you think THAT'S bad, don't get me started about television!

Pax,

Jake

And what did YOU do last night...?

Salút,

I thought it was the weather that was making me tired. I guess it's the overall lack of sleep that I seem to suffer from...

At the sobering hour of 0245, my cat Apollo felt the need to bring the All-Powerful Can Opener, He with the Mighty Opposable Thumbs (that's me) a LIVE sacrifice in thanks for feeding him.

E. was not happy. Not. Happy.

So I get to spend the next 45 minutes crawling around on my hands and knees trying to herd this terrified mouse into a glass from the bathroom so I can take the poor sinner back outside. While I'm doing this, I have to fight back the cats who want to kill the mouse and deal with my wife who is alternating shrieking (when the mouse runs towards her) and laughing (when my ass is in the air while tring to use a broomstick to un-wedge the mouse from under the closet).

Great. And I wonder why I'm tired.

Seriously, I love my kittehs - I'm thrilled that they have the opportunity to be the mini-predators that they were designed to be. I'm less than thrilled that they have to do this sort of shit in the middle of the night. At least I don't have to walk them at 3 a.m. to prevent them from shitting on the rug in front of the door like my friend had to do with his Golden Retriever.

Moving right along...

I wonder if this kid did this just because the popular kids didn't ask him to go to Daytona?
Wal-Mart Spring Break!

Pax,

Pathfinder

Man, am I tired.

Servus!

Monday again and I'm about ready to fall face forward into the keyboard. It's gotta be the weather.

Since I'm talking about being tired, maybe I should mention that I'm tired of a lot of things -

I'm tired of my house being a eternal construction site. Seriously, it seems that as soon as one area of the house is finished (or near completion) E. starts looking at another area. Kitchen done? Well, let's start on the bedroom! I love navigating the obstacle course of boxes at 06:00 in the dark trying to get to the coffee machine while needing to take a leak.

I'm tired of people coming to my desk and thinking that I have nothing else better to do than to take care of their needs. I guess that the stack of processes and the 237 windows open on my desktop mean that I've got plenty of time to take care of your meeting room request that will turn up nothing because I've mentioned about a thousand times that a week lead time is needed if you want to find anything.

I'm tired of having to clean the catbox every damned day. Kitties - it's Spring, the door is open all night, can't you two shit outside? And while I'm talking to the kitties, quit clawing the frigging orange chair! If you keep your claws out of the orange chair, I won't feel compelled to try to drown you with the tiny water pistol that I keep on the bedside table.

I suppose that it could be a whole lot worse. On with the day!

Pax,

Pathinder

Again, we begin

Servus!

Sometimes you have to take a look at what you are doing and realize that it's time to start fresh.

That's what this is.

Not like anyone actually SAW the old post but it makes me feel a whole lot better to do this. Changing the "green" format was necessary as well.

On with the show...

Pathfinder