Ferret Road Kill

Sorry kids, no pictures this time.  Yet, it is true, I saw ferret road kill this week.  This is the third time I have witnessed this since being here.  When J and I were jogging the other night, I saw some strange animal that I could not identify, even though I had a clear view of its silhouette.  Odd things are about in this here territory.

In other news, we have met some interesting people.  I met Eugene, a fellow genealogist, two weeks ago who had some very handy information regarding how to get genealogy information in Germany.  J also helped a woman who's maiden name was Jaeger, spelled the same way.  Her grandfather, bearing the same last name, came from the area of Poland very near where my present Jaeger research trail ends.  Sadly, he was not from the same town, but we will be exchanging information later to see if there is still a connection somewhere.

We just learned today that there is actual jousting going on this weekend in a town about an hour's drive away from here.  Crap!  If we had known earlier this week, we would have made a day of it.  I miss actual jousting!  I've only seen it once before and I got hooked.  We'll just have to keep our eyes and ears open on the off chance that another happens before it gets too cold.

We've been finding the core places of information for little events going on.  Thus far, our main resources are the local newspaper and the joint German - American newspaper sponsored by the US Army.  Lots of neat things keep popping up.  We just have to be more diligent about reading them.  For example, one of the local towns is the hometown of one of this year's German Olympian Gold medalists.  She actually won two gold medals, but we couldn't figure out what her event was.  There are also tons of flea markets and volksmarches going on every weekend.  Then there was this jousting we learned about too.  We also got a computer chair for $15 at an Army hotel furniture sell off.  I'm also going to start using the local German paper to learn German a little better.

Our first choir concert together is coming up this Friday.  We're going to have a few travel logistic issues, but we've mostly resolved them.  It will also be our first gospel choir concert.  Germans singing gospel...now that's one I never imagined.  J and I seem to be learning the music pretty quickly and I've found myself one of the most desired tenors to sit next to having only attended three practices.  J has made quick friends with many of the women in the choir.  We both are enjoying having acquaintances who are not directly work-related and all share a common interest in music.

This week I start a full schedule of dog walking: solid 1045 to 1500 all five days.  It may be less than that on any given day, but it will definitely make this coming week busier for me.

J's presently enjoying making a cake.  She says she's practicing for my birthday this coming weekend.  She's a crazy awesome baker and cook, so I know it will be good!