It's Easy Being Green

I have recently discovered a new appreciation of green. Mostly due to a green dress I bought in Italy.

I'm apple green!

You Are Apple Green

You are almost super-humanly upbeat. You have a very positive energy that surrounds you. And while you are happy go lucky, you're also charmingly assertive. You get what you want, even if you have to persuade those against you to see things your way. Reflective and thoughtful, you know yourself well - and you know that you want out of life.

What Color Green Are You?

I'm not sure if that's accurate, but what does the internet know about me anyway?

Goodbye to a Friend

On September 15, 2006 I said goodbye to a dear friend. They were with me for my akward first day of high school. They stayed with me for those angsty years. They even remained with me as I ventured off to college. They experiemented with me as I tried on activism, modern dance, and random costumes. They graduated with me. Came with me to my first 'real job'. They were even with me for my first 'crap job'. They were with me for my F-ups and my accomplishments. They were there to play tether ball. They were with me for my latest chapter in my life here in Germany. But, as we've all learned at some time in ourlives, nothing stays forever.

After ten years it was time to say goodbye to my Birkenstocks.

Here they are before taking their final journey: A burial at sea.



For the ceremony I attached them to a raft, set it on fire, and sent them off out onto the Elbe River.

My Birkenstocks

1997-2006

My weekend in Copenhagen, or How I almost got fined 600 Dkr

My journey started rather early in the morning for my weekend in Copenhagen. Things were going smoothly on the train, when we got to the Denmark border. I didn't totally pay attention to what the conductor said, I just heard him say we'd be stopped for about 45 minutes and the train drove into a tunnel. At first I thought it was just the border check, but then the train doors opened and all the passengers started getting out. So then I thought, for some reason we were just stopping at this train station for awhile, so I might as well get out and use the bathroom. While I was in the bathroom, I got a weird swaying feeling. I left and looked out one of the windows. I was on a ship in the Baltic Sea! The train had taken the more direct route to Copenhagen of the ferry to the island. Even though it was incredibly windy I spent most of my time on the observation deck.


The short version is, I wore myself out walking around Copenhagen because everything, including the public transportation is expensive. I did buy myself Sunday brunch at a cafe called Pussy Galore's Flying Circus. I mean, once I heard the name I pretty much had to eat there. And I did use the public transportation to go to the Carlsburg Brewery, because it was just too far to walk. I successfully bought a one use ticket to get there, and I did have my ticket checked by an official. On the way back, the ticket machine was completely uncooperative. I didn't have the right change, and it wouldn't take any card I gave it. Plus, there was absolutely no English on the machine, and I was kind of buzzed from the free beer I got on the brewery tour. So I thought 'Well... since I got checked on the way there, they probably won't check tickets on the way back.' We were almost to the Copenhagen main station (it was only two stops), when the train official steps into the car. With my heart pounding I show him my technically no longer valid ticket. Luckily he doesn't bother to look closely at it, says 'Yup.' and moves on. Thus I avoided the 600Dkr fine. Whew.

I ended my visit with a trip to Christiana. Christiana was created in the 70s, when the Danish army no longer needed a set of barraks, and a bunch of hippies came in and declared it a separate state. Copenhagen shrugged its shoulders and said, 'ok'. And so Christiana was created and stayed as a social experiment. Tourists aren't allowed to take photos inside, but its pretty awesome. Graffitti covered, laid back, dirty. Of course I wanna hang out there. The status of Christiana may change due to politics, but for now when you leave the sign says 'You are now entering the EU.' Here's the only photo I can offer:



Here's some more photos of Copenhagen:

There she is, The Little Mermaid.



Cool spirally church, where I dropped my wallet at the top of the spiral, but luckily it landed on the little ledge...



And here's the view of Copenhagen from the top of the spirally church.

A Little Competition?

In response to Justin's attempt at You Tube fame, I decided to dig out this video made at his 'Anything Asian' party like, a year and a half ago.



Ha!

Always.

Wal-Mart. They make more in a year than the GNP of Denmark. They've had more class action lawsuits than any other corporation. And they hold a special place in my heart. It's that place in my heart for things that I pretty much hate. Wal-Mart hasn't taken over Germany, they way they have the US, but nevertheless Wal-Mart calls Hamburg home.

I've been fighting my curiosities since I got to Hamburg. I thought I was going to be able to win. Today I lost the battle.

So here it is:



Notice the razor wire on the outside. Germans know how to make sure no employees can escape.



The Hamburg Wal-Mart serves as a meeting place for all the homeless people to sort the bottles they've collected, and return them for money.




Onward to the inside!

Keeping to the American Wal-Mart tradition, they have more check out lines than you'd find anywhere else.



In many ways, the aisles looked the same at what you'd find back home.



But, what's up with this floor? Are the cracks going to get bigger and then the flames of Hell will engulf the store?



Whoa! Here's something you don't find at the Wal-Mart back home! Is that corn liquor only ‚€ 5,28?! I guess Wal-Mart in Europe has its benefits...



So that's it. Luckily Wal-Mart is pulling out of Germany. America stop sending your crap over here! And take Paris Hilton's music with you!