Merry Christmas!

Hey everybody, sorry it's been so quiet on my end of things! I'm just sitting here at the Shokhaus chatting it up with the Green Hippie Nurse. Yes, that means I'm in Ohio for the holidays! It's good to be back. At my parents' house, internet access is not conducive to frequent blogging (read: modem problems), but I'll do my best to drop you all a line now and then about how it's going on this side of the pond.

Wishing you all joyous holidays!

Rome: photo 7
The Forum: the place to be in Ancient Rome if you wanted to buy, sell and trade; give a speech; visit a temple or get involved in politics.
Click here for a taste of this public square's tumultous history and a terrific interactive map.

Rome: photo 6
In the Colliseum.

When life gives you a lemon...
Make tea!

I've got a cold this weekend and am thus drinking large amounts of tea. My neighbor Bassam -- who owns the shop across the street -- had a cold last weekend. I told him of my tea treatment, which he affirmed. However, he advised me to use lemon in my tea for an extra burst of Vitamin C. "It's just as good as prescription medicine," he insisted. I promptly purchased a lemon from him and have been using it faithfully, one slice at a time. And I must say, a fresh lemon is quite tasty when soaked in a hot beverage! I would recommend it to all, even those of you who are completely healthy.

Here's a fun website from the BBC about the joys of tea-drinking.

Movies I'd Like to Watch with my Dad

Schultze Gets the Blues

and

The Straight Story

The first is one of the best I've seen this year. It touches on themes I would love to discuss with my dad, like the interaction between German and American culture and the risk of opening yourself up to something completely new.

The second is one of the best I saw last year. It touches on themes related to rural life -- farming in particular -- and a complicated relationship between elderly farmer brothers.

I recommend them both to you all. Members of my immediate family: maybe we should rent these 2 when I'm home for Christmas and have a movie night at Tammy and Jim's!