Wednesday, May 30, 2007
My days are filled with sleep and at night, I work. Yes, the life of night-duty. Usually 6 nights strung together. Why so many??? Rhythm, continuity, my sanity (believe it or not), time to catch up on some reading and maybe a little bit of study thrown in.
Although, by the last night I'm feeling it. I'm now ready for my days off. Oh, did I mention that I get more days off as well. 6 this week, and before my nights I think I had something like 11.
aah yes, all this night-duty does have it's advantages.
Must be off, dinner soon and then work. Have a great week, Y'all
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Außer bier, wir haben auch Kubb Gespielt. Eigentlich es ist Schwedische Stock wurfen.
That's right. Spent our time throwing sticks at other sticks. i.e.: Kubb. Swedish, Viking game. He who knocks over the most sticks is the winner, but only after he knocks over the king stick himself (pictured with a red crown). Kind of a cross between Chess and Boule, requiring the accuracy of a sniper.
Unfortunately, no points are scored for contact with your opponents or stupid spectators, who insist on walking through the field of play; which I might add is marked by the Kubb at either end of the field and players trying to stare at and psych-out their opponents. It is often the experience of this author that when one plays an unfamiliar game in a public park one acquires spectators. Naturally!!! But in New Farm Park the "Spectators" were downright scared. Although a few did ask about it, no-one asked the details nor if they could join in. Perhaps it looked too complicated for the "Sunday afternoon strolling crowd", maybe they were frightened by the prospect of being not only allowed but, dare I say, ENCOURAGED to throw sticks with a purpose. Or perhaps they were frightened off by two 30+ Australian males, wearing baseball caps getting all excited in a public place, brandishing offensive pieces of wood that quite resembled batons. I'm quite surprised that we weren't asked to "Move-on" as we did pick a most strange place to play our game...in front of the public conveniences.
I guess we shall never know. But I will say this: The Germans are said to be cold and stand-offish but they would ask to be included in this strange outdoor ritual. Does that mean that they are more open, at ease with themselves, comfortable with strangers, able to spot a foreigner at 10 paces, What does it mean??? I guess that I'll have to study this phenomenon more in depth.
I assure you, I shall come up with an answer.