Now that I have wanderlust from visiting the LA Times Travel show and collecting all kinds of food for fantasy, my lucky husband is leaving me behind to go to Stuttgart in Germany for a week. He’ll be doing engine testing in “The Cradle of the Automobile,” as the city is known, so he won’t exactly be on vacation, but still. As exotic as the places I’ve been are, this takes the cake. I am jealous beyond words. Obviously, because look, I’m speechless.
I’m the one who took three semesters of German in college, just because I loved the sound and logic of the language. Don’t tell anyone I barely remember any of it. I do remember S.O.S., the popular German 80’s rock song. I am tickled beyond belief that I just found that link and relived a moment in German class in 1990-whatever. Warning: clicking on that link will launch a video with music and a strange nostalgia for big shoulder pads and asymmetrical guitars. Just be glad I did not embed the video here. Yes, I love you that much.
Stewart leaves for Germany in 5 and a half weeks, so it’s no wonder that he’s not already excited. I am excited enough for him though, and very jealous. My relatives in CT tried to talk me into dropping the kids off there and joining him, but I’ll be making money instead of spending more. Also, Tasmanian Devil: not so easy to leave with relatives if you want them to talk to you again someday.
Stewart has another trip coming up much sooner, this one to the wilds of Ohio two weekends from now. Such is the life of the globetrotting fuel injection specialist, saving the world one Harley at a time. Meanwhile, back in the jungle, I know I’ll be overwhelmed by the children but at least the house will be clean when he gets back.




Hi. It’s been awhile since I’ve stopped by your website, so I just read about your uncle.
There’s nothing I could say to help, I know, but I am so very sorry for your family’s loss.
Where in Ohio? I used to live there.
Die Beiden
Sie trug den Becher in der Hand
– Ihr Kinn und Mund glich seinem Rand -,
So leicht und sicher war ihr Gang,
Kein Tropfen aus dem Becher sprang.
So leicht und fest war seine Hand;
Er ritt auf einem jungen Pferde,
Und mit nachlässiger Gebärde
Erzwang er, daB es zitternd stand.
Jedoch, wenn er aus ihrer Hand
Den leichten Becher nehmen sollte,
So war es beiden allzu schwer:
Denn beide bebten sie so sehr,
DaB keine Hand die andre fand
Und dunkler Wein am Boden rollte.
Hugo von Hofmansthal
Please interpret!