Woolworth

Remember this? You probably thought they were all gone because they all closed down (at least the ones I knew of closed down). Nope, they just moved...to Germany and maybe other parts of Europe. I'll let you know if I find anymore. I guess the U.S. just wasn't treating them right.

Halloween '08

What are you doing for Halloween?
I have to admit, I am a slacker when it comes to holidays. It's not that I don't like them but I think I'm too lazy and uncreative to come up with fun ideas, especially a costume. It seems like I would be the exact opposite but I guess I'm not. This is why I am particularly pleased with my cute Halloween decorations this year. Anyway...

I am going here Friday night

Scary, huh?

It's this guy's castle (pictured above).

How crazy cool is that--going to Frankenstein's Castle ON Halloween? Sounds awesome but I am freaked out. I guess the people running the hunted house can put their hands on you, throw you into coffins, shut the coffin...that kind of stuff, no big deal {yah right}. I am down right SCARED! But I'm going anyway because who can turn up an opportunity to go to the source on the night of scariness?
I guess I'll have to let you know how it goes...if I survive!

If you'd like to read more about Burg Frankenstein click here.

Flashback Friday

During our last couple of weeks in Korea we tried to cram everything in to those short weeks that we hadn't done yet. We got to see Bboyz and the ballerina. I thought it had some fun dance moves but the storyline was a little funny. It is similar to Step It Up if I remember correctly. The ballerinas are practicing and the noise from the Bboyz is too loud. One of the ballerinas goes down to talk to them, they hate each other, but later they fall in love. ahhhh

I took this picture myself but can you see that website link in the lower left hand corner? I don't remember that.

Getting down

Getting funky

Proof that we went to the show! After they saw my dance moves, they were trying to get me to join their cast but I had to turn them down cuz I was leaving on a jet plane.
totally lying but wouldn't that be cool if I weren't?

Beutisimo!

This city was so beautiful!!!! You can even see the moon in the picture. I think this was Bessano del Grappa (or something like that) in Italy. So gorgeous!

Whipper Snapper

What is going on you might ask? Traditional Bavarian Night, that's what. Yup, they are whipping their whips to make a song. And yes, one of them stood on our table, hence the great view. It was fun and different but then you realized how loud the whip noise was and you covered your ears. I heard a rumor that someone got stung by the whip but don't know if it's true. This was a true Bavarian Night with true Bavarian food and entertainment. Some of the "audience" dressed up in lederhosen and durndel--we're going to have to be on the lookout for some of those for next year!

Beginning of Flea Markets

We found this cute little gem shopping at flea market (or some kind of market) in Venice, Italy. We spent a little much for it, especially having no idea what it's worth but isn't it cute? The picture is a little blurry but it is actually next to a measuring tape. It's a set of small scales they probably used in the old days. I'm planning on polishing them so they sparkle. I should take another picture where they are out and you can see just how cute they are!
I'm assuming they are copper but don't really know. Does anyone know how to polish copper?

Oh, and by the way, the hubs is already getting nervous about how much stuff I'm buying. I also got a fabulous set of transferware! Don't know what transferware is? Neither did I but I love it! I'll have to take a picture of those for you too.
Now, if only I could find a tablecloth to go with my new dishes...
Have you ever splurged for something like this? What is your favorite thing you've found at a garage sale/flea market?

We're ready!

We are ready for Halloween! How cute is this??? I should have moved the hat out of the picture, opps. I love this sewing machine piece and using it as our entry way table. I got all this cute Halloween stuff this year and this might be the end of the decorations for me but I just think it is so cute and every time I come home this display makes me happy!
ps, anyone else have a sewing machine table like this? This one is not ours but I wonder how much they go for. I'm going to see if the landlord will sell it to us.

Differences

Um, so, this is our bed. I say bed as in if it is one singular object. Nope, it's two beds pushed together. It's nice to cuddle in the crack, we always fight over who gets to sleep in the crack.

And , yes, this is the sink. The teeny tiny sink. So thank your lucky stars people with large kitchens and sinks cuz this is all I got. I don't get Germans and their kitchens. They have the smallest kitchens and sinks and counter space. Their kitchens are also usually enclosed with 4 walls and a door (probably for tempature purposes) but it is closed off to the rest of the house. Where do they cook all the delicious food that they make with barely any counter space and how do they wash all those dishes in tiny sinks? Requirement #1 for the house of my own: Large, open kitchen with tons of counter space and huge a sink!!!

YES on Prop 8

I realize I haven't written my own words about the upcoming election in California and the Presidential Election. Things have been quite hectic over here.

My thoughts on prop 8 are deep and solid. I know that moral issues are important and we need to take a stand. We can't just sit back and say "this doesn't effect me". It does, it will.

It seems as now good is considered as bad and bad is being considered good. In our society it is almost looked down upon if a woman decides to stay at home with her family instead of work outside the home. She will not get enough satisfaction, praise, and she will stifle herself serving only her children and spouse is what the world seems to say. And now marriage between a man and a women, the only two who can create life together; essentially the correct pair to build a family is being put to the test. Wouldn't science tell us that a man and women create life? And to create life they first create a bond between themselves, a bond called marriage. And now everybody wants to be married. Where are the limits? I don't think this is about equality. Same-sex gender partners are able to live together and have domestic partner benefits. This is about keeping marriage sacred and between and man and woman. This is about keeping marriage the way science and God intended it. This is about keeping our rights and freedoms as married couple and mothers and fathers of children. The video depicts some of the implications that come come if prop 8 does not pass. Vote YES on Prop 8. update: I also like the way one of the blogs I stalk talked about the issue here.

Munich

Rick had a dental conference in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I got to tag along. While he was at the conference all day, I got to play! I even went to Munich which is about an hour away.

An Olympic Stadium site in Garmish, Germany. It was so beautiful with the changing colors of the leaves.

Pictures do not do it justice. It is so beautiful.

Horse and buggy ride you could take.

The view from a bobsled type ride we went on 4 times!

Breathtaking view from our hotel.

(I wrote this part before Alrighty, for some reason this whole post might just be underlined. I do not know why . strange. I guess the underline-man wants some more action! Anyway, to show that I am not all serious and politics, this is Munich:I was getting fancy with the black & white style :) This building is on the main square, a name I forget. I think it is a government office. At certain hours throughout the day, you can watch a "show" of a big cukoo clock type thing. If that's not good explanation, I don't know what is!
This set was given to one of the Queens when she took her throne. It is like a 100-in-1 chest-like set. It includes dishes, makeup pouches, haircare products, sewing supplies--everything! I think it was her traveling chest/suitcase. Probably all gold too, but that's only a guess.

The main square in Munich. Cute buildings.

Rick's present to me ;)
Seriously, look at all those jewels!

The door where Hitler did his thing. I believe he was taken from here into prison, where he wrote Mein Kampf. When passing this door you always had to salute Hitler (hail) and if you didn't you were taken in, questioned, and sometimes force was used. So, people started using an alley way to the left of this door so they wouldn't have to walk in front and salute. It became nicknamed something I forget but it also has a yellow stripe to represent where people walked. I don't think I got a picture of the alley though. I'm thinking they used yellow because didn't Jewish people have to wear yellow pieces of cloth on their clothing? Does anyone know?

Does anyone know how to underline and un-underline???

ps, if you think Germany is beautiful, just wait until you see our pictures from Italy and Switzerland.

Korean Video Games

Rick and I finally got to go to a big movie theater in Korea. Not that movies are the best thing to do with in another country but it's so interesting experiencing a foreign movie theater. First off, you don't just wait in line to buy your ticket, you take a number and then wait. Next, after buying your ticket you are assigned your seats. They show you a chart with what's available so you can pick from what's left. That possibly makes sneaking in and out of the theaters harder (you know who you are!). The arcade in the theater amused us for hours and we found some of the video games very interesting. Take the example below:

I don't exactly know what is going on here. I guess it's a race to see who can take their mask off the fastest...

How many people can you cram into the subway?

Now what this is, I am very concerned, but have an idea... Is it like how many times can I get slapped on the butt? Rememeber my posting about things NOT to do on the subway? They broke that rule!

Chop-suey! Make kimchee fast fast fast!

Hi-ya!

No, I swear, it really is a video game, I'm not making it up.

This post has been in my draft box forever. Just trying to make it perfect, ya know? So you might see old posts every once in a while. opps

Think Your 5-year-old Should Be Taken To A Gay Wedding? I Don't.

News
First Graders Taken To San Francisco City Hall For Gay Wedding

October 11, 2008
Contact: Chip White/Sonja Eddings Brown, 916-215-4392
SAN FRANCISCO, October 11 – In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as “lies” claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away from their studies for the same-sex wedding. According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the public school field trip demonstrates that the California Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage has real consequences. "Taking children out of school for a same-sex wedding is not customary education. This is promoting same-sex marriage and indoctrinating young kids," said Yes on 8—ProtectMarriage.com Campaign Co-Manager Frank Schubert. "I doubt the school has ever taken kids on a field trip to a traditional wedding," Schubert said. When asked by the Yes on 8 campaign, The San Francisco Chronicle reporter said she did not know if the school had ever sponsored a field trip for students to a traditional wedding. Telling the Chronicle that the field trip was "a teachable moment," the school's principal believes it is perfectly appropriate for first graders to attend a same-sex wedding. Officials in other school districts disagree. "Prop. 8 protects our children from being taught in public schools that 'same-sex marriage' is the same as traditional marriage," said Santa Ana Unified School District board member Rosemarie "Rosie" Avila. "We should not accept a court decision that results in public schools teaching our kids that gay marriage is okay. That is an issue for parents to discuss with their children according to their own values and beliefs. It shouldn't be forced on us against our will," Avila added.The lesbian teacher's wedding was officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Newsom is featured in a Yes on 8 television ad, released last week, in which he arrogantly declares of same-sex marriage: "The door's wide open now. It's gonna happen, whether you like it or not."The Yes on 8 campaign's ads explain that if the voters do not overturn the California Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling, teachers will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. “It's totally unreasonable that a first grade field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," said Chip White, Press Secretary for Yes on 8. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to understand it.” The field trip underscores the Yes on 8 campaign’s message that unless Prop. 8 passes, children will be taught about same-sex marriage in public schools. “Not only can it happen, it has already happened,” White said.
###Media contacts:Northern & Central California (Sacramento Press Office): Chip White, 916-215-4392 Los Angeles & Southern California: Sonja Eddings Brown, 818-993-4508

Vote McCain

I'm taking a leap here but here it goes: Vote McCain. Here are only a few of the reasons why:

You can verify a lot of this here: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html

INTERESTING DATA JUST RECEIVED ON TAXES Please spread the word. This is something you should be aware of so you don't get blind sided. This isreally going to catch a lot of families off guard. It should make you worry. Proposed changes in taxes after 2008 General election:

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.

OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN 15% (no change)

OBAMA 39.6% How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.'

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN (no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500 Single making 50K - tax $12,500Single making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 60K- tax $9,000Married making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Under Obama, your taxes will more than double! How does this affect you? No explanation needed. This is pretty straight forward.

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax How does this affect you? Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES BEING PROPOSED BY OBAMA New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least.... New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!!

Also CLICK HERE to watch a video about the current economic crisis and Obama.