OK, so I have read the Silmarillion

Big deal.






Actually, this comes in response to Mark's LOTR quiz results. 'Course when I see something about a Tolkein quiz I gotta take it, right?






Oh, and I corrected their spelling of the "Silmarilian".

LOTR Master You scored 98 LOTR knowledge!

You've read the Silmarillion, haven't you?

This test tracked 1 variable. How the score compared to the other people's:

Higher than 88% on LOTR knowledge

Link: The LOTR Test written by graphx on Ok Cupid

So that's that.

And like Mark, I think signing up with a dating website is a lousy way to prove one's "Tolkein scholarship".

Cologne

It smelled fine, but it looked absolutely incredible. No joke. Seriously, it looked great. Ya do know I'm talking about the city of Cologne, Germany, not the odorant type, right?

Yeah well, anyway, it was fantastic! The trip was organized by my squadron's booster club as a Christmas shopping trip. Many cities in Germany (I don't know about the rest of Europe) have their own Christmas Market in around the center of town. But I'm afraid I went mainly to do the tourist thing. So I didn't buy many gifts. : ( But that also means that I saved money, right? : D

Here are some pictures. Mostly of the famous Cathedral. By the way, in German, it's spelled K^öln. Pronounced kinda like Koln and Kurln put together.

On the approach:

A little closer...


At the door--


Looking up:



An example of the stained glass windows=


Quite expansive, huh?


Looking toward the front of the cathedral...


Here's the proof that I was there:


The other side of this guy's sign is written in German. No, I didn't take the offer. =P


Starbuck's, McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC I can understand, but Dunkin' Donuts? Dunno. I was surprised.

Cause and Effect

Alright folks, I'll try not to be too gory in my description of how my finger achieved that horrific state so vividly displayed in those photographs.

One bright day, in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up.....WAIT A SECOND!!!

Sorry.

Wrong story.

*Cough*

[Imagine a deep, gravelly voice narrating]

Latitude: 49° 58' 0N Longitude: 6° 31' 60E Elevation: 328 meters
Monday. October 23, 2006. 0900 hours. I'd received my assignment without saying a word. I was getting 65 percent payment up-front. I decided an axe would be my tool of choice for this particular job. Being an independent operative with quite a bit of experience, I had the option to use whatever methods I thought "appropriate". Having a record of 100% termination tends to convince whoever's my employer that they should give me leeway in terms of Modus Operandi.
Well, my personal S.O.P. states that there's no excuse for leaving witnesses. But I guess that morning I didn't eat my Wheaties. Or maybe I got up on the wrong side of the bed. Do you see where this is going?.....

Maybe I should dispense with the morbid fiction-story-telling and get to the point of the matter.

It really was Monday, 23 OCT 2006. It really was 0900 hours. And the axe was intended as a prop, nothing more. I was a member of OPFOR (opposing forces) for my squadron's Combat Readiness Course, or: mobility school. The first scenario of the week-long exercise called for about five farmers to occupy the CRC students' campsite. Soon, I decided to use my axe to cut some kindling for a "simulated" campfire. I'd cut a couple of pieces already when the next stroke got too close to my left index finger and cut the tip almost all the way off. I immediately put my thumb on the wound to slow the already minimal bleeding. (actually I think I only lost a tablespoon or so) Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from the scenario. So I walked back to our OPFOR camp and they drove me to the Bitburg emergency room. They took a look at it and we pondered together whether to sew it up or just cut the flap off. Because it would fall off anyway(and has). Anyway, they went and gave me my first six stitches. And this past Thursday was the ten day mark, so I went ahead and took the stitches out. Yesterday, Saturday, the little cap of skin kind of caught on my jacket as I was putting it on. So now, the tip of my finger is somewhat bare. Here's some pictures.





Well, that's pretty much it. Many thanks to Mike McQ. for taking the photos of my finger.

My First Stitches

Hey, hey! I'm back!



Actually they were an early birthday present, having been presented on the 23rd. I thought it was pretty cool, actually. Too bad I didn't have my camera on hand at the time to record the historical event.

I had to use someone else's camera to take these shots cuz mine's being borrowed. So the pics of my place will have to wait a little bit longer.

Excuses, excuses.....

Here's some explanation for my absence:

I've had no internet at my house since I moved there. It is somewhat of an inconvenience to have to use someone else's computer, or go to the cyber cafe on base-which is where I am currently type away. So, take it as you will. I have also had no phone either. And the phone connection is necessary to get DSL internet service. The German telecommunications business has some problems, to say the least. I've been signed up for phone service for over a month, but I've had no dial tone or anything. They missed an appointment I made with them to come to my house and check it out, and they are supposed to come again this Friday. So, we'll see what happens. Maybe they'll get things rolling.

Next week I shall be unavailable to write any excuses. So here's my excuse for next week: I'm gonna be in the field again. Probably for the last time this year.

But anyway, until next time, God be with you!

And Semper Gumby! (always flexible)

"The Grand Void in Recent Months"

Ahem, ahhem. Believe it or not, it has only been two months-give or take one day-between the last time I posted and the day that Tech Support arrived. So it's not like I've been that negligent.

Grrrr. I haven't gotten internet service at my new place yet, so I'm at the Cybercafe on base. They just told me I have five minutes left, which means I have to sign off. Tchuss!

P.S. Should I post pics of my house? I've only been living there for about two weeks now.

teck support wuz heer

Hail all,

In view of the grand void that has been the Dwarrowdelf in recent months, a friend of the editor has arbitrarily decided to take in hand the temporary management of the city. Although doing so means a hostile breach of the once secure gate, the long-term result will be a more prosperous and beautiful informational thoroughfare.

Cheers!