When we set off for Nuremberg last Friday morning, we had no doubt that it would be one of our more memorable weekends, but Max Mongin's entry into the world certainly made it absolutely unforgettable!!
Nuremberg is an amazingly beautiful city in Bavaria. It was almost completely destroyed from the aerial bombings during WWII, as it was one of the main morale encampments of the Nazi Party, but the Germans did an outstanding job rebuilding the city to preserve its quaintness and cultural roots. As I had previously mentioned, it is also the home to the best Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt) in Germany. That is really what we were after when we had booked the trip, and it was awesome. Christmas Markets in Germany are not just about vendors selling ornaments and decorations, but it is a social activity for people. Families and friends wander through the markets taking in the lights and decorations, feasting on roasted sausages, kraut, crepes, and also Nurenberg's renowned ginger bread cookies. The other traditional touch of Germany during the holidays is Gluhwein. It is a heated or mulled red wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and sugar. It is a little sweet for my tastes, but it is more about the experience of carrying these little boots around with the Gluhwein. They actually set up these temporary Gluhwein huts where you can stand by a fire and get absolutely "gluhweined."
Other highlights from the weekend:
- Bratwurstküche - Zum Guldenen Stern - Oldest Sausage Restaurant in the world. It was opened in 1419. Roasted sausages, kraut, and potato salad. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
- Hefeweizen - my favorite German Wheat beer
- Annoying American that we got seated with at a tapas restaurant
- GERMAN ONLY Speaking tours of the Castle and Nuremberg Underworld (a maze of vaulted cellars and secret passageways under the city that first served as breweries and then became bomb shelters during the war) - yep, no english available and did not understand a damn thing!!!
AND FINALLY
- Sausage
- Sausage
- Sauerkraut
- Mustard
- And More Sausage
It was a great trip and really made us feel like we were just a week away from Christmas.
Maldives
Friday, 23 December 2011
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Maxwell Jeffrey Mongin
Maxwell Jeffrey Mongin entered the world at 4:30 am on December 16, 2011, weighing 8lbs 8oz!!!!
We are so thrilled for Chad and Jane. They are going to be incredible parents, and Max is one lucky little boy. Ann and I were so excited that we were able to get the play by play throughout the hospital and birth process, and even though we were 7 hours ahead en route from London to Germany, we felt like we were right there with them. Jane and Chad, enjoy this first Christmas as parents, and we can't wait to meet our nephew. I will be bringing Max's first 6-pack of Bud Light.
As if this Berenz/Mongin news was not enough to keep 75% of the Fond du Lac Reporters busy on Friday, a bomb was dropped on The Fox Valley, and to be quite honest, the ripple effects were felt all across the world in Nuremberg, Germany. After 15+ years of unwedded bliss, Jeff dropped to a knee and has officially taken Jobina off of the market!!! Jeff and Jobina, we are so happy for you all and we can't wait to celebrate your day. Bina, you have some catching up to do with Chad and I for favorite "Child-in-Law." Chad, you are not allowed to leverage the fact that you have provided the first grandchild. We already know Max is more of a man than you are, little sister.
Clearly, nothing of significance could have happened in the world outside of Fondy this weekend, so I will let all of the news settle before picking back up with our trip to Nuremberg.
Happy Christmas Week
Uncle and Aunt Knapp-kin
We are so thrilled for Chad and Jane. They are going to be incredible parents, and Max is one lucky little boy. Ann and I were so excited that we were able to get the play by play throughout the hospital and birth process, and even though we were 7 hours ahead en route from London to Germany, we felt like we were right there with them. Jane and Chad, enjoy this first Christmas as parents, and we can't wait to meet our nephew. I will be bringing Max's first 6-pack of Bud Light.
As if this Berenz/Mongin news was not enough to keep 75% of the Fond du Lac Reporters busy on Friday, a bomb was dropped on The Fox Valley, and to be quite honest, the ripple effects were felt all across the world in Nuremberg, Germany. After 15+ years of unwedded bliss, Jeff dropped to a knee and has officially taken Jobina off of the market!!! Jeff and Jobina, we are so happy for you all and we can't wait to celebrate your day. Bina, you have some catching up to do with Chad and I for favorite "Child-in-Law." Chad, you are not allowed to leverage the fact that you have provided the first grandchild. We already know Max is more of a man than you are, little sister.
Clearly, nothing of significance could have happened in the world outside of Fondy this weekend, so I will let all of the news settle before picking back up with our trip to Nuremberg.
Happy Christmas Week
Uncle and Aunt Knapp-kin
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Rickshaw Please
Hi Everyone,
If you are wondering why there is a picture of Ann above on a rickshaw, let me explain. Last week was both Apple and Moneygram's Christmas parties. This is a huge event in England in which companies invest a lot of time and money. It is a night built on the anticipation of the entire year and something that employees probably consider in their contract negotiations. As we had been told, it is also a night that people just get pissed. To add an extra layer of awkwardness, spouses are not typically invited, so you can just envision bad things, especially from a HR perspective!!! Anyway, Apple's party was last Thursday night. It was a Black and White theme and we had rented out a bar and had a DJ spinning. It was a lot of fun, and luckily, I behaved myself quite admirably. If you know me at work, you know that I am a pretty conservative person. I had been out a few times with a couple of co-workers who have seen my less conservative side, but no kidding, I may have been the surprise of the night when the tequila shots started flowing and "The Worm" hit the dance floor. Kevin 1, Apple 0.
The real inspiration for this post, however, comes from Sr. Rickshaw herself. Moneygram's party was actually on Friday night. They had a Black Tie event with a sit down dinner and a DJ as well. If you are waiting to hear a "Wedding Ann-Esque" type story, I am sadly going to disappoint, but please do not stop reading. Being the Sr. Director of HR, Ann really had to behave herself. If her employees only knew!!! Anyway, Ann had a great time with everyone, sticking just to white wine all night, and decided to take her leave around 11:30, allowing for whatever shenanigans might take place to not happen under the watchful eyes of the HR leader. Ann's antics for the night began after her departure. It is actually surprisingly difficult to find a taxi on a weekend night in Central London. On top of that, after a few glasses of wine, Ann has a tendency to become a bit navigationally challenged. In order to briefly and properly capture all of the oscar worthy drama that follows through Ann's own words, I am reverting to the script of a Playwright:
Act 1 - Dressed to kill in her white evening gown, heals, and hauling her Vera Bradley duffel bag, Ann wanders aimlessly through the streets of Central London hoping to hail a taxi or at least pass a Tube Station.
Act 2 - Upon failing to find either a taxi or a tube stop after walking an unknown distance, Ann decides to hop on a bus and hopes to pass a tube station.
Act 3 - Ann is brought back to an awakened state after the kind lady behind her on the bus taps her on the shoulder to tell her to be careful because her bag is open.
*Note* - Wine aside, Ann in a moving vehicle after dark, Goodnight!!!
Act 4 - Once again fully alert, Ann disembarks from the bus to walk back to the tube station that she passed the block before.
Act 5 - As it is now 12:30am, the London Underground is closed. Ann ponders her next move.
Act 6 - After a short walk and luckily finding herself in the busy throws of London's shopping district near Oxford Circus and Regent Street, Ann unsuccessfully tries her hand at a taxi one more time.
Act 7 - Spotting a common mode of transportation for short jaunts in London's shopping area, Ann enlists the services of a Rickshaw to try for the final push home.
Act 8 - Ann sits behind aforementioned rickshaw driver as he furiously pedals his way from Central London to Kensington High Street, probably setting the record for highest rickshaw fare.
Act 9 - Finale - 2 hours after her departure, Ann arrives home!!!
Ann 0, Rickshaw 1
We are excited for our trip to Nuremberg this weekend to see the renowned German Christmas Markets. Joe arrives a week from tomorrow to spend 3 weeks with us over his break!!! We can't wait to see him. We have some awesome plans for x-mas and a great trip to Switzerland and France planned over New Years weekend. Finally, Jane has still not gone into labor, but we are just waiting on the news from Fondy. Let's just hope that stubborn baby decides to grace us with his/her presence before Christmas. We wish that we could be there for the arrival.
Love
Kevin and Captain Rickshaw
If you are wondering why there is a picture of Ann above on a rickshaw, let me explain. Last week was both Apple and Moneygram's Christmas parties. This is a huge event in England in which companies invest a lot of time and money. It is a night built on the anticipation of the entire year and something that employees probably consider in their contract negotiations. As we had been told, it is also a night that people just get pissed. To add an extra layer of awkwardness, spouses are not typically invited, so you can just envision bad things, especially from a HR perspective!!! Anyway, Apple's party was last Thursday night. It was a Black and White theme and we had rented out a bar and had a DJ spinning. It was a lot of fun, and luckily, I behaved myself quite admirably. If you know me at work, you know that I am a pretty conservative person. I had been out a few times with a couple of co-workers who have seen my less conservative side, but no kidding, I may have been the surprise of the night when the tequila shots started flowing and "The Worm" hit the dance floor. Kevin 1, Apple 0.
The real inspiration for this post, however, comes from Sr. Rickshaw herself. Moneygram's party was actually on Friday night. They had a Black Tie event with a sit down dinner and a DJ as well. If you are waiting to hear a "Wedding Ann-Esque" type story, I am sadly going to disappoint, but please do not stop reading. Being the Sr. Director of HR, Ann really had to behave herself. If her employees only knew!!! Anyway, Ann had a great time with everyone, sticking just to white wine all night, and decided to take her leave around 11:30, allowing for whatever shenanigans might take place to not happen under the watchful eyes of the HR leader. Ann's antics for the night began after her departure. It is actually surprisingly difficult to find a taxi on a weekend night in Central London. On top of that, after a few glasses of wine, Ann has a tendency to become a bit navigationally challenged. In order to briefly and properly capture all of the oscar worthy drama that follows through Ann's own words, I am reverting to the script of a Playwright:
Act 1 - Dressed to kill in her white evening gown, heals, and hauling her Vera Bradley duffel bag, Ann wanders aimlessly through the streets of Central London hoping to hail a taxi or at least pass a Tube Station.
Act 2 - Upon failing to find either a taxi or a tube stop after walking an unknown distance, Ann decides to hop on a bus and hopes to pass a tube station.
Act 3 - Ann is brought back to an awakened state after the kind lady behind her on the bus taps her on the shoulder to tell her to be careful because her bag is open.
*Note* - Wine aside, Ann in a moving vehicle after dark, Goodnight!!!
Act 4 - Once again fully alert, Ann disembarks from the bus to walk back to the tube station that she passed the block before.
Act 5 - As it is now 12:30am, the London Underground is closed. Ann ponders her next move.
Act 6 - After a short walk and luckily finding herself in the busy throws of London's shopping district near Oxford Circus and Regent Street, Ann unsuccessfully tries her hand at a taxi one more time.
Act 7 - Spotting a common mode of transportation for short jaunts in London's shopping area, Ann enlists the services of a Rickshaw to try for the final push home.
Act 8 - Ann sits behind aforementioned rickshaw driver as he furiously pedals his way from Central London to Kensington High Street, probably setting the record for highest rickshaw fare.
Act 9 - Finale - 2 hours after her departure, Ann arrives home!!!
Ann 0, Rickshaw 1
We are excited for our trip to Nuremberg this weekend to see the renowned German Christmas Markets. Joe arrives a week from tomorrow to spend 3 weeks with us over his break!!! We can't wait to see him. We have some awesome plans for x-mas and a great trip to Switzerland and France planned over New Years weekend. Finally, Jane has still not gone into labor, but we are just waiting on the news from Fondy. Let's just hope that stubborn baby decides to grace us with his/her presence before Christmas. We wish that we could be there for the arrival.
Love
Kevin and Captain Rickshaw
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Take that, Pippa
Hey Everyone,
If you are familiar with one of my previous posts about cockney slang, you will know what I mean when I say it has been "Brass Monkeys" here this week. Of course, it is nowhere near approaching what is cold in Minneapolis, but 40 degrees can feel pretty bone chilling in the damp and dark London nights. It is sure better than having your eye lashes and brows freeze in a matter of seconds, but we did both say that we are going to miss the snow this year.
We have had such a relaxing last couple of weekends. We have gotten to do some much needed shopping, x-mas decorating, as well as taking in some different parts of London and seeing all of the extraordinary holiday decorations and lights. We are going to put together a slideshow of different x-mas scenes from London as it gets closer to x-mas, so stay tuned. We also bought the whole box set of "The Wire" on DVD. That is up there with Mad Men and Dexter for us now.
On Monday night, one of my co-workers arranged for a group of us to go ice skating at Somerset House. What a lovely place. It is a Neoclassical block of buildings built in the late 1700's and overlooks the Thames. It was originally the government's tax collection offices, but now is home to one of London's main Arts and Cultural Centres. In the Winter, they construct an ice rink for people to come and skate. As we have learned, ice skating is a very popular winter activity here and this venue is breathtaking. To be quite honest, the setting at Somerset House, in my opinion, exceeds even Rockefeller Plaza. Anyway, as it had been the better part of 20 years since I had laced up the skates, I was not overly keen when it was proposed to me. I was skimming the English tabloids one day, however, and I saw that Pippa had gone ice skating at Somerset House. Well, I certainly am not going to be shown up by Pippa. It was such a fun experience and while my Triple Salchow into a Double Toe Loop was a little rusty, I was catapulted back into my childhood days and again became one with the ice. Sadly, Pippa was not there on this chilly London evening to be witness, but I am sure that she read about my skating prowess the next day in the tabloids: "London Newcomer's Brilliant Bum beats Pipps'a at Somerset House." Take that, Pippa.
If you are familiar with one of my previous posts about cockney slang, you will know what I mean when I say it has been "Brass Monkeys" here this week. Of course, it is nowhere near approaching what is cold in Minneapolis, but 40 degrees can feel pretty bone chilling in the damp and dark London nights. It is sure better than having your eye lashes and brows freeze in a matter of seconds, but we did both say that we are going to miss the snow this year.
We have had such a relaxing last couple of weekends. We have gotten to do some much needed shopping, x-mas decorating, as well as taking in some different parts of London and seeing all of the extraordinary holiday decorations and lights. We are going to put together a slideshow of different x-mas scenes from London as it gets closer to x-mas, so stay tuned. We also bought the whole box set of "The Wire" on DVD. That is up there with Mad Men and Dexter for us now.
On Monday night, one of my co-workers arranged for a group of us to go ice skating at Somerset House. What a lovely place. It is a Neoclassical block of buildings built in the late 1700's and overlooks the Thames. It was originally the government's tax collection offices, but now is home to one of London's main Arts and Cultural Centres. In the Winter, they construct an ice rink for people to come and skate. As we have learned, ice skating is a very popular winter activity here and this venue is breathtaking. To be quite honest, the setting at Somerset House, in my opinion, exceeds even Rockefeller Plaza. Anyway, as it had been the better part of 20 years since I had laced up the skates, I was not overly keen when it was proposed to me. I was skimming the English tabloids one day, however, and I saw that Pippa had gone ice skating at Somerset House. Well, I certainly am not going to be shown up by Pippa. It was such a fun experience and while my Triple Salchow into a Double Toe Loop was a little rusty, I was catapulted back into my childhood days and again became one with the ice. Sadly, Pippa was not there on this chilly London evening to be witness, but I am sure that she read about my skating prowess the next day in the tabloids: "London Newcomer's Brilliant Bum beats Pipps'a at Somerset House." Take that, Pippa.
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