Happy New Year!

Hey All! I hope you're all enjoying your holidays. Between holiday get-togethers and Brenda's opera we are keeping ourselves busy. In fact, Brenda is at a performance right now. This is her 3rd performance (of 8) of La Calisto and the shows are going great. I was at the final dress rehearsal and the first performance and the show was very well received both times. If you haven't had a chance to check out pictures of the production you can do so here.

Brenda and I continued with some Christmas traditions this year. We attended the same Christmas Eve service that we go to every year and then afterwards had our annual baked ziti dinner at the McCown's. On Christmas day we did something out of the ordinary; we both went to the opera. Oddly, we didn't go to the same opera. Brenda had a performance and I went to Tosca which was performed on Oper Frankfurt's main stage.

The following day we had friends over for an evening of Feuerzangenbowle. We agreed to provide the food and they agreed to bring the drinks. Although, we almost couldn't hold up our end of the bargain. Brenda and I thought that grocery stores would be open in Frankfurt on the day after Christmas but we were mistaken. There are, however, a few stores open at the main train station that sell a limited selection of groceries so we managed to scrape together enough food for the evening.

Our guests preparing the Feuerzangenbowle.

Brenda and I don't have any big plans for New Years Eve and I think we're going to keep it that way. Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a great week. Until next time, Happy New Year!

Today's blog tomorrow

Hey All! Instead of staying home and writing a blog entry like I should have, Brenda and I went to a friend's house and had a lovely evening. Thus, this week's entry will be arriving a day late. Tune in tomorrow for the real post. Have a great night!

Happy Holidays!

Good morning, all! Remember me? I'm the guy with the green and gray scarf in the picture below. I used to frequently write entries for this blog until finals got so close that they took over my world. Well, I survived my exams (meaning I literally survived - who knows if I passed the classes...) and I am excited to be writing to you once again. I owe Brenda a big "thank you" for taking on the blog for the last few weeks. She's the best.

My last exam was on Friday, and on Saturday I hopped on a plane and flew to Germany. It is, of course, great to be with Brenda and to finally be able to focus all of my attention on getting into the Christmas spirit. The weather in Germany is doing its part for the holidays. This morning Brenda and I were excited to see that it had snowed in the night. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first snow they've had in Frankfurt this fall. I don't know how long it will stick around (its supposed to get up to 40 today), but we'll enjoy it while it's here.

The view from our kitchen window this morning.

Brenda is at rehearsal right now for her next opera La Calisto. The first performance is this Friday. I will be at the performance and will give you a full report next week. Pictures of the production should be appearing on the Oper Frankfurt website soon. After they've been posted you will be able to see them by clicking the link above.

Brenda in her costume for La Calisto.

After taking my exams, I finally feel like I'm in law school. I believe that the exams were the last step in a four-month-long hazing process. This belief was only strengthened by something one of my professors said. He said that the primary purpose behind administering exams to law students isn't to test their knowledge of the material, but rather to find where to put them on the curve. This approach became very clear during my last exam. I read some of the questions and didn't even understand what they were asking, much less what the answer was. It was then that I realized that studying had been a silly use of my time. I could have been baking Christmas cookies and listening to Bing Crosby and been just as prepared. A fellow student of mine echoed a similar sentiment shortly after our last exam ended. As we were all packing up our stuff he shouted something like, "That was the hardest exam I've ever taken!" except he added in some other blog-inappropriate words to emphasize his point.

But now the semester is over and the Christmas merriment has begun. Brenda and I took a trip to the Christmas market yesterday and had some Kartoffelpuffer, Raclette, and a glass of apple Glühwein. It looks like we'll be heading over there again today. The Christmas market closes on Thursday so we're down to our last few chances to enjoy it until next year.

Brenda and I at the Christmas market yesterday.

Well, it's probably time for me to wrap this up. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and I will talk to you next week!

Santa's little helper

Hi Everybody! (Audience) Hi Dr. Nick!

Okay, I don't why that was in my head. Though it's been years since I've been a regular viewer, I suppose The Simpsons will be forever ingrained in my consciousness...

Moving on! I have an adorable companion this week! Can you spot her?

Well, let me give you a closer look at this adorable little kitty who is clawing her way into my heart! Actually, she doesn't claw so much as nuzzle, which is far better anyway.

Ella with her favorite toy

Hanging out in the bathtub, one of her favorite spots!

Luckily, she likes it dry.

As I mentioned last week, my friend Elza has entrusted me with Ella (AKA Lump) for 5 days while she travels to France. It's been great to have a little bundle of love to cuddle with, especially since I'm a bit sick! I never had a pet growing up (other than fish. Do fish count?), so I jump at the chance to pet-sit. My parents did not pass on their many allergies, and I'm very grateful for that! Perhaps a pet is in our future someday... Chad and I like both cats and dogs, but we were discussing how you never know what you're going to get with cats... Luckily, little Ella is very social and sweet, and seems to even like being picked up and cuddled! She's helping the time go by while I wait for Chad to get here in five days! Yes, just five days! What a fantastic Christmas present that will be!

On Saturday I had my last Tales of Hoffmann performance, and a friend of mine from Juilliard named Laura Poe came to see it. Laura is now working as a pianist with the opera house in Düsseldorf, just about an hour and a half by train. She spent the night, and the day after the show we went to the Christmas market -- of course! She had never had raclette (a tasty melted cheese that can be put on many things), so I brought her to the raclette hut, as well as many other delicious spots... We went on the big carousel after our treats, and sat on something similar to the spinning teacups at Disney. An interesting choice, as we had just eaten... We needed a few moments after getting off to make the world stop spinning. Worth it!

I'm pretty sure we were the oldest people

on the carousel without children...

Another addition (one that the kitty seems fascinated with) to our apartment this week is our Christmas tree! I just couldn't wait for Chad to get here, so our friend Florian helped me pick out the tree, and more importantly, carry it home!!

He looks a bit like a lumberjack, doesn't he?

Our friends Paula and Eamonn came over and helped decorate the tree later that night, and it really started to feel like Christmas! This year's tree is bigger than last year's, so I think we might need more ornaments! I'll wait until Chad gets here though so we can do SOME of the Christmas decorating together!

Ella's second favorite toy. ;-)

At least she hasn't tried climbing it yet!

Well, next week at this time Chad will be on this side of the ocean, as well as being totally DONE with his first semester of law school! He took his second exam yesterday, and felt pretty good about it! Just one more on Friday, and then it's time to celebrate! I, for one, am certainly looking forward to helping him celebrate. I hope you're all staying festive as the holidays get closer and closer!

Hello everybody! It's hard to believe a week has gone by and it's December already! Chad is officially done with his classes, and now he's studying like a maniac for his exams. Well, perhaps maniac is too strong a word... But he's being very diligent, and I'm quite proud of his work ethic! The beginning of December also meant that Chad and I got to open our Advent Calendars! While he was visiting during Thanksgiving, we bought matching mini Lindt chocolate calendars, and we open the little doors together while we're on Skype. It makes talking to each other even sweeter! Awww!

As for my schedule, it's been filled with opera! I rehearsed, performed, and even went and saw a few operas! Generally, that would be too much opera for me, but I had good friends performing, and they did wonderfully! I attended the Frankfurt Premiere of Otello by Verdi (based on Shakespeare's Othello), and I have to say I was a bit surprised by the audience's reaction. The singers received wonderful ovations, but the director got very loud boos! Sure, it might not have been a traditional production, but I didn't think it was THAT far out! In any case, most of the audience decided they didn't like it, and I felt badly for the director, who I know poured a lot of his heart into the piece. You never know how the audience will react!

My friend Elza was in the performance (don't worry, the audience LOVED her!!) and she gave an absolutely stunning portrayal of Desdemona. Now that rehearsals are over for her, she has more time for friends. This really benefits me, because she is an EXCELLENT cook! :-) I also got to meet her kitty, whom I will have the pleasure of cat-sitting next week. This cat is so adorable, and she even plays fetch. So cute!!

Two sweeties!

Well, as I have rehearsal tomorrow, I'm going to head to bed! I play a very angry Goddess in this show, and boy, is it tiring being mean! I hope you're all having a great week!

chenda equals awesome

Hello all! Since my beloved hubby is in hardcore study mode for final exams, you're stuck with me and my inane blogging for the next few weeks. Who has two thumbs and is an awesome wife? This gal! ;-)

This past week was much more spectacular than normal weeks, largely due to the fact that Chad and I were together. The Christmas market and Thanksgiving didn't hurt either! Chad and I managed to hit the Christmas market twice while he was here, and we're definitely going back when he comes back in 19 days. Not that I'm counting the days or anything... Anyway, we went to the market on the first day it opened, and were joined by three Plocks, Ariane, Adelin, and Florian. It's finally getting chilly in Frankfurt, so we warmed ourself with that wondrous drink Glühwein.

Ariane, Chad and I imbibing! Gotta

stay warm somehow!

Ariane and Adelin had to leave us in the early evening to go to some makeup party where they were forced to buy makeup (I kid... not really...), so Chad and Florian and I continued our day of overeating by heading to one of our old hangouts, Zum Gemalten Haus. We had the typical Frankfurter Grüne Soße (literally, green sauce!) and apple wine. Delicious!

The next day was Thanksgiving, and though our official Frankfurt Thanksgiving wasn't planned until Saturday, we went over to our friends the McCowns, and enjoyed a... er... traditional Thanksgiving Indian feast. Okay, so maybe it wasn't very traditional, but the important part is that we were with dear friends, even though we were all very far from home! The McCowns also took part in the big Thanksgiving feast on Saturday, which Peter and Jerrode Marsh hosted in their usual wonderful way! Really, cooking for that many people is quite a feat! Michael baked some delicious pies, and Barb decorated the table beautifully.

Michael showing his excitement for

delicious Thanksgiving food.

The dining table that literally takes up

the dining area and living room! Yay!

Me with 3 of my favorite things: Chad, my iPhone,

and wine. :-) I think Chad's face shows his

emotions perfectly.

Well, tomorrow I'm finally needed for rehearsals at the opera house, so I should probably think about studying music, or maybe sleeping. Hmm, decisions decisions! I hope I don't get so busy that I can't take in the glorious sights and smells of the Christmas market on a near daily basis! Yes, it's a hard life... ;-) Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and please know that Chad and I missed being with our families very much! We are so very thankful for all of you.

Weihnachtsmarkt 2011

Hey All! Greetings from Germany! I'm writing to you from our apartment in Frankfurt, and I couldn't be happier to be here. Brenda and I have been having a great time enjoying each other's company and spending time with friends. We've been doing a bit of work, too. Brenda had a performance on Sunday and started rehearsals for a new production today. In fact, she's at the opera house rehearsing right now. I just got done watching the Torts class I missed yesterday, and I've come to the conclusion that I could do my entire law degree long distance. Watching the video was just like being there in person except I got to wear my slippers and I didn't have to worry about being called on.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get over my jet lag yet. I was up until 4:30 AM Germany time this morning which isn't too far off of my normal bedtime in the US. I'm sure I'll adjust to German time right before I fly back to the US on Sunday.

This past Sunday I studied in Brenda's dressing room while she performed. It was quite pleasant actually. There was a beautiful opera playing in the background while I read about a guy who injured himself with a miter saw and subsequently sued the manufacturer of the saw. A word to the wise; never take off the blade guards on a miter saw.

Brenda and I in her dressing room.

The Frankfurt Christmas Market opens tomorrow and we're going! (I'm kind of excited about it. Could you tell? Maybe I should have used more exclamation marks.) There will be food, drink, and Christmas knickknacks as far as the eye can see. I get the distinct impression from our friend Florian that he thinks I'm a shameless tourist. Of course, he's right, but I won't let that stop me from immersing myself in a sea of commercialism and Christmas cheer.

Brenda and I at home making dinner. (I told her not to sniff the cheese, but she said it was a Wisconsin thing and I wouldn't understand.)

Our German Thanksgiving tradition continues on Saturday at the Marsh's house. This will be our 4th year in a row celebrating at the Marsh's and we are really looking forward to it. Every year they put in a lot of work and we reap the benefits of their labor.

Brenda should be on her way home now and I should probably watch another Torts class. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving, and one of us will talk to you next week!