Life: Idiotropic

There are currently three flies crawling all over my brighly lit computer monitor as I'm trying to type this and several more buzzing around my face. It's disturbing, but there is not a lot I can do short of overly tacky, not to mention, disgusting fly paper hanging all over my house. It is hot here this week and got up into the 90's today. There is no air conditioning here which we have been spoiled with living in the midwest and Florida the past few years, so our only defense against the heat is to open up the rolladn and windows at night when it cools with the hope that the wind will blow fresh air in to cool us and spare us the smell of the freshly fertilized fields. Some days I don't know what is worse - extreme heat, or that lovely "organic" wafting. So, this lovely odorless evening the windows are open - an open invitation to all flies big and small to come land upon whatever light sources remain on in this house. We have no screens to stop them. German windows here, though beautiful and ingenious in the ways they open, do not have screens. In order to keep flies out, the Germans use those beautiful lace curtains and other lace or mesh hanging fabric to keep them out. Ick. Another fly. I think those lace things are a must-shop-for tomorrow. This could drive a sane person quite batty in a matter of minutes. In fact, a nice bat might come in handy about now. The crane flies in this house along would keep a bat quite fat and happy.

It's midnight here now. Tiara and I just got back from the Foroxity where we saw Pirates of the Caribbean II. It was long - especially with the full 30 minute intermission. They stop the movie so abruptly, then begin it just as quickly with no warning at all. But 30 minutes is a long time in the middle of a 2+ hour film. Still, it was entertaining and was nice to get out to one of the few air conditioned businesses around here. We got there early and had dinner at the adjoining restaurant. Still had to beg for our bill which surprised me. Knowing that patrons have movies to see, you'd think they'd be a little quicker. Tiara had the bitterballen - a Dutch appetizer. They are deep fried balls filled with something gooey inside almost like gravy. They sound disgusting and don't look much better, but they do taste great. Tiara wants the recipe. I had the Insalata de Copa which I've had before and it was excellent. I'll list the ingredients below - worth making. The movie - well, I went for the outing more than anything. It was ok. There were funny moments, but it was a bit long and it ended right where a soap opera would end - right at that critical unresolved moment. I'm ok with leaving room for a sequil, but this movie handcuffed it's viewers to a sequel. It's as if they made a really long movie, cut it in half, then marketed the first half with one title sans resolution, and teased with the other half a year+ away. Bad form as Capt. Hook would say. So apparently, if I am to be suckered into it, I will be back at the Foroxity in a year to see the second half of what I paid to see tonight. Crazy.

Today, other than the movie, was uneventful. We ran errands. Arianna and Luci had school. The Natex had its grand re-opening after a remodel, so I went and stood in line for a few things. The lines were 40+ minutes long with mostly European men in uniform pushing carts full of senseo coffee and alcohol. The prices are cheap here. A Polish man in front of Kirk spent over 300E on alcohol. It's crazy how much people drink here on a regular basis. We bought a case of wine, but it will probably take our entire 3 years left to drink it.

Anyway... tomorrow is Elias' name day. I've got to get up early and get a gift together. Will fill you in tomorrow night!

Ciao! (Which, by the way, seems to be the universal goodbye here. The Germans and Dutch say "ciao" almost as much as the Italians do.)

The ingredient list/recipe for Insalata de Copa:

Romaine or lettuce of choice
Diced green, red, and yellow bell peppers
Diced cucumber
Mozzerella shredded
Honeydew melon chunked
Parma Ham (prosciutto) in thin slices

Mix all and drizzle with balsalmic vinegrette.