The End of the Landlord Saga: I finally wrote up the end (hopefully) of the story of our struggles with our ex-landlord as an addendum to my last landlord entry. Long story short: he "only" bilked us out of $1307, as opposed to $3782 (the total of his spectacular first attempt). Our resolve to buy instead of rent upon our return to the USA is even more increased.
Scout The Brat: Scout has developed a disturbing new habit: instead of only scratching at the door when she needs to go outside, she's started scratching at the door -- sometimes quite frantically -- whenever she wants to go outside. So one of has to put on our shoes, a jacket, find our keys, the leash, and a just-in-case plastic bag, and head downstairs with Scout so that she can . . . sniff around until she decides that she's had enough. In a related newly-developed bad habit, she'll go downstairs at 7 AM (or in the afternoons while Shelby's taking her nap), decide she wants company, and will start to scratch until somebody wakes up and comes downstairs. Bad dog!
Eurovision Song Contest: Since we were out at the Lange Nacht der Museen, we missed the other major cultural event taking place last night -- the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest! I think that the Grand Prix is something that you have to be European to fully appreciate (or understand). Countries from across Europe enter a single musical act into the contest and vote on the other countries' performances; the winner receives continent-wide fame and adulation until, well, next year, when the next contest rolls around (although some Eurovision winners have gone on to more lasting fame; ABBA won the Eurovision prize in 1975). Last night was the final, held in Istanbul, with a field of 24 countries. Max, Germany's entry -- sounding to my ears something like a male Nora Jones with a light vocal jazz number -- got trounced, ending up in 8th place. Ukraine (in only their second year in the contest), took the prize.
Were we not out at the museums, we could have joined one of the many Eurovision parties across the city -- the largest being down at the Reeperbahn (Hamburg's entertainment/red-light district); it was the location the TV broadcast cut to when it was time for Germany to cast its vote, so a lot of people wanted to be part of the crowd.
Shelby's college friend Dave, watching in Paris, gives a good English-language blow-by-blow of this year's event -- start here and read up.
Posted by Kevin at May 16, 2004 05:44 PMYou know, it's difficult to explain how moving it is to know that someone read my eurovision play by play. Then again, most things about eurovision are difficult to explain....
Posted by: David at May 19, 2004 01:41 AM