I survived an epic planning meeting yesterday; things started at 9 AM and didn't wrap up until 7 PM or so. (At one point, our videoconference system popped up a message: "Your current call has been connected for 480 minutes. Would you like to disconnect?" Then it decided the question by disconnecting itself.) I'd had no sleep the night before, thanks to continuing insomnia, but I managed to distinguish myself by not falling asleep and drooling down my shirtfront. It could have been worse -- I could have been one of the people calling in from California via video, starting at midnight and lasting through until 10 AM ... by the time everything ended, they weren't looking so good.
Hey -- German pope! From what I've seen, the media is fawning, but nobody around me seems all that enthused.
I did a little bit of shopping this morning, and found that Karstadt had some Eiswein on sale for 6.99! At that price, it's obviously not the top-shelf stuff, but it might well be worth taking some back for not-so-special special occasions. I'll have to try a test bottle to see what it's like; hopefully I won't go blind.
Posted by Kevin at April 20, 2005 06:11 AM"the media is fawning, but nobody around me seems all that enthused"
You're in Hamburg. Protestantic north of Germany. Very few to almost no catholics around. And even the catholics - the thinking ones at least, which excludes all of Bavaria except Munich - are too enthusiastic. Why should they be? Hitler Youth boy, anti-aircraft-gunner, deserter, Grand Inquisitor and now pope - what a career. And while careful commenters say his views are not so progressive, I'd call him a reactionary. Careful commenters say his election means a standstill of the roman-catholic church, while I say the views Ratzi represents mean a leap back into the 17th century.
On a lighter side - I'll have to drop by at Karstadt on my way home, I think... what's the name of the wine? :-)
Posted by: -buck at April 20, 2005 07:30 AMHi Kevin, how was the Eiswein? Is it OK? If it ist OK, so I will visit our Karstadt in Wiesbaden and buy 5 Bottles!!! Hope to read your Feedback about this wein...
Best wishes,
Ira
Yes, lunch today was marked by some frank discussion about the new pope's sordid past and current retrograde views. I guess that if I want to see mindless nationalistic cheerleading for "unser Papst", I'll have to go to Regensburg ...
As for the wine, unfortunately I can't remember the name; it was an extremely generic-looking bottle. I'll let you know tomorrow after I pick up my own allotment. If my particular Karstadt is any guide, look for it on the very bottom shelf of the Süßwein section, shoved towards the back of the shelf, so that you'll be likely to overlook it in favor of one of the more expensive wines. :-)
Posted by: Kevin at April 20, 2005 10:01 AMBut who would ever WANT to go to Regensburg? - See?
I'll have a look for the wine. I think my chances in Flensburg might be a little better than Ira's in Wiesbaden, since I our Karstadt here features the same stock as the ones in Hamburg, generally. If you get yours, tell us what you think, will you?
Posted by: -buck at April 20, 2005 11:36 AMI haven't been there, but have heard that Regensburg is quite nice.
Posted by: J at April 20, 2005 09:20 PM