Closer to Christ

I've been trying to pray and talk to God more often. I stumbled upon this tile in the BX and placed it over my fireplace to help me be cognizant of God in my life. Just thought I'd share it with you! (Sorry the picture came out so dark. You can click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Koeln Weihnachts Markt (Cologne Christmas Market)!

This weekend, I went to my first Christmas Market in Cologne Germany. Cologne has six Christmas Markets spread throughout the city. Different markets have different themes.

Unfortunately I didn't get many good pictures of the markets. Here is one picture looking down on one of the markets.

Here's another of me buying the traditional Gluehwein drink. Basically, it's red wine combined with various spices. Okay, okay, I didn't actually drink it!

Cologne also houses the largest cathedral in Germany. Here are a couple different view of it (It's virtually impossible to get it all in one picture!)

You can climb up 509 steps (although we only counted 491) to the top of the Dom. It's a beautiful view from the top. Unfortunately, it was too dark to get a good view. However, this is a view from part of the way up looking further up.

Another highlight of the trip was to the chocolate museum!

While I don't think the 7.50 Euro entrance fee was worth it, we did get some free chocolate samples.

They also had some interesting chocolate figures.

After all that strenuous museum learning we had to stop at the cafe on the first floor and sample the heisse trinkschokolade (hot drinking chocolate) and dreikoenigstorte (Three Kings cake). And, of course, I had to buy some chocolate to take home with me!

Okay, I didn't really buy this; but anyone want to get it for me for for Christmas?

I'd definitely recommend a trip to Cologne to anyone traveling to Germany!

What is going on?

So this is going to be a bit of a rant on my part; so be warned!

Normally I feel that I'm a fairly optimistic person; however, after recent events in the news I have to ask, what is going on in the world?

On an international level, terrorists hold hostages in various locations in Mumbai, India for more than 48 hours; and it's still not over.

On a national level (by this I mean American, not German), an employee who opened the door to a Walmart in Long Island on Black Friday was stampeded to death by the more than 200 customers waiting to get in. How do you trample a guy to death to get an Wii? Have we stooped that low?!

What can/should we do to stop this? I don't mean on a national level. I'm looking for is what we can do in our interactions with others (at work, home, walking down the street) to prevent the spread of this notion that "I am entitled to whatever I want and it doesn't matter who I hurt to get it".

Any thoughts/feelings are much appreciated.

Sorry for the rant.

The Speyer Cathedral (Der Kaiserdom zu Speyer)

Today, I went with some members of the Catholic young adult group (yes, at 30 years old I still consider myself a YOUNG adult!) to Mass at the Cathedral in Speyer, Germany. Before you ask, the Mass was in German. It paralleled the American Mass very closely and, thankfully, amen is still pronounced amen in German (although w/ more of an "AH-men" sound).


Here is our group before the drive.




Here is the cathedral.




And here is the main door to the cathedral. The blue sign on the left is about at the top of my head. (Yes, it was very large and heavy!)




The outdoor ceiling was very ornate and beautiful!




One thing I miss about the smaller churches I have normally gone to is the warmth. It was about 20 degrees outside the church and probably about 45 inside the church. Coats and gloves remained on. (The hypothermia resolved after a cup of hot chocolate in a cute cafe!)

All in all it was a great trip!

Snow! (Schnee!)

For the first time since I have been in Germany, it snowed! I'm sure it won't surprise anyone, but after waking up on Saturday morning and seeing the snow, I threw on clothes and ran out to walk in it and take pictures of it.

So below are my first pictures of snow in Germany. Enjoy!

When we get enough snow, I'll send pictures of my snowmen or snowwomen (or is it snowomen?).

Bonehead Moment

As anyone who has known me for a while (or was with me in residency) can attest to, I've had my fair share of "foot in mouth" experiences. I even won the "bonehead award" several times during residency. (Hey, I can be proud of that!)

So I figured I'd share the lastest one, from my clinic today, with you all. Enjoy!


I was in my office at lunch with Samantha* who is a career practicum student. Basically, high school seniors can take a class where they shadow a person in the profession of their choosing for an hour a couple days a week. In the family practice clinic, any career practicum students shadow the doctor who is on-call for the week.

We were talking about various medical topics and a new email popped up on my computer from my flight commander. It stated that all the docs were supposed to have time blocked in their schedule for a visit by Colonel Smith*. Being the good doctor I am, I quickly checked my schedule and saw that it was not blocked.

I walked (the whole 5 feet) to my nurse and basically asked him "can you block my schedule for this time/date? There's a Colonel Smith* coming; I don't know who he is, but I just got an email saying we need our schedules blocked".

I then returned to my desk and Samantha* said, "I know Colonel Smith*". To which I replied, "Oh, is he nice?". There was a long pause and then she answered "yeah; he's my dad."


Note to self, you never know who you're talking to! At least the other people in clinic got a nice laugh out of it!

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Saint Martin's Day

Yesterday I learned about a new German holiday called St Martin's Day. Basically, it honors St Martin who was a missionary in France (last I knew I was in Germany though) in the 300s. He was a friend of children and the poor.

According to legend, on a cold day a beggar approached Martin and asked for help. Martin didn't have food or money so he cut his robe in half and gave part to the beggar. The next night, Jesus appeared to him in a dream revealed that he had been the beggar. After this, Martin dedicated his life to others.

In towns around Germany, children reenact the story of St Martin's life on November 11th. In Ramstein Village, the celebration started with a meeting at the Catholic Church,

then we followed a man on horseback (who was dressed like Saint Martin) around the town,

The children carried lanterns they had made in school.

When we arrived back at the church, a bonfire was lit and we all ate pretzels!

To be honest, I don't quite get the significance of the pretzels, but I like any tradition that includes food (well, if it's chocolate, Starbucks or pretzels!)

Christmas Pyramid

So this is going to be a short post. I just thought I'd share one of the interesting Christmas traditions I've seen.







This is a Christmas pyramid. The windmill-like things on the top revolve in the wind, or even in a light breeze, and turn the levels below. The levels traditionally have figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as well as the Three Kings, shepards and animals. You can also put small candles on the sides and the smoke helps the top revovle.

Anyway, it's a very interesting tradition!

Furniture Hunting

So, I have to say, one of my new hobbies is hunting for good deals on furniture. For years I have had a little tv stand and decided to upgrade. Since I arrived in Germany about 2 months ago, I have been searching for a new tv stand (and even went to Belgium looking for one!) Well, I finally found one at the Ramstein fleamarket.

It's made out of oak and was carved inParis (at least that's what I was told).

I also received bottle of wine as a gift for buying the furniture. I feel so grown up!