Nepal

In short, the latest news is that I am heading to Nepal for 4 weeks in October. Head on over to my climbing blog to read all about it!

In aller Kürze, meine Neuigkeit ist, dass ich im Oktober für vier Wochen nach Nepal gehe. Ihr könnt Genaueres darüber auf meinem Kletterblog lesen (allerdings nur auf Englisch). 

Drinks and Make-Up at the Space Needle

Another "40 new things" item completed (item #15)!
I had drinks (AND dinner and dessert!) with Mutti on top of the Space Needle on Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful time together!

This special evening inspired another event that really would deserve a place on my "40 new things" list. I wore make-up (eye-shadow, mascara, and lipstick) for the first time in probably 20 years!

List items #13 and #14: Music

I completed item #13 on my 40-new-things list a couple of weeks ago. This may have been the hardest one for me on the list - Karaoke singing! But thanks to my wonderful and supportive friends, I DID IT! :) It took a lot of liquor, but I did step behind that microphone and sang "I want you to want me" by Cheap Trick.



It was so much fun! And thanks to my awesome friends Ken, Matt, Gilbert, Jennifer, and Dylan who came out and rocked with me! That was the best part!

And now I completed item #14: Create a CD with my 40 favorite songs of 2010. Well, it's been a great music year for me. I got to see Foals at Neumos, Motopony at the High Dive, and The Black Angels at the Showbox! And I have been listening to KEXP a lot, findings loads of great new music! I wasn't able to limit it to 40 favorite songs. Here is my 2010 playlist:

Volume 1: Electronica and Dance Mix

1. Eggplant by Gui Boratto
2. Tuff Enuff by Shit Robot 
3. Eisenfunk Quattro Gti by Eisenfunk
4. Not In Love (Radio Version) [feat. Robert Smith] by Crystal Castles 
5. Electric Feel by MGMT 
6. Sun by Caribou
7. No Turning Back by Gui Boratto
8. Angel Echoes by Four Tet
9. Pong by Eisenfunk
10. Born Free by M.I.A.
11. P.I.G.S. by Holy Fuck
12. Snow by The Chemical Brothers
13. Kids by MGMT
14. Odessa by Caribou
15. Swoon by The Chemical Brothers

Volume 2: The Rest

1. That's Not My Name by The Ting Tings
2. Get Up by Jonquil
3. Basic Space by The XX
4. Losing My Patience by Shit Robot
5. The Ghost Inside by Broken Bells
6. We No Speak Americano by Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup
7. Get Some by Lykke Li
8. When I'm With You by Best Coast
9. Undertow by Warpaint
10. Spanish Sahara by Foals
11. Helicopter by Deerhunter
12. Lover Of Mine by Beach House
13. VCR by The XX
14. Run the Heart by Sleigh Bells
15. Red Socks Pugie by Foals
16. Phosphene Dream by The Black Angels
17. Seer by Motopony
18. Sugar Man by Rodriguez
19. Rope & Summit by Junip
20. He Would Have Laughed by Deerhunter
21. Blue Blood by Foals
22. 10 Mile Stereo by Beach House
23. Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet Foxes
24. Always by Junip
25. Desire Lines by Deerhunter
26. Telephone by The Black Angels
27. I want you to want me by Cheap Trick
28. Great DJ by The Ting Tings
29. Infinity Guitars by Sleigh Bells

So I have a little over 6 months left before my 41st birthday. I better get cracking with my list! Anyone know where I can milk a goat or cow?

Progress on 40 new things

UPDATED 11-7-2010!

Ok, it's time to log my progress on the 40 new things I committed to doing for my 40th birthday. Here you go:

1. Wear a party hat while climbing - changed to feather boa and tiara - DONE! (Thanks Anne!)

2. Attend a work meeting wearing a feather boa and tiara - DONE!

3. Ride a paddle boat at Greenlake - DONE! (Thanks, John!)

4. Send a message in a bottle - DONE! (Thanks Rod and Lee!)

5. Fix a major home appliance with my own hands and tools - DONE! (Fixed my clothes dryer!)

6. Go for a trail run - DONE! (at Cougar Mountain, no pictures)
7. Drive barefoot - DONE! (no pictures - that would have been too dangerous!)
8. Roast coffee - DONE! Thanks Velton at Velton's Coffee Roasters (www.veltonscoffee.com)
   

9. Go skateboarding - DONE! (at Magnuson Park) Thank you, Brian!
10. Get a pedicure. DONE! (at Hoa Salon) Thank you Lisa!
11. Go salsa dancing - DONE! (at Century Ballroom) Thank you Anne, Rod, Loni, Ric, Mabel, and all of the dancers at the Century Ballroom!
12. Win a Halloween costume contest - DONE! (at Vertical World Seattle) Best Group Costume! Thank you Justin, Anne, Monique, and Jayashree!
    
    
13. Skip around the office.
14. Milk a cow or goat.
15. Have drinks on top of the Space Needle.
16. Get a tattoo.
17. Watch the sunset at Alki Beach with friends and beer.
18. Plant a tree.
19. Have a food fight.
20. Try a new ice cream flavor.
21. Pickle something.
22. Sell something on craigslist.
23. Go to a horse race.
24. Shoot a gun.
25. Learn how to tie a Monkey's Fist.
26. Go to Olympus Spa (http://olympusspa.net/).
27. Create a new drink and drink it.
28. Sing Karaoke.
29. Go surfing.
30. Go clamming.
31. Create a CD with my top 40 songs.
32. Ride my bike for 40 miles.
33. Eat a meal in total darkness.
34. Play Whirly Ball.
35. ?
36. ?
37. ?
38. ?
39. ?
40. ?

Genie in a bottle? / Flaschengeist?

I think I just found a genie in a bottle in my backyard!
Ich glaube, ich habe einen Flaschengeist in meinem Garten gefunden!

Actually, it was a message in a bottle! But unfortunately, the paper was completely disintegrated so that I couldn't read the message. :(
Es war eine Flaschenpost! Aber leider war das Papier ganz aufgelöst, so dass ich die Nachricht nicht lesen konnte. :( 

The scarf is done! / Der Schal ist fertig!

Finally, I finished my first knitted lace scarf. I love it!
Endlich ist der gestrickte Schal fertig! Mein erster Versuch an der Spitzenstrickerei.

Pattern/Muster: Chrysler Crown Shawl by Natalie Servant.

40 new things to celebrate 40 years!

So it turns out that I have been on this earth for 40 years come July 8. Wow!

And to mark the occasion, I will do 40 new things that day. But I need everyone's help to come up with a list, because 40 is a lot! Post your suggestions as a comment to this blog. The only rule is that it has to be something I can do in a short period of time that day (so I can get 40 things in), it has to be FUN for me (don't make me eat slugs!), something I have not done before (or not in a looooong time, say 20 years?), which you may not know, but take a guess!

Ok, I'll get your started with the list:

1. Go salsa dancing.
2. Skip around the office.
3. Wear a party hat while climbing.
4. 
   

Ok, your turn! :)

Here is an update on the list generated so far in no particular order (as of 11 am on June 30):

1. Go salsa dancing.
2. Skip around the office.
3. Wear a party hat while climbing.
4. Milk a cow or goat.
5. Ride a paddle boat at Greenlake. 
6. Have drinks on top of the Space Needle.
7. Send a message in a bottle.
8. Get a tattoo.
9. Watch the sunset at Alki Beach with friends and beer.
10. Plant a tree.
11. Have a food fight
12. Try a new ice cream flavor.
13. Go skateboarding.
14. Roast coffee.
15. Pickle something.
16. Wear high heels to work.
17. Sell something on craigslist.
18. Go to a horse race.
19. Shoot a gun.
20. Learn how to tie a Monkey's Fist.
21. Go to Olympus Spa (http://olympusspa.net/).
22. Get a pedicure.
23. Create a new drink and drink it.
24. Sing Karaoke.
25. Go surfing.
26. Go clamming.
27. Create a CD with my top 40 songs.
28. Ride my bike for 40 miles.
29. Eat a meal in total darkness.
30. Play Whirly Ball.

I don't think I will be able to do this all in a day, so let's expand it to a long weekend! :)

And things you've suggested but are not showing up on this list, I have either already done or will not do!