German Girl

My day was super-empty.... It was that happy, contented kind of empty though, where you stop and appreciate the constantly changing weather (ooohhh... there was some delicious rain today. I looooooove rainy, cold weather--I just imagine curling up with a book and a mug of tea) and just laze around. It was also the kind of empty that doesn't make you want to get anything done. Case in point, I did not even *look* at my syllabus today (but it will be done by this weekend! Promise.) Further, at 8PM when it was beginning to get dark, I realized that the run I had been putting off alllll day would happen now or never.

I dashed upstairs and found the family hanging out in the kitchen. When Lars saw I was going running, he offered to help me negotiate the rapidly approaching darkness.

First #1: I ran in a headlamp. I don't know if I liked it... and I sure felt toolish (and I know I looked toolish because Henrik snickered at me when I tried it on) but it was a neat experience running through the forrest in the dark. I felt faster--and stealther (is that a word?). It was also interesting to react to all the little noises that would never have fazed me during the day. AHHH! It's a Heather-eating squirrel....

First #2: I wrote my first note in German today... and to a boy!! Of course, the boy in question was Henrik. I like to write him Harry Potter style notes, delivered by Owl Post to his placemat at the kitchen table. I have only written to him in English before, and relied on his parents to translate. Well, I am feeling good about my pidgin German (and wanting to flex my language muscles before my German class begins on Tuesday), so here--preserved for posterity--is my first German note!! (***Remember, I have had no formal German lessons. Most of this I pieced together using my dictionary and my all-German textbook!*** Suffice it to say, I know this note looks 'special ed' so no insults. :-P)

Liebe ,,Harry" Baumann--
Hallo! Guten Morgen. Wie geht's? Du bist en gutes kind. Ich bin glücklich weil ich mit dir liebe. Am Freitag, Omi, Opi, Ina, und ich gehen zu ein Party für ,,Harry Potter.'' Willst du mitkommen? Bist gut in schule heute. Bis später. --Deine Heather

Translated:
Dear ''Harry'' Baumann-- (Harry is Henrik's name in English class at school & notice that Germans make quotation marks different from us)
Hello. Good morning. How are you? You are a good kid. I am happy because I live with you. On Friday, Grandma, Grandpa, Ina and I go to a party for "Harry Potter." Will you come with us? Be good in school today. See you later. --Your Heather

I know. I know. It looks like a letter a first grader would write... but we all have to start somewhere, no?

The great thing about German is that I think I am finally going to 'learn me some grammer' ;-) My friends at the WRC would be thrilled... I recall one unnamed fellow Class of 05-er male consultant simultaneously complimenting & insulting my intelligence in regard to my grammar 'skills.' What would PBK say if they found out I don't know what a preposition is? (shh.... don't say anything.)