It's father's day...

Reflections

I've been trying to connect with my German heritage much more. Usually, immigrating to another country forces you to focus on the new language and culture. But, having been in Germany quite a few times last year, I started to miss the language and culture. I wish I could live in Europe for a while, connecting with the culture, living a more European lifestyle.

This is not to say I'm not happy with my life in the US. But it feels as if some part of me doesn't get the American lifestyle, doesn't get the whole culture and sometimes I'm just shaking my head, thinking: 'WTF'.

Since a move back is not in the cards, I started to connect with German culture again, read more German online publications, speak more German and listen to more German music.
One of my favorites has been and still is Herbert Groenemeyer (You might recognize him from 'Das Boot') He doesn't have much of a voice and not the biggest charisma. But he gives you an insight into the German soul.

The song below was written in 2002, 4 years after the death of his wife, Anna Henkel. The lyrics tell the story.



THE WAY

I can no longer see
Don't believe my eyes
any more
Can hardly believe
Feelings all turned around

I'm much too lazy
To give up
Besides it would be too soon
Because there's always a way

We were bound together
Would have died for
each other
Bent the rain into a bow1
Lent each other our trust

We tried to
Turn while
schussing
Nothing was too late
But much was too soon

We have shoved each other
Through all the tides
We got sidetracked together
Loved desperately

We denied the truth
The best we could
It was a piece
of heaven
That you exist

Every room you
Flooded with sun
Every frustration
You turned around

Nordic noble
Your gentle goodness
Your untamed pride
Life isn't fair

Danced the movie
In a silver room
From a golden balcony
We stood in awe of eternity

Helplessly sunken, drunken
And everything was allowed
Together in time-lapse
Midsummer-Night's Dream

Every room you
Flooded with sun
Every frustration
You turned around

Nordic noble
Your gentle goodness
Your untamed pride
Life isn't fair

Your confident stride
Your true poetry
Your serene dignity
Your unshakeable
grace

Your destiny
You defied
You never betrayed
Your plan for happiness
Your plan for happiness

I'm not leaving here
I've extended my stay
New time travel
Open world

I have you safe
Inside my soul
I'll carry you with me
Until the curtain falls

I'll carry you with me
Until the curtain falls

Perspectives

When we went to Coachella, my little devil was taught by our friend Daniel how to use my iPhone as a camera. And, off she went. I love these images because of the totally different perspective she brings to taking pictures. She doesn't care about main objects being in the middle, doesn't focus on the obvious. And, more often than not, her foot is part of the composition.

I love this image. It's the background on my phone.

Horizon

We were two detectives,
hats low over our faces
all streets endless
there were no barriers for us at all
You and I, that was
simply unbeatable
a couple like lightning and thunder
and always on a burning hot trail.

We were such true friends
for eternity, it was obvious after all.
We didn't see the clouds
on the horizon until it was dark,
and then it happened,
I didn't get it.
It all went too fast,
but two people like us
can't ever lose each other!

Beyond the horizon things go on,
a new day
beyond the horizon on and on,
Together we're strong,
things with us went so deep,
that can never come to an end.
Something so great just doesn't pass by.

You and I, that was
simply unbeatable
a couple like lightning and thunder
but two people like us
can't ever lose each other!

Beyond the horizon things go on,
a new day
beyond the horizon on and on,
together we're strong.
Things with us went so deep,
that can never come to an end.
Because two people like us
can't ever lose each other!

Beyond the horizon on and on...

25 random things about me

Well, I can't stand memes, I can't stand people asking me to do memes but I'll do it this one time because my wife tagged me and I'd be happy to make an exception for her.

Okay, so here are 25 random things about me:

1). I'm a re-trained left hander: I do everything with my left side (Kick balls, open doors, drink, etc.) except for writing. My mother thought it was a good idea to train me to write with my right hand. And, yes, I can't draw because of that.
2) My first pet was called: Chirpy-Chirpy-Cheep-Cheep. He died a few days later.
3) When I go to Starbucks or Coffee&Bean, my name is Bob. Who can pronounce Uwe?
4) I'm a Gemini. I like to do 10 things at once.
5) I wrote 3 screen plays. One was made into a TV movie in Germany. Nobody important to me has ever seen it.
6) Providence is my favorite restaurant in the world. Gary Danko is a close second. I'd do almost anything to have a good tasting/wine pairing evening there.
7) We still sit on the same couch in our living room that I purchased for a few dimes 13 years ago. I feel like a student.
8) I get up each day at 4.30 am. And stop working around 9pm. I'm crazy.
9) I can't sleep unless I'm listening to talk radio in my headphones. Call me weird.
10) Even though I didn't have contact with my father for more than 10 years, I miss him a lot. There's a huge difference between not communicating and being dead. I have no ways of connecting with him ever again. And that's a heart breaker.
11) My dog has allergies, stinks and is annoying. But I love her to death.
12) I love my daughter so much, it hurts.
13) I used to play games for hours. Flight Simulator, Civilization, Donkey Kong - whatever. I can't even remember the last time I played a game.
14) I think gapingvoid.com is one of the most unique voices out there. You should consume everything he produces. I also love that he lives in Alpine, TX.
15) The worst thing that ever happened to my life was the commute. It drains all the life out of me to drive to work and back each day for more than 2 hours. What a waste of energy. And life.
16) I love, adore and respect my wife. I hope she feels the same way.
17) I never thought I would become a marketer. I always believed I would fly planes or heal people. To make up for my sins as an advertiser, I'm focusing on Social Marketing.
18) The first time I visited Los Angeles I couldn't believe anybody wanted to live here. Now I've been here for 13 years
19) My favorite drinks (in that order): Nonfat Latte, Dirty Martini Ketel 1, Syrah.
20) Losing weight was easy. Staying below 160lbs is a daily battle. I'm winning.
21) I miss a few European things: Walking, interacting, city layouts. I don't miss the European mentality of thinking that the future will be worse and we all should just shut up and endure. I always loved how Americans grabbed the bull by the horn. Or the bear, to stay in the current economic scenario.
22) Basically, I stopped watching TV. Yes, a bit of Weeds, Lost, Survivor and Mad Men. But TV has lost its draw. Everything is digital.
23. I still feel an emotional connection to music. But it's being drowned out by constant flow of information.
24. Cleaning my teeth at night takes at least 10 minutes.
25. I feel misunderstood.

The most astonishing piece of creative