Opinionated

Bring old Socks to Life!

2012-01-18T21:44:00.001-06:00

Babara - the genius - grabbed one of my old pair of socks and transformed it into this cute little doggie coat for puppy Moose.

What you do: you cut the foot part off above the ankle, measure the length of the neck and distance of front legs and cut little holes. Done :)

Fighting Fair

2010-04-16T11:54:00.001-05:00

A friend at work showed me following article from the Aviation Medical Bulletin. I find the points about communication within a relationship or even marriage very valuable and therefore would like to share them with you:

1. Realize that you can't change your partner into your ideal person. Accept your differences and even appreciate them.
2. Remember that compromise is essential to marriage.
3. Try to separate your thoughts from your feelings.
4. Don't expect your partner to read your mind.
5. Cool down before you address your partner. Things said in the heat of anger are often things you would give anything to take back.
6. If you are really upset, try writing back and forth to each other.
7. Bring up an issue at an appropriate time and place.
8. Don’t use your children or friends to get back at or communicate with your spouse.
9. Don't use intimacy (or the lack of it) to manipulate your partner.
10. Don't hit your partner's weak spots. If you do, you will have lost his/her confidence.
11. Don't withdraw by saying you don't want to discuss it.

I would like to dedicate this to my dear friends Dominque and Liam who will be tying their knot in May. I am so proud of you :)!

Heavy Bird

2009-11-05T11:46:00.008-06:00

Check out this fully loaded Russian Ilyushin IL76 cargo plane. With only 4 engines it can transport 50 tons of cargo!

The IL-76 is a stage 2 aircraft and is therefore not allowed to fly to and from countries within the European Union. This aircraft is also not allowed to fly into the USA.

The only exception to this is exemptions granted on the basis of the flight being for a military or humanitarian purpose.

See for yourself how physics barely lets you believe that this plane can fly - from a runway just long enough for it to take off. Enjoy the comments of the Australian air traffic controllers talking about the "The Vodka Burner".

Watch free TV epsisodes from overseas

2009-03-19T00:49:00.004-05:00

Do you like watching ABC's free episodes? Would you like to follow up on your favorite FOX show but are abroad?

After trying several solutions to hide my IP - by setting an US or anonymous proxy - and nothing worked I finally found following solution: http://www.usaip.eu

It is not free but it works and is totally worth it. Now I can launch the episode player from anywhere in the world again and stay connected to USA TV programms while I am overseas.

Food For Thinking

2009-01-14T18:30:00.005-06:00

"Owners of capital will stimulate the working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and the State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to communism"

Karl Marx, Das Kapital, 1867

Dallas in White

2008-12-16T15:54:00.003-06:00

Unique & rare capture of Dallas in White this morning.

Enjoy!

Baby Booties and scarf

2008-12-11T09:34:00.000-06:00

Yet another set: Baby booties and a matching scarf for princess Olivia. Friends I have to say, delivering a baby beginning of the winter season is a very smart thing to do. At least for all the knitters that is a great timing. There is nothing better than sitting in front of the chimney, knitting baby shoes.
As you can see I am becoming creative and I am trying different knitting patterns. Yes, they looked "chinese" to me at first as well. Yes, yes... soon I will be taking orders.

After a converse inspired bootie, I am working on the first UGS inspired baby shoe. Stay tuned, images to follow soon!

Dallas Skies

2008-10-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

Last nights view of sunset over south tip of White Rock Lake

Dallas has the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. From the colors yellow to orange and pink into purple and dark blue into black, there is any shade available. It is amazing! This shot I took last night while driving to an art show.

The most beautiful art is what nature shows us in so many moments every day. I will try to capture more of these moments in my art on canvas from now on!

Baby shoes

2008-10-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

Who would have thought I would be able to knit baby shoes? Nobody... Exactly that is what I was thinking as well. But guess what - taaaddaaaahhhh - here is the first pair. Gosh, am I proud of myself.

Why this immediate interest in baby shoes you might ask yourself? My dear friend Claudia is giving birth today to her baby-girl OLIVIA and in honor to that I felt I had to come up with a unique gift. And thanks to the help of my German friend Christiane I made it.

For all the ones that got excited now and want to copy-cat (he he he... litterally), I will try to write down the instructions... check back soon!

Schwyzerdütsch

2008-06-22T19:00:00.004-05:00

Ever wondered how "Schwyzerdütsch" sounds or how well you know that unique Helvetian language?
Well here is your chance: check out what score you can reach - disapointingly I only got 13 right :( .

Schwyzerdütsch Quiz

Enjoy!

YES WE CAN

2008-02-04T09:35:00.000-06:00

Father & Son

2008-02-03T11:32:00.001-06:00

Beautiful... no further comment needed!

Pinta

2007-12-20T15:34:00.000-06:00

Is she not a beauty?...

For once I'd wish to be a man

2007-12-19T09:43:00.000-06:00

What more can I say than that is the most amazing pair of shoes I have ever seen: gorgeous, stylish… simply breath taking!For the ones that did not know – yes I have a shoe fetish! I am THE goddess of shoes :) . One name to remember in the future in my opinion therefore is: Mark Nason, the man behind this masterpiece.

Oh and BTW: women, we are not totally left out. Check out his series Sirene. I just say: “Splash, I need to get me a pair asap!”

What is Love?

2007-12-04T16:27:00.000-06:00

Once again I have to ask myself the question what is love? It seems so much easier to explain by what it is NOT. It is not: possession, selfishness, control, shareable, forcible or foreseeable.

Love is something so clear to me. Yet, if I am asked to describe it or put it in words I am struggling.

There is one sculpture I came across about 10 years ago and it visualizes everything I think and feel about love. I am honored to say that this famous sculpture is part of the collection by Raymond and Nancy Nasher at the Nasher Sculpture center in Dallas where I photographed it in 2005.

I will continue trying to collect my thoughts about what love is in words. Meanwhile I hope you enjoy this photograph as much as I do.

The Kiss by Constantin Brancusi (1907-1908)

for Tre

Angels exist!

2007-09-09T12:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, angels still exist: mine is called GREGG!
After dropping the tub into the frame I realized my construction was not stable enough. Gregg, a former head carpenter, who I was supposed to meet 5 years ago stopped by in Dallas to visit his brother (my good friend Chris). He instantly helped me. Not only did he give me clear directions on what to change but hands on helped me put the braces in the right place and level the tub so it could be filled with water.

On Tuesday morning 00:20 AM August 27 the glorious moment has arrived: for the first time we can step into the (yet) cold tub - HURRA!
The atmosphere was already created: Tiki Torch, palm tree, banana tree and a cold beer... could it be any better?

Not only the the two-legged, also the four-legged are happy ;).

The day after was an even more amazing night: we sat for 3 hours in the tub. In the middle of the night under full moon - its totally amazing! All of a sudden you do not even mind cold water anymore ;)!

Two weeks have past. In the mean time Gregg built steps and finishes up the siding plus I had a new motor installed. Now my tub is finally HOT. It is so great!

But as fast as angels can come they can leave - my angel is ready to depart. I will miss him and I wish I could hold onto him. Though the thought that his spirit will continue to surround me comforts me.

My dear angel: spread your wings and fly!
Thank you for EVERYTHING!

Hot Tub

2007-07-29T13:56:00.001-05:00

It started about 8 weeks ago when I saw an ad on Craigslist for a hot tub. I could not resist, I had to buy it. With a friends truck and the biggest trailer from U-Haul I drove out to Fort Worth. I should have realized there that the idea of installing a hot tub by myself is not an easy task!
After a short stop at the US Wakeboardtour Stop I headed home and got this huge piece with the help of neighbors in my yard, where it has been sitting since... until I found 1. the courrage and 2. the plan how to create the frame.

Finally the frame is up, with the help of all my neighbors I dropped the tub into it and next week it will be installed by a spa professional. So count the hours to "champagne & bubbles" :).

Thank you to everybody that helped!
Steffi, Mike, Antonio, Eric, Michael, Daniel, Steve & Co., Luke, Richie