The Big Shop a.k.a. The Pickle Incident a.k.a. The Great Pickle Massacre of '06

A week or two ago, around the same time I moved into the new apartment, I found a discarded bike in the bushes, left for dead. I like bikes and decided to rescue this one (our second rescue of the year). I cleaned it up, ripped off some destroyed parts and got it back to working condition again. I only have the use of one gear (not bad work for only having a Swiss Army Knife to do the repairs with) but it rides very nicely. I ride my bike everywhere and decided yesterday (Tuesday, November 7th) to take it to the local gorcery store, which we have lovingly dubbed "The Hasselhoff" because it's easier to say that then the actual name of the store.

I am wearing my old Gap khakis, my favourite khakis, that have already been ripped up in another bike incident back home (when I purchased my Devinci Chili Pepper at the Toronto Bike Show I was so excited that I hopped on and rode down the stairs of the Exhibition and, in doing so, tore the bottom of the right leg of my pants). So I begin to pedal to the Hasselhoff and sure enough, I tear a large slit in my pants. Ah well, I keep going because I am excited to shop. I have decided to make this the big shop, the "just-moved-into-a-new-apartment" big shop. I am armed with an empty backpack and a large plastic shopping bag. My bike also has a trap on the back for carrying things, people, etc. I load up a shopping cart with 61 Euros worth of food (the running record is 68 Euros). Needless to say, this was a large purchase.

I head out to my bike and stand there for a bit, looking from my bags to my bike to the loaded cart. People are beginning to look at me strangely. So I stuff my bags full of groceries and load up the trap on the back of the bike with a case of canned tomatoes, 2 cans of peaches and an oddly large jar of pickles filled with oddly large pickles. I put my backpack on and dangle the plastic shopping bag from the handlebars (which, incidentally, has a carton of eggs placed precariously on top). Now I am REALLY getting strange looks from people. I begin my trek home, which is maybe a kilometre. I cringe with every bump along the way but make it safely to my street where I somehow ended up on the sidewalk. I have to get off the sidewalk now and the only way to do that is off the curb. I collect some courage, roll off the curb and SMASH! I can already smell the pickle juice marinating the asphalt. Then the cans of tomatoes start to fall - THUD (roll), THUD (roll), THUD (roll). My cans of tomatoes are rolling around in the pickle carnage of juice and half pickles sliced apart by the glass. Awesome. I am now swearing about being so close to home. Two older German folks come out and try to talk to me. Obviously I have no idea what they are saying so I walk my groceries home and head back to the scene with a plastic bag to clean up the mess. The two Germans have already done it for me. I thank them a few times and we manage to communicate that I live on the street and should be more careful next time. I make no promises, but now that the big shop is over, I think I'll manage in the future without killing any more pickles.

Volleyball Update - November 8, 2006

There have been two major changes in the volleyball world of myself and TV Buhl over the past few weeks. Firstly, after a four game win streak, we dropped two straight league matches. After we lost 3-0 to the German Junior National Team, we played Dumersheim. We had beat this team previsously in a German Cup match and should have beaten them again last weekend.

The match was played in our home gym and it was packed. It was standing room only. So with all these fans, we found ourselves down 2-0. We fought back and won the 3rd, but eventually lost 3-1. Our motivation seems to have been lost. We're not clicking anywhere...passing, serving, hitting...nothing. Practices are neither intense nor focused. Other teams seem to have done their homework in preparation against us but we don't do homework.

This brings me to the next major change. We had a team meeting this past Monday with everybody in the club but our coach. We had a large discussion and the president informed us that starting Wednesday (today), we will have a new coach. Our old coach has been let go because management has a different idea of how a coach needs to perform at this level of volleyball. Our president already informed us who the new coach will be...Diego Ronconi from Wiesbaden. If you remember, they were the first German team I trained with before being sent to TV Buhl. One of Wiesbaden's sponsors backed out and now the club is unable to pay Diego. Therefore, he now joins us for the season as of today. In the two days I trained with him and Wiesbaden, I garnered much respect for him as a coach and a person. The team is very excited about the change and ready to start training hard and bring intensity back to practices. Luckily, the top teams in the league have lost as of late so we are still in the hunt. Everybody agrees that this team has the talent to make it to 1st Division for next year and with our new coach, I think it will happen.

Mercedes Benz Museum

This past Wednseday (a German holiday), we were invited to travel to Stuttgart with one of our local Buehl players (Philipp Lorenz) and his family. Since they had the day off, they wanted to check out the Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart. Myself, Rob and Matt accepted and somehow were awake and ready to go for our early start.

When we got to the sweet VW full size van-bus, Mrs. Lorenz opened the back and our eyes were treated to a glorius sight...food. She had packed croissants, pain-au-chocolats, cookies, fruit, sandwiches water, pop, beer, and fresh apple cider. So, we had breakfast number 2 and were on our way.

We arrived in Stuttgart and had a picnic lunch out of the back of the van, with Rob and Matt deciding that a Habache grill would be necessary next time. After we ate, waited in line with a narty morth wind blowing at us, we were in (and the Lorenz's insisted on paying for all of us). We took the next few hours to explore the 4 story museum. It was pretty cool. The museum even included some German history along the way. Basically, the building looked like a set from a futuristic movie. An elevator takes you to the top floor and you work your way through the museum by spiralling down. Very cool. After the museum we ate more, then headed back to Buehl for practice.

Thanks again to the Lorenz's...the nicest family around!

Matty, Rob, Mrs. lorenz, Philipp and Mr. Lorenz tailgating

The museum...apparently there are no 2 pieces of glass alike in the entire building.

The lobby of the museum...that slug-like thing climbing the wall is an elevator.

Tour history at the Mercedes museum? Cool.

Not sure why, but sometimes Blogger does this to photos...maybe it's me? Nah, couldn't be! It's a bike from one of the first Tours.

Old cars as we spiral down the museum walkway.

Old school 300 SL with gullwing doors. It's alright, I guess...

Now THAT is a snowblower.

"Museums make me tired...sweet, a pillow! I'm out," said Matt.

I might take one home in May...we'll see what my Christmas bonus looks like.

The latest from Benz

Friedrichshafen and Greek Party...OPA!

Last weekend (Oct. 28th) we travelled to Friedrichshafen to play the Volley Young Stars (German Junior National Team). They are the 2nd team of Friedrichshafen (the best team in Germany who also compete in the Champions League) and share the gym with them. They are basically the best under 19 year old players in Germany.

Volley Stadium (Friedrichshafen warming up pre-game)

More Volley Stadium

We played in a volley stadium. It was awesome. Like nothing I've played in before. After our 3 hour car ride we warmed up and got down to business. We were up right away and I felt fairly confident we would win the match even though our no. 1 left side was not playing due to illness. We lost the first set 25-23. No problem. Second set rolls around and we're losing. Our setter is now out because of a wrist injury. We lose the 2nd. Still no problem. This team is young, if we win #3 we have a good chance at the match. Nein. We lost 3-0, last set being 28-26. They served very well and took our middles out of the game. Despite the loss, I was encouraged in terms of my personal play. After being out of the game for nearly 4 years, it has been slow-going getting back into form. I played my best game so far (no stats yet) so hopefully I can keep that up and help the team when we are all healthy and get some wins.

Not a loss we were counting on but we must move on...today we play the team closest to us (proximity-wise) and the match is called the Local Derby. We have beat this team before and our home gym will be packed and loud. Should be fun.

After that loss, we headed back to Buhl and then our president took the four North Americans to a "Greek Party." He bought us food, ouzo and wine and we danced and had a great time. Much like Lancer times...win or lose, hit the booze.

Dancing at the Greek Party (Tino my flatmate, Rob our libero, Girogis our club president - he's Greek and proud!)

Greek Party musts: giant Greek flag and a band

Greek party after-effects. Rob won the award that night, sorry Matty...you're OUT!