Christmas 2009 in Germany - Part 1

We are going to try being better about uploading photos to the family page here.

Here are some of the pictures from Sabine and my trip to Germany for Christmas.

We flew into Frankfurt and stayed with Sabine's Uncle Carl for a few days.


This is a picture of me in front of the Goethe House in Frankfurt. I posted this to the Facebook page of the Chicago Goethe Institute where I'm taking my German classes.


This is the Christmas Market in Frankfurt.


Sabine with her mom, Traudl, her Uncle Carl, and Carl's wife, Rosuita.


Sabine and I on the observation deck of a big shopping store in Frankfurt.


After driving back to Sabine's parents' house we had an afternoon coffee gathering with some of her family. There were delicious desserts to be had.


We did a little touring around Nurenburg while we were there.


On a tour of underground tunnels where wine and beer was stored, Sabine tried making off with a barrel. ;)


We got to see the Nurenburg Christmas Market, too.


A few days before Christmas we picked up a Christmas tree to decorate.


One of Sabine's presents to her dad was a Chicago Bears cap.


Sabine modeling some of her Christmas presents by the decorated tree.

I'll post more Christmas in Germany photos and then some New Year's in Switzerland photos soon.

Miscellaneous Other Birthday Pics

Here are a few more various birthday-related photos...


Me with my Nurnberg Soccer team gear Sabine's mom and dad sent me.
1. FC Nuremberg


Me and Scott, who flew in from Colorado for the weekend.


A week or two later, Bill and Marion Baker took Sabine and me out for a birthday dinner at Zak's Place in Hinsdale.


Me and Marion with my birthday dessert.


Sabine and Bill.


The four of us.

And finally...while Scott was in town we drove to Highlands for Scott to visit with his mom and dad. They live on Laurel Ave., so while we were there...


...I took a picture of the old Laurel Ave. house.
:)

Leighton's Surprise 40th Birthday Party

I meant to post these birthday party pics here a while ago for all those people not on Facebook. Sabine did a wonderful job planning a surprise birthday party for me. I didn't have the faintest idea about it. When Scott showed up at my doorstep, I then thought that was the big surprise. I'm limiting the posted pics to family. I didn't think I needed to post Berwyn friends here. Thanks again, Bine. It was fantastic.


Here's me and Scott when we arrived at Bodhi Thai and I realized the restaurant was filled with friends and family.


Me giving Jackson a big hug. I was really excited about the party.


The super-chocolatey X-Box birthday cake my friend Maggie made for me.


Lou, Angela, Jackson, and Audrey enjoying some Thai food.


Me with my cousins Geoff and Andrew


Mom, Dad, Uncle Stan, Aunt Dawn, Aunt Maggie, and Uncle Mike.


Me, Ruben, Laura, and Whiteny


Jackson and Audrey coloring with our friend Anne's daughter.


Me with Lou, Angela, Jackson, and Audrey before they left for home. Audrey looks sleepy.


Me and Sabine


Me with Aunt Maggie and Uncle Mike.


Me with Uncle Stan and Aunt Dawn.


Me with Ruben and Laura.


Me with Whitney.


Me with Mom and Dad.


Me and Laura.


Pop playing cane guitar?


Sabine with Mom and Dad.

p.s. I did make prints of these pictures and will be sending them to everybody with thank you cards. :)

Tiki Fun

A week ago, our friend Maggie threw her annual Tiki Party at her house in Berwyn. We helped her build a "beach" next to the garage where everyone who came had their picture taken. It was a blast. She even hired a local band, the Windy City Islanders, to play.



My dashboard Homer got to come, too. He watched over the food table.


"Mmmmmmmm. Potato chips."

2007 Crosman Memorial Award

I'm sorry that the last few posts have just been about me. It's just been a good couple of weeks, I guess. In case you haven't heard, I was awarded the Crosman Memorial Award from the Illinois Library Association, which is "presented in recognition of outstanding library professionals at any type of library, who have been in the field 10 years or less." The Library sent out a press statement, and I was interviewed by the Berwyn Life. The article was in the paper this weekend, so I picked up a couple of copies. I also scanned it. The post title or the image take you to a PDF of the article.

I also just noticed that the paper has all of the photos taken by the staff photographer available online.

One final edit. I actually got the award today (10/30). Someone from the ILA came by the library and presented it to me. :)

Great American Beer Festival

Thursday Scott and I went to the Great American Beer Festival. It was a lot of fun. There were over 400 breweries offering 1,884 different beers to try. You got a little plastic glass to sample as many beers as you want (or can). Many people came wearing strings of pretzels around their necks to nibble on during the festival. The festival is still going on, but Scott and I only went the one day. We're already talking about possibly going again next year.


Scott and I enjoying the VIP room of Draft Magazine (we also won Draft hats).


Me, with the festival stretching out behind me.


Scott showing off his sample glass.


No explanation needed.

More festival pictures are available at the festival website here.

Pike's Peak

Today, Scott and I drove to Colorado Springs and took the Cog Railway train up to the top of Pike's Peak. The peak is 14,110 feet up and, let me tell you, I could feel it. I was totally dizzy and light-headed. And the temperature at the top was about 30 degrees colder than at the bottom. It was wacky. Here are a few pictures (I'm not using Photoshop to resize so hopefully they will look ok)...


Me in front of the altitude sign proving how high up I was.


Scott and I with our train in the background.


One more of me on the peak (and, yes, that is my Shell Family jacket from the Alaska cruise)


One of the old cog trains.

Tomorrow we're going to the Great American Beer Festival so I'll try to post some pictures from that Friday morning.

Happy Birthday Me

Sorry that it will be a while until we have my birthday dinner. I have my gala and Houby Fest this weekend, and next weekend I'll be in Denver visiting Scott. I'm flying back Sunday and should be home around 4:30 or so, but I may be too pooped. We'll see. In the meantime, I had a nice cake at work on Monday (and I don't mean the hat).