It's raining again....

Loved and still love that song from "Supertramp". Even its a song title the words are bothering me... Since two weeks we have that weather - now and then a day its not raining the whole day..... Boring!!!

This morning I was on my way to a photoshooting - just when I arrived I was told the photoshoot won't happen because of the weather - we should have taken some photos outside and it was raining cats and dogs. So back home and doing some blogging, some paperwork, then later I will stop by at a friend for a cup of coffee and in the evening we are having friends with us.  

Got a call this morning from a "colleague" who asked me to do a photoshooting for him as he is away that day. Nice that he is always thinking of me (regarding photography - lol). He has great connections and we worked together a few times. We will work together in June for a photoshooting in Duesseldorf - we were asked to make photos for an event of an insurance group and we've worked together for them last year here in Munich.

We were asked to come over to Duesseldorf (flight and hotel costs will be paid by the insurance group) as we are much cheaper (included all costs for overnight stay in a 4 star hotel and flight)  than the photographers in Duesseldorf.

Yesterday we went to the "Golf Ladies Open" - even it rained we could watch some women playing golf over screens. We sat inside and had coffee and tea and the poor ladies had to walk for hours outside in the rain. But thats golf - there is no bad weather - there is just bad clothing....

The weather yesterday was bad - nevertheless I did some photos. Always my cam around my neck (ohubby told me he would love to see me "normal"  - I am normal!!!!)

Some "impressions" from yesterday..

team up thursday - the first one...

Now that is a challange - joining the group of those fantastic photographers.... I am happy to found some more woman who are addicted to photography.

Now Marcelle and I "teamed up" and joined the fun. The rules are the following:

you have to chose a partner and then you discuss about weekly themes - every "couple" does it for its own - that means there is not MAIN THEME - every team has to chose its own theme for the week.Then when you've chosen a theme each of you sends a pic to your partner and you can do it like I did (two photos in one pic or you show it in any other way) and you post it to on your blog.
Now tell everyone why you have chosen that theme and tell something about your partners photo. It sounds very excited for me and I am happy to show you Marcelles and my first "project"

Now Marcelle and I have chosen the theme........ratatataaaaaaaa - SPORTS -and that is what came out:

 

I really love Marcelle's idea of the pic - you see you never know what you can do with photos you've taken and somethimes think: OMG - for whatever reason I have taken that one..... Not that I think Marcelle had that thought but when I sometimes go through my pics I think - why the heck did I take this one.... and exactly three days after I delete it I find an idea for what I could have used it.....
I think when you are addicted to photography you see the world with special eyes - I don't know if anyone would have taken a pic from balls in a net - THAT is something special. Not only the "beautiful and special" things need to be photographed- sometimes the "normal" and unimposting situations or combinations are the interesting ones. The more I concern myself with photograhy the more I see some things in different ways (its hard to explain - even more when its not your first language) but I think those who feel like me will understand me.

I don't know exactly why I have chosen the skiing boots and the cap - the last three days I was really angry about my lawyer - I need an italian lawyer as last year a snowboarder bumped into me and for me it ended up with two broken ribs and whiplash injury and concussion - thank god I wore a helmet otherwise I don't know if I would be able to write my blog here....he is very lazy and the day before yesterday I had to kick his a....and maybe I thought about skiing.... so its not a "situation" I photographed - its a "composion"... would love to know what you're thinking about our "project"

So I am really looking forward for next weeks team up thursday - I KNOW THE THEME  and have an idea but won't talk about until its next thursday...

....another rainy day....

...in New York City - at night those city lights they sure look pretty....

I held my candles to the wind and watched my dreams just sail away.....

I decided to take some songs which I love/loved as blog titles - this one comes from the Bay City Rollers - which I loved when I was a teen. I remember having pinned up photos and posters from Leslie (the lead singer in the last BCR-years) and the whole "gang". I so felt in love with Leslie. I had one poster of him (very close) over my bed and one day I decided I won't remove my clothes in front of him - he would see "everything" - hey honestly with 14 years there was not much on me that you could see - LOL.

Today its ugly outside again and I have to give myself a push to go out to the grocery as we have a day off tomorrow (is it called bank holiday or public holiday? - I think its public holiday). So as we had  "mothers day" years and years ago the "fathers" decided to have a "fathers day" too. It's not an "official" one but everyone knows about that.

I have no clue which photo I could show this morning - ahhh - some green.... puts me in a better mood:)

Marcelle and I decided to join the "team up thursday" group - later I will talk about that more. Marcelle sent me some links of photographers and they all are taking breathless photos - for example Berta and Megan. Will show the link of the others next time. Anyway, Marcelle and I decided to join the group and tomorrow we will show up our very first "project" - we were really excited and nervous about that but now that we've both chosen the photo to our theme we are quite happy with the result. More about the rules tomorrow.

Sun is shining in the sky there ain't no clouds in sight....

one of my favourite songs from Electric Light Orchestra - "Mr. Blue Sky" - that must have been in the late 70th....

Do you know that feeling when listening to a song from your younger years and you immediately get a "flash back" to this time? Sometimes I am so sentimental and emotional and I can remember what I did and remember all my thoughgs while listening to this song. So often I think that were such great times - no worries and sorrows - every problem was solved by my parents and everything was so easy (by looking back). At this time I thought everything was so complicated....Seems I am a little sobby today....

Excitement this morning as I called my "blogger friend" and I had to speak english again. Its funny by reading and writing most of the time I have no problem but starting to speak I think I am not allowed to make any mistake and that gives me pressure... So sometimes I think too much about the english grammar or whatever.

But talking to Marcelle doesn't give me any pressure as I know she exactly knows how I am feeling. And today I've learned again a little thing about the difference of an english word: sports.

For me sports was everything what depends to the german word "Sport" - skiing, golfing, jogging, soccer, netball, swimming, aerobic, basketball...... now I know theres a "sports" and a "fitness" in the english language....

I shouldn't hang around here - have to do some paper work and some emails - have to write an offer for a photobook and have to edit some photos.

Holy communion again....

Weeks ago I was asked to do some photos for a Munich church - for the first holy communion. And this was not a privat photoshooting - it was an offical shooting as they want to avoid all parents standing in front of their kids and do some photos. The kids wouldn't concentrate on their first communion so now in most of the churches here it isn't allowed anymore to do photos when there are some parochial ceremonies. (From the churchs view I can understand as then there is always a disturbance during these cereomnies - from a mothers or involved peoples view I think its hard not to take pics from your little one who is standing in front ot the pastor....

First thought yesterday was yipppeee - sun is shining and there will be a good light at church as the roof of the church has some windows so the sun can come right in front of the altar and the children. Bad luck - the sun was there and the children always blinked with their eyes. Then my camera went wild because with all those white dresses and the sun on it the camera was confused - too bright because of the white dresses - background too dark - aaahhhh - I really did sweat yesterday...and I am not soooo happy with the result - but I couldn't ask for doing the holy communion again on another day :)

This is the best shot so far - (haven't been through all my 400 pics) I love the sun on the girls hair in the back...

See what the sun did - dresses are nice white but you can't recognize anyting in the background....
More when I am done with checking all pics....

See how difficult it was - bright and dark...

...to brighten the day.....

...I need some colors. I cannot believt it is so cold again - this morning we had 5 degrees. Its raining since Monday so the positive thing is that the nature is exploding - we have a fresh green around the house which is beautiful. But nevertheless you see the leaves with big raindrops so it would look much nicer with sunshine.
Okay - not whining around about not having sunshine - I'll brighten your day with a colorful pic....
No - first pic is a special pic for a special person - you know who you are:)

Maybe I will write something more later - right now I am squeezing my brain because of a "project" I will do with a friend - more when I know more about that.

If I am not able to write down more today I wanna wish all my readers a nice weekend although the weather isn't as nice. Here in Germany sunday is "Muttertag" - mothers day - so a big heart (again)

Just searched for a special photo....

....which I didn't find yet - I think I have to overthink my name folders, my named pics and...... I think I have to re-organize my whole photo folders and system....

Nevertheless I stumbled over this pics I "created" years ago - no idea which editing program I used (maybe Ulead)

The culprit

What an commotion yesterday - phewwww!!!!!
Above you see neighbours cat - the culprit. Yesterday afternoon I went to the buyback centre to leave some cardboard boxes there. When I came back and got out of my car my neighbours daughter told me with excitement that our alarm advice went on... OMG - burglars in my home??? During the day? - yes - most of the break-ins are happening during the day. My neighbour came out and told me the same - alarm was ringing, next neighbour came out - told me alarm was ringing and I thought I have to take a look. I sneaked around the house and checked if any windows were broken - nothing - told myself not to be a coward as my neighbours were around me and then I told one of my neighbours: Ah Manuela, maybe on of your cat is caged in my house - She replied "No - both are sitting at home" - Okay I opened the door and yelled a loud "Hello - somebody in whose not allowed?" (Laughters in my back) and who came out really shocked and looking guilty? My neighbours cat!!!! OMG my neighbour went very red in her face as I told her: "Manuela - there must be a different cat sitting in your house - THIS IS YOURS....
In that second two police cars came around - omg - I started to grin and went to them - told them what happened and they suddenly began to grin too and we had to fill out a few papers and then I had to call the security to tell them that everything is okay and why the alarm went on.

What happened? When I took the cardboards out of the house one fell off - I put the others in my car and came back to snap the one who was left there (meanwhile I put the boxes in my car the cat must have sneaked into my house and then I closed the door and I kept her closed).

Now hub and I have discussed about the costs for the police and the security (will be around 150 Euro) and hub thinks it should be assumed by the neighbours or at least half/half..... I think its not possible for me to check every now and then if there is a cat in my house - they climb over the fences and are in our garden 3 times a day - normally no problem. But now?  What do you think?

you don't know what you got until you lose it.....

....and I can testify that's the truth
I had it all and didn't know how to use it
I was so stupid - it was right before my eyes..... (lyrics by Bryan Adams)

 

I am sad - I am really sad - yesterday we were told that our friends and neighbours are going to leave Munich to live in Essen for the next years! We know each others (Thomas, Manuela and their kids Johannes and Victoria) for more than 10 years and we live next to each others since 2004. When Tom told us that he had to change his job and has to work in another branch of the bank he is working for (same where hubby works) we (and his family) thought its just for a few month or a year. But after trying to come back to Munich he didn't get any good job offer (although he was told its easy to come back) here in Munich again and now they decided to move to Essen.
Think we had (and still have) a very close and special friendship - we gave space to each others and nevertheless we were very close sometimes.We spent a few holidays together and we know we can trust each other to 100 per cent!

When they were away we did the housesitting for them - and vice versa. I can't imagine to give my keys to anyone other to look for my home and garden (okay, if my parents would live here it won't be a problem).
So many nights we sat together in the garden - sometimes in ours - sometimes in theirs - we "opened the barbeque season" and we "finsihed the barbeque season" together - we shared happyness and sadness (okay thats what friendships are for but I will mention it nevertheless).

They will move in the middle of July this year and although I know that Essen is not that far I have a feeling that a stone is placed on my heart - I can't imagine not seeing them every now and then - and if its just for a "hello - how are you?"

I think its easy for children to make friends - they're playing together in the kindergarden or at school - for them its easy - the older you are the more difficult is it to trust to others (my opinion).
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Now to another point: I cannot imagine how fast a week can go by - A whole week has gone by and I have no clue where the time is gone.
Monday I prepared everything for my parents arrival  - was busy cleaning the house and changing beds and whatever had to be done
Tuesday I baked two cakes, went to the groceries and got what I needed - did a 8,5 kms run and then waited for my parents to arrive. They arrived at 01.00 pm and we had a little lunch, later on I picked up my mother in law and we had coffee and cake and later on we went to a venue where we listened to Urban Priol (a german comedion) which was great but honestly a little too long. He talked about this and that (in his special way - sometimes I really thought I cracked up) for more than 3,5 hours with a short break of 20 mins.
The last 30 minutes I found it hard to concentrate - it was a little too much but anyway - I l(ed)mao....... LOL
We came home at midnight and had a short glas of sparkling wine to celebrate my birthday  and then off to bed.
Wednesday I had a nice breakfast and opened all my pressies -I really couldn't trust my eyes and not just about getting pressies I think I have the best hubby in the world: Got a tomtom (which is great) - go a WII fit and sports (altought he told me weeks ago he would never buy something like that) I got some things for my garden which were on my "wish list", I got my book I sooo wanted for my new editing programm, I got a nice perfume, I got...... loads. Don't get me wrong  its not what I am looking for but this year I must have been a very good and lovely wife :) :) :)
Wednesday afternoon we had coffee with my parents and neighbours later on we had a barbeque with fish which I really really love and enjoy.
Thursday I went to a big supermarked (Metro) to get all things what I need for my birthday party on friday and saturday - have to do it in two evenings as I have no space for 25 people in my house.
Thursday evening my parents left and went home again - they had a good drive home with no traffic jam and were at home after a 3,5 hours drive.
Friday I prepared different salats and other things (antipasti, crackers etc) and we had a great party - ended at 04.30 saturday morning (noooo - I wasn't drunk at all ) and I woke up at 10 o clock saturday morning - went downstairs and cleaned all grlasses and everything - renewed and replaced everything and went back to bed as I was tired like hell.
Saturday afternoon after a 2,5 hours nap I got up again - did my hair and dressed myself and was ready for the next partygang to arrive - ended up at 02.00 o clock sunday morning and if I hadn't say I have to be at church at 08.00 in the morning for a communion photoshooting they wouldn't have left so early LOLOLOL....
Sunday I woke up because my alarm clock went wild (didn't hear something for more than a minute heheeee) and stared at the mirror in my bathroom - didn't recognized that face but I washed it :) - But after having two cups of coffee I began to feel like ME again. Went to church (raining) did some pics (raining) after church I did a two hours photoshooting (without rain) then invited by neighbours for lunch and coffee (their daughter Victoria had also her first holy communion) - did some pics there (raining) and went back to church at 06.00 pm - did some pics (no rain) and then back home.
Cleaned my kitchen and then jumped on my couch - recognized the beginning of a movie but fell asleep after the first 15 mins. Went to bed at 10 pm and slept all night until 06.30 am this morning.
WOW what a week - but I LOVED it!!!Thanks for reading .)

Very busy because of having my parents around the next days.....

Today I have "nothing to say" - I am very busy as my parents are coming around for 3 days and all I want is that everything is clean and nice when they arrive tomorrow at midday...
Am a little bit stressed because of gaining weight the last week and til now nothing happened - have to be patient I know but .....
Our weekend was nice - did some gardening and hub and I painted our garage - then I did my 10 km run - a new route which I really love and I cannot "shorten" it so I HAVE to run 10 kms to be at home again....
On saturday we were invited by our neighbours - was a funny evening and we went home at 02.00 am on sunday morning - woke up at 8 and prepared breakfast - still too cold to have it outside but in around midday it was very nice - sunshine, blue sky and SILENCE!!!
Hub and I both sat in the sun and read - I had my new book (about photoshop cs 4 ) from Scott Kelby and every now and then I had to laugh out loud - he writes in such a funny way. I love it.

Since my parents are here the next days I won't have time to "play around" with my new photoshop cs 4 - but will do it next week.

Try to give an "update about me" the next days - what happened and what we're gonna doing....

Spring....

just 3 pics right now - I am in a hurry....
maybe more later...

playing around .....

Sitting in my office and doing pics whats going on in my garden - will show the pics tomorrow (we'll get a new garage roof  but right now our garden looks like a bomb has hit

Just played around a little....

14 years ago.....

 ....I was very very unhappy - my ex-friend broke up with me end of 1995 and I had to move and thought to myself: OMG what happened to you: All of my friends in my age are thinking of marriage, building their own house, getting pregnant and you: Moved to a very small flat (just one single room, a small kitchen an bathroom) no pregnancy in sight and now all alone.... My dear friends Sonja and Claudia  helped me through this time and one day we decided to join the "Rock im Park" a music festival with lots of famous bands and singers- I cannot remember all but "googled" amd here we go:

Bryan Adams, Placebo, Rage Against the Machine, Alanis Morissette, Sting, Dave Matthews Band, Bush, Fugees, The Presidents of the United States of America, Sepultura, Rancid, Ash, Die Toten Hosen, Paradise Lost, Mike & The Mechanics, K's Choice, Herbert Grönemeyer, Zucchero, Amanda Marshall, Such a Surge, Thumb, Rödelheim Hartreim Projekt, Rekord, Madonna Hip Hop Massaker und Hereos del Silencio

Okay, Sonja borrowed her parents mobile home and we found a nice place where we "lived" the next three days. Every now and then we joined the Olympia Stadium to watch the singers - when we were not interested we walked around and had fun anyway. I had heard of Bryan Adams and knew his songs so far but wasn't a fan. I liked "Summer of 69" amd "Heaven" very much but had no idea how he looks. Then Sonja said she would love to see him and we went back to the stadium - found nice seats and waited to see him on stage. Then - never had something like that before in my life - he came on stage, snapped his guitar and began with "One night love affair" - I listened and until the refrain I enjoyed and then it was like I was hit from a flash - I wasn't me - I was like going out of my body and soul - I was soooooo captured from the song, the lyrics, the singer - I was like on drugs. I can remember that it took me more than 3 songs to "come back to earth".... I have no idea what happened there but since this time I am "obsessed" of this guy. Don't get me wrong - I am "normal" - I am married - I'm not a stalker (in that way), I don't send flowers or whatever ... I just love his music and his character - if we can speak about that because I don't know him at all. I met him once and talked to him but I am a member of his "board" since 2004 and I found sooo much people in this community who are like me - loving his music, loving his photos, loving his character and most of what he does, he's a great musican and photographer, hes such a grown up and little boy sometimes, sometimes we can meet him in chat and this is what I love also - a musican who "looks for his fans" - who is interested in his fans. And in my eyes you see that when he's on stage - he doesn't "discharge" his program on stage, he interacts with fans, he talks to his friends and you see he has really fun with his fans. And as he is on stage about 2 weeks per month (and this for years now) I am sure its not because of money - this guy can't live without music and his fans. I joined 35 concerts so far - have seen hin in Germany, Switzerland and Italy and the UK so far - not that I am following him wherever he goes - for my 40th birthday I got a ticket for a London gig, for christmas I got a ticket for Switzerland (including skiing there for three days) and if hubby can do it he is with me.Totally new for me was "making friends" via the internet - and some of them I met in person what is great. Not anyone can understand us "BAddies" (like we use to call ourselves) but being a part of ths "family" is awesome.

 Here you can see me with that silly and stupid grin - worse times with my dark hair (soo happy being a blondie again - will never change - maybe one day in  natural way to grey or white  :)

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Photoshootin on monday....

...was a nice one. I went to my girlfriend who has now two children - a girl who is 4 years and a boy who is 4 months. The girl (Isabel) is very proud of being a "grown up sister" now and she takes lovely care of her baby brother. She really loves him to bits and when I came closer to his bed to see him she had her finger on the lips and whispered: "Shhhhhhh - he is sleeping" (I wouldn't have made any noise anyway but isn't that sooo sweet???)

I first did some shots from Isabel to "warm up" - then had two cups of latte macchiato and cake (not the WW snack I should have - lol) - then did some pics of Julius (the baby boy) and then.... take a look.

Isabel watching her brothers sleep

The young man doesn't look pleased but Isabel seems to have fun

aww - how sweet althought you can't see Isabels face

He's looking at me like his face is asking me: What the hell are you doing there - and how long are you going to "talk these stupid: guck guck - hello - Julius- look at me" - Doesn't he?

And after all these shootings which are hard work for such a baby boy he deserved this: yummi!!!!

Munich impressions....

As I am living in Munich for almost 22 years now I thought I show you some "Munich impressions".

Munich is a wonderful city to live although they say it is very expensive but honestly for me it is worth it. We have the mountains close - we have lots of nice seas and lakes around - we have the "English Garden" which is the green lung in the middle of the city - we have short distances to Austria and Italy -we have the BAYARIANS (which are "special people" - you love them or you hate them LOL) and we have the worlds biggest festival - the Octoberfest.

For all who haven't been here - here are some pics

A "bavarian lion"

"Dom" or "Frauenkirche"

view to the Olympic Tower and Stadion

Hofgarten

Oktoberfest

Rollercoaster and Looping

Oktoberfest by night

feeling like a "computer queen"....

There are days who aren't "my days" and there are days that are "my days"...
Since weeks I am very frustrated about my printer - sometime it prints and sometimes not - normal documents like word documents are no prob but for other programs like my accounting program it didn't work. Called the "pc specialists" and they came - looked and tried, called, looked again, tried (the "money is running while the guy was here - that's one thing that makes ME nervous...) - called to Austria for 15 mins (money is running!!!), left and came back (again 20 EUROS) with a new wire (told him thats a wlan printer and normally it needs no wire) tried again - shook his head and said that it MUST BE the printer (2 years old but maybe....) I noticed that - tried to copy and paste almost everyting but sometimes it doesn't work.
Today I again went wild while I had to print out something and nothing happened..... was in tears then stopped crying - de-activated my antivirus program - and what shall I tell you? It prints out every document I wanted - pdf, documents of my accounting program, everything I wanted!!!!
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Last week my lappy gave up - no access to the internet - didn't found our WLAN - found neighbours WLAN but not ours- Thought the router migth be broken - another 100 euro..... Didn't work with the laptop - on Friday I displayed all connectors and wires - connected everything again - put on my lappy - signal very good - internet is back again.....  And now its your turn :)

Special day for children - the first holy communion

What an exciting day for all those young children - although I am no longer a member of the church I really felt a little excited too.
The german (and not just the german) church is causing sensation right now and if there is just 50 % true about what all came out these days I feel soooooo ashamed!!!!! How can an adult abuse assurance and not just that - how can they do those worse things to others????

I have no words for that - but just another pic I did on sunday....

Saturday in Turkey....

This was our hotel - a big pool where you could have done a lot of swimming meters if it was heated but so it was too cold to swim - for me. It was about 18 degrees...

Liked that "scene" - two people sitting on a wall (the sea behind) and the bird above....

I like this kind of photo - I've learned that it is called "color-key".