Ausgang Links

Links is German for “left,” as in “Exit left” (Ausgang links). Links and Rechts (right) have been drilled into my memory thanks to the BVG. So has Zug nach Krumme Lanke (direction: Krumme Lanke, Einsteignen Bitte (Please board), Übergang für U9 (connection to U9), and the (until recently) mysterious Zurückbleiben Bitte. This last phrase I couldn’t spell, and I couldn’t even repeat it since I wasn’t sure what was being said. Maybe you’ve guessed based on the context that it means “Please stand back.” My friend Jens finally clued me in a few weeks ago, though I only learned to spell it when I saw this sign in the subway yesterday.


(Now if I only knew what Bloss Nicht meant)

So ausgang links… tomorrow we exit Berlin for a last hurrah trip to Switzerland and Italy. We fly back on the 13th, which should give us just enough time to pack, say goodbye and get ready to fly home to the States on the 15th.

Ausgang links… exit page left. I’ll be off of the internet for most of our trip and probably won’t be able to post much, if at all. If I’m good I’ll write up a few by hand and post them later – still lots of things I haven’t gotten around to recording. Anyway, in the meantime, everyone ausgang to these links:

East, East and Away – Especially if you are sick of narcissistic rambles about beer and public transit and whatever other garbage I’ve offloaded from my brain to this page, my friend Melissa’s blog about her summer working as a consultant for Acumen, which is helping create sustainable investments in public service infrastructure (or something like that) in Kenya is just the thing. Smart, funny, and a whole hell of a lot more socially conscious than my blog. Restores ones faith and suggests we’re not all Ugly Americans out here. Plus she has video! Last post was about going on safari.

Lavender Blue – My mom’s blog. A little neglected lately, as my folks have been hosting a revolving series of guest all month. Check here for adventures in Garage Sailing (er, sale-ing).

The Sure Thing - A literary blog from my buddy Alexis, emerging screenwriter and drinker of red wine. Haven't seen Alexis since last summer, and seems like his blog has been fallow for a while. Writer's block? Solidarity with striking screenwriters? Maybe he's moved on and forgot to tell me...

Stenner Life Happenings - Blog belonging to my high school friend Jonathan. See the Stenner family blossom and grow. Now moving to North Carolina?! Shit I better give him a call.

Musubi Man - Stories from our friend Elena and her son Skylar during their stint in Japan. Anything with monkeys in it is comic gold in my book.

And don't miss McCovey Chronicles, the only good thing about this year's San Francisco Giants.

You can look in on my fantasy league team here… sadly fading in the standings as it is tough to get much news about American baseball out here. You mean to tell me Manny is being Manny in Los Angeles now?! If you promise to change my starting pitchers while I’m on vacation I’ll tell you my password.