There are truely BILLION's of People watching , Guy's running after a Ball !

Oh .. wie ist das schoen !!
It's always nice to see your Team ( Germany ) doing good and winning at the World Cup . Getting closer and closer to the Final and another Cup . But , there is as always .. Argentina in the way of that Goal . If you beat them , for a reward .. you'll get to play most likely against Brasil . Which of course explains , you want to be the best you must beat the best . I feel , Saturday will be Germany's game and from there on there will be no stopping it .
Anyway , the reason I said .. there are a Billion People watching this Sport .. is Qing told me that her Brother in Shanghai is crazy about Soccer too and knowing the Chinese .. there will be some kind of Bet floating around each and every game so far . So even the Chinese pretty much , only have a great Women's Team to speak of .. the Men are still very interested in this game of Global proportion . I'm going to bet Qing a "Twenty" on Saturday's game , if she's willing ?
Gooo Germany !!!

We have a new .. ?

Oh yes .. what I mean by that , is my Lao Po is a big Soccer Fan . She actually loves to watch and is all excited when Germany has their Game coming up during the World Cup . I told her last night when the game against Ghana will start and on what channel it would show . I think soon , I'll see her blowing that Vuvuzela in the games still to come . I had to watch the match from my work , which puts all other things on hold of course . Germany barely won by 1:0 , but I knew .. ones I come home , Qing will be all smiles and know I will open the door and carry a big grin on my Face . It really feels great , having a special someone .. that even shares Sports with you and means it . In the next couple of weeks , I also know .. Qing will share my sadness with me too . Because , I don't expect Germany to go all the way to their fourth World Cup . I would be in Shock , if they did and miss my Sweetheart's excitement for getting it done . Anyway , win or lose .. I 'll be the winner with a Wife like this after all .

Feeling guilty some what .

This has come over me several time over the past . What I mean by that , is .. how easy Qing and I had it . To finally be together as a Married Couple . It started of great with the writing through Chnlove's EMF system . Winning her heart and her family's heart also . Having a Super translator that was very font of our developing relationship between both of us . It continuing throughout the Yahoo Messenger writing too . The first Face to Face meeting was to total success from minute one on . The following year , with four Visits and all the paperwork I started after our Marriage celebration in August '08 to the day she came over to America in November '09 , it was just one smooth ride .. except the waiting part of course .
Now , being a Mod in our Forum of newcomers .. that venture into the same Journey I have been through , I see other things are going on . Members that are Married or are about to be , NOT having as much luck ( if you can call it that ) . Having met up with one Member in Person and just a few days ago heard about another one getting a Divorce , is very heartbreaking to see . As the one thing that can and will split a Couple easily , is Money problems right from the start . This is most likely , as I see .. a one sided issue . If it was coming from both sides , it would be easier to work out . This must be worked on from both party's or it will fail .. as it has been proven in those two cases .. clear as day . Very sad to see , like I said .. Qing and Myself having it had soo easy all along . My Heart goes out to them , because I know it hurts like Hell .

As the Soccerball rolls .

I tell you , waiting four years each time for the World Cup to arrive is a long wait .. if it's your favorite Sport . Me being born in Germany , of course .. I started to kick a Ball right after I learned how to walk somewhat decent . It is just in your Blood growing up with it . Playing Club Soccer when 8 years old and moving up to the Semi-pro level , I would say .. gave me some experience in this fast moving game . I know to some People , it is not a pretty game at all . Those are usually Folks , that think a 0:0 or 1:0 game is boring . Well who said , all games need to have many (dozens of points at the end ) to make it interesting . I feel the reason that Soccer will never and I say never , make it here in the States as a major Sport .. is because it is NOT made for TV and Commercials . I call it boring , example ; Basketball , back and forth for almost three hours and then .. the last minute or so , well takes 15 minutes to complete . I call that perfect for advertisement and a lot of nonsense talk about a Player , where he's from and what he does after the game is over . I say who cares . The same goes for Baseball , nice and slow and plenty of time for blah blah blah .. which as nothing to do about the game . But , I'm not here to change any body's watching habit's or what is their favorite thing to watch and enjoy .
Anyway , winning a World Cup .. is exactly that . Your a World Champion . Winning at an American game only , and call yourselves World Champions is WRONG . It only sounds good , to the ones believing it .
Having players from all over the world , does not make it so either . This is a TEAM sport , right ? Point made .
Now back to the game I love most and enjoy with a passion . This is after all the Game " of the World " , watched by more then any other .
Go Germany .. Go US Team .

What is more important ?

Someone has brought up recently and other's a while back the same question ?

Are you still writing your Book ?

I love to be working on it , as I still only has Chapter 1 finished so far . Having my Lao Po here with me , for the last six-seven months now ... do I really have the time ? Writing a Book takes many hours on the Keyboard and by yourself so to speak . So , there is the question that arises from this . Do I spend my free time with my wife Qing or let her be on her own at night too . I think , she is going through a very hard time as it is already .. me working long hours and the drive home from work too . For me it is actually easy to choose , what is more important .. not only for me .. but for my Lao Po . Being home five days a week and seeing me only at night , is bad enough . I naturally spend most of my time , doing stuff together as Husband and Wife . Doesn't matter if it's , Cooking-Cleaning-Washing-Yard work or doing Fun things like food shopping hand in hand . No .. don't laugh , this is how it is between us . Of course we enjoy other's stuff as well .
So it comes down to answering People's question .. Are you writing your Book ? I'll get to it someday , I'm not giving up on it that easy . After all , I need to write it while all is still fresh in my Mind . I'm not a spring Chicken anymore and might forget I was even married before Qing came along . haha

Yes .. always eating ! But the way I see it , I'm with my Lao Po and that is what is the most important thing for me and also for my Sweetheart .

What happens when there is a World Cup ?

As most if not all , that are interested in Fussball/ Football/Soccer know .. what big Event is about to start in South Africa .
The truly biggest Sport of the World and followed with equally interest of all Nations . Well , not sooo much the United States .. but this is not what I'm going to talk about here .
As the Title asks , what happens during this time the World Cup of Soccer is being played every four years ? I can tell everyone , hence I am German and I know quite well .. what goes on in Germany . Especially when Germany's National Team is on the Field and facing an Opponent of some other Country , no matter from where or whoever they are . Germany will come to a Halt/ Stop in just about everything they do . If it's at Home , a Business , a Shopping Centre .. all comes to a Stop and all Eyes are focused on either a TV set or a huge Screen put up by the Cities for their local People to follow the Game / Tournament . As long as it's being played and fought , for winning the ultimate Trophy .. The World Cup of Soccer . Even the Traffic becomes so light , one would think .. there was no Gasoline to be had in that time and People were forced to stay Home .
This will kick off , this Friday with the opening Game
( South Africa vs. Mexico ) as the Home Country has always the opening Game to play and this is no exception for Africa , which has it's first World Cup Tournament ever on their Continent .
Anyway , for me .. it is Sunday when all comes to a Stop . It doesn't matter what comes around , needs to be done , it will have to wait .. til this Game is over . This will be repeated as Germany fights it's way through thick and thin and advances hopefully into the Final . So , I wish my Team good luck of course and love to see them raise that Trophy for the fourth time in their History .

What to do after a short Week ?

As we always kind of plan ahead , what to do on a coming Weekend .. this is no different this time . As Summer is near and it is also a time People look forward to ? What else , but Cherry picking time . Which , this year comes a few weeks later . Due to a late Spring arrival . This of course is not a problem for us Cherry picker's , what is a couple of weeks anyway ? So , as the Doors to the Cherry Orchard's open .. so will the Crowds be gathering to celebrate this Event . Qing especially looks forward to this , as Cherries in China are expensive and not easy to find sometimes . Having learned from her , China imports most if not all of their Cherries for their Consumers .

Now , we wonder of course .. do we bring Scissors ? One is NOT to pull off the Stems with the Cherry . Either pull the Cherry by itself off the Stem or cut it off . There is a reason behind this naturally . Cherry growers tell you , that pulling the Stems off the Tree .. will hamper growth/fruit from this Tree next Season . Never payed that much attention to this , til just about a few years back .. being told of this . Anyway , we're off to the Cherry World near our Home and getting set to not only stuff ourselves ( eating them on the spot is FREE ) but .. one has to Buy at least an equal amount of them to take Home . Otherwise they charge you a fee for that too . Sounds fair to me !

Besides that , we'll most likely will tackle the Backyard some more and attend to my planned waterfall .

A wonderful Weekend in San Diego .

Dinner with Ed at a Sichuan Restaurant .

The Doorman .. Ticket please !

The beauty of the Peacock .

3 1/2 year old Panda .

Unusual way of Sleep'in .

National Memorial , Point Loma ( San Diego ) .

The Green House at Balboa Park .

Wonderful View , fore .. and background .

Next to the Midway Aircraft Carrier # 41 .

At the Entrance to Old Town ( San Diego ) .

This Memorial Weekend was definately one to remember , as it has had a taste of many things ... Sightseeing / Zoo / Balboa Park / Seaport Village / National Monument in Point Loma and of course Old Town San Diego . It also featured a unwanted Trip across the Mexican Border without a Passport of mine .

Alright , here are some of Qing's and My Photo's from our Trip down to San Diego and meeting up with a wonderful Person .. that we all know by the name of Ed W. former Mod here with us .I start out with some from our first Stop before checking into our Hotel , Old Town and Seaport Village in the afternoon . What happened in the early Evening is something we'll wont forget for quite some time . Getting an Adventure .. without looking for one ! As the Sun was setting , I thought .. it's to early to head back to the Hotel and retire . So , smart Me .. decided let's take Qing down to the Border of Mexico without crossing it of course . That was the Plan , but somebody had other things in Mind . I missed the LAST exit before crossing and I was on my way to NO return . Stopping just before the actual Border , I ask a Patrol Guy what to do next ? He said , well it's too late and you must cross into Mexico and tell them of your misfortune (Haha) .. they will let you turn around through the BIG fence which did have a huge Gate build into it . Everything nice and dandy til now I though . But waiting in a long line to be check by American Border Patrol , it dawned on me ? I don't have my Passport on me . A Driver's License is not good enough anymore . As I moved up and started to pull our my Lic . , the first word's came out of Him ... this Lic is NOT enough . I need your Passport !!! Oh yeah , I knew that .. but I'm only turning around .. because I missed the last Exit . By that time I was Sweating Bullet's already . But ..but SIR , I really did not really want to go to Mexico .. only show my Wife the Border and the Hills of Mexico that's all , and I missed my Exit . As he checked Qing's Green Card and gave her the Ok , I remembered that I still had my Copies of my Passport and Chinese Visa with me .. from my last Trip . A sigh of relief came over me . He looked at this Copy and let me sweat some more . Okay ... SIR ( yes he called me that too ) , usually this is not good enough to cross .. but I am going to make an exception this Time . Talk about being caught in an situation ( with your Pant's down so to speak ) with your poor Wife wondering .. are we going to have to stay in Mexico now ? So , all is good now and I will mark this down as an not so nice experience .. that I can look back on though later and laugh about it . Which I actually did already .Anyway , the next day it was of to meet Ed at the Zoo entrance . He was going to take us to Balboa Park for some Photo shoot , as he felt .. everytime he see's Photo's of us it's never both of us together much . So he offered to use his Camera and get some shot's at a wonderful/beautiful Park in backgroung . After spending about two hours doing this , Qing and I went inside the Zoo and knowing we are going to meet up again for Dinner later that Day at a Sichuan Restaurant of Ed's choosing .I really can't say enough about Ed , not just as a Person .. but also about the great Father he is to his Daughter's with all he is having to go through at this time . We said our goodbye's at about 9:30 pm and it took us exactly three hours to get Home again . So I had the DOUBLE pleasure spending a super weekend with my Wife and a great Member of the Brotherhood too .