Ben's Journal

Hey there,

I'm back. I'm just talking to mom online:
chrislellinger: hi
chrislellinger: you there?
Baker4442: I finally found you
chrislellinger: :-)
Baker4442: Can you talk?
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: I am working on our trip and looking for ideas
chrislellinger: :-) i can plan our time in halle, prag and berlin
chrislellinger: prag is so pretty :-)
Baker4442: Ok but Berlin might have to include Judith
chrislellinger: ok. i'm loking forward to meeting her
Baker4442: We will not drive to Prague probably because usually the rental place won't let you
Baker4442: Are you sure you want to meet her?????
chrislellinger: why not?
Baker4442: I haven't told her that we are coming yet
chrislellinger: oh
Baker4442: You say she is your competition
chrislellinger: i don't think she has any chance to be a competition
Baker4442: I thought maybe I would invite her to Berlin to see her on Sat and leave for Switzerland on Sun
chrislellinger: ok
Baker4442: Did you go to the two websites easyjet.com and ryanair.com
chrislellinger: yes
Baker4442: What did you think of their prices?
chrislellinger: wow
chrislellinger: cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeao
chrislellinger: *p
chrislellinger: !
Baker4442: We thought it would be fun sometime to just go from city to city
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: it would
Baker4442: Some flights are only 10 euros
chrislellinger: :-)
chrislellinger: i'll fail math
Baker4442: No you won't
chrislellinger: ...
Baker4442: Have you been studying?
chrislellinger: not yet
chrislellinger: i will start tomorrow
Baker4442: What was so hard about the English test
chrislellinger: it was a weird text
chrislellinger: and weird questions
Baker4442: gramatically or content???
chrislellinger: they weren't very definite
chrislellinger: i can show you when you get here.
chrislellinger: they aren't online yet
Baker4442: We have only 3 weeks of school left!!!!
chrislellinger: i'm already out of school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baker4442: My student teacher's last day was last Thurs.
chrislellinger: :-)
chrislellinger: you glad?
Baker4442: No you're not you still have tests and that's the worst kind of school
Baker4442: I am glad to get my class back but now I have to settle them down
chrislellinger: lol
Baker4442: What do you think of having a German pope?
Baker4442: Is he well liked in Germany?
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: he is religious
Baker4442: Oh, that's not good.
chrislellinger: well most germans just don't care
chrislellinger: they don't even know about it
chrislellinger: some
Baker4442: Is he from Bavaria?
chrislellinger: yes
chrislellinger: why?
Baker4442: I thought so but I didn't know for sure. I know that is mostly Catholic there.
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: What is this I here that Germany wants to open trade with China?

chrislellinger: most bavarians are
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: idiot chancellor
Baker4442: I bet the bavarians care
chrislellinger: i mean...he's a liberal
Baker4442: At least France is against it
chrislellinger: bwuä
Baker4442: What does that mean?

chrislellinger: they are stupid too
chrislellinger: like "barf"
chrislellinger: they doon'T wnna sign the EU constitution
Baker4442: Germany?

chrislellinger: france
Baker4442: Would each country still have its own constitution and the EU one too?

chrislellinger: yep
chrislellinger: it's no big deal
Baker4442: or are you all going to be one cozy family?
chrislellinger: just a general declaration
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: NO
Baker4442: I can't believe that all of those countries want to give up some of their independence. The USA would NEVER do that.
chrislellinger: erm....the Usa is a cozy family of 50 people
Baker4442: Whay is there always trouble on May Day in Berlin? It was on our news?
chrislellinger: it was on your news??
chrislellinger: wow
chrislellinger: there are the punks throwing molotov cocktails at cars at beating up cops.
chrislellinger: every year
Baker4442: Yeah, here May Day is just a day to celebrate giving to others and spring
chrislellinger: may day is the day all the socialist worker parties celebrate
chrislellinger: and the are far left
chrislellinger: and so are the punks
chrislellinger: i guess that's why
chrislellinger: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2950276.stm
Baker4442: I wish our weather was warmer for the first day of May though
chrislellinger: it's hot here
chrislellinger: gee
chrislellinger: i had to wear shorts
chrislellinger: i miss you guys
chrislellinger: in dresden i talked to a sect person
chrislellinger: he was weird
chrislellinger: scared me
Baker4442: It is just 19 here but very sunny after raining ALL day yesterday.
chrislellinger: sorry
Baker4442: What is a sect person
chrislellinger: it's getting warmer and warmer here
chrislellinger: a guy that is in a sect
chrislellinger: they are freaky
Baker4442: I don't know what a sect mean the way you are saying it.
chrislellinger: like a religious group thats werid
chrislellinger: *weird
Baker4442: Oh, any group here is in a religious sect but some are normal and others not so much
chrislellinger: ?
chrislellinger: any group?
Baker4442: yes
chrislellinger: ...don't get it.
chrislellinger: well he was freaky
chrislellinger: he was talking of our apostolic duty to reincorporate the body of christ
chrislellinger: i talked to him for a while
Baker4442: I was just talking to Eric on the phone
chrislellinger: it was mind blowing
chrislellinger: oh cool
chrislellinger: how is he doing?
Baker4442: Actually, he was home yesterday and went back at noon today. He wrecked the car last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chrislellinger: oh man
chrislellinger: what is he doing?
Baker4442: Driving in a bad rain storm and slid when he put on his breaks and hit the back of another car.
chrislellinger: poor him
Baker4442: The other car is fine but ours has a lot of damage.
chrislellinger: *sigh*
Baker4442: Poor him????? How about poor us or poor our bank account
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: i bet he feels sorry!!!!!!!!
Baker4442: I hope so
Baker4442: He came home to try to find a job for the summer. He got a call back from Hong Kong Star to be a delivery person but he would prefer something else
chrislellinger: oh
chrislellinger: at mars hill
Baker4442: Yes
chrislellinger: :-)
Baker4442: We spent most of the day yesterday looking at houses and condos in Athens for next year.
chrislellinger: you are so sweet. buying a house for your son
Baker4442: I hate the thought of buying another house but I don't want to pay rent for 3 years.
chrislellinger: true true true
Baker4442: Don't worry, when we sell it the money will be ours, not Eric's
chrislellinger: but still...sweet
Baker4442: That's just us, sweet!!!!!!!!!!!Hahahahaha
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: i have to tell you about so many things
Baker4442: When we come?
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: so many sings ave append
chrislellinger: i am vatching a french channel
Baker4442: Do I still have to talk with your English teacher?
chrislellinger: zey talk funny
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: she asked me what time you'll come
Baker4442: Your spelling is really bad right now???
chrislellinger: but only if you want to
chrislellinger: i was spelling french
Baker4442: I'll do what you want
chrislellinger: no. you'll do what you want
Baker4442: That would be hard for me to understand
Baker4442: When we are in Halle it is up to you
chrislellinger: it's afunny channel
chrislellinger: ok
chrislellinger: she lives in teutschenthal
chrislellinger: you'll stay at the castle right
Baker4442: probably unless you have come up with another plan
Baker4442: The castle sounds interesting though
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: it's the best thing to do
chrislellinger: my gp will pay
chrislellinger: don't bother
Baker4442: Go to this website to see the condo we liked the best
chrislellinger: i did
chrislellinger: it looks swiss
Baker4442: www.louisehyers.com
chrislellinger: oh
chrislellinger: ok
chrislellinger: which one
Baker4442: after you get to that site go to search for homes and then scroll down to the one that says exquisite condo
chrislellinger: that lady looks scary
chrislellinger: you must be very rich
chrislellinger: when i get older, i wanna be like you
Baker4442: What make us rich?
chrislellinger: you are the epitome of the perfect parents
chrislellinger: money?
Baker4442: Have you been talking to Mike's family it Ottawa about that
chrislellinger: 115000
chrislellinger: ?
chrislellinger: no?
Baker4442: We will make monthly payments on it just like we do our house
chrislellinger: oh ok
Baker4442: Mike's family think we are rich
chrislellinger: well....lol....you kinda are
chrislellinger: we all are
Baker4442: That was a problem when we were there for the funeral
chrislellinger: why?
Baker4442: Oh, lots of comments about us coming up so much and that we should come back Memorial Day weekend like we live just down the street
chrislellinger: are tghey jealous?
Baker4442: His mother offered to pay for Vince's motel room (next to ours) in front of Mike but not ours because we are rich
Baker4442: No i don't think it is jealosy but just fact in their minds.
chrislellinger: oh thats not nice
chrislellinger: but you don't bother, do you#
Baker4442: They don't realize that we save our money to do what we want and don't buy a big house and expensive cars
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: thats true
Baker4442: I only bothers me when they take us coming for granted
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: i have to live with you and eric again
chrislellinger: to learn
chrislellinger: how to be a baker
Baker4442: It is expensive for us to go there about $1000 for a long weekend. For the funeral it was about $3000
chrislellinger: wow
Baker4442: And then they want us to come back in a month
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: We will do it but ...
Baker4442: I don't want Mike estranged from his family for any reason. Family is too important to let money get in the way
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: I MISS YOU!!!!

chrislellinger: i don't wanna be estranged
chrislellinger: i got fat
Baker4442: I'm not sure what we will do about going Memorial Day Weekend though
Baker4442: Right!!
chrislellinger: ?
Baker4442: I have to report for jury duty on Tues after the weekend and we weren't planning to come home until late Tues. Mike needs to go to the lawyer there
chrislellinger: oh yeah i read about it
chrislellinger: what are you gonan do about it
chrislellinger: you wrote that you cant do anything about it
Baker4442: I will probably fly home on Mon and Mike will come home on Tues.
chrislellinger: hmmm
Baker4442: His dad died without a will so now he wants to sign papers that give his mother back the money that would go to him
chrislellinger: hmmm
chrislellinger: will she live alone
Baker4442: Right now she has a companion that cooks and helps her. I told you about her. She is from Latvia
chrislellinger: you did?
chrislellinger: oh
Baker4442: She can't live alone. She isn't steady on her feet.
chrislellinger: yeah thats why i asked
chrislellinger: is she jewish?
Baker4442: I think that lady is leaving soon though so she will have to get someone else
Baker4442: She is lutheran
chrislellinger: ok
chrislellinger: most people i know from there are jewish
Baker4442: She was a psychocology professor in Latvia before the fall of the USSR
chrislellinger: oh!!!!
chrislellinger: there is something on tv about ryanair#
Baker4442: She lost her job due to no students being able to afford the university
Baker4442: What are they saying
chrislellinger: nothing special....
Baker4442: Just an ad?
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: they just talked about it
chrislellinger: they wanted to fly from rancfort to barcelona
chrislellinger: excpet they said bartselona
chrislellinger: no nothing that interests us
Baker4442: Our tv is talking about the German autobahn and how much it costs to maintain it
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: they made a fee
Baker4442: What?

chrislellinger: but now they don't use the autobahn bur the bundesstraße
Baker4442: bur???
chrislellinger: but
chrislellinger: a fee for the big trucks
Baker4442: Do you mean charge a toll to use it?
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: All of the autobahns or just some?

chrislellinger: all of them
chrislellinger: thats why they now use the bundesstraßen
Baker4442: How much are they charging?
chrislellinger: no clue
chrislellinger: i dont drive lorries
Baker4442: As if your gas isn't expensive enough!!
chrislellinger: youre right
Baker4442: What is a lorrie?
chrislellinger: i guess tahts british
Baker4442: They tax you to death in every way they can
chrislellinger: its a truck for goods
chrislellinger: like a big truck
chrislellinger: like the cocacola truck
chrislellinger: richt
chrislellinger: *right
Baker4442: A big rig, 18 wheeler, or a semi tractor trailer
chrislellinger: ok....
chrislellinger: i bought a play station today
Baker4442: How much is your gas right now?

chrislellinger: erm 1.15
chrislellinger: a liter
Baker4442: Why? did you have extra money that was burning a hole in your pocket
Baker4442: Yikes!
chrislellinger: yeah :`)
chrislellinger: it was pre-owned
chrislellinger: it's hot in my room
Baker4442: Is that in Euros?????

chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: :-)
Baker4442: I'm talking about the gass
Baker4442: I am still in shock
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: ;-)
chrislellinger: 82 fahrenheit in my room
Baker4442: That would be about $7 a gallon
chrislellinger: no
Baker4442: I remember that that is 28 C
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: Why not?
chrislellinger: i'll look it up
Baker4442: What are you looking up?
chrislellinger: the prcie in gallons
Baker4442: then convert to $
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: 5.60 dollars
chrislellinger: or dollar
chrislellinger: what do you pay
Baker4442: That's horrible!!!
chrislellinger: yep
chrislellinger: we'll have a party for you
Baker4442: It would cost us over $100 to fill up our car
Baker4442: I paid today $2.04 / gallon
Baker4442: That's only 37.00 to fill up our car
Baker4442: What do you want me to bring with me when we come? Anything special that you miss?
chrislellinger: yesss....
Baker4442: What kind of party?
chrislellinger: i'll send you a list :-)
Baker4442: That worries me!;-)
chrislellinger: what
Baker4442: Your list
chrislellinger: no...
chrislellinger: one day
chrislellinger: i'll come
chrislellinger: and get everything i want
Baker4442: Like what?
Baker4442: What do you miss?
chrislellinger: a publix store
chrislellinger: i miss everything
chrislellinger: mostly you
chrislellinger: :-)
Baker4442: :-)
Baker4442: Did you get a chance to look at the apartment in Lauterbrunnen?
chrislellinger: when you tell you judith that we'll meet, will you give me her email address?
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: that was what i thought looked swiss
Baker4442: Oh
Baker4442: I thought you were talking about the castle
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: it looks castely
Baker4442: You had me really confused
chrislellinger: :-)
Baker4442: Everything in Switzerland looks swiss
chrislellinger: i guess
Baker4442: Everything in Germany looks castely
chrislellinger: no it doesnt
Baker4442: When is Switzerland do as the swiss do
Baker4442: Do you remember what we said about every city in Germany?
chrislellinger: you have to meet my girlfriend
chrislellinger: it has a church and a vending machine for cigarettes?
Baker4442: Is it still Katrin?
chrislellinger: yes
Baker4442: and a castle, and a brewery
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: Am I right?
chrislellinger: yes
Baker4442: I think this place in Swit. is a nonsmoking place. You haven't started any bad habits have you?
chrislellinger: no. you don't mind me taking heroine every once in a while, do you?
Baker4442: I am sure that I will see Katirn
Baker4442: No, don't mind at all !;-)
chrislellinger: good
chrislellinger: :-)
chrislellinger: she is VERY shy
Baker4442: Will she speak in English around us?
Baker4442: I'll use all of my fluent German around her:-)
chrislellinger: yeah. but yiou have to takle to her
chrislellinger: *talk
chrislellinger: i know you will. please do
Baker4442: I thought we would have to tackle her
chrislellinger: no... :-)
Baker4442: Never
chrislellinger: you have to ask her things and she'll talk. but she will be very quiet if you dont ask her.
Baker4442: Eric will tackle you though
chrislellinger: this will be fine
Baker4442: I've seen him tackle Sarah (his girlfriend)
Baker4442: She beats him back
chrislellinger: i can't imagine hime having a girlfriend
Baker4442: Why?
chrislellinger: look slike a girl for eric#
chrislellinger: i dunno
chrislellinger: it's just...eric
chrislellinger: as you have said
chrislellinger: she must play sports and watch espn
Baker4442: He's going to be 20 at the end of the summer
chrislellinger: wow
chrislellinger: old boy
Baker4442: She doesn't play sports but will tolerate him watching ESPM
Baker4442: *N
chrislellinger: eric would be agreat guy
chrislellinger: as a boyfriend
chrislellinger: he's a baker
Baker4442: Did I tell you what he gave her for Christmas?

chrislellinger: a glove...
chrislellinger: how romantic
Baker4442: Not just any glove but a used glove
chrislellinger: oh...ok
Baker4442: She is left handed and couldn't use any of his
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: this is just so ericy
Baker4442: He said this used one was better than any new one he could afford.
chrislellinger: hehe
Baker4442: You need to go to bed!
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: i need to talk to you
Baker4442: It is nearly midnight for you
chrislellinger: but i am off school
Baker4442: That is a want not a need
chrislellinger: i have to go to school wednesday
chrislellinger: to take my th test
chrislellinger: *math
Baker4442: THE TEST
chrislellinger: oh yeah
chrislellinger: i need to get 7 points
Baker4442: This is your worst right?
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: it is 46%
Baker4442: Why 7, is that passing?

chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: 5
Baker4442: 46% is failing
chrislellinger: but if i get 6 or 5
chrislellinger: i'll havbe to go to oral mathj
Baker4442: Anything under 70% in the USA is failing
chrislellinger: i know
chrislellinger: but i think 7 is more than 48%
chrislellinger: it's just 7 out of 15
chrislellinger: it must be like 60 something
Baker4442: I know you can do at least that
chrislellinger: it is hard mom
chrislellinger: in my last test i got 5
chrislellinger: and i was only one of the 9 of 24 that had 5 or better
chrislellinger: katrin had 1
Baker4442: You will do fine if you don't get nervous
chrislellinger: it is so hard and our teacher is so bad
chrislellinger: you'll meet her
chrislellinger: at the ABIball
chrislellinger: (prom)
chrislellinger: graduation thingy
chrislellinger: i got you cards by the way
Baker4442: What ?
chrislellinger: what what
Baker4442: What does cards mean?
chrislellinger: tickets i mean
chrislellinger: in german its karten (cards)
Baker4442: That was Mike's guess
chrislellinger: hi dad
Baker4442: What time is it?
Baker4442: Mike says hi
chrislellinger: 11:45
Baker4442: Not now!
chrislellinger: i got cards for all 4 of you
chrislellinger: oh
Baker4442: The prom graduation thingy
chrislellinger: it's the 15th at 6pm
chrislellinger: it's kinda like bank banquet
Baker4442: What is the dress?

chrislellinger: suit and dresses
Baker4442: bank banquet?
chrislellinger: badn*
chrislellinger: *band
Baker4442: Would dressy pants outfit be okay?
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: it will be ok
chrislellinger: look nice
chrislellinger: not touristy or casual
chrislellinger: just like at thanksgiving or so
Baker4442: Can Mike and Eric just wear dress shirts and ties or should they bring coats
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: they can wear dress shirts and ties
chrislellinger: just like dad goes to work
Baker4442: okay
chrislellinger: yeah
Baker4442: I have a dressy pants suit that won't wrinkle so I thought that would be okay
chrislellinger: anything will be fine
chrislellinger: i know your style
chrislellinger: ;-)
Baker4442: You better be winking
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: it will be ok
Baker4442: packing dress clothes in hard to do and have them look nice after being in a suitcase for a week
chrislellinger: yeah
chrislellinger: my grandma woudl iron them :-)
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: it will be FINE
Baker4442: Do you still know how to tie a tie?

chrislellinger: i always do it the way dad showed me to
chrislellinger: yeah i do
Baker4442: I think I will have to buy Eric a new shirt, he is a lot bigger now and at the funeral I thought he would choke on his collar
chrislellinger: lol
chrislellinger: he's growing
chrislellinger: little baby brother
Baker4442: I looked at the picture of us from the Hop Dee Do Review 2 years ago and I hardly recognize Eric in the picture
chrislellinger: ?? has he changed that much??
Baker4442: He is not as tall as you but his shoulders are really broad
Baker4442: He looks unbelievable older
chrislellinger: send me a picture
Baker4442: I'll have to take one when he comes home a week from Tues.
chrislellinger: ok
Baker4442: He'll be done with his first year at UGA when he takes his last exam in a week. Classes end tomorrow.
chrislellinger: cool
Baker4442: Did I tell you that right now he has 3 majors?
chrislellinger: no
chrislellinger: what are they
Baker4442: I hope he makes up his mind and doesn't try to get them all
Baker4442: Political Science, International Studies, and Statistics
chrislellinger: ew statistics....math
Baker4442: You know that is Eric's strength even though he doesn't really like it
chrislellinger: poor him
Baker4442: Why poor him? It is his choice.
chrislellinger: but if he doesnt like it?!
Baker4442: He still has 2 others majors going
chrislellinger: you can do this?
Baker4442: Next semester he will take and introduction course to Pol. Sc. and Inter. Affairs and a computer class for statistics
Baker4442: He can do what ever he wants
chrislellinger: cool
chrislellinger: sounds good
Baker4442: The only problem is that you want to finish in 4 years if possible because you have to pay for it
chrislellinger: yeah thats true
Baker4442: It's not free like Germany
chrislellinger: they want a fee now
chrislellinger: but not exceeding 500 € a semester
Baker4442: That is pretty cheap
chrislellinger: yeah. but not now. they are tyring to create it
Baker4442: Heather's tuition was about $8000 a year just for tuition alone
chrislellinger: wow
Baker4442: Right now Eric has the Hope Scholarship but without it, it would be about $4000 a semester
Baker4442: He can only go so many semester hours on Hope
chrislellinger: you have to be rich in order to go to university
Baker4442: No just smart



COOOL!!!