Relaxation

Unlike many of my friends, I like spending time in Au Gres because I find it relaxing. I am not a big fan of the city, or at least the American city. I hate being so close to so many stupid people... either loud and obnoxious idiots or rude, stuck-up, arrogant jerks. I hate that I can't just walk out my door and go for a walk. At least in my last apartment I could walk into campus. There is nothing here... just apartment complexes and (a half mile down a busy 4-lane street) some ugly stores and gas stations. I hate that I have to listen to stupid people yelling and sirens and car alarms (the only city noises I like are the helicopter and plane noises). Living near a city would be ideal. All the advantages of a city without the crap. I like it that Ann Arbor is surrounded by highways and that it is therefore incredibly easy to travel quickly in any direction. But I hate it that when I go to one particular park, I can still hear all the noise from the highways. I like peace and quiet. I like slow and relaxed. I wish I were back in Freiburg.

Yesterday, I made some almond pastries. It took me a couple hours. There were quite a few complications and they turned out differently than I expected, but they are indeed a success. I think they are bigger than they are supposed to be. Nidhal loves them though. I needed to buy a rolling pin and a pastry wheel before I could make them, although the pastry wheel wasn't really a necessity.

I finished a book called Dancing Under the Red Star about an American woman in communist Russia in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. It was an interesting story. From the back of the book: "The shocking and inspirational saga of Margaret Werner and her miraculous survival in the Siberian death camps of Stalinist Russia".

And hey Lyne, Phantom of the Opera is going to be playing in Detroit. :)