Musik Monday: Rammstein's "Du Hast" performed by The Schwaben Dancers

It's crunch time (Bar exam is a week from tomorrow and I'm more freaked out than I can explain), but I saw this video and had to share.

For those of you not around in the late 90's, not into German music (I don't know how you got here then, but welcome!), or not into metal, this is a German dance group performing to Rammstein's most famous hit (at least in the USA) "Du Hast."  The dance group calls it the "Rammertanz" (Rammer, short for Rammstein and Tanz, which means dance).

I saw more traditional German folk dances in the past year as Steuben Parade Princess than in my entire life before then, but I never saw anything like this.  The group took this heavy metal song and put it to traditional folk dance moves.  I love unexpected crossovers so this was a complete treat for me.  

German-American Spotlight: Nik Wallenda

In honor of the Skywire walk tonight, I'm doing a special German-American spotlight post on Nik Wallenda.

Tonight, Nik will be the first person ever to walk on a tightrope across the Grand Canyon. It's being aired live on Discovery Channel and you know I found a TV with cable to watch it. Beyond all the weather and technical details, the walk is 1/4 mile long across a part of the canyon 1,500 ft deep. I'm so excited to watch and so excited for him to accomplish this incredible feat. 

(Photo from http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/03/18/nik-wallenda-will-walk-on-tightrope-strung-over-grand-canyon/)

[More after the break]

I'll be back

It's been...almost a year really since I seriously posted regularly here.  This last year was so much busier than I expected.  Lots of changes, lots of awesome things happening.  One of those is that I am no longer a law school student, but a graduate!  Now I'm a doctor of sorts!

I've still found time to be crafty and plenty of time to be German.  I will share all of that again.  However, my main priority through July will be studying for the bar exam.  I am promising myself that I will come back in full swing come August.  If I need a break, I might post here occasionally - but my regular posts will come back in August.

In the meantime, here's a picture to prove I really graduated:

German-American Spotlight: Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Today was a day that I absolutely had to jump back on here for another German-American Spotlight post.  It is September 17, and it's Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben's birthday!  He was born on this day 282 years ago in 1730 in Magdeburg Germany.  He is possibly the most famous German-American, with good reason.  If not for him, our country may not have been able to win the Revolutionary War and gain our independence.

German-American Spotlight: Neil Armstrong

I had mentioned in a previous post that it was sad how little people know about Germans to the extent that they can't even name a German easily.  So, I wanted to help the world a little and provide a weekly series on German-Americans.  This is the first one on one of the greatest men to walk this planet and our moon: Neil Armstrong.

His heritage is similar to mine - German and Scottish (I've got some Irish/British too), but his life is far more impressive.  He was just shy of 39 when he became the first man to walk on the moon.  He was part of something that was not only critical for the United States at that time, but also the entire world.  He wasn't always an astronaut and worldwide hero though.

A "Blanket" Apology

So, first thing - I need to extend an apology to anyone who has been reading this blog at all over the past half year.  I've basically dropped off the face of the earth this summer.  I hate making excuses, but I've been busy with my Princess duties (the blog about which has also been neglected), 2 jobs (I got a new job, yay!), and many things with friends and family and of course the 2 guys in my life (Spartacus and my boyfriend).  I do have some crafts with pictures to share.
I also apologize for the text and its size in this post.  I've tried editing it through html and the "compose" tab, but nothing will fix it.  If anyone knows how to fix it, I'd love some help!

I'm pretty sure I owe a bunch of craft things and about a week straight of "Musik Monday".  So, here's my promise:  Next week, there will be a new post each day, starting Monday for pseudo-Musik Mondays.  Also, by the time I start up with school again (Aug 20...way too soon), I'll post at least 1 crochet, 1 nail art, and 1 random craft - starting with this post.  It's clever title should give a hint.

Recently, a really good family friend (he's basically like a 2nd brother) and his wife had a baby.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to her baptism and the celebration after.  I knew I had to give my own gift even though my entire family was attending, so I figured that the best thing I could do was crochet.

I scoured the interwebs looking for an adorable, yet unique pattern for a baby blanket - something that a kid can use for a long time.  I came across a pattern for an alphabet baby blanket.  (Warning, the link will download the PDF of the pattern - it can also be found here under "Alpha Magic Afghan")  I took my sweet time from about mid-June, then when it was a week before the Baptism I knew I had to work fast.  I crocheted hours every night after work while going through the whole Once Upon a Time series (shameless plug for an awesome TV show).  I finally finished just in time! 

I'm so glad you can see the letters

*More after the jump*

Musik Monday - German Call Me Maybe

Carly Rae Jepsen's song "Call Me Maybe" is one of the catchiest songs ever.  I won't deny that I absolutely love it and the many youtube videos it's spawned.  This is obviously one of my favorites since it's in German and realllly well done.  Enjoy!



And they have more videos!  I am so excited right now!