friday was maren's b-day. she didn't have a big party but we were around 20 people and made pizza. it was fun. everyone got to put what they wanted on a piece and we used both ovens, mine and hers, running back and forth between her place and mine.. i didn't go to bed all that late (duh! 27 - almost 28..) and went to the city on saturday. got the gift for my brother, a new washing-machine for my sister and strolled around for a little bit. then i got an appointment for my "highlights'n haircut before seeing the man"-session on dec. 8th and went home. i took the empty beer-cases from the halloween-party back and picked up my sister and lukas around 8 p.m. (i got maren's car). my brother's birthday was actually yesterday and he didn't officially invite people. it was more like "whoever comes, comes.." and michi made....pizza. but you know, ME can never have too much pizza, so it was fine. we just sat around chatting and because all the guys were talking about was cars, michi, my sister and i started playing the "harry potter"-game they'd brought back from new york after a while. that was fun. then my brother got him hugs, kisses and gifts at midnight. lukas was in bed and didn't wanna get up for that so we let him sleep.. dana, lukas and i left around 3 a.m. (had to wake poor luk up but he'd said before that he didn't wanna spend the night and come back home with us..) and when we got outside we realized that the streets were covered in ice. the doors of the car were frozen and it took us a while to get into the car.. and then i crawled home at about 40 km/h trying not to slide off the roads. jay, fun ;o)

oh, and yesterday: i slept in and then made my first cheese cake. remember this? well, my sister somehow found one just like the one my mom used to make online after researching for a while. so i tried it yesterday and it turned out great! and you know why i made it? well, 'cause i love cheese-cake AND because ute was in town from berlin and came over for coffee with a friend. so i thought i'd set up a typical middle-class coffee-table with cake, tee and coffee ;o) while doing that i had to go over to maren's for several things i realized i don't have but are needed for a good middle-class coffee. and then they came. it was so cool to finally meet her in person. i've never met anyone that i only knew from the internet, emails and the phone in person before and it was great. it really is as if you've known each other for quite a while. and the friend (also maren) she brought who's from this area is really nice as well. we all had a good time and chatted most of it. i found someone to show my aupair-album to and since they were both aupairs as well we had a lot to talk about right away. they left around 9 p.m. but just because they were hungry and we're probably do something tonight or tomorrow night before ute has to leave again on wednesday.. ;o))

then babe called me last night and we talked for a while. his dad already asked him about our schedule so we could set something up with them. he also said that him and his wife would be happy to come and take me out to dinner one night when C has to work. now, you have to know that it's about a 45 minute drive from where they live to where C lives - one way. i think it's so sweet that they'd drive an hour and a half just to take me out to dinner so i don't have to be alone. they also offered to pick me up, take me back to their place and drive me back to C's late at night if i don't wanna be alone. i mean, how sweet is that? i can't wait to see them. then he told me that his friend M from long beach called and suggested going to mammoth mountain and rent a condo/cabin with a few people for new year's. i thought about the whole long-beach-trip and would still like to go. screw the money.. the thing is just that when i checked again today for the dates we could go, the flights were way more expensive then the last time i checked (a couple weeks ago). so i don't think that will happen now. we'll have to talk about it again and i'm gonna keep checking, but right now it doesn't look that great. so we'll see.. oh, and he had asked me the other day what he should buy and have in the house when i come and i kinda answered "just you." or something like that because i really couldn't think of anything. now last night i told him that i had thought of something i'd definetely need while i'm there and knew he didn't have: a hairdryer. so i asked if he could get one before i come. and you know what he said? "i already bought one, baby." now, call me crazy, but things like that are what make me smile, warm inside, feel loved, special and all more than any words or expensive gifts could do. geeez - i love that man SO MUCH! 19 days...