On the way to Michigan

Calgary skyline - from the airport - it was really windy - a few more knots and the flight would have been cancelled

Calgary - Nose Hill Park - and Downtown in the top right corner

Should I be worried that Captain Walter is chatting with us?

...No worry - everything is under control in the high tech cockpit

Michigan Again

Ken and Larry. Doesn't Ken look a little bit like George W. Bush?

inside

Yes, I could get used to traveling like a rock star!

the corporate jet - worth 33 Mio $

Art Saturday

On Saturday I celebrated art. First of all, it was Elisabeth's birthday (Elisabeth is my artist cousin)! Alles Gute zum 33-iger! Then I ran into James Wyper (that's his real name! If I was ever to become a famous something, I got to change my name to something non-German speaking people can actually pronounce). I was so lucky to check out his uebercool studio in an old brick building downtown. He is preparing for an exhibition in Holt Renfrew, which is opening next week. His paintings are bold and convey beautiful messages. Of course, I can only speak for myself - is it just me that sees an angel and a gateway on the canvas?

In the afternoon, Heather and I went for a stroll on Stephen's Avenue and FINALLY managed to see Katie Ohe's show (it was our 3rd try to see the show!). I met Katie in Norman's yoga class: she is around 65-70 years old and her headstands are as solid as her hands. Her exhibition is interactive: sculptures that the we could spin. The sculptures reminded me of chickens and eggs - in a Zen garden...

And in the evening I got a call from Barbara - the art historian. I guess, this Saturday was an example of all good things come in three (or four or more ;-)

Merry Christmas!

Tripper

Chester

Kjah was too fast - I couldn't catch him on film ;-)

Deanna & Fresh Oysters from Prince Edward Island

Sean the Shucker

Melanie

Mmm.. Oysters!

Sean - a real Italian - naturalemente was on the phone with his familia! Bon Natale!

No - we haven't had enough food yet! After cheese, oysters and muscles we enjoyed wild sockeye salmon in Maple Syrup on Cedar Plank with Roasted Veggies. Digestive (the Chech version of Jaegermeister) helped us to keep going to the desert :-)



Christmas Crackers




And - oh my god - while we were eating, Santa must have come through the chimney and filled the stockings! What a miracle!



Deanna must have been a good girl - Santa chose the right present for her!



The Doggies got presents too!

Sean examining his present - he got a pipe!



Frohe Weihnachten! Thank you D, Sean and Melanie for a fun evening :-)

Goddess Evening - Cat is leaving :(

Cat is leaving us :( On the other hand, I am happy for her, that she will be living in an awesome loft in Vancouver - together with her partner Derryl. So, really it is a reason to celebrate: so we did :)

Chicago

Chicago Airport

The very first time I have been to the New World was 8 years ago, when I visited Elisabeth in her studio in Chicago. Back then, I would have never thought that I would end up staying in North America. Interesting, how life takes you on a journey. I wonder where I will be 8 years from now....mmmm...

"There are no Answers, only choices."
from Solaris

Oh, by the way, talking about sci-fi, I have finished reading my first science fiction book! "Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?" the novel that inspired Bladerunner. I finally finished the book on the plane back to Calgary.

I just bought myself a Christmas present and got The Dune - apparently a sci-fi bestseller, which I will start reading in just a few minutes :)

More Photos from Michigan - the Design Studio

Photos from Michigan

Product Testing in the Lab

Yes, we are in America. And the plant is HUGE! The cart you can see is an AGV -an automated guided vehicle - driving around without a driver - pretty cool!

Rachael took me on a tour in a golf cart :)

Wood Veneer

Michigan

Ich sitze gerade im ultracoolen Design Studio in Holland Michigan. Erinnert mich an Studios, in die Elisabeth mich zu ihrer Studienzeit mitgenommen hat. Very European - loungy music. Sehr nett. Das ist allerdings dass einzig uebercoole in Michigan - ansonsten ist es nicht sonderlich aufregend. Die Gegend erinnert mich an St. Poelten: flach, einige nette Auenlandschaften (doch im Dezember sieht so eine Landschaft leider noch ein bisserl weniger spektakulaer als im Fruehling oder Sommer aus). Morgen schau ich mir noch ein Werk an und dann gehts heim nach Calgary, wo ich dann wieder ein paar Fotos in den Blog geben werde. Bis dann :)

Brrrr! -25

I had to get a whole new set of warm clothes and accessories to keep embracing the Canadian Winter.
Still, these days I am a little sad that I didn't get the job in Berkeley - sunny California :-)
I cross my fingers that it gets warmer soon!