hermine just left - arrived here in the afternoon, and somehow the time flew, and it was so late we decided she might as well stay: almost time for watching today's Tatort, which was a lot more fun with two. There was also a quick lentil curry dinner, with bonus pineapple for dessert. (No, Grim, it wasn't a personal pineapple, sorry.)

Beforehand, to properly cheer her up these days, I had baked yet more muffins. (The last batch I'd made Thursday night from 11pm to midnight because said co-worker was leaving for London, and I'd promised her a taste of my famous muffins - no, really, famous! See my lj moniker, as given to me by the ever-apt stultiloquentia).

See?

( Organic Strawberry-Yoghurt-Muffins, with a dash of lime. )

This was originally a drabble based on a prompt by lunabee34; it turned into a 600-word-ficlet set post-Whispers.

But let me re-fresh your memories first: Whispers, yes. The episode with the planet of the mutants. Who looked like zombies. And produced killer fog. (I KNOW.) Still, a 100% women team. Um, yay?

Images of The Team, then. ( Major Anne Teldy, Sgt. Dusty Mehra, Cpt. Alicia Vega, and Dr. Alison Porter. )

You're welcome. Now.

( SGA ficlet. Rated PG. Set after 'Whispers.' )

Coming home at 11pm on a Friday night is less fun than it sounds. Yes. Even less than that already negative level of fun.

On the plus side, I took the bouquets from voguefan's & my office home with me.

( Flowers? )

I'll go watch Life now. Yay, Dani Reese. ♥

Returned from Hamburg and the private Jumping Dinner organised by Em & her friends there: great fun; more about it later. Also watched Dollhouse and have a few things to say.

But first, before I forget, after the overwhelming response in this post's poll? Here you go.

My workplace, as I've mentioned once or two hundred times, is very...corporate. But since this is the fifth season - the mad days - they did host their annual Office Costume Party last Thursday, as always themed:

Heroes of our childhood

Awesome theme, I'll give 'em that. A fave colleague of mine came as Lukas der Lokomotivführer, there were three Pippi Longstockings (♥), two Lucky Lukes, two sets of ??? (no, this is not a typo; click the link if you're curious) of mixed sexes, and maaany more.

What did I chose? See for yourself (and the cut-tag text explained).

( Move on over, Merlin! )

So, yeah. Alanna of Trebond, represent!

Since I feel I should enjoy it while I still can:

( My skiing(-free) retreat, in pictures. Annotated, too. )

I baked a cake, but I eated 1/4 of it.

...no, really, I did. Thankfully (or not), I took photos of the crispy-golden glory it was before that.

( Apple-cinnamon cake )

In actuality, this is the mother of all muffins...but turns out I misplaced my little silicone muffin forms sometime during the last move. Ah, well. Double the baking time, double the fun, right? Lower the temperature for the second half, too; that way, it did turn out baked through & through yet deliciously moist.

ETA: ( Recipe: REAL' SIMPLE APPLE MUFFINS )

::

Did spend a good hour at a local gym afterwards, which made my knee feel a whole lot better. And for the record, I am looking forward to posts that do not mention my health, not even in passing.

::

I only needed a 30-seconds translation because I needed a caption for the icon I'm using for this post, but as I couldn't find a translation online, I created one. If anyone else is up for a tiny piece of Schiller, have at it?

( At once *freer than birds* and clinging to the original )

Personally, I blame the alcohol for everything in this post.

( 3 Wine Icons )

::

- 8 ° C?

...I don't even. Why the shopping trip now? Oh, right: need new suits. Hrm.

On the plus side (not temperature-wise, alas), I got some more gorgeous cards!

( Christmas. It's not on the 24th; it's in our HEARTS. & :-) )

Sometimes, I like to cultivate an air of sophistication and good taste.

At other times, I'm with friends like grundbuch.

( See what I mean? )

In my mailbox, I'd meanwhile found dar_jeeling's Christmas card. With her best wishes for my future. What does she think I actually deserve to make up for 2008? I quote:

( 'Fucking rainbow-shitting unicorns.' )

In conclusion: Let that air evaporate; embrace your friends. ♥

Little sis and the boyfriend are gone again: boo. It's a lazy sunny day after Christmas: yay.

Time for the internets culinary part of it all - tasty treats sent by the darling kskitten and kangeiko, and of course our Christmas dinner.

( Mmh. )

( Friday Night's Office Christmas Dinner - a photo love story )

Speaking of the Office Christmas Party that had me stay until 4am, ( this was me, attending it. )

Also, I got mail. Not once but twice! rez_lo had sent me a parcel full of gift-y greatness, and hermine, who herself deserves some breaks, and fast, had thought of me in this advent time.

( Present pics )

I got the best friends, I really do. ♥

Just closed a contract with an electricity provider that offers 100% ecologically generated energy only from renewable sources. I feel this offsets at least some of my indentured servitude for The Man. At least I haven't received my electronic tagging device yet.

Two memes for the price of one:

( Insta-pic )

When you read this, ( quote from Stargate Atlantis )

My mother's 60th birthday celebration was enjoyable, the exams are successfully graded and good riddance; I'm cautiously optimistic at the moment.

Photos of the usual suspects: ( Mostly me & food. )

What, you don't chronicle your life by the food and drink consumed?

( I even take pictures. )

1. Not about the Brendan Fraser movie (your choice whether that's a good or bad thing):

( The mummy returns! )

2. ( The Vagaries of Online Dating, ct'd )

/RL

3. gwyn_r pimps Burn Notice again! Go take a look. & :-P

4. SGA fans, don't forget to vote for -- and feedback -- the mcshep_match stories. Not that I would wish to nudge you towards the Away Team stories espec...okay, no:
I totally want to.
Nudge you.
Towards the Away Team Stories.

Today's date? More fun than the last one: brunch in a sweet little café where I'll proceed to drag future guests, and then we went to the zoo. What? Giggling over exhibitionist gibbons is a perfectly valid activity for a first date.

( Photos...of the animals, not the boy )

PS: I've just received a wedding invitation from my cousin, the alleged black sheep of the family, who turns out not half as black or sheepish as certain family members have made her out to be. *g* Anyways, the invitation is nice, but you know what it lacks? A DATE. Seriously, I checked: It does not mention the wedding date anywhere, and I know that this is a mistake because it does ask to tell the organisation team whether one will be coming or not. Oh, Cousin Cee. ♥

PPS: Gotta love a friendslist that has links called, "andre 3000 marry me."

Did you mi...okay, fine, I wasn't really gone long enough to be missed. Spent last night at my friend Anne's, watching the game (\o/) and drinking Nero d'Avola, cheering on the boys and Philipp Lahm most of all. What? Pocket-sized football players are kinda cute. ( Semi-final talk, the intersection of food and foot-ball, and some superstition to boot! )

Otherwise, even when the game was over, life was good: turns out Anne's a Secret Buffy Fan, who never dares to tell Germans because they either stare without understanding or point and laugh. She has the DVD sets of all seasons but is only up to S4; we agreed there needs to be (re-)watching in both our near futures.

Today, then, work was fairly unremarkable. Afterwards, I made my way to this sophisticated little café where, on Thursdays, they offer a free French Conversation Stammtisch (regulars' table, LEO tells me). Today, of course, it didn't happen...but the place was so lovely and the waiter -- you can see him in one pic, in fact -- so friendly and helpful that I will definitely return next week.

( See? )

That said, I need to polish my French but lack the resources for classes. If you are aware of free yet effective ways to practice speaking and listening especially? Sharing is caring. & :-)

With my mother still not feeling too well, I baked her a cake. (What? It's a valid way of showing one's love.)

( Photos of the garden, the ingredient, and *la creation* )

( The recipe: Lavender Lemon Tea Cake )