Ich bin krank

So this is what 40 feels like - red, irritated, dripping nose; scratchy throat; sinus congestion... ...Oh wait, that's my cold. Yes, this is turning out to be a somewhat memorable birthday - bad cold in the middle of our Eurotrip, being re-united with the cellphones (despite a French Postal Strike), and The Gambler realizing that he forgot my card at home. But that's OK - all this just gives me licence to stretch out the celebration for the next week or so. I did get a present from The Gambler a few days ago: Coke and "Coca-light" have been the universal in restaurants thus far (well, except for the place that had Cola-licht, which turned out to be East German cola, according to the Berliner we were with. It is of slightly higher quality than East German toilet paper.), and I am a die hard Diet Pepsi drinker. Our hotel in Berlin has a kitchenette, so when he went to the market to pick up some food, The Gambler managed to find my sweet beautiful Diet Pepsi. And I have bought myself some yarny presents. The first was an amazing bargain: a bulky wool yarn for 1.95 Euros per ball (less than $2.70 Cdn). I picked it up at a Lana Grossa shop in Nurmberg. But before that, I picked up this yarn at Tolle Wolle in Nurmberg: Some handspun merino for 12 Euros per skein; and I bought it entirely because of the colourway: It's Somerset coloured yarn! Dear Mommy, this is Somerset. Happy Birthday. We miss you. Greedo wants you to send some schnitzel.