Baumwolle

Random fact:

The German word for cotton is Baumwolle.

My Eddie Bauer shirt is made of100% baumwolle according to the tag. (I had to google "baumwolle" to find out what my shirt was ... makes it sound much more chic than saying "100% cotton.")

Trivia Time

I must say I'm a bit disappointed that only a ghost of a rabbi bothered to try and answer my question. Either my friends only pretend to read my blog, or they're just too smart and already knew the answer.

Humor me, people! Come on!

The question: What 9 countries border Germany?

The answers (counterclockwise starting from the north):

1. Denmark
2. The Netherlands
3. Belgium
4. Luxembourg
5. France
6. Switzerland
7. Austria
8. The Czech Republic
9. Poland

And yes, ibbar the undead, I would miss you a bit if you went away for good! But if it's time for you to move on, then so be it.

Ix-nay on Liechtenstein, eh?

I'm not ready to reveal the answer to the Germany trivia questions yet - but I will say "no" Liechtenstein is not one of the answers.

Speaking of small countries, Midwest Girl Rebes alerted me to this:

For sale: the world's smallest country with its own flag, stamps, currency and passports. Apply to Prince Michael of Sealand if you want to run your own nation, even if it is just a wartime fort perched on two concrete towers in the North Sea.

Intrested in this property? Read more about it.

Getting back to work hasn't been that bad. I'm putting things in order for 2007 and coordinating the newsletter. Ah, it's all just so exciting.

What I Learned from Rack-o

Does anyone remember Racko? A Parker Brothers/Hasbro game, Racko involves a plastic rack with ten slots for cards. The object of the game is to get cards in order from lowest to highest (you really want to know how to play - see the website).

The new version of Racko my parents purchased (we lost our old version in the Great Game Redistribution instated by my mom. As an elementary teacher in a public school, Mom augmented her supplies by taking away her children's toys.) each card has a piece of trivia that corresponds to the number on the card (cards go from 1 to 60).

Card #9: Germany is bordered by nine countries.

Here's the challenge I set for you, dear reader. Can you name those nine countries and draw them on a map - without cheating?! (ie. using the Internet, atlas, or encyclopedia)

My parents and I named 8 of the 9 and drew the map correctly (well, except for that one country ... but I was close, damn it).

In a round about way, I also learned from Wikipedia (it all ties together in the end) that Liechtenstein is a really pretty principality.