I think I'll talk to my dentist about pulling most of my teeth. I think it would be a good idea.

The fast ICE between Aschaffenburg and Cologne is GREAT! I splurged did the fast thing. My ears suffered high speed tunnel syndrome (similar to landing in aircrafts) but it only took 90 minutes instead of 3 hours. I might be hooked.
My friends in Cologne are pregnant (I mean SHE is, he's just watching) and I think my favorite names are either Leokadya or Pluder. Nice little city, Cologne. I also registered to apply for admission to the test for the forein ministry. They'll ask all kinds of interesting questions about German politics and economics, that will be fun.
I just can't make up my mind....maybe I should study medicine after all. Maybe then I could pull my own teeth.

I've been spending my mornings (official institutions in Germany tend to close at noon) going from one institution to another, trying to get healthcare. Everyone knows that in every industrialized nation other than the USA people have healthcare. Especially in Germany which boasts a wonderful social system which not only provides even the lowliest refugee from Kasachstan with healthcare, but that currently also supports about 40% (estimated) of the population that are without work. So far so good. But I somehow managed to have *no status*. And since I have no status, nobody is responsible for me. First I called the insurance company. They refused me, because I can only be insured through my company. I offered to pay myself. I can't, they don't take unemployed people. I should try the unemployment agency. The unemployment agency can't help me because I've never worked (=payed taxes) in Germany. I should try social services. Social services can't help me, because I am not eligible for welfare this month. Fine, says I. I don't need your money, I just need to get health insurance.
They can't give me health care unless I've been receiving welfare for 4 weeks. Great. They send me to the healthcare authority. She suggests I get insurance myself and can't help me. I go back to the insurance people. When talking to the insurance people, I realize I am stuck in a vicious circle....
Exploring other options has not yielded results. Becoming a registered business won't help me. Private insurance companies will not have me. I have two options: find a job quickly or get married.
Anyway, having no healthcare makes me feel very special. And quite --- American.

I thought I'd post a painting by Ch. Schad. Isn't it pretty?

I made exciting discoveries today at an educational fair here in Aschaffenburg. I had known about Ernst Ludwig Kirchner having been born near the train station (the house is still there, it is now a casino) and Christian Schad being from around here. And that Clemens von Brentano died here is no secret either (although I believe he didn't really mean to die here).
But today I found out that Alzheimer (yes, *the* Alzheimer) went to school here, probably the same school I went to. Isn't that exciting? Maybe I'll one day discover a dreadful disease as well.