Last weekend we went downtown for our usual Sunday routine, but my workmate John, his wife and kids all joined us. It was pretty nice out, but got colder as the afternoon wore on. We went to the hat shop, where John bought a ivy cap for his father's birthday, then the flea market, and ended up at the toy store - where John was admiring all the train model diorama stuff. John is in to trains, though I imagine he didn't expect to see the moving diorama models that go in the house of ill repute!
On Monday we drove 2+ hours up (and 2+ hours back) to Wiesbaden where my other workmate, Adrian, is in the hospital. He ended up having surgery on a slipped disc in his spine on Tuesday. His disc, up at the top of his spine, affected his back and arms. The doctor came in an explained the whole procedure to him while we were there. It really is true that one of the last things someone learns in a different language is TACT! A minor communication misunderstandings seem a lot bigger -- Adrian asked if he should have the surgery, and the doctor answered the question "do I have to have the surgery", which answer was No, because he isn't going to immediately die if he doesn't have the surgery so it's considered optional. Of course if he doesn't have it, he'll continue in excruciating pain... He came through everything okay and gets out of the hospital next Wednesday.
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