found

since the camera cord has been found and while 181 pics download, here is today's cultural adventure. over the weekend my work colleague brought her super IT boyfriend to set up my wireless because i was having some difficulties with it and choosing the right setup options in german.

the topic always comes up--heather's less than stellar german skills. because i did not study german in a university setting like i studied spanish, my german is completely off the cuff and random. i pick up a good chunk of it from the sarcastic 45 year old work colleague in front on me, so i have german words to describe 'trash talk' or a word for 'he who talks too much' but i lack some basics like toothpaste since that one doesn't come up in the office.

as super IT boyfriend was fixing my pc it gave him a bit of a challenge and he was less than amused with the four firewalls i have installed. i explained that i install and uninstall with reckless abandon.

this morning he told her to pass along a new german word to me. she says the word 'basteln' in german but i do not know it. she says, moment, i ask leo. leo is a famous online dictionary that many of the germans use; it is quite extensive in its definitions, and there is even a speaking option to hear the word.
http://dict.leo.org/pages.ende/about_en.html?lang=en

in the meantime i ask my other colleague the meaning without telling her the scenario. she explains...it's like when small children spend an entire afternoon making christmas ornaments, or doing craft things, that is the verb you would use. hmm. colleague number one is back now.

"leo says it is 'to tinker'. "
"a-ha, now i get it, i tinkered with the computer."
" yes, he says you tinkered."
"well, yes perhaps."
"tinkered to death."