Learn to smile at every situation. See it as an opportunity to prove your strength and ability.
Anonymous

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
Albert Einstein

There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group.
Mary Kay Ash

Those who don't understand determination call determination stubbornness or too driven. To be determined is to see it through!
Catherine Pulsifer

"Sweet dreams are made of this.  Who has a mind to disagree. 

I travel the world and the seven seas. Everybody is looking for something."

- Eurythmics -

In the beginning...Germany

I was born in Frankfurt am Main-Hoechst, Germany in 1973 and spent my childhood growing up in Mengerskirchen, Germany.  Looking back I couldn't have asked for a better place to grow up.  Small town atmosphere, everyone knew everyone, crime was so to speak non-existent, children played unsupervised and had the freedom to explore the country side.   There was no TV to watch after school or Nintendo to play.  In 1974 my little sister Mandy and then in 1978 my little (now big) brother Rusty joined the family.  Both my parents were born after the war and thanks to the 60's they are pretty cool parents.  Traveling was in there blood.  Prior to 1973 they explored Europe and even ventured to Morocco in a home built dune buggy.  The travel didn't stop after we came along.  With three (3) kids and a big dog in tow we spent every summer in a different European country. The friends I made during childhood and teenage years in Germany are still part of my life now. My Parents were granted immigration to Canada after I graduated from the Realschule at age 16.  Life as I knew it was going to change drastically.... 

Another beginning...Canada

I believe that moving to Canada changed my future completely.  Why did my parents move to Canada? To give us kids a better future.  I realize now that Canada is the land of opportunities and that if you work hard it is possible to succeed.  But returning to 1989, when both my sister and I arrived in Edmonton alone to start High School.  My parents were still in Germany to take care of the immigration papers and shipping our valuables.   Coming from a very green and hilly part of Germany to a very flat and brown Alberta, Canada was a shock.  My first year of High School was really a blur, as my English knowledge was limited. In 1990 we moved to Rocky Mountain House to a Ranch.  I graduated from High School in 1992 and decided to take a year off and visit Germany and Europe.  In 1993 I enrolled at Red Deer College in the Accounting and Financial Management program and graduated in 1995.  My first job took me to Calgary, Alberta and the big city living.  I realized quickly that their was no money in accounting at that time and in 1996 I started work with a German Mining Engineering Company in Calgary.  My interest was sparked, and with a push from the Engineering Company, I returned to college to graduate with a Mechanical Engineering Diploma in 2000.  I was hired on with an Oil and Gas Engineering company as a project manager and have never looked back. 

My soul mate Mike...

Mike and I met at work and instantly developed a great friendship.  The special chemistry between us was hard to ignore and in 2004 we started to date.  I admire his values, beliefs, decisions and actions.  Once he sets himself a goal, there is no turning back.  I love him dearly and can't thank him enough for helping me understand myself better.  On February 20, 2006 we were married in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Titanium wedding rings we exchanged, engraved with the words "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be. Mo Anam Cara", will tie us together forever.

Who am I...

I have the determination to succeed and spirit for life from my wonderful Mom.  The most important advice I have received from my Mom is that "Anything is possible;" there is no such thing as "I can't do it".  If there is a will, there is a way.  My Dad is very German, a perfectionist, and therefore very particular in precision and accurateness. This is a trait that was handed down to me.  Sometimes it makes life difficult, since I seem to take on too much and can't relax.  Some of my not so nice personalities are my stubbornness and impatience.  Mike helps me see what is important in life.  He is not scared to question and ask why things are they way they are.  To live life to its fullest one must have a partner that has the same goals and determination to succeed.  We both are very driven people.  I organize and plan everything in detail and get easily upset when stuff doesn't go as planned, then there is Mike who loves it when things go wrong and he can jump in and save the day.  Life between us is never boring.  It is okay to dream, explore and discover.

The passions of my life...

My number one passion is Mike, and spending as much time together with him exploring each other and the world J.  Of course I love my parents and siblings, who give me continued support and believe in me and my crazy adventures. 

My number two passion is motorcycles and traveling to far away places.  After receiving my motorcycle license in 1997 I was hooked and there was no stopping me.  Now over 150,000km later, I realize that riding a motorcycle through foreign countries has exposed me to some incredible experiences and changed (continues to change) my views of people, country and culture. Most importantly, I continue to revise the person that I have become and what is really of value to me in life.  The greatest bonus of riding a motorcycle is the approachability.  Where ever we stop, people are not scared to talk to us, we are immersed into the culture and see, smell, feel and hear everything around us. 

My number three passion is art.  I used to draw a lot way back and unfortunately my other passions in life do not leave a lot of time for me to pursue this.  Most of my creativity now is channeled into the website and photo albums.  Mike is a great photographer and he continues to teach me.  We both have an eye for composition and interesting subjects. I can see myself getting into photography and even back into drawing in the future.

Friends...

There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will.

I have some wonderful friends in Canada. Even met some amazing people on the road, which whom we have formed amazing friendships.  But never did I find another bond like with that of my best friends Melanie (Germany) and Michael (Florida). Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end. Thank you, Melanie and Michael, for being my forever friends.

 A friend is someone who can see the truth and pain in you even when you are fooling everyone else.

Places visited...

1979 - France & Spain

1980 - Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy

1981 - Austria/Switzerland

1983 - Austria/Switzerland

1984 - France, Spain

1985 - Switzerland & Yugoslavia

1986 - France, Spain & Portugal

1988 - Austria

1988 - Switzerland & Italy

1990 - British Columbia, Canada

1991 - British Columbia, Canada

1992 - Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Netherlands, Belgium

1994 - Alaska

1996 - Costa Rica & Panama

1996/1997 Montana, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington

1997 - Montana and British Columbia (Motorcycle Trip)

1998 - British Columbia (Motorcycle Trips)

1998 - Colorado

1999 - Florida, Daytona Bike Week

1999 - British Columbia (Motorcycle Trips)

2000 - Greece

2000 - British Columbia (Motorcycle Trips)

2001 - Montana, Idaho, Washington, British Columbia, Vancouver Island (Motorcycle Trips)

2002 - New Zealand (Motorcycle Trip)

2002 - Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, British Columbia (Motorcycle Trips)

2003 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Italy (Motorcycle Trip)

2003 - British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Washington (Motorcycle Trips)

2003 - Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado

2004 - Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Motorcycle Trips)

2004 - Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California, Baja California, main land Mexico, Copper Canyon, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming (Motorcycle Trip)

2005 - Florida

2005 - Germany (BMW Enduro Course) Motorcycle Trip

2005 - Yukon, NWT and Alaska (Motorcycle Trip)

2006 - United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany (Motorcycle Trip)

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This site was last updated 09/25/06