40 years of Kiki

40 years of Kiki – that sounds like a really, REALLY long time. Whew.  Admittedly, I was not too thrilled to have to leave the thirties. But sometimes you just have bad luck.

Well then, if I have to celebrate my fortieth birthday, then at least decent –  who knows how long I can still do that … to celebrate properly and so. I do not get younger!

Plan A: having a big party in Austria with all of my friends and beloved ones! Well, this plan was clearly ruined when we moved to the US. And now flying to Austria only because of having a bit of birthday? No, I need a plan B.

“We could go on a little vacation?” suggests Matthias. “Maybe camping?”

That doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe our new friends in our new homeland are coming with us? But camping…I don’t know…maybe a bit cold…and might be rainy!

I can tell you: Having your birthday in November is clearly a stroke of fate: cold, rain and fog spoil every plan. There’s not even snow – as then you could at least do a cool sleigh ride…

Then I spend a few weeks online. Where in California, better, near San Francisco, can you take a short break, being indoor, not spending a fortune? And then I’ll find something:
How about a Cabin at Lake Tahoe? Yap! Sounds good!


Thursday, 9th of November 2017. Scene one, take one – birthday-action!

Matthias and I drive to Sacramento. Why? On the one hand, it is halfway to Lake Tahoe and on the other hand: we meet Alex there, my very good friend from Austria. He’s vacation, always wanted to go to California anyway and…here he is to celebrate with me 🙂

But first of all I get a birthday breakfast at Bette’s Oceanview Diner in Berkely.

Here you have to bring a little of your time. It’s Thursday 10 am but there is no single table available and we have to wait about 30 minutes. But I guess that’s a good sign – must be good here!

And indeed, we eat like king and queen: scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and bagel with cream cheese and of course some potatoes. Wham. That was a decent meal. We are completely full but completely and continue to Sacramento. We meet Alex who lives in the same motel, how convenient.

We stroll through the city and have some coffee and chat. In between, I receive calls and messages with congratulations. Sooooo beautiful how many people have thought of me! Thanks to you all!!!

And in the evening Matthias and I have a posh dinner. Really chic and really yummy!

And then a cocktail and then…we are tired… Eh! It’s not my twentieth birthday guys! And I still need a little reserves for the weekend!

So we return to our motel and go to bed.

‘I think I am feeling sick’ I think.

“I think I am feeling sick” says Matthias.

And it gets worse. Oh no. It gets really bad. We visit the toilet-house in turn.

Food poisoning versus too much fatty food. It doesn’t matter.
I want to die.

But I can’t die. Can not even sleep.

At least, at around 4 am, the nausea becomes a bit more bearable and as the sun rises I sleep even a little bit …


Friday, 10th of November. Meet the Village People.

Unlike exactly forty years ago, I do not feel like being new born this morning. But not as miserable as the last night. We exchange breakfast for baking soda and pills that should clear up the stomach. Then life goes on and we drive to Lake Tahoe. Since we can only move into the house at 4 pm we do a little hike: Tahoe Rim Trail to Picnic Rock Viewpoint. A nice little hike, about 45 – 50 minutes up the mountain, and from above, you will be rewarded with a great view!

We are lucky with the weather. The whole drive we were in heavy rain and snowfalls. And now, as we want to hike, the disgusting weather stops!

And then we move in our cabin. Wow I am excited. I hope it will be nice.

I’m sure it could have been worse … 😀

We have Kiki’s – Glühwein (recipe follows) and a Sweetpotatoe-Quinoa-Chili (recipe).  

Little by little all guests arrive. I hope everyone gets along with each other?

But any initial shyness is immediately filed – everyone can with everyone!

However, we are all a bit tired. Matthias and me from our sleepless night. Alex from jetlag. And the rest of a busy week and a four-hour car ride in the sleet-covered fog. Carefully, I suggest that I would not be angry if we could take things a little easier this evening and just go to sleep …

“I hoped you’d said so.” Emma says. “But it’s only nine…that’s maybe a bit too early…?”

“WHAT? Only NINE?” I am shocked. No. At nine no one sleeps on my birthday. Tiredness or no! “Let’s play something.” I suggest therefore.

One Night Werewolf. Village people – close your eyes!

We play One Night Werewolf. Because one round takes only ten minutes. Then we play a bit and can go to bed soon …

No way. After a few rounds we are addicted and play until well after midnight… ?


Saturday, 11th of November 2017. Village People: Close your eyes. Werewolves thumbs up. And then dance: YMCA

Oh I sleep well. Only shortly but well. And our stomaches are better too. We will try and eat a little bit. We start with breakfast!

Phil, Sandra and Pierre. In the backround Omar, María, Marion and Emma

François and Marion

And now? Mini golf, ping pong, hiking or hot springs – who wants to do what? Everybody wants to hike. And before that to play a bit werewolf. Awesome. That’s fuss-free.

First we gamble…

…and then we ramble. At Donner Lake. 

Omar and María

Omar, María, Alex, Emma, Kiki, Sandra, Pierre, Marion, François, Phil, Matthias

And by the time we get home, we’re all hungry. Fine. Because on the patio there is a BBQ …

The pitmaster and his friend.

The rest of us prepares salads and baked potato and sauces and hot wine. And has a little fun.

“Emma, dance!”

After this (so good!!! Yummy!!! Thank you pitmaster!!!) meal Christina, my photography teacher, and her husband Andi come over.

And it’s time for my surprise … My dear friend Nina, yes, the one who visited me last week, made a video for me. She had collected photos and video messages from friends and beloved ones and produced a delightful video! Thank god I use waterproof mascara … Such a surprise and such a nice idea! I am still completely stunned and touched! Thanks to you, dear Nina, and all the others who made so funny and nice video messages!

I would also like to say a huge gigantic thank you to Matthias! He has given me so many nice presents and surprises, made me happy with such a lovely video message and birthday card and helped me to have an unforgettable birthday!
D ? A ? N ? K ? E ? S ? C ? H ? Ö ? N


‘Now it’s time for a group photo’, thinks Matthias and marches to the first floor on the gallery to activate the camera’s self-timer. In order to save the camera from falling, and also to be able to create the right angle, he stows the camera on / in a bunch of bananas. Then he pushes the self-timer and sprints back to us onto the couch …

Pierre, Sandra, Alex, Andi, Christina, Omar, Marìa, Kiki, Matthias, Phil, Emma, Marion, François: ‘Cheeeeeeeeeese….’

……ooooooooooh….camera is falling……!!!!!

….aaaaaaaaaah……everything’s fine….the banana-safety-construction stands firm!

Then we bring the newcomers into the loop werewolf. For those who do not know this game: Each player gets a card and learns if he is a bad werewolf or a good villager. However, only he knows who he is and now has to convince the other players (if necessary by lying) to believe him to be good through and through … And at the end someone is killed who, people think, is the werewolf whilst the werewolves, of course, try to kill a villager… Of course, there are plenty of other characters so the game varies.
PS: the game is not meant for Neanderdigithals as a smartphone and an app are necessary …

Sometime one of the werewolves calls the villager Village People – and the running gag was born: YMCA.

And right at the next victory of the Village People, YMCA sounds in the speakers and spontaneously everyone jumps up…

Village People dance: YMCA

Until late is now lied, discussed, accused and – as a logical consequence – killed. What a wonderful birthday! ?


Sunday, 12th of November 2017. Last Orders: YMCA

After a hearty breakfast – this time also for Matthias and me, yes, our stomachs have fully recovered! – unfortunately we have to leave this wonderful place. But the sun shines so beautiful from the sky and so we do not drive home yet. But in a convoy to the RUBlKON TRAIL. A beautiful (!), very easy hike along the lake awaits us.

In order not to have to hike everything back to the car you can (assuming you are traveling with more than one car) park one car at the D.L. Leave Bliss Parking Lot and the other one at the end of the Rubicon Trail at Emerald Bay Parking Lot. Then you have about five miles (that would be in kilometers eight) a beautiful view and a super nice hiking trail.

Emma & Phil…

…Alex & Matthias…

…Matthias & Kiki…

…all together: YMCA

What a nice group!


And then we have a farewell picnic and then… it’s time to say good-bye to an unforgettable best birthday weekend ever…

I am very grateful to have so many nice people and companions in my life, hence

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