Just Feeling Generally Yucky

I know its Tuesday and I haven't blogged in several days. The Internet connection has been non-existant for the past weekend.

Sunday, the day after the wedding was really rough. We all stayed up until the wee hours of the morning. And, I haven't been up that late in years.

The after reception party was in my room and I was so afraid that we would be kicked out of the hotel for the noise. We weren't, but I think that was only because most of the hotel was filled with guests from the wedding.

I have also been really sick. I must be really run down and/or picked up a stomach flu. Just feeling generally yucky.

I will post pictures if I can stay connected in a little bit.

Just Got Home

Just got back from the rehearsal dinner. Tomorrow is gonna be a fun time. Pictures and impressions to follow.

Night night for now.

Shopping For Needed Stupid Stuff

One of the benefits of being back in the States for this visit is getting to shop. Don't get me wrong, I love living in Germany. I love the markets, the stores, the way of life.

I just don't love having to shop in the BX, the military's version of a department store. There is little variety of anything. Their choices for clothing is either... it falls apart after the first washing or designer clothing.

I went looking for a pair of jeans. $50.00 for a pair of no name, can't choose the style, take it or leave it pair of jeans. The store shouts at me, "Hey, be glad we have a pair in your size." The BX can hold you hostage on stuff like this.

Shopping in the local German stores is fun. But, very expensive. The Euro is very strong against the dollar and makes shopping a luxury at times.

My understanding of German is coming back but I am far from fluent and lugging around a translating dictionary is cumbersome.

So......

I am on a shopping trip. Actually, I am here to attend a wedding. But, the shopping is like a friend with benefits.

I am shopping for some really needed items that I just haven't been able to find in Germany. Stupid stuff, really. Needed, stupid stuff.

I started putting together a list when I realized that I would be returning for the wedding.

• Vicks Vapor Cream not the rub. The cream is greaseless and works better.
• Measuring Spoons. the ones at the BX are yucky and the European ones are sized differently.
• Jeans and a couple of turtlenecks.
• Gypsy Cold Care. An herbal tea that really works when you are sick.
• Reading Glasses. Just cheaters really, but I am finding that I need a stronger pair.
• Cook top cleaner for glass.
• Vegetable seeds for my garden this Spring.
• Hair Mousse. Of course I use a brand that isn't carried.

******If there are any foodies out there please take this as a warning.******

• Chef Boyardee pizza sauce. I love the stuff. For homemade strombolli and dipping mozzarella sticks.

I found some awesome high thread count sheets and a new set of towels, all for 75% off. I also found a bird feeder pole that will hold three different feeders. The bird feeders in Germany that I have seen are shaped like a chalet house on a stand that sits on the patio. I haven't found any shephard's crooks, that I am used to having, for the type of bird feeders normally found in the States.

My shopping is done now and I am in the process of helping with the last minute details for the wedding. I get to be the "Hey Girl" and do all the running while the bridal party gets to practice being bridal.

So the shopping is done. Well, done till I hit Southern California with my SMIL.

Life Is Really Good

Well the adventures continue. As if I ever expect them to stop.

Spousal Unit got us all up, had coffee ready for me and started loading the van. The plan was to get on the road at 6:00am to beat the Monday morning traffic, the Staus (traffic jams) for which Frankfurt is infamous. We all finally pile into the van and take off at 6:15. As we are backing up I notice snow on the windshield. Yup, its snowing and we get to brave Frankfurt traffic.

Actually the drive up wasn’t too bad. Traffic was moderately heavy, but tolerable. We parked and went in separate directions to check in. We met back up and got final hugs and kisses before splitting up again for our flights and having Spousal Unit go back home.

I was able to board the plane in a very timely manner. And then the waiting began. The snow continued to fall and we were unable to push back until the plan was de-iced. The de-icing truck would be arriving in 45 minutes, stated the Captain. The Captain was correct. The de-icing truck did arrive in 45 minutes, but then it needed to de-ice us. So an 1 ½ after we were supposed to push back we finally did. Then we sat in the take off queue for another hour.

Landing 2 ½ hours late in Newark I had to go through Customs. Stood in the line and made it through in a breeze.

I collected my luggage and stood in the other Customs line and again, just had to breeze through. I left to recheck my luggage and found that area. Now luggage-less I look for the train to go to the "A" terminal. An agent directs me to the proper security line and I get in another line. Getting through security I proceed to my gate and sit down. Looking at my watch, wondering why they aren't starting the boarding. I ask a gal sitting next to me if this flight is going to St Louis. "Why no, its going to Orange County."

I panic.

I go to the counter and am told that my gate was changed and I need to go to the "C" terminal.

Running now, I take off and get back on the train and get myself to the "C" terminal. I have to go back through security. I have 7 minutes before the plane takes off. The Security x-ray scanner now wants to have me open my computer bag because she obviously has never seen a floppy drive before. Of course, since floppy drives are dinosaurs of the computer world I have never taken it out of the pocket. It does not want to come out of the pocket. I'm shaking so hard I can't get it out of the pocket. I get it out. She scans it.

I now have 2 minutes.

I run to the gate. Another gate change.

I make it to the correct gate and the door is closed.

I start to beg. Please let me on the flight. The plane hasn't pushed back. Please.

The agent said she couldn't do anything.

A man in the same situation said that another agent was checking to see if he could get on. This agent came back and said that he could get on. I just ran and gave her my boarding pass and got on the plane. Didn't even ask if there was a seat. Got to my seat and it was occupied. "I believe you are in my seat." She got up and I sat down. I made it.

I get to St Louis, proceed to the baggage area and get an unexpected hug. My gal pal is there to pick me up. Life is good.

She then says, "Oh, by the way. Spousal Unit called. The boys are stuck in Newark for an extra 2 hours. Can I call their friend that is picking them up to let him know?"

More panic. I have no cell phone. No numbers to call. We end up calling friends of friends, who call friends and am assured the boys will get a ride. At this point I can only pray.

We get to the house and exhausted I go to bed.

Later I got a phone call from Charlie, son #1, telling me that they arrived safe and sound.

Life is really good.

My SMIL Rocks

I am flying out at O'Dark Thirty in the morning. The boys are flying with me on different airlines and arriving a little later than me. I am going to spend a little time with some friends from my hometown, more time with the boys and do some errands that were left unfinished prior to my coming to Europe. Think..... major Walmart run.

I will be taking my laptop, but will be visiting with friends that have sporadic Internet capabilities. They steal, sorry, borrow wireless capabilities and sometimes I can't get on.

I will be in the St. Louis area for almost two weeks and then on to California for an extra long weekend with my truly awesome, forever young, delightful Step Mother-in-law.

Spousal Unit didn't marry a woman like his Mother. He married a woman like his Step Mother.

My SMIL rocks.

And True To Form, We Are Missing Socks

One of my Gal Pals emailed me last night and got all, "What's up with all the pictures and no writing"?

Well, taking pictures and just commenting on the photos is a lot quicker to put out a post. I have been really busy, with the boys' visit and have not found a lot of time to just sit down and throw together an actual wordy entry. We have been traveling and getting home late. The boys are also on the 'puter keeping up with their own lives. So lately a lot of pics and not so many words.

To update a little: The visit, thus far, has been very pleasant. I am really enjoying them being here. It is also strange to have the boys about again. Spousal Unit picked the house out for two people to live here. Thus, the house seems to be bulging with people when we are all home.

I am finding that doing laundry for 4 people again is a chore.

The laundry is mountainous. It takes about 3-3 1/2 hours to do a load from start to finish. I love how clean ever thing is, but the time to accomplish the load is so sloooooooooooow.

The machines are both front loaders. The dryer uses extraction for the water rather than a vent for the clothes. There is only one setting that we have found that actually gets the clothes dry. Heavens, some of the controls actually refer to ironing the damp clothes. Iron? What's that???




And, after each load I have to pull out the container and dump the water into the sink. I am still deciphering the controls on the machines.
We also haven't figured out how to do a plain cold water wash. This setting is for 60 degrees Celsius. That's 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Done in an hour and 46 minutes.



And true to form, we are missing socks.

America Has Invaded

We have been traveling these past two weeks. I thought I was in Europe, Germany to be specific. Wow, am I suprised. I feel like I am almost at home.

Subway in a 100 hundred year old building.

Starbucks in a two hundred year old building.
Burger King in a three hundred year old building.

McDonalds in a building that dates to the 1400's.


America has invaded.