If it's not a tick bite, it's a descended filling.

A new week a different set of problems. Today I ventured out into Garmisch to visit a one Dr. Zwink.  Dentist by day, compulsive coffee drinker, or cocaine user, by night.  I had this throbbing feeling that one of my fillings had fallen out or was on the verge of it, so I had Marcel call a dentist a fellow co-worker had referred to me and set up a same day appointment.  Normally I would have let the problem fester a few more days, but I had graves and then the Marcello arrival and didn't want anything to mess with my groove.  Dr. Zwink was the most energetic little old man I had ever met.  He buzzed around the office laughing and asking about my troublesome tooth.  He took an x-ray and made me hold it up to the window while we examined it together.  We discovered nothing wrong (except exceptional roots and "silent" wisdom teeth) and as a team we diagnosed my descended filling as just a sensitive tooth.  Apparently just one tooth can be sensitive, and it can happen over night.  When all was said and done his assistant put a sealant on my molars and handed me a tube of sensitive tooth paste.  I greeted the receptionist on my way out where he informed me that I owed nothing today.  Nothing?  Is this man crazy?  An x-ray in the states would have cost me more than what I hold in my bank account, but that isn't saying much.  I left the office with a smile on my face.

No, I did not take this picture.

On to another topic of medical concern; the pharmacy.  In Germany their pharmacies are called apothekes.  They are like a smaller version of CVS, minus the food, batteries, liquor, candy, household appliances, etc.  So basically they just carry the medicine.  Instead of picking out the items you want and heading to the counter, you are greeted by the pharmacist who asks how they can help you.  They diagnose your problem and find the best solution they can offer without a prescription.  For instance, when I had a UTI I explained my discomfort and minutes later she returned with a box of an herbal supplement and told me this would help with the symptoms until I could get a prescription for the antibiotic.  Everything is located behind the counter, except a few items, like cough drops, tissues, and other versatile items.  I have found the pharmacists are friendly and not nearly as stressed looking as the ones at Wal-mart or Walgreens.  They look like they actually enjoy their jobs, not like they want to murder someone.  It might have something to do with the slower pace and the  abundance of pharmacies in one small area.  I pass three on my way to work and that's only one side of Garmisch. They are easily accessed and widespread, so they aren't going at full speed the entire day and wearing themselves out.  They also aren't as computerized as we are.  In the states you have a regular pharmacy where your prescriptions are logged into the computer.  It is impossible to get a prescription medication without that little piece of paper.  With that being said, there is an illegal birth control ring festering in the Abrams.  The girls use the German medical system to their advantage to get birth control without a prescription.  Simply show an empty pack and explain you lost the paper.  The pharmacist will then give you a disappointed look and hand over the new supply.  That's it.  Easy peasy.

Next is the eye doctor.  I wonder what kind of surprises this visit will hold for me.  I know it can't be any worse than the gynecologist or any better than the dentist.  Somewhere in the middle with little to no surprises would be perfectly ok.

Instant Success

The Bee Trap

I have a spare forty-five minutes before I head to the resort for a babysitting gig, so instead of silently sipping coffee on my balcony I will take a few moments to update you on my new posh lifestyle.   Having the single (double occupancy) room has been a godsend.  I've been sleeping great and enjoying every minute in the new digs.  In the divorce I did lose the coffee maker.  It was a crushing blow that was softened when a neighbor sold me his unused machine a day before he headed on to this next chapter of his life, the Philipines (be happy I'm in Germany, Mom).  As happy as I was, I ruined the sweet deal by getting to eager and forgetting to check it's voltage.  Yes, I blew it up during my first pot of coffee in 243.  Luckily, my night in shining armor, Marcel, found a a retro style coffee maker on e-bay that will be arriving next week.  I think I can survive on instant coffee for five more days.  Despite the coffee disaster I have made the new room feel at home and have started a little garden on the balcony that includes a cactus, basil, and a new beautiful red flowering plant that I just bought today.  The new flower really adds an element to the balcony.  Not just because of it's beauty, but because it attracts bees like none other.  Good thing I'm not allergic.

Marcel arrives on Wednesday for a nine day stint in Garmisch.  It worked out perfectly that I have the first four days off.  We will be vacationing at Lake Contance, the third largest lake in Central Europe.  Marcel did all of the research and secured all of our travel plans while I sat idly by answering calls from anxious military wives making reservations and yelling at their kids in the background.  I would have switched roles in a heartbeat.  I'm really excited for our weekend getaway and know that Marcel will only pick the best things for us to do and see.  He's already put in a request for the iced animal crackers from the grocery store on base.  I suppose he is worth the $2.50.

I recently lost an important member to my bike family, the light.  He fell off in front of the train station and despite my cries and waves to the oncoming car it didn't move over.  I saw him blown to pieces and couldn't do a thing about it.  The car started to slow down when it saw me throw my hands in the air, then it realized that it had crushed a prized possession of mine and it took off.  It was an emotional morning, but I couldn't help but laugh about it.  It was the night before that I had finally secured the back light, so it's only natural that the front one would break.  Oh, and my mud flap fell off the week before.  I like to pretend I've got this whole bike thing figured out, but I really have no idea what I'm doing.  We'll see what happens this week.

Things at work have been going really well lately.  Live I've said before, it's the first time I actually feel completely trained on what I'm doing every day.  The other day I was scheduled as the front desk POC (point of contact) and I was really enjoying having all of that authority.  Especially because there are several new people in our department who had no idea that I really just make up about half of the things I do and say at work.  It was a fun shift, but I prefer to keep the responsibility to the minimum while I'm there.  Some people place way too much weight on these jobs and the stress is not worth it.  Front desk is definitely one of those positions that wears you down, so I prefer to be as unattached as possible.  I know Mom wants me to extend my time here in Garmisch, but I'm not sure if I can deal with one more request for a mountain view. 

Ok, I'm off to resort to earn some extra dough.  More updates to come later!

Looking in from the balcony door.

Standing in front of the fridge by the door.

Soon. I promise.

There have been at least three occasions where I have logged in and started to update the blog.  On each occasion I stopped short and deleted the post with a promise to return.  It's overwhelming to sit down and catalog life sometimes!  So with that being said, I promise to update within the next four days.  Thanks for being patient!

Ohh Ess Ahhhh

Life has been pretty uneventful since my return to Garmisch.  I was lucky enough to get some time off this past weekend and used the days to go see Marcel.  As always the time went too fast and I found myself wondering how bad it would be if I just didn't show up to work on Monday.  Of course that didn't happen but the idea was intriguing.  While I was in Freiburg I met with a family who is searching for an au pair.  Stefanie, the mom, was really sweet and despite her case of scatter brain, seemed to be a really fun and laid back person.  She extended an offer to me so now it's just up to me to decide what I will do with it.  They live in a really nice part of the city with a beautiful terrace, trees in the sidewalk, fast internet, and only a short walk to the city center.  I wasn't able to meet her daughter, which kind of unnerves me a little bit, but from what the old au pair said she is a really sweet little girl.  It's my only option at the moment and it's looking pretty good. 

At the top of the castle

While I was in Freiburg Marcel and I did our usual eating and drinking tour of the city.  I'm really glad he loves food just as much as I do.  On Saturday we were going for a "walk", which was actually a hike up a little mountain.  I wore the exact opposite type of shoes that I should have.  Surprisingly I complained very little :-) As a result of our hike I acquired a little friend.  A tick.  Tuesday morning in Garmisch I discovered the little booger and almost broke through the shower door in my moment of panic.  Somehow I finished my shower and rushed to my room where I woke up Danielle and demanded her to do something about it.  In our girly paranoia we woke up TJ across the hall who is the outdoorsy type.  He came over with his little man first aid kit and went to work.  We got the tick out and I followed up with an appointment at the German military clinic in a neighboring town.  Marcel warned me that the ticks in the Black Forest are more likely to contain certain diseases, so better safe than sorry.  Of course I wore my skinny jeans and when I was talking to the two women doctors in their office (not examining room) I had to drop trou and show them the bite.  So they decided to just give me the vaccine for some sort of disease and I went into another room where I got a shot of god knows what and was told to come back in 7 days for the booster.  I didn't sign anything.  Didn't show an ID.  Nothing.  BUT it was free.
My room move is coming along slowly but surely.  It's a process that is being made way more difficult than it has to be.  Hopefully by the end of this week I will be all settled in.  I cannot wait to have my own space again.  The good news is that even though I'll be solo, I will have all of my good friends in the same hall.  No more trekking back and forth across the Abrams.  The balcony is definitely a bonus too and with the beautiful weather forecast ahead the sunning will be optimal. 
Garmisch hosted the BMW fest this weekend.  I don't think I've ever seen so many motorcycles in my life.  Traffic sucked and the town was bustling with activity.  Friday night I was able to get in on some of the action with a live band and plenty of big beers to go around.  Almost the entire Abrams was in attendance making it a fun time to be a little less intoxicated than everyone else.  I saw plenty of embarrassing things I couldn't wait to tell my friends the next day.  And by tell, I meant make fun of for.

The girls and I at BMW Fest....and Corey's maß

What's Next?

Returning to Garmisch was difficult for me this time.  I left all of the most important people to me along with any means of easy communication with them and returned to a weekend of grave shifts.  Not only do I only see a few hours of daylight when I work these shifts, I don't have the opportunity to do anything fun or spend any time with my friends.  I was slightly depressed and wishing I could be back home where things were a little bit easier.  Now that my graves are over I've snapped out of my mini depression and feel one hundred times better.  Of course I still miss my friends and family at home, but now I at least have my every day activities and schedule back where I can be a functioning member of Abrams society.
I've recently decided to switch rooms to live with another girl who works at the front desk.  The biggest perk to this new room is that the new roommate, Whitney, lives with her German boyfriend in his flat in Garmisch, so I will basically have my own room, complete with a balcony.  The downside to all of this positive news is that I have to move out of this room and go through my first divorce.  Danielle and I have acquired everything in the room together, either by splitting the costs or making deals with departing employees to get free goods.  Surprisingly, she has been very understanding about the whole "split" and I hope that good attitude transfers when moving day comes and we have to decide who gets what.  My biggest fear is losing the coffee pot.  Wish me luck.
My job search is still up in the air.  A couple days ago I found an English teaching job in Freiburg for a very well known language instruction company, Berlitz.  I'm eager to apply, but before I can do anything I have to rewrite my resume to the European format, which is called a CV or Curriculum Vitae.  This news sent my head whirling.  As soon as I accepted this job I discarded all notions of my life after the end of my contract and haven't even considered looking at my resume, let alone updating it.  To add to the overwhelming pressure of making my perfect CV there are a hand full of other documents I have to fill out and then if by chance I do get the job I am able to apply for my visa.  So many questions and so many papers to fill out.  I haven't abandoned hope on the au pair business though.  It would certainly make my life a lot easier to just move into someone's house and not have to worry about finding a flat, but au pairs don't make the best money either.  There are way too many things to consider.  For now I'll just drink my coffee and worry about my upcoming separation.

Burger Nation

There is so much for me to comment on so forigve me while I go through the motions of our ten day American extravaganza that included four states and countless hours in the GA.  The timeline might be a bit scrambled - even though I just returned last night my mind is a little jumbled.

#1 Voted Burger

The second visit to the states was much better than my first go round.  Not only did I not see the inside of a hospital, I was able to share my American life with Marcel.  I'm pretty sure he was impressed by the larger than life size of our vehicles, fridges, and personalities.  Maybe impressed isn't the right word, but he did enjoy it.  One of the biggest differences he noticed was how everyone talks to one another whether they have any connection or not.  We are an informal culture based on fake interactions of hellos, half smiles, and how are yous.  Marcel and Alex both agreed that in Germany you wouldn't stop and have a superficial conversation with the person next to you in line at the store.  They may have been out of their element but both guys certainly did impress me with their ability to take in something a little different than what they are used to.  And yes, I'm talking about the beer.  They embraced Budweiser for the first couple days, but once they discovered that Aldi sold German beer (at a reasonable price) that became their go to.  During a fire at Jordan's Marcel opted to have a  Bud Light and the concern on Alex' face was noteworthy.  He was worried he had lost Marcel to the world of light beer.  Next time he'll have his priorities straight.  Another staple of the trip was the burger.  Over the days I lost track of how many burgers the guys ate.  Between fast food and the real burger joints we visited their numbers were really up there.  Don't worry, I got the final decision and their favorite goes to Redamaks with Nicks in Bloomington at a close second.  If the food didn't win over Marcel, I'm not sure what did.  My favorite comment he made was in reference to the chili cheese fries at Redamaks - they were really "special" to him.  Either way, we ate way too much. 

Kassy's apartment before going out

St. Louis was a sixteen hour adventure.  Due to traffic and accidents we spent a better part of the day traveling.  Once we arrived we didn't have much time to do more than say a quick hello to the legendary Keith Keys and drop our bags in the room.  The Arch was our first stop.  We debated on going to the top, but in all reality it is doubtful they'll be in St. Louis again so it was a no brainer.  We rode the little egg up and took in the views of the river and the city.  The Arch really is a beautiful monument, I'm glad we took the time to enjoy it.  After our touristy moment we walked to a nearby pub for much needed food and drinks while we watched Dirk struggle during the Maverick's/Heat game.  We walked back to the hotel in the cooling night to find a little cheese and cracker platter sent up to our room - not quite VIP status, but it's a step in the right direction.  I still can't get over how miserable St. Louis is during the summer.  I don't know how I made it those couple weeks with broken AC in the top floor apartment.

Peering out of the Arch window

Luckily, we spent the next day in the air conditioned Galleria Mall so the Germans could get in some shopping.  They were amazed at the price of just about everything.  On top of cheaper prices the Euro is stronger than the dollar so they were getting a double whammy deal.  I really envied them with the exchange rate in their favor.  It makes me wonder when will I get my monetary break...

Oinks in New Buffalo

   Bloomington was the highlight of the trip for me.  The city has so many positive memories associated with it, I can't help but be happy when my mind wanders there.  This visit was no exception.  It was a thin slice of my entire last summer; lounging around with Kassy and Randy all day then hitting it hard at night at some of our favorite bars.  The 15 cent beer special blew Marcel and Alex away.  They couldn't believe it was possible to do that and they did take advantage of it.  During the day Randy and I gave a campus driving tour to the foreigners and ended it with some shopping on Kirkwood and a long island with the infamous Kilroys breadsticks.  A nap followed shortly after, of course.  That night we went to Nicks for dinner, the Maverick's game, and to play Sink the Biz, an IU tradition.  Before we left Nicks to continue our night elsewhere some students started the Who? Who? Who? Hoosiers! cheer at Nicks.  It was the perfect example of University spirit for Marcel and Alex.  University is so different in Germany, it doesn't appear to have the same social aspect as American college.  So, the rest of the night was more fun than we could handle.  Randy buffaloed me several times, I iced him in the most awesome way possible, and Marcel swept the foosball table (I think he actually only played one game).  Oh, and I forgot the international dart game - my fellow citizens failed me while Germany took away the W (!!!CORRECTION!!!! USA won the game.  Oops!).  The following morning we had big plans to get breakfast at Runcible Spoon, but sleep was priority and we managed to stop at Dagwoods on our way out of town.  Another half day was spent in the car headed towards northern Indiana for a cookout at Dad's.

Our first visit with Dad occurred on Sunday; a day after our arrival.  Seeing Dad was great, although I wish I could have had a lot more time with him.  Marcel was nervous for the big meeting with Bret and Dad and despite his worrying, he did an awesome job and they loved him.  Dad's recovery still amazes and impresses me.  Sometimes I think he has even more energy than he did before the accident.  He kept us laughing the whole visit and managed to feed Alex half of his steak and shrimp lunch at Christo's.  I'll say it again, I'm a lucky girl.

Snapshot at the wedding

A quick walk out to the lighthouse in Michigan City

Saturday night we had the big Miller-Dhoore wedding.  Katey was the first of the girls to get married and I actually got a little choked up watching the ceremony.  She looked absolutely beautiful.  I was disappointed I couldn't be in the wedding.  I've been waiting to give that speech since 7th grade, but with the last minute decision to even attend the wedding I completely understand and was just happy to be a part of her special day.  We ate, drank, and danced right through the reception and somehow found ourselves at The Still for the nightcap where I saw more people than I had hoped to.  Marcel and Alex got the real feel for our townie bar and I'm pretty sure they had a great time viewing some of the fine people of the greater New Carlisle area.  Marcel loved it and commented that it was just like Wal-Mart.  He got a good viewing of some of the fine specimens that frequent Wal-Mart and I recently introduced him to peopleofwalmart.com.  I think he's found a new hobby.

Amy and I playing at the bean

Monday wad dedicated to a quick view of Chicago and a Cubs game.  We woke up way too early to catch the train. When an east bound train passed through they laughed and stared for a bit.   I should have warned the guys that the Southshore is nothing like the train system in Germany.  Chicago was a new thing for both Alex and Marcel.  There are just not cities like that in Europe so they were easily overwhelmed and impressed by the tall buildings.  We first visited the Willis Tower (Sears Tower) which now has a glass bottom observation deck that lets you walk out of the building a few feet.  It was a really cool experience to stand and look down 103 stories beneath your feet.  We made sure to get a foot pic and moved on to our next stop, Giordanos for the famous stuffed pizza.  Again, the guys laughed at the look and size of the pizza, but they loved it and ate every last bite.  We did some more touristy action which included the bean and Navy Pier.  Before we knew it it was time to head to Wrigleyville for the game.  We made the smart decision to wait until rush hour to take the taxi, so it took us about a half hour to go not far at all and we arrived just as the game was starting.  Allyson and Tara met us there along with Marcel's friend, Kevin, that he met while working at the Goethe institute.  Seeing as how they had never watched or been to a baseball game I was really looking forward to explaining the rules to the guys, but Kevin took that role - boys will be boys.

Cubs Game

The trip was way too short.  The travel back to Germany wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be, but jet lag really did take it's toll.  I just have a weekend of graves and hopefully after that my schedule will be back to normal.  I don't know when I'll see Marcel again, but I'm sure it won't be soon enough.
So it's back to the daily Edelweiss grind.....

P.S. I miss Mom.

Confessional

With all I've got on my mind these days I'm finding it awfully hard to sleep.  I'm excited and in super plan mode for the trip back to the states.  Not only am I anxious to show the guys a really good time, I cannot wait to be back in St. Louis and Bloomington for some short visits with the cities I love - and to see all of the Btown lifers, of course.  I'm also beyond ready to visit with the family.  I've never missed home quite like I have in the past couple weeks.  It's been on my mind more recently than it had been in the first nine months I was here.  It was a difficult three weeks to spend in Indiana, but it put me so much closer to all of the great people in my life and now spending time with them sounds absolutely perfect.  So, I have finally admitted it.  I miss home.

I recently discovered that I had exhausted all of my accrued leave time.  Reeeeally exhausted it.  Like, I'm in the negatives.  I had to get "special permission" to even come home this time and after submitting a couple leave requests for trips later in the summer I found out they would continually get denied until I had accrued enough to make up for my debt and then some.  That news really hurt all of my travel plans and sets me back quite a bit.  There is so much I want to see and do that will just have to wait.  On the bright side, I can still take short three to four days trips, I just have to make sure they fall on two pay periods.  I called Marcel and explained the news to him with my best whiny voice and his first response was "Is it ok if I laugh?".  He basically told me it wasn't the end of the world that I have to wait a couple months to take big trips.  I guess he's right, but I still want to complain about it.  Also some really sad news since I've returned, Andrew and Richard, two of my really good friends here, were fired and will also be departing Germany within the next week.  It all started with a stolen Indian statue from one of the local bars.  After a little run in with the military police the boys returned it and shared a laugh with the bar that it was stolen from.  About a month later they were both called into HR and told their contracts were being terminated.  No explanation, just done.  It's obvious why they are being sent home, but at the same time it doesn't seem quite fair.  The goodbyes will definitely be hard.

With only a couple days until the flight home I'm reeling with excitement and preparation. After Marcel arrives tomorrow I think my anxiousness will drop a few notches though.  It's been far too long.  Unfortunately, I have to work while he's here.  I attempted to get someone to cover some shifts, but I actually really need to work as many hours as possible to get back on track.  Blah to responsibility.  Come Friday night at 7pm I will be a free woman for eleven days.  Midwest, here we come.

'Merica.

Supersize Me

Being back in Garmisch feels amazing.  It was definitely time to come back.  Dad was doing great, I had exhausted my monetary resources, and I was tired of driving the vantastic.  I needed some physical movement in my life.  Even though Dad was progressing quickly I had trouble saying goodbye to him on Sunday night.  I found myself wanting to stay longer and longer.  I was postponing the inevitable despite laundry and packing to be done before my morning flight.  It was hard to say goodbye, but knowing that I can see him in 3 weeks made it a little more bearable.  I hate to know that I am missing out on his recovery (and jokes).

The luster of my return trip in June faded while I was home for the past 3 weeks though.  I had more of Northern Indiana than I cared to receive.  Don't get me wrong, I love home, my family, and my friends, but I have gotten accustomed to a different lifestyle, and although this lifestyle isn't always perfect, it's what I prefer at the moment.  I missed my bike, I hated driving, I rarely walked, everyone moved on to bigger and better things, I ate too much fast food, and I realized (again) how fat we can really be.  I was at McDonalds, I'll admit, getting my dollar menu fix, when I noticed there was not one person in the entire store that was fit or just slightly overweight - they were all obese.  The children and the adults all looked like they could be contestants on The Biggest Loser.  I don't blame it on them either, well, kind of.  I understand food is expensive and unfortunately, the fast food industry makes it very easy to eat cheap at the cost of your health.

Ok, enough of that.  While I was home I was lucky enough to spend a huge amount of time with my siblings.  I always knew I could count on Deborah to help me out or be there if I needed her.  It's too bad that it took Dad's accident to bring Deb and I closer, but I'm glad that it did.  There was also an ungodly amount of inside jokes that developed between Bret and I during the two hour commute to and from the hospital.  I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time.  In the previous post I said I was lucky to have two awesome dads.  I'm also extremely lucky to have such a great brother and sister. And did I mention all of my friends and family?  Thanks to all of you for being so supportive while we were all struggling.

So, being back here has been a relief even though I'm missing my family big time.  Being in the same time zone as Marcel has also been so much more convenient.  Talk about a headache trying to coordinate calls between both of our schedules.  I think my next big purchase will be a smart phone with an actual plan, not prepaid, so that I can have a Skype connection.  We'll see.  I had my first shift last night which ran an extra 45 minutes and I felt completely lost with all of the updates I had missed while I was on leave, but it was really okay.  It feels good to be back and I'm looking forward to the next couple weeks of the usual Edelweiss nonsense.

Baby, I'm back! Al Pacino!

I had a severe tongue lashing from Randy a few nights ago in response to my lack of blogging.  He explained that he doesn't like asking the overused "Sooo, what have you been up to?" and prefers to just know what is going on in my life so he can go straight to jokes.  Always with the jokes, that one.  With a promise not to disappoint him with my newest update I am drawing a serious blank and will take the random route.

Before arriving stateside I had the pleasure of meeting Marcel's family.  Boy let me tell you, hand signals and facial expressions sure do go a long way.   Even though there were more than a few awkward interactions with his parents, who don't speak English, the weekend was great and I can definitely say I would like to return for some more real time German fun.  I also was able to meet some of his other friends and managed to not embarrass myself...until the bike ride home.  I have already met some of Marcel’s friends, but on this night I was meeting THE best friend, Marcel, or Marcel the great, as I call him.  The three of us rode bikes to another friend’s house where we barbecued and drank beer into the late night hours.  On the ride home I was trying my hardest to focus and not let off how intoxicated I really was.  In a moment of weakness, aka laughing, I lost control, nailed a curb, and found myself lying on the sidewalk fighting off two Marcels trying to help me up.  Of course I insisted that I was ok and made them get back on their bikes and ride home.  I think my ego was more hurt than my cut hands or knees.  We got plenty of laughs from it the next morning and Marcel has yet another reason to make fun of his crazy American girlfriend.  The visit was short and sweet.  The flight out of Hannover on Sunday morning approached much quicker than I hoped.  I not only was dreading leaving Marcel, but dreading having to face what was going on at home. 

I have never had to deal with anything significant while away from home.  Hearing the news of Dad's accident was crushing.  It was easily the hardest week of my life.  Communication was difficult and being away from my iPod or computer left me anxious that I would miss something important.  Every text or incoming call on Skype terrified me, but I got through it, and with the awesome support and constant updates from my sister the week quickly came to an end and I was on the airplane headed towards beautiful Indiana before I knew it.  When deciding when to book my flight I wrestled with what day to leave.  Of course I wanted to see Marcel and I'm really happy with myself for waiting until Sunday, even when all I wanted was my Mom's hug and Bret's jokes.  Marcel's comfort and assurance really helped me prepare myself for what was to come.  Having lost one of my Dads four years ago, I was not ready to lose another and feared the worst. 

But here we are today.  Dad just checked into the rehab hospital and will start his intensive recovery tomorrow.  It's amazing how much has happened in the last twenty-two days.  He's come so far in just the last three; I can't imagine what he'll do over the next couple weeks.  As soon as that breathing tube was out he was cracking jokes and had the whole burn unit pulling for him.  Today one of the occupational therapists was in tears when she found out they were discharging him already.  He's an ornery one, but you can't help but love him.  His attitude and work ethic are impressive.  I'm pretty sure he can do anything he puts his mind to.  I'm just worried for those poor nurses.....

I'm a lucky girl to have had the opportunity to grow up with these two amazing men in my life.  I miss Ed more than ever, but I'm so thankful that Dad and I can share so much more together.  I love you, Daddio.

Seven more days in Indiana.  What will I do?  Seeing Kassy is next on my list!  I was lucky enough to spend a great Saturday night with Allyson, Amy, Katy, Kurt, and Tim at Vegas Baby.  Things got a little out of hand, per usual, and I had quite the little hangover on Sunday morning.  Nothing a little macaroni and cheese breakfast won't cure though.  It was so amazing to spend some time with my friends.  I've missed them way too much.  Now we just have the visit in June to anticipate.  The two Germs will make the trip a little more interesting and I'm really looking forward to their reactions to American life. 

That's all for now. 

Cheese Please

My short stint in Freiburg was not only an amazing getaway, but another reminder of how ready I am for the next section of my life.  I really do love my job and if it weren't for the previously mentioned unsatisfactory housing they provide us with extending would be an easier decision.  One of my bosses stopped me the other day and told me that they want me to stay and all I need to do is send an e-mail and an extension would be in the works, so it's an option.  This is really flattering and something to consider, but I definitely want to be closer to Marcel and on to a new set of challenges.  Welp, I have some time to figure things out.  I have a feeling September is going to be here sooner rather than later and I'll have to decide the next year of my life.  I think I liked it better when I just had to decide which classes to register for each semester and the rest was cake.  Oh how I miss Bloomington.

So Freiburg was short but sweet.  I managed to stay up for just over 24 hours between my grave shift and my commute to "the nicest city in Germany".  Surprisingly I was quite pleasant after Marcel picked me up at the train station.  He wanted to get a coffee and the thought of yet another cup of the stuff was not appealing so we got an afternoon beer and enjoyed the sun outside of a cafe.  I did need some sleep and only allowed myself a 45 minute nap when we got back to his flat.  He's too good to me. He gave me an extra 15 minutes and a great homemade dinner of spinach and cheese stuffed cannelloni.  You should have seen us attempting to use a pastry bag to fill the noodles, we resembled toddlers playing with Play-Doh.  By the time the filling was gone we were covered in the stuff and laughing at how ridiculous of an idea the pastry bag was.  Dinner was delicious.  I then slept.

The next days were full of our usual coffee stops and a trip to the zoo.  Freiburg doesn't really have a zoo so we substituted with the nature park outside of the city that had all sorts of fun farm animals.  Marcel had his first close encounter with a goat and frantically asked me over and over if it was ok.  I managed to snap a good 15 pictures of this little billy goat scratching his newly incoming horns on Marcel's arm.  The scenario brought me back to when Bill and Cathy (the two goats "I had to have", named after my grandparents, of course) had the 3 little guys on the day of Mom's Mary Kay party.  Thinking of Lucky standing on the kitchen counter and peeing all over the place while being watched by 10 women still makes me laugh.  I was so lucky to grow up on the farm and have the opportunity to witness so many neat things that many people won't see in their lifetime.  So anyway, coffee, zoo's, and now cheese, are Marcel and I's favorite things.  We stopped at a small cafe on the way home for another cup of coffee and a snack.  An appetizer plate of cheese arrived minutes after he went inside to order and it was fantastic.  My stomach wasn't happy with my choice to gorge on more milk product than is necessary in a week period and I made sure to tell Marcel I wouldn't be eating cheese for a while.  Don't worry though, at dinner I totally forgot my cheese boycott and ordered the quatro formaggi pizza.  He just laughed and said "Ohhh Yen" and went on to help himself to a bite.  Most of the trip is a blur, but I have Easter weekend in Bielefeld to meet the family to look forward to.  I'm sure I'll create some lasting memories during my stay.  Mostly awkward and embarrassing, I'm sure, but those are always the best.

Lindsey and her parents left Garmisch this morning.  I was so glad they decided to stop in for a couple days to see me.  It's always nice to see people from home.  I was really eager on Sunday while I was waiting for the phone call from Lindsey saying that they had arrived.  I called Mom to share my excitement and let her know how much I missed her. I think it was the idea of having parental figures around that got me so worked up.  It's like in college when a friend's parents visit everyone is engulfed in a flurry of anticipation.  You get to relax and have a little bit of home with you, even if it's not your own.  A short tour of Garmisch was given, we sampled my most frequented restaurants and pubs, and even made a day out of Lake Eibsee and the Zugspitze.  I had a fun time showing them around Garmisch and getting in some quality time with fellow Northern Indiana-ers.  It was sad to see them go and I really hope I will have more visitors soon. In other Garmisch related news, Christina's return has been great.  Her room is huge, roommate nice, and they have acquired an attractive floral velvet couch that I can't get enough of.  Now we just need to plan our first trip together and all will be back to normal.  It was hard enough for us to remain alive during our short stays in Munich, I can only imagine the trouble that will arise while traveling outside of Bavaria.