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