The Laughing Loon

So I made the mistake of listening to Bill Engvall on my ipod while walking to pick up Paula. Here I am listening to my ipod walking with my bright blue umbrella in the rain and laughing like I had lost my everlovin' mind. People are staring at me, crossing the street to get away from me and I'm finding that an umbrella can be used to hide your face from other people.

I especially felt bad for the elderly woman I saw on the street today, I was just walking down the street, then immediately started to laugh to the point of snorting directly after I had passed her. I hope she didn't think I was laughing at her.

Worst part was is that it was just so funny, I couldn't put it down. So while Paula and I are waiting at the bus stop for a half hour, I continue to listen while she plays with my German to English dictionary. Occasionally she looks up at me with this nervous look in her eyes and tugs on my coat sleeve, "Are you okay?" No, I'm not okay. My sides now hurt. I figured this didn't tramatize Paula too badly since she's used to me, but the six people sitting across from us at the other bus stop looked a little worried.

Don't know who Bill Engvall is? I suggest you click HERE and go to a youtube clip of what I was listening to. It was soooo funny. Enjoy.

<3

I love Cheerios.

That is all.

Castles, Palaces and Me... Oh my!

Today I woke up got around quickly then went to catch the bus to take me to the s-bahn to take me to the other s-bahn to take me to the bus so that I could get off and then walk to Ludwigsburg Schloss. :)

It was amazing. I really liked it. It was all silks, sculptures, gold, paintings, trims, brilliant yellows, rich reds and lucious greens. Truely amazing. Tomorrow I'm going to upload pictures. It was just amazing. I llloooovvveee going to palaces and castles. It's a real thrill for me. So I was extra pleased when I came across a book in the palace giftshop. The book listed all the palaces, castles, monastaries, and residences in most of Europe, with special attention to those in Germany. I'm really excited. It has full color pictures, information about admission, hours and how to get there. What really makes me happy is that it lists those castles which are open to the public as hotels. I know it would probably cost a pretty penny but how I would love to stay overnight in a castle. Hell, I'd stay in a sleeping bag on the floor- but to be allowed to wander one of these magnificent buildings at my leisure. I mean, wow! So I think I'll look around and see what I can find. *fingers crossed*

What I've been up to

Everything is pretty slow on the Germany front. Last weekend I did a lot of babysitting. In two days I worked for three different families- and that's not including the family I'm an au pair for. The money was nice and I was able to pick up some more American groceries. I got things like Cheerios, Cheetos, Apple Cinnimon Oatmeal, Chocolate Chips and finally Raisin Bran for the Paula. Who knew that Raisin Bran is ambrosia for four year olds?

Sunday I was lazy and hung around the house for most of the day. At five o'clock I went to Echterdingen to go to the Krautfest. Yes- that's a Cabbage Festival. Weird huh? Anyways. Here's a picture of me with a large kraut.

I hung out at the festival for about three and a half hours until I left to head to the Corso- the only American Movie theater I can find in the area. I went to see Eagle Eye, with Shia Le Bouf. He's a really good actor. It's funny to see him in such an action packed movie and remember when he was the bratty brother on Even Stevens. Times how they change.

Wednesday the girls and I made play-dough from scratch. Here's some pics of us playing, and the "sculptures" I made of each of our favorite stuffed animals.


The week has gone by pretty fast. Not much to tell, except we are currently working on getting a certain little girls ears cleaned out so maybe she will listen better. ;) (We've had issues). But other than that I'm well, the girls are great, and I'm hoping to take the girls to Stuttgart later this afternoon so that I we can get stuff for Halloween. The girls have never been trick or treating, so I shall enjoy breaking them into it. (and charging a tariff of a few pieces of candy). Muah ha ha.

Haha, I accomplished Something

Slowly, oh so slowly, I am getting videos up. I have just gotten Part One of my trip to Colonge. So here it is. I will now start to put up Part Two.



FYI- If you would like to be able to keep touch with my blog, and not have to always come look at it to see if there is something new, please send me your email address. I can put you on a mailing list that will let you know whenever I update my blog. Easier, yes?

Well, Peace Out! :)

No wait, I also have a trip planned to Barcelona I will be taking at the end of January. :) Holla!

Cheeky Girl

Every now and then I really love little kids.

Case in point:

Carola, Paula and I were walking back from the playground. Carola was holding my hand and Paula was following behind, probably about six feet back or so. I wrapped my arm around Carola's shoulders to draw her nearer and I did one of those behind the back kicks on her rearend. (I love those). She then turns around and looks at Paula and says "Paula don't." Paula of course is bewildered. So I do it again. Again Carola turns around and says "Paula, don't!" Smirking to myself I think about how gulible a six year old child is, when Carola cups her hand around her mouth and says "Do it again." Laughing I realize that she evidently is aware it was me all the time. So I oblige. Kicking her behind again, she once again says to Paula who is six feet behind us still "Paula, don't."

Hahaha I love a little cheeky girl. :)

Funny Thing Happened on my Way Home Today

As I was walking to the bus station to take the bus to pick Paula up this afternoon, I got to thinking about how I haven't written a blog in a little while. I started wondering what I could write about that would be interesting enough for all of you to read. Because, although being in Europe is interesting in itself, it becomes routine after a while as all things eventually do.

Well, it is my opinion that a seriously wiseass angel must have heard me, and decided to poke at me in order to make me happier when I have nothing to write about.

Here in Germany there seems to be a serious slug problem. Yes, slugs. They are everywhere; I have even seen them climbing up walls. It's seriously icky. Oh, sure it's sometimes fun to pour salt on them and pretend they are the Wicked Witch of the West as the shrivel up silently crying about how it's a cruel cruel world. But for the most part they are just icky. When coming home late at night I am always worried I am going to step on one and squish it under my shoe. The visual isn't pretty and is enough to have me skirting every leaf, twig and possible slug that stands/lays between me and the door.

"Interesting, but where is the relavence?" You ask? I'll explain. About ten minutes ago the girls decided they wanted to go visit their friends'. So I rolled the stroller out to the end of the walkway that connects us to the street, and stood waiting as Carola helped her younger sister get her bike out of the underground garage. I handed the stroller off to Carola, explained in no uncertain words that they were to stay together and that Paula was responsible for making sure the bike got back safely. I saw the girls off and turned around to walk back to the house, when I noticed my sock was sticking to the bottom of my foot.

Oh No! You say. Oh yeah.

The bottom of my sock is a rainbow of all the colors to be found on the inside of a slug, and I just happened to stop in front of where the "incident" had occurred.

I, stepped on a slug with my socks on!!! EWWWWWW!!!!

Hmmm...

Had one kid.

Had two kids.

Had no kids.

Have three kids.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a ferris wheel.

High highs, low lows and capacity always fluctuating.

Computers and Crocheting

Don't you hate it when technology hates you?

My computer is on the fritz... again. Luckily Alex will be home tonight and he doesn't know it, but he gets the job of wiggling the wires again in hopes that he can get it to turn on. :) This is the second time my computer has done the same thing. Last time Alex was able to fix it, but we're of a mind that my computer is preparing for the final big sleep. Ugh. In the meantime, I have no computer- which makes me happy I can use the one in the basement.

This morning I went to Böblingen again to meet up with my knitting/crocheting group, Purlingurlz, (I'm the only one who crochets). We met up and had cappachino, and worked on our projects. It was really nice. There are two in the group who are army wives, one who is a translator who will be getting married in January, and then there's me. I'm odd one out. I'm also about 10 years younger than anyone else in the group. Ah well. I had a lot of fun, though I have to leave a lot earlier in order to make it back in time to take care of the girls. (It takes an hour to travel from one village to the other).

Rolling Right Along

Since Friday, I have been sick. Ugh. Sniffles, mucus, sore throat, fever, thy name is Tiffany.

I would say that I have been lucky I haven't had a stomachache- but I think that showed up tonight along with it's good friend- headache.

I say again. UGH.

On the good side, I have gotten two more trips planned. Ha! That will teach Dad to tell me that I should travel now and not worry about the money. No. Wait. I'm the one who has to pay this all off when I come home. Well, shit. I wonder how long I can make this job last.

Anyways.

My planned trips are:

Vienna, Austria- Nov. 7-9

Palermo, Sicily Italy- Nov. 28-30

Holla!

So, when you are cold, windblown, snowed on, and sick of the bad Kansas weather.

Just think of me.

And remember that when flipping that bird- I'm to the East. :)