Updates! Updates!

So I had my first date with Thomas last night. It was really fun. We went to Fildorado since he works there and I knew where it was. Besides- he had already seen me in my bikini so no new news there. It was fun- and we're going to get together again next week. Oh and joy- he can speak English. Which makes things easier on me. :D

I'm getting ready to leave shortly to go to Dusseldorf with the family. From there I will take a train to Aachen where I will stay with Dorothee's cousin, Ursula. It's really super nice of her to take me in for the weekend. :D I'll update you on my trip when I get back. :D

Holla yo!

I'm currently in the middle of pumping my arms up and down in the air.

Why? Read on.

1. Cute guy gave me his number- I texted. And now have a date for tomorrow night! Woo hoo! Turns out he was really nervous and had to work up courage to ask me out. He had also been afraid that I the kids were mine. (Since he usually sees me when I bring the girls to the pool.) and that I was already married. (as if!) I assured him I was only the au pair. :D I feel like it's at the end of the Scooby Doo episode and I should be saying "..and I would have had him too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!" But everything worked out- so I don't have to curse their non-existant dog either.

2. Carola just came back after going to her friends house. She rang the bell- I leaned out my window like the gatekeeper in the Wizard of Oz and inquired as to what she required from me. She said she was just coming to let me know they were going to a different friends house. I okayed this and she ran off again. Be still my beating heart! She can be taught! She actually let me know where she was going and this thrills me to no end since we were having such trouble before. Woo hoo!

Now for a change in subject.

Hee hee hee. Okay so I took the girls to the pool today. As we were walking to the bus I told Carola I was excited about getting to see the cute guy who works at the pool. Carola said "Oh, you mean the one with the brown hair?" That's right- even she could tell. So we go to the pool. And he's there! Long story short- he says he likes it when I come, what's my name, how old am I? I tell him, learn his name is Thomas, and assure him- I don't have kids. Then sly-ly as I'm putting the dishes on the rack he walks over lays a piece of paper down with his name and number on it, and walks away... smiling at me over his shoulder. *squeal* I'm sooooo calling later tonight! Wish me luck!

Things everyone should know

The majority of people I know back in America haven't a clue how to make international calls. Oh, there's cells and landlines- but when people think of these methods their wallets start to scream. But they never think of using technology. That's right folks. The wonders of the 21st Century are astounding and for the select few who dare to release the death grip they have on their rotary dial telephones, they will behold treasures beyond compare. For these select few will discover the wonders of the internet.

Not just email, IM, and such cool features. But the fact that from Skype you can actually call someone's phone who lives abroad... say in... I don't know...let's say Germany. And instead of making your wallet take out a restraining order on you, it will make your wallet sigh in releif and instead give your coin purse a small case of gaping mouth. Because it literally costs pennies. That's it folks- pennies.

Without this technology people would otherwise have to wait.

They will have to wait to be called.

Now. On a happier, less informative note: Six year-olds are by far the most devious when it comes to plotting revenge. Why? Because they are creative as hell and it's really easy for them to talk their fellow ankle biters into helping out in the manic mischief. I loved it when Carola was telling me what she would do to certain people. There were sticks and kicks. Dogs and Dandilions. Dandilions? Yep. With this one the bad person is asked to smell a dandilion and then when they do the sinister 6 year old would then pop the yellow flower onto their nose and make their nose YELLOW! Muah ha ha ha ha ha!!! (I was laughing sooo hard.) I also loved it when she said "He's so very really dumber than dumb". Hahaha I lovvvveee that. She sounded like Lola from Charlie and Lola. If you don't know who they are, click here: it's worth it.

Bleed

As many know I write poetry when I'm upset. I actually really like this one I just wrote. I want to share it: If you can't read it click on it. I wanted the words positioned just -so- so I had to do it in a word document and do a screenprint... long process.

Pour Some Sugar on Me

This weekend, I have every intention of putting myself into a self-induced sugar coma. (Just bought supplies for this special endeavor- and no Dorothee, I won't hand them over). If successful, and I get to jittery- I have new books in my room to keep me out of the way. But with enough sugar I think it eventually coats your heart and things don't hurt as much. I appreicate all the support from my friends. Since my post yesterday I did get some new information. There is one thing which, for the last six months this has been tearing me up, I had not been told. I found out that this trip was originally a Nikki and Toby trip which my parents butted in* on. So technically it was not a "family" trip to begin with. It just turned into one. Does that make it right?

Not sure. I do know two things:

1.) I should have been told about this little fact.

2.) It should have come from my family.

(Though my informant is close to being family)

I still feel like it is as though the whole family +1 is coming to my backyard and I'm not allowed to come outside. And no matter what they say, it still hurts.

I know there's not much they could do at this point to make it better. Even if I were invited at this point- I wouldn't want to go. It would be Senior Prom all over again. Going to make others happy. Though the whole time I would know I wasn't really welcome or wanted. Hell, Senior Prom ended with me running out crying, driving home, stripping of my beautiful white dress and crawling into bed to cry.

* I've been requested to put in a side note. It was not "butting in" they were "invited" to join. But the point is that it was a "Toby and Nikki" trip to start with. Then the parentals were added. It was not an "all together from the beginning" trip.

There's a Darwin Award in this man's future

Man pretending to fall off bridge actually falls

Thu Apr 23, 9:11 pm ET
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Police said a 23-year-old man is in stable condition after he pretended that he was falling off a bridge over the Minnesota River, then actually fell off the bridge. Police got a call just before 5 a.m. Sunday from a 21-year-old man who said his friend fell off the Highway 77 bridge and into a marshy area about 30 feet below.
The caller said he was driving north when his friend, who he said had been drinking, told him to pull into the bridge's emergency lane so he could urinate.
The 23-year-old stood eventually climbed to the ledge of the bridge, then looked at his friend and pretended to fall. "He then in fact fell," reads a press release from the Bloomingtin Police Department.
Police from Bloomington and Eagan responded, and the Eagan Fire Department used a chair lift to retrieve the man. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center where was treated.

Opinions Needed

So I have good news and bad news.

Good News: I have survived my first week of 6:45am morning starts and 7:45am classes. I've learned a lot and really surprised people when I got excited over having homework and tests. I'm just happy to have a teacher who actually wants to teach and expects me to learn. :D

Bad News: My parents are whipped. I'm so hurt, that I bawled today. Straight out sobbed like a little kid and still hours later my eyes are swollen. So I don't care if they think I'm airing dirty laundry I want some outside perspectives. So I ask everyone to chime in. Please. My parents and older brother and his girlfriend are all coming to Europe at the beginning of May. They are going to Sardinia. My brother told my parents that I couldn't get time off. (which is not true) and he told them that I was not allowed to go (allowed!?!). He doesn't want to see me. Five months I've been in Europe since I left home after the holidays. Five months and my one and only brother does not want to see me. What makes this worse- is that my parents are going along with him. Not once have I excluded him. Not once. The fact that my parents would pick him blatently over me- to exclude me when they say that want to do a annual europe trip as a family- this being the first one I suppose- is awful. It's as though I'm not even apart of the family.

This morning I called my parents ecstatic that I had found a fabulous rate from Stuttgart to Sardinia. I was actually jumping up and down with excitement. I called my parents (woke them up actually) because I needed to book the fare before it was taken. Thinking that since I had this great fare that I could join. I could borrow the family's sleeping bag- it's under my bed anyways. But no. I'm not allowed to come. Not an idea which stems from my parents. But rather- one that stems from my brother.

Tell me what you think. I want your opinion.

(Don't get me wrong- my parents will visit me- but the week after they spend a week with Toby and Nikki)

Under the Big Top

Today I planned another cool "adventure" for the girls. We took blankets out into the garden and using lawnchairs we created a tent. It was really cool. At first Carola was rolling her eyes and saying "whatever" (what 6 year old says that about a tent in the yard?) But by the end of the afternoon she was sad to go back inside and away from her fun. (Score one for the au pair!) Pictures are posted on flickr. Click on link on the left.

Oh, special pictures of Paula using me as her matteress. (her idea. not mine)

Biking Adventure

I did end up making Carola write me and her mom each a letter. I'll place a photo of them here.

Afterwards I took the girls on a bike ride. It was really fun- we had a picnic under a tree and the girls went off picking flowers and we laid around on blankets reading the books we had brought with us. The whole time Carola was exclaiming "This isn't a bike ride- this is an ADVENTURE!!" It was really cute. There are pictures posted on flickr- just click on the link on the left.

Here we go again

I hate losing things. I especially hate when that "thing" is a kid. Yep, I lost a kid. Though I must say it was not entirely my fault. Carola came to me and said she was done with her homework and she wanted to know if she could go to her friend, Lisa's, house. I was like "yeah okay" because, noramlly that is okay. But when I sent Paula to join Carola at Lisa's house- I found out she wasn't there. Nor was anyone else. Carola was AWOL.

An hour and a half, three searches and a few worries later- Dorothee found her at a different friend's house. (This was after I found out she had been at yet another friend's house.) So there was kind of a trail...ish.

So, with frustration simmering in my veins- I plan my revenge. I'm not sure what it will be. But there will be something. I told Dorothee I think I want Carola to write each of us a letter of apology- one in German and one in English. (I'm evil- but I think I like it).

Honestly

Honestly!
by Nancy Moran(c)
1998

...............................................................................
I’m tired of playing games
I’m tired of telling stories
I’m tired of being everything I’m not
I’m tired of trying to please you
I’m tired of not making money
And I’m tired of everything I haven’t got

---------------------------------
But honestly I’ve tried
Honestly I’ve listened
And I honestly don’t give a shit
What you think of me
And honestly I’m scared
Honestly I’m worried
That this is all there is to life
And all there’s gonna be

------------------------------------------

I’m tired of not believing
I’m tired of chasing rainbows
I’m tired of chasing everything at once
I’m tired of being nice
I’m tired of being Nancy
And I’m tired of being everything you want

---------------------------------------

‘Cause honestly I’m selfish
Stubborn and impatient
And I honestly prefer

To be this way
And honestly I want

To make millions of dollars
Just so I can piss it all away

-----------------------------------------

I’m tired of all the driving
I’m tired of all the bullshit
I’m tired of knowing when to keep my big mouth shut
I’m tired and I’m cranky
And I’m just getting started
‘Cause I’m tired of kissing everybody’s you-know-what

--------------------------------------------------

(If you feel the need, click HERE and you can listen to the song on her website.)

The WTF Blanket

As an Ad major I endorse this message.

(That and I nearly wet myself while watching it, and simply had to pass it on.)

Good Crying and Guppies

So yesterday I went with Dorothee for my Christmas Present... in April. lol. But it's cool still. Instead of Chinese, an English movie in December. We went for Sushi, a German film in April. Sushi was amazing!!! Then we went and watched "Marley and Me" in German. Okay, I don't want to tell you the end, but I will tell you this. I cried at the end for the first time in my life! Truely, I have never cried at a movie in my LIFE! I went through two tissues. Waaaaah!!!

Oh, and Patrice and I had a talk last night/this morning and we're just going to be friends.(This talk was brought about by my irritation at his lack of availablity for the last two weeks, possibly three.) Which... okay. So I'm going to go to the gym and talk with the cute guy who works there who was making eyes at me last week. (Attention span of a guppy) :D

Something's Peekin'

So today I met Stuttgart's Dirty Old Man. I had had a lovely day of dyeing my hair, making videos, then going to eat sushi and watch the ducklings by the palace while eating ice cream. It was a very nice day.

While taking the sbahn home I was at the front of the car facing backwards. There were lots of people so there wasn't enough seats. This guy who was about 50-ish in age, was standing there by the doors holding onto one of the poles. I didn't notice anything unusual for the first few stops, then I noticed. In the three inch gap between his shirt and his pants where was some"thing" sticking out. No joke. At first I thought "Noooo. That's can't be his...." but honestly- it was. There's just.... it was. And the thing is- you know he had to know. He had to. He's just a Dirty Old Man. I'm sitting there smirking, grinning, and trying my best not to laugh my head off. No one else was noticing. There was this cute guy in a suit about my age sitting across from me. After a while he took his earphones out and I asked him if he can speak English. He said yes, so I asked him "How do you say 'can you please put your penis back into your pants?' in German?" He looked at me weird (to be expected) and I nodded to the Dirty Old Man. He cried out "Holy Shit!" Yep. That was my response too.

Here's what I figure. Every city, town and village has to have a Dirty Old Man. It's capitalized because it's a job title. I've already met Stuttgart's so the next time I see him, I know who to avoid. (It's worse when you can't tell and you get surprised.)

Slowly but surely

I slept so completely crappily last night (that's right, crappily), that I'm just miserable today. Several times during the night I had to talk myself back down from a panic attack. Why? Because of those thousands of things that aren't finished that are driving me mad.

1. School

2. DB Ticket

3. Items I need to return

4. Insurance stuff that needs to be sent

5. Money issues

Just to name a few

So this morning I woke up and got to work. So far I have gotten 2 & 3 done. I think I have 4 sorted out (I need to ask Dorothee a question to make sure it's okay), then When I drop off 2,3 & 4 I'm going to check on 5. I contacted Zak (the guy who is going to check my paper) about 1, and he says he should have it done for me this weekend. Which is just as well, since I can't go across the street and ask about a new proctor for my exams until school is back in session next week. Soooo I'm slowly accomplishing stuff. Hopefully I can sleep at some point.

Last night I talked with one of my readers! (heehee I have readers :) ) She's a new au pair here in Germany who's going through the adjustment period. (been there, done that). It's hard. I'm hoping to meet up with her this weekend. (Reason I need to check on number 5). Yay! Okay, I'm going to go accomplish number 6 now. (6- Go take shower Stinky!)

Muah ha ha *cough* *cough*

What have I been up to? Easter fun-ness. (I was going to write funness but I'm not actually sure that's a word. Personally, I love how I can add -ish -ness or -esque to the end of a word to make a new one. heeheehee). Okay where was I? Oh, yes. I have been experiencing my first German Easter. It's been interesting. Friday was Good Friday and we were going to bbq, didn't but the thought was there. Saturday we did bbq, Sunday the family bbq-ed- I was at a German/Porteguse(sp?) church so I was absent for the bbq.

Today I spent the day working on may different things that I have to get done- though strangely although I have been working all day- nothing is actually finished. Strange isn't it?

I'm really excited this week because- since the parentals are home all week- I'm not really needed. (who says everyone wants to feel needed?) So I'm planning fun times. :D I don't really have concrete plans, but I know sushi lays somewhere in my future. Hmmm.... sushi....

Dyeing Easter Eggs

Easter Egg Time!!!

The Little Actress

Okay, I have a good one for you guys. Paula had a hard (loud) day and was headed on an express route to bed. Carola asked me if she could watch "The Rescuers". I told her yes, on the condition that she not let Paula know that she was going to watch a movie. What ensued, was the worst and funniest acting I have ever seen. I told Paula to head up and crawl into her bed. Carola looks at me and goes "I'm going to bed toooo. Good Night Tiffany." She starts up the stairs, looks at me and dunks down with her finger to her lips and goes "shhhhh". Then continues up the stairs. I just about lost it. But it contined. Later I went upstairs, to put Paula to bed and Carola stretches her arms theatrically above her head and says "Boy am I tired! I'm going to bed now." Walks towards her room then "shhhhs" me again. It is sooo funny.

Her sneaky gene is starting to develop. :D

Happy Happy!

So I spent increasingly larger portions of Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Stuttgart shopping. *sigh* oh the joy to be had. I did good too. I got a long sleeve shirt, a short sleeve shirt, a tank top, two scarves, a shrug, a pair of jeans and a pair of shoes. And I got good prices too! Yay me! However what really irriates me is that I can't pick out clothes based one the styles I like. Nope, I have to choose my clothes based on if I can get the shirt to close. I really like the preppy button-up look. But I just can't find them in my size. I like the striped look- but I don't fancy looking like a watermelon. Ah well.

But I had fun anyways. The weather has been beautiful and sunny. There were so many people out the last few days that it was just crazy. But it was lovely with the sun, eating large amounts of ice cream, and going to this little sushi restaurant I found. That's right, I found sushi!!! I'm sooo happy. It's one of those sushi bars where the stuff goes around on a conveyor belt and you just take off what you want to eat. It was realllly good!

Things are being accomplished!

Yesterday I finally posted pictures from my trip with Jessica. Now if I can only get the video done. There's just not enough hours in the day. Homework, kids, gym, videos, etc. But then again, I don't think that's an ailment what will ever get better. Ah well.


So Dorothee called the place I've been taking German Grammer classes at and bitched them out because the teacher I've had hasn't actually taught any German Grammer. Nope. She's talked about American alcohol policies, American rental cars, American National parks, abusive partners, her son's cars' license plates, and any number of things I don't care about. So Dorothee now has me signed up for a class that goes from 7:45am to 10am. (I'm not sure she did me a favor-yes the teacher may teach more, but how much will I learn if I'm sleeping in the back of the classroom. :p)

Good News!

Yesterday I saw my first Ford Mustang in Germany. It was orange with black racing stripes, and turns out people who drive Mustangs in Germany, are the same as those who drive them in America. Impatient for the open road, and big on showing off how powerful they are by revving their engines. Though personally- I'm a Mustang girl, I love them. My first car I drove was a 1968 Ford Mustang (thank you Daddy). No, it wasn't mine, but I did love coming out of the gas station after paying and finding lots of guys hanging around it going "Ooooo Ahhhhh". There's a special thrill to be had when at 16 year old girl gets to wave the guys off and say "Sorry boys, me and my 'stang gotta be going."

*wink* *hair toss*.

But unfortunately these days I'm a pedestrian. Though, it would be far worse if there wasn't this great public transpo deal here. I have to love it. (because I have no other choice).

Good news, I finally got rid of the toliet paper rolls yesterday. Dorothee told the girls to stop giving them to me. (thank you!) And the girls were arguing over who got the two from the bathroom. I called them into my room and said "Take them, please!"
Woo Hoo!