ammogirl

Oh my god, you guys. So, the movers showed up yesterday alright - with NINE CRATES of stuff.  Now, for perspective, each crate is about 8′x6′x10′, with the 10′ being the depth.  Basically, it equals a crapload.  There were nineteen boxes alone for the kitchen, which is the only room I finished yesterday - just after midnight.  Don’t even ask about the rest of the house.  If it is flat, it has a box or the contents of an empty box on it.  The bathroom upstairs currently houses rollerblades and all helmets, softball gloves, and carwashing supplies.  I even took a picture to show.  It’s just a small sample of the task that lies ahead for us.  Here:

So, this is from the foyer doorway.  Sighhhh…

But the actual moving part went well, there was only one item damaged, and the movers were surprisingly good sports about hauling things up three flights of stairs.  My objective yesterday was threefold:  get the couch sit-able, get the beds cleared, and get my kitchen set up.  Around 3pm I realized the amount of time and energy this would all take (not just those things, but getting the whole house done) and called my work to inquire about taking Wednesday off, but I have the most wonderful of wonderful jobs ever, and I don’t have to go in until Monday, so yay on that.  John was very skeptical about me getting my kitchen done, because I am telling you…it truly appeared to be an insurmountable task…but he doth underestimate the power of a woman with a unorganized kitchen.  There was NO way I was going to bed until that was done.  This prompted several self-posed questions:  Why do I have three colanders?  and: SIX 12-cup muffin tins?  Really?  and: How many mugs does one family need, exactly? 

I ended up with three goodish size boxes of stuff to take to the thrift store on base, and one of just trash, but my kitchen is now my kitchen, so life is good.  I think I will lock myself in it and pretend everything else is done.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate clutter?  That I hate it so much that it makes me a little crazy, and small nervous breakdowns ensue when faced with it?  That my family knows my "I’m going to lose it unless this CRAP IS CLEANED UP RIGHT NOW" face and I don’t even have to say anything and magically their stuff is put away, because seriously, everything has a place and there is a place for EVERYTHING?  Did I mention that?  Did you SEE that picture I posted up there?

I have a lot of work to do.  So…um…anyone want to come visit right now?  Like, today?

Let us proceed.

Tschuss!!

Oh my, look at me with my internet having and STILL not posting!  It’s amazing how much more time I had for posting when I was by myself in Korea! 

For realz though, we’ve been busy.  This very moment, for example, I’m sitting at home, waiting on the movers to get here.  Yes, the movers, who are delivering our household goods, which weren’t supposed to be here for like, ever.  And while I’m ecstatic at the prospect of not having to share a full size bed with John anymore (TOTAL blanket hog.  God.), it was a little out of the blue to receive a phone call yesterday afternoon telling me our stuff would be delivered today.  TODAY, of all days, when we already have other stuff being delivered, and we still have loaner furniture until Friday, which is the absolute earliest they can pick it up, and John is in a class all week and can’t take time off.  Last night and this morning we moved all the loaner stuff around as best we could, shoving it to the side…but it’s going to be crowded in here for a couple days, that’s for sure.  But, king size bed!  Places to put things!  And…other stuff!!!

We went to Ikea the other day, like I said, which necessitated a trip on the Autobahn.  Wellio!  I forgot to mention (or maybe I didn’t…I don’t recall) that we bought a 1995 BMW, and before anyone starts thinking we are very posh I want to point out two things:  used, and German built.  Those two little things add up to very, very cheap.  Anyhow, this new (to us) car, being German built to European specs, is definitely made for the Autobahn…it seems like any other interstate when you get on it, but it’s definitely not.  It’s…the lanes are wider, maybe…and it’s more straight and flat.  However, it’s when you see a Porsche absolutely FLY past you, when you are already going 96-ish mph, that you realize what you’re driving on.  Man.  Those people were FLYING.

So.  We drove drove drovey drove, and then viola!  Ikea!  John and I have neither of us ever been to an Ikea, so we didn’t really know what to expect, but, because it comes recommended to us by several people, we were mildly excited.  And I…um…welllll…I don’t want to make any of those people mad, but!  We were not impressed.  I bought some wine glasses, pictures and a couple lamps, but all in all, I feel like I’m in a position to not have to assemble my own furniture.  So, to sum:  accessories and decorative items, great; furniture, meh.  We did get an German Ikea hot dog, though.  And that?  Was fantastic.

We saw a lot of interesting places on the way, and filed those for future reference, under "Interesting Places To Go."  Unfortunately, winter, it seems, has settled in for good, and it’s been almost non-stop rain since Saturday.  And sprinkles are one thing, but full out rain?  Nope.

John started German class last night, lucky him.  I was going to take it with him, but, I test for my next stripe soon and I really, REALLY want to make it my first go round.  To do this, I will be spending every free moment (except, of course, the free moments for posting) from here until February studying the most boring material ever.  It will really be like the least amount of fun you can have at anything possible, but if I make it, will be worth it.  Back to John and the German class, though - while we have found that most Germans speak very good English, neither of us think that’s fair - we’re in their country, we might as well show some effort at learning THEIR language and THEIR culture.  Basically, we want to be as far away on the spectrum from the image of typical Americans abroad as possible.

Which brings me to my very last point:  it’s amazing to me, since I’ve been here, the number of people we have met who insist on living here as if they were in America.  They don’t try to learn the language, not even basic polite phrases like ‘excuse me’ or ‘please’.  Or like, they think Germany’s strict recycling laws are dumb and just throw everything away, even though it’s just as easy to separate it.  And I could go on, but it would just make me angry, but basically, for crap’s sake, people, get over yourselves.  And now I am done with that.

Where are those movers?  Jeez.

Tschuss!!

First of all, you guys, thank you for hanging around this past month, while I’ve been so random and…absent.  Especially those of you who aren’t my family, who are sort of obliged to check in every day, in hopes I have posted.  To everyone new that stopped by, for whatever reason: welcome, thanks for stopping by, and stick around!  It’s pretty fun here, I think.

Second, I read every comment, but couldn’t reply because I couldn’t get to my actual site from work - but man you guys are fabulously witty!

Third…well, no third. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So!  We finally got The Internet!  What a relief!  Posting from work was really stressing me out.  Now, however, it’s on, because not only do we have The Internet, we have The Wireless.  Which is really not THAT exciting, I know, but remember:  I just came from Korea.  I will admit, it was with a tiny slice of regret that I pulled myself away to check out some trails with John, because it is SO nice to be back online.  How sad is that!  But jeez!  I am so far behind on everything….I actually found out about Britney’s smart (for once) move from the German radio, for god’s sake.  I have a LOT to catch up on!

But pull myself away I did, and we headed out to our First Trail Everrrrr!  and it was definitely worth it.  Now, I know this will sound a bit…contradictory, but walking through the woods felt like coming home.  I know, I know…I am the least outdoorsy person in the world.  But I also grew up in the Pacific Northwest, right on the Oregon coast, with trees and leaves and green, and gorgeous views, and air that smells sweet no matter what, and…that’s exactly what it’s like here.  It’s how it’s supposed to be.  And I realize that’s really not much of an explanation, but I can tell you that the minute we started down the first trail I was filled with an amazing contentedness, and I could have walked forever.  We almost did, in fact, because there are MILES of trails back there - and this is only one spot.  Everytime we drive somewhere you can see the little carparks on the side of the road where the trails are.  It’s fabulous.  I have said several times that I love Germany, but I have to say it again:  I love Germany.  I love our little town with it’s narrow streets and little bakeries everywhere.  I love that there is a horse stable right across from the only store, and the horses can pop there noses over the fence to say hello as you walk by.  I love that everyone in this town owns a dog, and the dogs are all happy and friendly and good.  I love that if I want to know what time it is, I just have to listen for the church bells to ring on each quarter hour.  I love that my kids can walk to the bus stop, and I don’t have to worry about it (well, at least not very much).  I love that the water from the tap can actually be consumed.  I love that while walking miles through the woods, there was not one piece of litter.  Not one.  Just…this:

Yeah.  Fabulous.

The funny thing is, I realized that I STILL don’t have pictures of the house to post, ha ha.  We do live in one, I promise.  It’s just so full of loaner furniture right now, and piles of crap laying around waiting for someplace to be put, but there IS nowhere to put it, because our stuff is not here yet and no one knows when it WILL get here, and we have no dressers and I am living out of a suitcase STILL, and since you are asking, yes, that is very annoying.  So.  Sooonnnnn.

We were planning on going to Heidelberg today to check out a castle, but the weather is not so friendly.  Instead, we might go to the Ikea in Mannheim.  What?  Shopping counts as exploring foreign culture!   

Tschuss!