2012

HAPPY 2012!


Weather Report:


Rain......wind.........


I tore down the Christmas Tree before we left for our New Year's Weekend trip to AMSTERDAM.  


As I slowly removed and put away all the ornaments.....I became very pensive......


Looking at the ones that LEGS acquired as a child and one's that I had as a child, plus all the ones we have accumulated together......it made me think back about all the years we have shared together.....and I got really sad....


I started thinking about how we will be minus a year in 2012......


January has been the "SCARY" month in my for-sight......I knew when January hit that we would not have as much time off, nor very much time before LEGS goes to WAR.....


Its sometimes incredible how just packing away a Christmas Ornament can bring you back to that specific year....how it can make you feel the same way you felt that year.....happy, sad, scared, nervous......joyful.....


This year really has been a BANNER year for us.  The toughest part about this year was the MOVE to NEVER NEVER LAND......which when I think back on it consisted of a few lonely, empty, unsettling months in transition where I gained weight, felt very alone, and both afraid and excited to go out into GERMANY.......


Its always satisfying to me to look back at last year's resolutions to see how I measured up....and whether or not I accomplished what I set out to do in the beginning.........at the end........


 2011's Resolutions are as follows:


1. Get back into shape......


WHILE I have put on a FEW extra pounds this holiday season- it is very satisfying to me that I am STILL UNDER what my original goal was last year.  Last January I weighed in at 145lbs, and wanted to get down to 137lbs.  After moving to Germany I ballooned up to 154 lbs......My current weight is 138ish.....but up until last week I was at 132.  Because of ADVOCARE this PLAN and RESOLUTION to LOSE WEIGHT NO LONGER WILL EXIST ON MY LIST.......


2. Learn a new language, a new culture and live in another country.....I was being facetious when I wrote this because I was already moving to another country......BUT......I have SUCCESSFULLY lived in another country for nearly a year, I have embraced, learned and practiced many cultural celebrations and customs here in GERMANY......My GERMAN is coming along....but I am still not fluent......still working on that......


3. Learn to knit better, sew better and blog better.........


I definitely learned to knit better.  I taught myself how to PURL, KNIT HATS, DECREASE, INCREASE and I have finished countless projects!


The sewing......I have at least figured out the sewing machine and have a half completed project.....I will say that I am pretty disappointed in my lackluster performance on this goal.......


My blogging has slowed down significantly....which disappoints and irritates me to no end, but I have gotten better- by my estimations.....


4. I have learned since being in Germany to live with less stuff.....Our house is much smaller then the last two houses, environmentally I have gone from recycling nothing to recycling everything, I have a Ji-Had phone instead of a smart phone, we don't have television, we don't spend so much money on eating out, and I have learned to pack lighter.........all of this has made me more resourceful AND.....more creative, artistic, and more present in my every day life......


5. My quest to change the world.....


I try to influence people, I get involved and I try to inspire people to be more of the things they want to be.  I write the blog which I hope inspires people to travel, be adventurous and remain compassionate toward human kind.....


Its never as significant as I would wish it to be.....I am always thinking of new ways I can give something to man kind, something that will always be remembered when I die......


6. Make my life worth watching......


This year has been so magical.......We have seen so many things, been so happy together.....I think that my life would make more of a fairy tale and less of a soap opera and reality show......




2012 is a tough year to be at the beginning of......


I have a full consciousness and the reality that my SOUL MATE will be leaving me for a considerable amount of time.....its very hard for me to fathom this, and I often wonder if it will be worse or better than the times before........


Will my experience allow me to overcome some of the many obstacles?  


Or will my experience since then serve to hinder any hopes in improvement....


The last time LEGS deployed was 6 years ago.....since then my time with him has ONLY strengthened my need and desire to have him in my life on a daily basis, and while it seems as if the times we have spent separated since that time- I have controlled my OUTWARD EMOTIONAL TURMOIL, I spend more time IN MY OWN SOUL, THINKING TOO MUCH, WONDERING TOO MUCH, and SECRETLY BATTLING MY OWN INTERIOR BATTLES....never sure which step to take without my other half telling me its okay.....


2012's Resolutions


1.  Be an ARTIST.......paint, photograph and write the world as I see it.....


2.  GET SERIOUS ABOUT LEARNING GERMAN


3.  Every day that LEGS is gone write him a letter......Every time we have been separated I have written him every day except SUNDAY, and we have placed all the letters in 3 ring binders in date order, my resolution is to keep this tradition alive.


4.  FLOWER POWER.  Have better flowers this year.......in the garden. (THANK YOU LONGSHANKS-you reminded me of this....)


5. SURVIVE.  Remember that I am INDEPENDENT, and STRONG and while I LOVE LEGS and NEED HIM, I can operate on a daily basis without him, because that is what this life requires of me.


6. Make it worth watching.....


AMSTERDAM: (you will find below some "artistic photographs LEGS and I took while in AMSTERDAM)


As a child I read the ANNE FRANK DIARY.  I remember reading it and thinking that toward the end, that she would survive, because up until that point in my life- every story and movie the heroin lives in the end.  When she died in the book I remember being very very sad......and since then I have always wanted to visit the ANNE FRANK HOUSE.


LEGS and I decided to make a trip to AMSTERDAM over the NEW YEARS HOLIDAY.  (This was not without an OBSCENE amount of bickering, INSISTENCE and general nagging FYI....)


On the drive up there we had this really amazing conversation.......


We discussed all those hard things that you don't want to discuss......


WHAT IF........something HAPPENS.......


TO HIM......


OR.....


TO ME......


During this particular unit's last deployment not one soldier was lost but 6 family members back home were.  I always say "We always talk about you dying but what if I die?"


LEGS and I have been doing this for a really long time.  We are realistic.  We understand that something COULD happen.  And we talk about it.  Not very often, but when its necessary.  


It was a very emotional conversation, speaking on what you want done, is very difficult, and scary to go over in such detail.  We covered all the BIG things and most of the LITTLE things......both of us cried....and laughed....and thanked our lucky stars for how lucky we have been to have each other up until this point.......


When the conversation started winding down.....LEGS saw a gas station on the left right hand side of the road.....we were in the left lane.....suddenly I was grabbing the OH SHIT handle and he was making an adverse driving manuever to make the exit....all the while the song Total Eclipse of My heart by Bonnie Tyler was playing.....


It was very scary and given the current topic of discussion it made me think....."JESUS WE COULD DIE TODAY!"

We arrived in Amsterdam and to our hotel.....


When I first walked in the front desk guy said he wasn't sure if I was DUTCH or ENGLISH (as in BRITISH) based on the way I said "HALLO"...so far I was liking the NETHERLANDS.....


Our hotel was pretty unique and extraordinary in appearance.....we stayed on the 10th floor which gave us a beautiful view...and the room was very modern....very artistic.....

After getting checked in we set out to explore.....


If I were to sum up AMSTERDAM in ONE WORD it would be: FREEDOM.  

Anything.....ANYTHING GOES.....the residents of AMSTERDAM really have a philosophy of LIVE and LET LIVE.  


AMSTERDAM is the VEGAS of EUROPE.

Its a urban grunge melting pot with a distinct culture....most of the night I felt like I was walking around in a late 1990's music video, people dress in  a very forward, unique and specific way....EVERY SINGLE RESTAURANT in the RED LIGHT DISTRICT housed exotic food....and EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HEARD is.....TRUE (as I have discovered with most of my TRAVELS...)


And because EVERYBODY is probably wondering....They do have GIRLZ in windows...all different types.....It was weird looking at them, I found myself ashamed and forced to look away....


It was a good trip for LEGS and I because we are growing closer, and re-discovering ourselves in this famous, ancient city.....and I learned A LOT about SEXUALITY.....and to be more specific the POWER a WOMAN has with this TOOL......

LEGS and I had a really intimate, passionate conversation about PROSTITUTION....whether or not it should be legal, the pros and cons of it being legal, the morality of it, along with our personal inhibitions and concerns.....it felt good to talk about something other than his work....it felt good to have a REAL DEEP conversation about something so personal and intimate.....


We ate dinner at this really crowded Thai Restaurant which had incredibly delicious curry....had a few cocktails- of course HEINEKEN on TAP....and perused the RED LIGHT DISTRICT.....

NEW YEARS EVE:


VAN GOGH MUSEUM.....


The lines to get in any of the sights/museums were long....but they moved pretty efficiently.....LEGS had to get some EURO out of an ATM so I stood in line at the museum while he took off to do that.....the line started moving faster and faster and before I knew it I was almost at the front of it and was starting to panic.  I did a little undercover reconnaissance of the people around me.....I realized that several people behind me were definitely American- as if the UNIVERSITY OF AUBURN baseball cap didn't give it away.....THANKFULLY....I was able to back cut them so that I could buy more time in line without a bunch of confusion.....as soon as they realized that I was AMERICAN they wanted to chat....


We did a little small talk and then LEGS arrived.....as we all arrived to the window for admission I actually heard the man wearing the hat say "Do you guys give a military discount?"  ABSOLUTELY MORTIFIED and in NEAR HYSTERICS I turned around and watched LEGS shake his head laughing.....


Not to stereotype or even bash Americans.....BUT REALLY GUY? REALLY?!? As if your frumpy poorly dressed companions with their southern drawl and unintelligent chatter don't already make us look bad- you want to ask a foreign country's museum if they give AMERICANS a MILITARY DISCOUNT?  This is the kind of thing that makes you embarrassed to be AMERICAN....if you come to EUROPE TRY TO BE SOPHISTICATED- THE OPERATIVE WORD BEING TRY!


I will say.....this has delivered laughter to me and all of my friends on multiple occasions.....

I thought that I was really going to ENJOY VAN GOGH...I am quite fond of abstract art and obviously that is what he does....or at least what he is famous for......but the MONET they had displayed at the VAN GOGH MUSEUM was so INCREDIBLE....and ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING....I was reduced to tears as soon as I laid eyes on it.....


VAN GOGH....he was a rather interesting guy as many people already know....but the one thing he said that sticks with me more than his sad, tragic life is that he was going to "give something back to humanity..."  AND HE DID......


How amazingly prophetic and refreshing......

After VAN GOGH we tucked into a pub for a few drinks and conversations with the locals....it was LEGS' single most favorite part of our trip....we joked and laughed and had a great conversation with an old married couple about marriage......


NEW YEARS CELEBRATION

LEGS and I put on our BEST....and hit the DISTRICT.......


It was crazy!  It was a party in the streets, fireworks were set off LITERALLY in the streets, young people were drinking straight from bottles of champagne, everybody was getting KRUNK!  We didn't bring the camera for fear of it getting trashed or stolen....

But it was a wonderful helluva good time.....Close to midnight we ducked into the EXCALIBUR BAR (AMSTERDAMS local BIKER BAR) where we rang in the new year with IRISH CAR BOMBS and ATTEMPTED TO SOAK IT ALL IN.....we made our way to the train station under a sea of fireworks.....

After seeing the line of folks buying tickets for the train we SPENT THE MONEY for a cab.....it was WORTH IT.....


NEW YEARS DAY


PRIORITIES....


We tried to visit the ANNE FRANK house the day before, but the line was INCREDIBLY LONG....so we tried to outsmart it and get the online cut passes.....but they were sold out....


On NEW YEARS DAY in horrible weather we stood in line for an hour and a half.....

It is my sincerest wish that the statement above does not come off as a complaint....


WE GLADLY STOOD IN LINE TO WITNESS AND EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST MISDEED TO HUMAN KIND THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.....


The ANNE FRANK HOUSE was a beautiful deeply emotional experience for LEGS and I.  When we left.....we both walked down the side walk holding each other up and sobbing......

For me it was the thought that each and every person Hitler had killed was an individual....they had families, and memories and dreams.....fathoming and comprehending the TOTAL LOSS in those terms was MORE than I could bare.....


LEGS said....."I understand why men who fought in WWII came back and just wanted to live out the rest of their lives in PEACE...."

I think for him it was emotional because they spoke often of the AMERICANS LIBERATING them.....

HOW EMOTIONAL IT MUST BE to stand in such a place and KNOW that you LIBERATE PEOPLE.....FOR YOUR JOB......

It was a somber walk.....and a memory....that will haunt me forever....and an experience that put in perspective what LEGS and I have been doing these last 10 years.....sacrificing....all this time away from each other for something BIGGER than US.....I don't care what others say or think....that is what I think......and I have a right to think and feel this way MORE THAN MOST......


AMSTERDAM was a weekend of EXTREME FEELING OF ALL EMOTIONS...it was DRAMATIC, MEMORABLE and INTENSE.....

Some couples go to marriage retreats.....LEGS and I just go to AMSTERDAM....

We had one INCREDIBLY weekend....AMSTERDAM has INSPIRED me to do so many things, and it has reawakened the DESIRE and INTENSE LOVE that I have for LEGS, 2012 is not promising me very much, in fact its promising to be a long hard road, but....I understand that with opportunities like the ones I had in 2011 there needs to be balance.....

STAY TUNED because 2012 is going to be a year of exceptional artistic output from me.....

TTC update:


We made a lot of WHOOPI in AMSTERDAM....but......it was RECREATIONAL and UNPRODUCTIVE......


Recipe By Tiffany:


This is a great meal to make ahead when you have a busy night! Definitely serve chilled!

Serves 4

Serve this colorful noodle dish at room temperature or chilled.

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package 100% whole grain soba noodles 
2 cups snow peas, strings removed 
2 tablespoons roasted, unsalted, unsweetened smooth peanut butter or almond butter 
2 tablespoons rice vinegar 
1 tablespoon reduced sodium tamari 
1 tablespoon sesame tahini 
1/8 teaspoon crushed red chile pepper 
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots 
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 
1 cup sliced green onions 
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Method

Cook soba noodles according to package directions. Add snow peas with 1 minute cooking time remaining. Drain noodles and snow peas thoroughly. 

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, vinegar, tamari, tahini and crushed red pepper. Add a splash of warm water if needed to thin the sauce so it will coat the vegetables and noodles. Add noodles, snow peas, carrots, bell pepper, green onions and sesame seeds. Toss to coat noodles and vegetables thoroughly with sauce. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Random Thoughts:


Everything is harder than it looks.....