When I grow up, I want to be more B.A.....**

Hey OOOGLE BOOOGLE- (for those of you who missed it, I skyped with Pops and Grams yesterday and he referred to my blog as the 'oooogle, booogle thing')

Weather Report: Cold and Overcast......and its trying to snow- which makes me VERY happy!

About boxing.  

I am feeling the itch and the pressure to get back into the boxing gym. But I know that I am incredibly fat and out of shape.  So I don't die my first day in the gym I have been slowing getting it back, by punishing myself with some running.  There really is nothing worse then being out of shape and running, add the drinking you did last night and the side stitches are murderous! 

My trusty LEGS has done what he does best and started doing some research on the boxing situation over here in NEVER NEVER LAND.  There is a Russian Boxing Coach that trains in Bad Windsheim two days a week.  I am very excited about this opportunity because number one, Russians don't suck at boxing. Number two, I learned from an Old School Korean World Champion how to be a boxer-puncher and to never give up.  Number three I trained under an Olympic level Coach who taught me the importance of defense and the jab.  And last but not least Russians are known for their timing and power, I am going to be DANGEROUS!

Also, I have been thinking about mixing up my resume' a little bit by trying some martial arts.  I love boxing so I will continue to do it, but I want to be more B.A., like Jason Bourne.  I have asked LEGS what he thinks would be a good one to start with. He said I should learn how to do Krav Maga (pronounced as I am told, KRAH-V MUGAH).  Here is the link of the training they teach in this discipline.  

We did some research there is an Israeli that teaches it in NEVER NEVER LAND.  What do you think? Totally badass right!?!

For dinner last night we had SauerKraut and Bratwurst, which were packed by Heidi's father who is a butcher.  She told me her 'Kraut' was not as good as it usually is, but I found it to be delcioso! She also gave us Leberkase' its like a type of meat that reminds me of spam.  She told me I should send some to my Mema.  ;)

Another night at the pub turned out to be mellow and quiet.  LEGS and I were quite relieved we could take it easy tonight, even though I put on some of the cooler clothes I packed.......We were able to enjoy a live Irish Band and some clogging.  VERY COOL.

On the way home, we were walking down the street and an old man hollered out to us.  He told us he had no money along with the usual sob story.  Out of the 4 of us I couldn't say no.  I reached into my purse and told him I only had a few coins I could spare.  Once I gave him the coins he told me I had given him too little.  I got upset and told him, that was all I had and he should be more grateful.  As I walked away I told him I regretted giving him anything.......This robs me of the charity in my heart.......

We got a late start this morning, so we missed breakfast.  But we went to this restaurant called 'Munchies.'  They serve traditional American Cuisine.  So I had an American breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage.  LEGS had pancakes, eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage.

I don't know what it is, but everything here tastes so much better.  The eggs I ate this morning, had a more orange colored yoke, but they were the best eggs I have ever tasted.  At the end of breakfast we were offered some chocolates, I grabbed the coolest looking one here is a picture of it.

When we returned from breakfast, some of our friends' friends were having a surprise birthday party.  This is how small of a world we live in:

Last summer in Alabama, LEGS and I were at the pool on base.  I saw this beautiful woman with three kids and her husband right next to us.  She had just given birth to a brand new baby, but looked absolutely stunning in a bathing suit.  I remember telling LEGS, I want to look like that after I have a baby.  I remember thinking she was European.  

I had the pleasure of actually meeting her face to face yesterday morning at breakfast in GERMANY.  She is friends with Heidi and stopped by for coffee, she is also friends with the Pooperson's. Her name is Nely and she likes to sew, she is also fluent in German and Russian.  It was her birthday today so we were invited for cake.  I am very excited about spending some time with Nely, especially when my sewing machine arrives her in NEVER NEVER LAND.

We have been totally chill today, tomorrow we are riding the train to Rothenburg (pronounced Row-ten-berg) its the last walled city in Germany.  I have knitted all afternoon while LEGS has aggressively searched Germany for a car.  There isn't much to do when you don't have a house or a car, and I think both of us are getting anxious about getting out of transition.  

Tonight Heidi made us Torte which is pork and Knodel, a traditional German meal, the Knodel reminds me of a dumpling, but it has bread cubes in the center and the outer layer is like a dumpling.


Heidi also made German Cheesecake, which was very good, but definitely not what we think of as cheesecake in the States.  Its less sweet, and not as heavy.  I asked her to give me the recipe and she said we could not replicate it in the States because one of the ingredients you cannot get over there.  So guess that means anybody who wants some needs to come visit! Here are pictures:

I am very excited about our trip to Rothenberg tomorrow!!!


Random Thoughts:


Super bummed......no Pandora in NEVER NEVER LAND......

Heavy sigh......some family member(s)....and you know who you are.....SMH.......in utter embarrassment.........

A sequence of songs came on over my computer yesterday and it made me miss you dearly LEX LUTHER.....

I keep waking up in the middle of the night and wondering where I am at......as soon as I realize I am in NEVER NEVER LAND......I relax and drift back off to sleep...


I want to go back to the mall and buy one of the purses I spotted while shopping with Heidi the other day for my birthday.....but LEGS has been telling me NO.....last night I had a dream that I was wandering around the Mall aimlessly and I kept saying "I like this purse!" Over and over again.....and LEGS kept shaking his head NO to me.....talk about a horrible nightmare.....

They brew their own beer here in Bad Windsheim, here is a picture of it, its really good.

Onalisa, Hiedi's daughter LOVES Karmella, so we let her walk Karmella around the Pastorious House, here is a picture of her following Karmella under the table.....LAUGHS!

Over & Out....


Just another day in the life of unlikely military wife.....**

Teaching the locals about WHOOPI...**

Dear Bloggy Blogger,

Tank Girls weather narrative: Its dryer and brighter but still overcast and cold out today.

I am sorry I did not blog yesterday, although I seriously doubt my American viewers will not even notice since I am basically waking up for the next day when they are all tucked in for bed.

LEGS secured our DREAM HOUSE in NEVER NEVER LAND!!!  Not sure when we can move in but I will keep everybody informed of any new developments.

I embarrassed myself at breakfast yesterday, I was incredibly clumsy and klutzy, I dumped orange juice all over the nice table cloth and bumped in to some things like all at once.....I asked Heidi how to say Clumsy in German after I profusely apologized.  She told me there was a word for it, but the fact I consider myself clumsy is foolish.  She basically said that spilling/breaking things is no big deal, that its life.

I went to Ansbach with Heidi to do some shopping and participate in our language exchange.  Heidi has agreed to help me with my GERMAN, and I have agreed to help her with her English.  On the way out there we talked about her kids, school, high school, University, Exchange Students, and I learned a lot of those words in GERMAN.  We also discovered many words in English/German are the same except they pronounce it a little differently.


Heidi runs the Pastorious Haus where I am staying right now.  She is probably around The Mommy's age, has three kids, and has been such an amazing friend and resource to me.



Our first stop was the mall in Ansbach.  Let me just say the SHOPPING IS INCREDIBLE HERE!!!  It is very funny because Heidi loves the shopping in the States because it is so cheap and I love the shopping in Europe because they are so fashionable and modern.

Heidi found a sweater on sale she wanted to buy.  Some observations; first of all Heidi wanted my opinion of the sweater when she tried it on.  I found this very sweet and endearing, I mean she really wanted to know if I liked the sweater on her.  And the sweater was beautiful on her, in case you were wondering.  Also the Sales Associates over here are more personal, they actually touch the customer and help them fit/decide on the item of clothing, I found this to me much different and more intimate than the way things are done in the States.



Then we went to the food market, where Heidi looked around for some bargains.  I found the first official NEW item for the NEW house.  I have wanted a Bonsai Tree for a really long time but I have never purchased one because they are slightly high maintenance.  Here is our NEW little Bonsai Tree.

After the mall and market we went to a wholesale place much like Costco.  It was funny how many things I recognized just based on the packaging.


On our way home we had a really funny conversation, and I am not sure that I will be able to capture it in the blog but here is my attempt:

Heidi told me that when they were in the states her daughter Onalina was having a problem with her ears.  They thought possibly a tick was causing the problem.  Her husband told her to be careful when she said the word 'tick.'  She said in German that the 'T' sound is more strong. 

Then she tried to get me to guess the word that is like this in English.  I was confused, and usually her and I play a game of Sharades in order to figure things out, but we were in the car so we couldn't. Here is the guessing game:


Heidi:'Like Animal'
ARMS: 'Um....feathers....fur?'

Heidi:'No...NO...'
ARMS: 'Eating...hunting?'

Heidi:'No...no...'
ARMS: In my mind I am thinking National Geographic...because she said Animal. So I say 'Like Sex?'

Heidi:'Yes...I think...you would say this to your husband.'

ARMS: In my mind I am like 'what the heck is she trying to say?!?'

Heidi: Then Heidi ran her hand down her leg.

ARMS: Suddenly I got it: DICK! You mean DICK!
Heidi:' YES!!! My husband says do not go to the Doctor in the States and say Onalina has a DICK in her ear.'

We laughed hysterically!

Unfortunately I had to do laundry.  Luckily I was able to hang out with Squirrely for the afternoon while the laundry was washing and drying.......I knitted while she organized her beads and we watched Emeril.


We went to the Aussie Pub for Burger night.  You get a burger and a beer for 5 Euro.  I met a bunch of the guys in LEGS' unit, they were all very friendly to me, and they were really excited about my boxing.  I always find this to be a little embarrassing, but some of them were really stoked about the possibility of me teaching boxing.  It always fun when the new people that you meet are interested in the same things you are. They even toasted me with more German Schnapps....which is called Schvedka- not sure about the spelling but its pronounced SHHHVET-KAH.

Of course the night was filled with trash talking and funny stories.  Some of the guys wanted us to do up and really party, but I was exhausted.  I told LEGS he could go and I would go back to the B&B.  He didn't want to go either.....we just aren't used to drinking and partying this much.  I don't really remember why but we ended up running down the cobble stone streets laughing our beyonce's off all the way to the B&B.

I have spent most of today lounging. I took Karmella for a beast run through the park and up some hills.  LEGS is on the base going to the dentist and doing some other errands.  


I wasn't sure what we were going to do tonight, I am not sure I am up for another night out at the Pub, BUT, I guess a lot of the wives are coming out tonight and want to meet me.  So we are going to the Aussie Pub again tonight for more GO-SEE's and MEETS.


AFTER homemade Sour Kraut and Weinerschnitzel from Heidi.  Her father is a butcher and she went and got the Weinerschnitzel special for us. Weinerschnitzel is pronounced Weener Shhhnit-Zel.



Random Stories:


I showed Heidi and her husband Rudy my blog the other night.  They wanted to know what Whoopi is.  So I told them what it was.  The way they say it is more like WHOOPEEE!  LEGS put his head in his hands in embarrassment and told me 'Only you would teach the Germans what the word 'Whoopi' is.



One thing I have noticed and found to be quite awesome is that the Germans really want to laugh and have fun......

According to my Daddy:  Grams believed for a long time that you could only call cell phone to cell phone, not cell phone to land line etc.  So yesterday she asked if my email was still the same because I am located in GERMANY now.  LAUGHS!



Today I skyped with my Grams and Pops, with the time change it was early in the morning for them. Pops answered with his hair sticking straight up.  He was trying to show me their new golden retriever puppy with the camera, instead I was looking at my grandfathers crotch for much longer then I should have. MORE LAUGHS!


Pops also called my blog, 'Your OOOGLE BOOGLE thing' AND LAUGHING EVEN MORE!



Over & Out,


Just another day in life of unlikely military wife....**

The Dream House in NEVER NEVER LAND.....**

What Up! B-L-O-G?

Tank Girlz weather narrative: More gloom here in NEVER NEVER LAND.

Every time LEGS and I hang out with the Peterson's there is a story, incident, or reference to poop.  Let me illustrate: 

1. Mr. Peterson Earns the name Skids, by explaining the correct posture and exercise to correctly defecate in European Toilets.

2. Some how doggie poo ended up on the path to the Pastorious House, first Princess Sparkly (3rd daughter down) stepped in poop.

Then Henry stepped in Poop.  I could not help but laugh when Mrs. Peterson was helping both the kids drag their feet across the grass to remove the poop.

3. Then....Yes......I stepped in poop.

During this rapid succession of disaster, LEGS pointed out what seemed to be Poop but was actually mud on Henry's shoes, and what was actually poop.  He even used a pencil as a laser pointer to indicate the difference and spoke to us as a professor of Poop.

4. The other night Mrs. Peterson and I were discussing how often kids need to use the bathroom.  Then we started to discuss the subject of constipation while traveling.  During this conversation, Skids says (in reference to Mrs. Peterson:

Skids:'Oh she gets it bad.  She should be the posture girl for Metamucil. 'Hi I take Metamucil and I DEFECATE ONCE A WEEK!' 

5. Yesterday afternoon, we came downstairs to help the kids eat their Valentines candy, and nibble on the pizza we gave the Peterson's the night prior.  We were all sitting on the couch, the kids were watching Television, while Mrs. Peterson, LEGS and I were chatting.  Suddenly:

LEGS:'Um.....I think Peety (the Peterson's dog) just pooped.

Mrs. Peterson:'Ohhhh! Where!?!'

LEGS:'On you.' Laughing.

The next thing I see is a tootsie roll sliding down the blanket that Mrs. Peterson was covered with. 

LEGS: In his super hero voice 'I'll get it!'

LEGS saved the day picking up the poop, while I laughed hysterically with the family.

We have been here 6 days, you do the math. From here on out the Peterson's will now be known at the Pooperson's.  

Last night we went to a very nice Italian Restaurant for a romantic Valentines dinner with Sir Bradford and Squirrely.  Here is the pictures from dinner:

Four Cheese Penne Formaggi

Chocolate/Covered Coffee Ice Cream with Cream and Chocolate Syrup

 

White Chocolate Covered Coffee Ice Cream with Cream and Chocolate Syrup

 Italian Cream Dessert- I can't recall what it was called exactly but I do remember there was a time in my childhood where The Mommy used to buy these from the store.

  

There were hearts on the table and we ate dinner over candle light....

Okay....so at first we were supposed to look at the house in Oberdachstetten (pronounced OBER- DOCK- SHHHTEN) at 10ish.  Then they postponed to 4pm.  I am so thankful for my sponsor Squirrely she has literally saved my life, been the best friend I could ask for, and helped us tremendously.  I am already thinking of something I could knit her.  She was kind enough to drive us out there.  

While we sat outside LEGS and I stared up at the house and basically worked ourselves into despair.  We had really started to give up hope, and in our minds this house was going to be the disappointing or worse.  Finally....the Landlord showed up and we went in.  Here is what we saw:

First of all do not judge a book by its cover. The outside is old, which fits in with the little town.  The little town is settled into a valley of two large hills.

 

 

The gate to the driveway.

 

Two car garage- which is un-heard of in Germany.

The gigantic yard, with garden, shed, etc.

Mud room that leads out into the yard, and has double sink, plus drain in the floor, for muddy Karmella and dirty ARMS......

 

A workshop for LEGS to invent his inventions.

Master Bedroom

 

With Built in closets also un-heard of in Germany.

View from Master Bedroom

The guest bedroom which will be repainted in white.

The study/sewing room with built in cupboards.

 

Upstairs bathroom with soaking tub, which was not renovated with the rest of the house, but still is modern enough to blend.

That concludes the top floor, downstairs to second floor.

The housing guy was not lying when he said the kitchen was a 'Pearl' completely re-done, very modern, American Fridge, Awesome Appliances, the drawers that shut easy, and the pictures don't do it justice baby.

The room across the kitchen where we will put our brand new kitchen table.....so like a formal dining room but very modern and not stuffy!

One large open room for living room/jetson furniture.

And one large room for the family room/ Theater room.

 

Almost as amazing as the kitchen the NORMAL size walk in shower, with a heated towel rack......

I am incredibly stoked about the house, in fact I know I won't be able to sleep tonight.  But I also realize that I am incredibly lucky, spoiled rotten, and VERY VERY VERY THANKFUL!!!!

To make an even more perfect day radical I had Schnitzel (pronounced Shnit-Zel) for the first time and french fries with a glass of wine.  Schnitzel is very good, its a breaded piece of pork that is fried.  It reminds me of a shake and bake pork chop but SOOOO MUCH BETTER. 

We also went the Kaufland (pronounced COW-F-Land) and hit up the chocolate aisle- INCREDIBLE!!!!

Random Thoughts and Stories:

Since I have been down-graded to a less efficient cell phone, I have noticed that I get bombarded with text messages.  Like before I can even respond to the first one I receive three more.  I have found smiley faces and general responses work.

I have noticed a huge difference in how the tab is dealt with in NEVER NEVER LAND, versus the states.  Number one, its a much more intimate experience in Germany.  You have to usually request the tab, because you are not hurried out of the restaurant, which I LOVE!!!! After you request it, if the tab is separate, you usually work with the waitress to figure out the amount by letting her know who had what, she will usually figure out the totals by adding it up manually.  When you pay her, you should include the tip, don't leave it on the table.  

I learned that Germans LOVE Dr.Pepper, Rootbeer, and American Sweets.  They love Dr. Pepper and Rootbeer because they don't have open access to it and if they do, it usually VERY expensive.  They also enjoy American Sweets because we put a lot of sugar in our sweets and they normally don't.  Heidi also told me her kids are over the moon for Apple Jacks.

All these tourism books tell you not to speak slow and loud to the locals because its insulting.  This morning during breakfast one of the locals and Heidi specifically told me it helps them if I speak slower and clearer. Then they understand the English I am speaking better. 

Man.....I wish I could sleep that house has me jumpin'!

Over & Out...

Just another AMAZING day in the life of an unlikely military wife....**