tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50657312200867125762024-03-21T19:55:39.701-04:00A Step HeavenwardMargaret's BlogMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-23503754374171001352016-01-03T16:04:00.001-05:002016-01-11T19:45:57.275-05:00Two Identical Snowflakes<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Hello friends, family and acquaintances! </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Here, at long last, is the story of Margaret Wilkes and Hudson Barry. I</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">t includes practically "Everything There Is To Know" about the events leading up to Hudson's proposal, my subsequent acceptance of that proposal, and all the details therein.</span><br>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Hudson's Version</span></u></b><br>
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<b>Waking Up</b><br>
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I began thinking seriously about marriage when I asked myself, “If you had to choose right now who you would marry or forever lose your chances of marriage, who would you choose?” Without spending any time thinking about it the answer came to mind: Margaret Wilkes. That was in September 2013.<br>
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I remember being surprised when the answer came so easily. But I didn’t have to choose at that moment so I did not choose. After a couple years of not choosing the question became “What are you waiting for?” I told myself I was waiting for a good reason to get married; something that would be a very a clear word from God.<br>
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I understand Christian marriage to be a gift from and a responsibility to God. It can be seen as a symbol of the relationship between Father and Son. As with every other part of God’s creation, it is meant to glorify Him. This by itself is a good reason to marry, but it wouldn’t have helped me decide who to marry other than by eliminating non-Christian women as candidates for my wife.<br>
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More recently it became clear to me that Margaret was the good reason I was waiting for. There was no reformation of my theology or change in reasoning or even a revelation of new facts. It was more like waking up.<b><br><br>September 20th, 2015: The Start of a Winning Season</b><br>
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Previous to September 20th (I don’t remember exactly when) Liam Kiser invited me to go to a Panthers football game in Charlotte on the 20th with himself, Sullivan and Margaret. I had never been to a big sports game in my life and I knew very little about this particular sport. It is possible that Liam simply desired my company, but it became apparent as the date approached that he wanted someone to drive…and provide the wheels. I decided to go, knowing that I would enjoy the company if not the game.<br>
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Margaret and I spent time talking on the drive down. I gathered facts about Margaret’s preferences on various subjects from politics to grocery shopping, all of which reinforced my impression of her as a woman of competence and solid character with the ability to think clearly and make good decisions.<br>
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The game was fun to watch. Being right there in the stadium gave me a sensation similar to the sensation I got when I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon: being faced with “the real thing” instead of a representation by photographs or live video. Cam Newton did a front flip into the end zone and I got a sunburn that hurt for two weeks. Basically, it was a pretty standard NFL football game.<br>
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Equally important as the time spent with Margaret was the time leading up to it. Knowing that I was going to be around her for 8+ hours on a certain day in the future brought back to mind some questions which I had answered a long time before based on longstanding knowledge of Margaret and her family. Was the Wilkes family a reasonable, straight-talking, honest bunch of folks? Were they Christians? Did they have a good work ethic? Did I like them? Did they like me? Did Margaret have dignity in her character and in the in the way she carried herself? Would I be proud to have Margaret at my side? Was she generally competent? Would she make an excellent wife? By this point (and for a while before) the answers to all these questions were blaringly obvious. In spite of all the variables the equation was reducible and ultimately simple: Margaret Wilkes = excellent wife. By the end of the day I had decided I should marry Margaret Wilkes if at all possible. From that point on it was a matter of timing.<br>
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<b>September 25th: My Parents are My Allies</b><br>
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As my parents could tell you, I tend to keep my own counsel. I will get counsel by informing someone of a decision I am making or by telling them of a “leaning” that I am experiencing. In either case I would expect that person to quickly give pertinent guidance if they see I am about to make a poor decision or to give encouragement if they approve.<br>
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I knew my parents should be the first ones to know about my desire to marry Margaret. Through the week after September 20th I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring it up with them. I already knew they liked Margaret, so telling my parents was similar to joining forces with valuable allies.<br>
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I convinced them have dinner out with me on Friday on the pretext of something like a business meeting or plans for my future. Both were legitimate, the latter being broad enough to cover my intentions for marriage and the former being a subject for which we could spare a few words before getting to the real purpose of the meeting.<br>
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Basically, I told my parents what I have written here. They approved, and I told them my next step was to talk with Dr. Wilkes the following day.<br>
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<b>September 26th: Finding the Doctor…of Computer Science</b><br>
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It took longer than I expected to find Dr. Wilkes. I went to the Farmer’s Market expecting to find him easily. After hanging out around the BGB and Faith Mountain Farm booths and talking with a few drifters I realized I was getting nowhere asked Sullivan for his Father’s phone number. Sullivan gave me the number but said he was involved in a special event at ASU and might be tied up.<br>
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I called Dr. Wilkes and sent text messages but got no response. I decided he was in fact busy and that I would have to find him and interrupt whatever he was doing.<br>
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In hindsight I would like to say that I was 100% determined to tell Dr. Wilkes on that day, but in fact while trying to find him I changed my mind and decided to go home and try again another day. Then I decided it was important enough to find him now, no matter what. But I changed my mind again. I pulled over and turned around three times before I finally went home. But by the time I got home I knew I was only withdrawing to regroup and would immediately sally forth for another attempt.<br>
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I like to be prepared. Semper Paratus. Geographical knowledge is important in new situations. I went online and familiarized myself with the ASU campus layout: the location of the computer science offices, the parking garage, Sanford Mall, Anne Belk, etc. With a printed copy of an official ASU campus map I set out to find the office of Dr. James Wilkes. I found the building and followed directions to the CS delegation. Fortunately, a gentleman who knew Dr. Wilkes was talking with some others and brought me to his office. He was not there, and this gentleman told me he may be over at the Holmes Center for the big event that was in process all over campus (“potential student tour day” or something like that). Eventually I got over to the Holmes Center and observed casually from the bleachers for a 10 to 20 minutes. I saw signs above different booths with the names of different academic departments or majors. I didn’t see anything for CS, so I walked out and over to the other side to get a different angle on the crowd below. Finally I observed Dr. Wilkes and made by way down and to him.<br>
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Everyone was dressed up to look nice….Students to impress the faculty and faculty to impress their parents. Coats and ties were everywhere. Dr. Wilkes had jeans and a t-shirt, so he was easy to pick out after I had the right angle on the crowd. I was dressed like a lumber-jack b/c I was planning to cut trees and get firewood that day, so I was surprised not to be stopped by a security guard. Rarely have I felt more out of place.<br>
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The exact wording from this point escapes me, but events progressed as follows. I asked Dr. Wilkes if I could have a few minutes of his time when he got a chance. He said he was about to go back to the Farmer’s Market and we could talk there. When we finally got together at the market, I told him I really really liked Margaret and that I expected to have a more specific proposition in a few months. We agreed to meet and ask questions back and forth within the next week or so. He asked if I had a preference on when and who would tell Margaret. I said I had no particular preference. I expected things to go on without Margaret knowing for a couple months, but as I found out later Dr. Wilkes told her that same night.<br>
<b><br>October 3rd: First Official Meeting</b><br>
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Margaret and I met to discuss marriage for the first time on October 3rd. I used that time to state the purpose of what I was doing; that I had chosen to seek marriage with her and that the next period of time would be for her to consider if she would want to marry me and for us to receive counsel from others. That is probably not all we talked about, but I remember it as that kind of landmark. That afternoon when I dropped her off at her house we sat down and talked with Dr. and Mrs. Wilkes. Dr. Wilkes and Margaret also clarified the purpose of the relationship, so I think we were all four on the same page from the beginning.<br>
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<b>The Story Continues</b><br>
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I was privileged to spend some quality time with Margaret and the Wilkes family over the next month or so. Margaret has the details.<br>
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<b>November 15th: Dropping a Locust Tree</b><br>
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On Sunday, November 15th, it seemed to me that if I asked Margaret to marry me my chances of her saying yes were well over 50%. Margaret and I had spent much time in intentional conversation up to that point, and we had another good discussion that evening at their house.<br>
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I asked Dr. Wilkes if I could talk with him outside for a minute and subsequently asked him for his permission to ask Margaret to marry me. He said something to the effect of “yes”. During that moment and the following minutes of discussion I felt the same physical sensation I experienced when holding my STIHL 271 chainsaw in the trunk of a tall locust tree. My left leg began to shake. It was a situation where anticipation was leading up to a single key result, one that had been prepared for and planned, but which could go one way or another. In one sense I knew what Dr. Wilkes was going to say because we had been communicating, similar to how I know where the trees I cut will fall because I observe from different angles and distances before cutting the first notch. Even so, there was still a possibility that events wouldn’t unfold as I personally would have preferred.<br>
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<b>November 21st: The Question</b><br>
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<b><br></b> As I have probably done with events herein recounted previously, I will undoubtedly leave out important details. I am attempting to describe the general course of events.<br>
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At some point I told my parents that I would be asking Margaret to marry me within the next week or so. It turned out that Saturday would be a good time to go out with Margaret for a walk, so at some point that week I told her parents that I would pose the question on Saturday. Both sets of parents were supportive of me.<br>
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Without an elaborate plan to surprise her (without any plan), I kept the ring in my pocket as we hiked seldom trodden paths in the Moses Cone area. I saw a hill that I expected would be nice on the other side and suggested that we make for it. Once there we had to make sure we were below the horizon of a photo-shoot going on higher up the hill. I presented the ring and asked “Margaret, will you marry me?” After an exclamation, she said yes.<br>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Margaret's Version</span></b></u></span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">"Margaret! I'm so excited for you! I didn't know you even liked Hudson!"</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I didn't know I liked Hudson either y'all. But boy, I sure do!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Lord did a major remodeling of my heart and mind earlier this year with regards to marriage and relationships. I learned a lot, and I began to internalize what I was learning about marriage and relationships. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I began to truly realize that even if the Lord didn't see fit for me to get married, that would not be a problem, because of course, I could just as easily carry out his will whether I was married or not. I felt that it was quite obvious to me that I had zero idea of what I needed in a man, yet I knew that God did- he knows me even better than I know myself! So why waste any more thoughts, any more brain cells, on wondering if and when the Man Himself might come along? If your're single, you know exactly what I'm talking about here; the temptation to wonder and then almost simultaneously despair at the "lack of prospects" afforded you. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I get it. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I had "I don't need no man!" days, "what is wrong with me!" days, and "there are no good men left in the world" days. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Finding someone whom you'd really like enough to marry is hard enough, but to find someone that would meet <i>my</i> criteria? You can marry any Joe-off-the-street, but in this day and age, where do you find a man of quality? </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">A Godly man? </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">A true gentleman? And someone who not only possesses these qualities, but someone whom you would <i>want</i> to spend the rest of your life with? </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Needle in a haystack is a poor analogy. I had viewed it like finding a couple of identical snowflakes.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I began to see that surely, this was just another issue of trust, of God saying to me-</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Do you trust me? Just trust me on this."</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That being said, if you had told me earlier this year that I would be engaged by the end of the year- much less, engaged to a man of such high standing as Hudson- I would have laughed. My interest i</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">n relationships and marriage had faded into the background. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Essentially, for lack of a better term, my "radar" </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">was off. AWOL. Missing in Action. I decided that I was not going to waste more time worrying about if and when a man would come for me, so I busied myself with what I had in front of me. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Looking back on my single years, I am satisfied with how I spent them. Among other things, I worked on our farm, baking for coffee shops and restaurants while getting my nutritional therapy certification and personal trainer certification. I jumped out of a plane once, traveled to Hawaii, Germany, France, England, Scotland and more, chronicling my adventures on this blog. I also studied many things I'm passionate about and further developed my love of learning.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>So now that I've set the stage, let's talk about July.<br><br> Having just returned back to the US of A from my 1 1/2 month-long stint in Germany, my brother Sullivan and I, both football fans, decided to make plans to attend a Panther's game in Charlotte. Sullivan decided to extend the invite and two of our mutual acquaintances ended up tagging along. One of them was a certain young man named Hudson Barry, a mutual friend of ours, and the other was Liam Kiser. Hudson and Liam met us in the parking lot of a grocery store in Boone on the morning of September 20th, to carpool with us to the first home game of the year, Panthers vs. Texans, at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Hudson had the wheel, Sulli and Liam took the backseat and claimed they had to sit together in order to watch a frisbee highlight reel from their last game. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Much to my surprise, this left me with the front seat </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">and, well, Hudson to talk to.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Well, this'll be awkward!" I thought to myself as I settled into the seat for the two and a half hour drive. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it turned out to be anything but awkward. In fact, I remember noting to myself how at ease I felt while talking with him. He is an excellent listener and asks such good questions. And who doesn't want to feel like they are being listened to and that what they have to say is of value? </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Hudson and I hadn't talked in a good long while, and so our conversation ranged from his work to my work and travels, my studies, politics, and other topics for the two and a half hours it took us to drive to Charlotte. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After going through security a little worse for wear, what with Hudson having his binocular case confiscated for not meeting the size requirement, we continued on to our seats. The temperature soared into the 80's and that, in combination with the full sun that we sat under, had the general populous, including the four of us, sweating like pigs. The Panthers won that game against the Texans, and</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> went on to best the New York Giants 38-35 in Week 14 and thus achieved a 14-0 record for the first time in franchise history. Until last week, they were the only undefeated team in the NFL. Coincidence? #keeppounding </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The football game- Sullivan, Margaret, Liam and Hudson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been watching football since I was 3 years old and I really enjoy it. I sat next to Liam and as I recall, I barely talked to Hudson during the game, except to offer him some ice I'd gotten at the concession stand to help combat the soaring temps and inevitable dehydration. I had my sunglasses on the entire time to cut down on glare and as a result, I got the most flattering sunburn one can possibly attain- a sunglasses burn. So attractive. To use the eloquent phrase which is a favorite of two year olds everywhere- <br><br>Yuck.<br><br> After the game we picked up my Father, who happened to be flying in from his trip in South Korea. As is fitting for an individual returning from foreign climes, we celebrated his return to the land of fried food and biscuits by eating at Bojangles before driving back to the mountains. <br><br> Six days passed. It was a normal, busy but manageable week. I filled baking orders. I continued the personal trainer course I was cranking away at. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">On the 26th of September, I was concluding a busy Saturday by relaxing and doing my nails, something which I don't do very often. I sat on a chair with headphones on, listening to one of my infamously diverse playlists set to shuffle. As Rachmaninoff finished and Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins began to play in the background, I was completely oblivious to what was about to transpire. My thoughts were just about as far away from suitors and marriage as they could be. I sat there, filing my nails. Eventually, I shut off the music and began to listen to a Ted Talk podcast.....on emotions, of all things.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>About this time, my Father, who had just returned from a morning of selling our goods at the local Farmer's Market, walked in and said hello as he sat down nearby. My sixth sense told me that something was up. "Well, that is unusual!" I remember thinking as I saw him sit down out of the corner of my eye. Instinctively, I took my headphones off and let them slip around my neck.<br><br>He cleared his throat. As I recall, we exchanged normal chit chat before he began with what he really came in to tell me. "So, you know how you have said before many, many times that there are 'no guys around here' and that 'no one is interested in you and no one is watching/observing you?'"<br><br>"Yeah?"<br><br>"Well, a young man practically tracked me down today to ask about you."<br><br>I laughed and nonchalantly grabbed the nail file as I began to work on my other hand.<br><br>"Oh really? Who was it?"<br><br>Then he told me that a certain fellow had come forward and asked for permission to get to know me better with the intention of marriage. "He has been interested in you for several years, and holds you in very high regard." My mind raced with ideas of who this mysterious person could be. I bugged him to tell me who this person was, and after teasing me with more info on their meeting, he finally said:</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">".....and this person is Hudson Barry."<br><br>I almost fell off the chair. I was absolutely shocked when I found out that the guy was Hudson. Not shocked in the negative sense, mind you, this was the "I-didn't-see-this-coming" variety of shocked. And as my Father would later tell me, their conversation had started with:</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Dr Wilkes, I like your daughter very, very, much."<br><br>"Do you like her very, very, very much?<br><br>"Yes sir."</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was his answer.<br><br>I was still in a relatively stable state of shock and excitement when my parents left to go out of town for the week. It worked out nicely, because I had that whole week to think this thing over and to pray about moving forward, or not moving forward.<br><br>Allow me to explain a bit more background.</span><br>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451661135400_20274" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hudson and I have known each other for many, many years- ever since he and his family moved to the Boone area. Our earliest shared memory of seeing each other was playing on a playground together when we were around eight or nine. We were also in the same high school level Latin class taught by his cousin at the local homeschool co-op and would often see</span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451661135400_20278" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> each other here and there, whether at community events, the farmer's market, frisbee games at the park, or Kolbitars, a meeting of the wise sages of the populous held at the John Barry's home.</span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451661135400_20280" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> </span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451661135400_20282" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I've also been close with his cousins and other relatives that make up the famous Barry Mountain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I had no idea that he was interested in me. ZERO. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I didn't think for a minute that he was watching me or was interested in me, much less that he had been for years and years.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I figured he was too refined, too serious and too gentlemanly for the likes of me. I tend to be rather loud, expressive, very energetic, and I talk with my hands. He's very genteel, controlled, calm, cool as a cucumber, with a wonderfully understated sense of humor. In other words, we are fairly opposite as far as personalities are concerned. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">For a while, before I <i>really</i> got to know him (oh, I cringe to admit this now!) I pictured him in my mind as this emotionless robot figure, trodding the ground with carefully measured steps, and meanwhile I was the hyper little bunny rabbit running in random non-symmetrical circles round his feet. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">But, after that week of consideration and prayer, I came to the conclusion that at the very least, I was interested in hearing him out and talking more with him. Something told me that the Lord was in this, even if I didn't "see" it yet.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>The following Sunday evening my parents returned from Colorado, and my Father and Hudson went out to breakfast the next morning. He and my Father had several meetings hammering out questions and such before Hudson and I began to spend time together. My Father already knew him pretty well before going into their meetings together and he came away even more impressed, with glowing reviews. And let me tell you, when I heard that my Father, the toughest critic, was very impressed, and not only that, gave a two thumbs up from his vantage point, I sat up and took notice. His opinion of a man is of extreme value to me. But, as is my mode of operation, I did sit up and take interest - but very cautiously.<br><br>Our first date was on October 10th. He picked me up from the Farmer's Market and took me out for lunch at Panera Bread. Going into it, I was not sure what to expect, or what he might say, but one thing I did know was that I was already comfortable talking with him, as evidenced by our history and that trip to the football game a few weeks prior. The difference was that this time, the context and subject matter would have changed significantly since our last conversation. It was then that he shared he was absolutely honored that I would consider spending time with him. He also made it clear that he wanted to spend <i>meaningful </i>time with me and my family and in the process, be helpful in whatever practical ways he could- woodcutting, manual labor, pig-wrangling, etc.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the way home, he needed help picking out steak for their evening meal and so naturally, we went steak shopping, as one does on their first date. On our third date we went on a Costco run to Winston Salem. No, that's not a joke. We (that is, Faith Mountain Farm) needed a re-stock of supplies, and so what better way to get in several hours of conversation time while simultaneously doing something useful? Israel, my brother, tagged along for good measure. We had a lot of beneficial conversation there and back on many topics. As a fellow history enthusiast, I was impressed when he correctly rattled off all of Hitler's high command during a conversation we had on World War II. <br><br>We had many other dates and opportunities to spend time together after that: walks on the Greenway and around Bass Lake in Blowing Rock, an App State football game. He </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">visited my church, I visited his, we'd have </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">inner together in town or dinner at my place on the farm, the latter usually consisting of his being subjected to board games with the highly competitive younger members of the family after the meal. He was instantly a favorite with my entire family. During this time, we talked through lists of questions and asked each other plenty of our own as well.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> In October, he</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> came out to help my brother cut firewood in the woods of our farm while I sauntered about nearby, picking rosehips and dilly-dallying in the fall leaves (clearly, I got the better end of the deal in that situation). My family, while very supportive, had certain younger members who enjoyed making, shall we say, 'amusing' comments. One sibling asked me to say a tongue twister and when "Hudson Husband" were declared to be the words of the supposed tongue twister, I considered throwing a death glare in the direction of the young'n responsible for the prank. But Prince Charming was in the vicinity so I didn't want to make a scene.</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HqnNASIRBUbT8VXnBuaitkh5qDX1QFSrnVEWaEOyby0p-QCZvp0TZensEkVta_UJLCDUybXwLzPH80kEHr9ZaGdtTZeludi62taTEunIHMsHO9n5GOmdb1wR7SUwQ4WW8skalCl5Tl-C/s1600/image2+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HqnNASIRBUbT8VXnBuaitkh5qDX1QFSrnVEWaEOyby0p-QCZvp0TZensEkVta_UJLCDUybXwLzPH80kEHr9ZaGdtTZeludi62taTEunIHMsHO9n5GOmdb1wR7SUwQ4WW8skalCl5Tl-C/s320/image2+%25281%2529.JPG" width="312"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">laughing with the siblings</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Early on, I was extremely hesitant to reveal my feelings. I remember not being sure if I really *liked* him or not, but what I did know was this: I had a growing respect for him. When he left, I was rather downcast, and I anticipated when I might see him again.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">The more time I spent with him, the more I was impressed- with his character, his patient, forbearing attitude, and his thoughtfulness. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Once, we went to a big party together, and I was sitting chatting and enjoying spending time with the family and friends that surrounded us. At one point towards the end of the evening, I noticed Hudson get up from his seat and go into the kitchen. After a half hour or so I began to be curious what he could be doing in there, and I craned my neck to see if I could see what was going on. Through the door I glimpsed</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> him standing there in front of the sink- the sleeves of his button down rolled up to his elbows- washing away at the i</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">nnumerable</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> amount of </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">dishes that were piled up next to the sink. Later when I inquired about his washing up the dishes, he said "It needed to be done, and someone has to do it." </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At one point, the feelings began to show through, despite my rather carefully-guarded nature. While making plans for our next date, he asked me-<br>"Margaret are you going to be at the Farmer's market this Saturday ?"<br><br>"Oh I don't know..."</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>Mom cut in:<br><br>"Well if you (Hudson) will be there, she will wanna go"<br><br>Hudson looked very surprised.<br><br>"Huh? Wait......are we at that stage yet?"<br><br>I replied</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>"UH.....yes!!!"</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I remember clearly the first time he gave me a hug goodbye. He asked me if he could give me a hug and I said yes, of course. I played it very cool at the time, but walked away feeling not entirely unlike Liesl from the Sound of Music in that iconic scene in which she was kissed by Rolf in the gazebo-<br><br>"Wheeeeeeeeee!"</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnreprGBzPuXh711OVkKkYIDZLpk48BrbMyJuKR7t63JM_cs2YnJdJ8UbJBpNQJJY4FiiDfs1ng8axNS600cMswqQwyFYj07tA8zQJatcN6NZeaJ77zZNYja9Suv07Dygc9FvB20ZvEW2U/s1600/image1+%25288%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnreprGBzPuXh711OVkKkYIDZLpk48BrbMyJuKR7t63JM_cs2YnJdJ8UbJBpNQJJY4FiiDfs1ng8axNS600cMswqQwyFYj07tA8zQJatcN6NZeaJ77zZNYja9Suv07Dygc9FvB20ZvEW2U/s400/image1+%25288%2529.PNG" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Picture together- November</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I enjoyed spending more time with him and his family, as well as he with my family. We reached a point where we had all but exhausted our questions for each other and also run out of controversial things to bring up that could have an impact on our relationship. We were quite pleased to see that we held the same views on the important things that mattered to us. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But still, a</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">t one point, I felt overwhelmed with the choice that I knew would be coming soon- marry him, or not? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One Sunday after church, when discussing our plans for the upcoming week, he suggested we spend some time thinking and praying apart from each other to get more clarity on our relationship. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">It was during our discussion of these plans that </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hudson reminded me of </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Philippians 4:6-7, the </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">bible verse that had become somewhat of a theme verse for us in our relationship:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text Phil-4-6" id="en-NKJV-29449" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px;"><b>"</b></span><span class="text Phil-4-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; </span><span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NKJV-29450" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."</span></i></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I agreed it would be for the best, and so that week I continued to pray for more clarity and discernment. I tend to overthink things something fierce, and my mind is a rather difficult thing to put at ease. Thus, it is all the more miraculous to say that I reached a definite point where I realized that I had no reservations, no questions, no growing doubts in my mind that this is what the Lord was leading me to do, and that this man I had was</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> the Real Deal. I knew what I was going to say if he asked me.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>At this point, I had a hunch that he would probably propose to me in the "near future," but had no idea when he might choose to do so, and I certainly wasn't expecting him to propose anytime VERY soon. On Saturday, November 21st, he picked me up and took me to McKethans BBQ for lunch. He seemed uncommonly relaxed on this particular day, and we enjoyed our food together. I laughed as he suggested if he might ask the waitress "so, do the entrees come on trays?" Turns out, they did.<br><br>Then we drove out to Bass Lake. On the way We walked a little ways around the path, and he seemed preoccupied with finding "a nice, sunny spot to sit" and it made sense, as it was rather cold in the shade. It was soon determined that the trail up to Cone Manor was two miles either way and we didn't have the time to do all of it. Seeing as the best sun and additional hiking was up at Cone Manor, we got back in the car and drove there on the Parkway. We looked at the map and as we walked around, I remember him looking this way and that, as if he was searching for a specific spot- either that, I mused, or he was being followed by the CIA. Then, we began walking up the trail that leads to the old fire tower. He looked over to the left and said "hey, you know, I'd almost like to walk through that field and maybe we could get atop one of those hills." </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I remember thinking-</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Ok, well that's all well and fine, but why? This path is just dandy?"<br><br>After locating a section of barbed wire that was not entirely operational, we carefully slipped under it and started our walk off-road. After hopping across a small stream, we climbed up the hill and in the process, nearly photobombed a couple standing in the distance ahead of us taking pictures. I half wonder if they got pictures of our disembodied heads on the horizon for one of their photos! The view was lovely. You could see Grandfather and Sugar mountain, and many other mountains looming in the distance. It was the perfect late-fall day, and the sky was perfectly clear, with the three o' clock sun beaming down upon us as we stood taking in the view.<br><br>"You know, I wish I had some sort of clever scheme or something......"</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As his voice trailed off, and I thought-<br><br>"Huh? where is he going with that?"<br><br>There was an </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">artful pause for effect as he produced the ring, which I immediately spotted and loudly exclaimed, so loudly that it drowned out his first word which was "Margaret,"</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The poor guy tried again, this time my squeals were contained enough for him to get his words out.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>"Margaret,</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">....will you marry me?"<br><br>I saw the ring, which he produced from his side pocket as I squealed and immediately put my hands to my face in disbelief. I'd always thought of myself as too dignified for squealing and such, as is the typical panicked yet joyful reaction of girls being proposed to -but I couldn't help it. It just came out. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I looked at the beautiful ring in disbelief and exclaimed over and over "REALLY? REALLY?"</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>This takes a long time to say, but in reality it was but a few seconds. He then spoke again to remind me that he was, in fact, still there.<br><br>".....will you?"<br><br>"YES!!!!! YES!!!!"<br>I practically screamed in his ear.<br><br>Tears came to my eyes as he said "let me put this on, if I remember which finger it's supposed to go on."<br><br>And then we managed a few pictures with my iPhone that I had happened to bring. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">On the way home, we called our parents.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">"Hello?"</span><br>
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">"Hi M</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">other, it's Margaret."</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh, hi! How are you?"</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I'm engaged, how are you?"</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*harmonious screams of joy were heard on the phone*</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We also texted his parents and other relatives and friends of note, and also talked to and shared the news with his cousin Daniel, who happened to call for a completely unrelated reason. (Hey Daniel! You rock!)</span><br>
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Later on, we were able to have dinner with his family and share the whole story with them.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">That evening, Sarah, my future sister-in-law, asked for my phone number to send me one of the pictures she took. Hudson then declared that he might need to get my number too, at some point. We all had a good laugh at the realization that he didn't even have my cell number- one of the first things a guy might ask a girl for in a modern dating relationship. While it is true that he had my home phone number -and even that was used sparingly!- all of our interactions and important conversations had been face-to-face. This said to me that we had success at creating a real, face-to-face relationship, absent of the typical texting or technology-based relationship that is commonplace these days. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Also, in our culture, it seems to be the protocol that one "fall in love" first, ask questions later. In our case, we asked questions first, "fell in love" later.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A note about the ring: This is a picture of the ring that Hudson inherited from his Grandfather, with the diamond originally belonging to his Great-Great-Great Grandmother. It is a European-cut diamond, which is much older than the setting, which hails from the 1920's. We are currently working towards getting it re-set in a gorgeous Victorian-esque filigree design.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was looking at some old pictures a couple days after we were engaged and I suddenly realized that I had this particular picture </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">taken by my friend Savannah. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Two years ago, some of my dear friends and I sat watching the summer sunset on a hillside in Blowing Rock, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. She snapped this picture and it was my facebook profile picture for a while thereafter. I realized with a start that the </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">large hill seen there in the background is the exact same hill on which Hudson would propose to me, two years later. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I have been given a great gift, one that I was completely oblivious to- he was there the whole time! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have the right to brag, so I shall dispense with some bragging. He makes me laugh. He encourages me, both practically and in the Lord. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">He has a great sense of humor.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> He is extremely thoughtful and treats me like a lady, the kind of gentleman who will park the car a certain way just to make sure he can open the door for me. He's very handsome, like he just walked off-screen from a World War II era movie. He jumps right in to help, with a smile, with whatever one might need help doing. He will pray with me at any time.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson concentrates on the card game; meanwhile, Margaret goofs off.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOaF-5VbULBrEb0WITxMoYwIYE3rRRN9gllKLidhMpquJG8ShtMtEN6EsrGH8J5gcUt-NfcA9BwRthrF5FOlmzJqphHP9niMtLek3BMV9nNoHW6fuenfZAx7GuIZXc9wBc1PkRagPCr_p/s1600/image1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOaF-5VbULBrEb0WITxMoYwIYE3rRRN9gllKLidhMpquJG8ShtMtEN6EsrGH8J5gcUt-NfcA9BwRthrF5FOlmzJqphHP9niMtLek3BMV9nNoHW6fuenfZAx7GuIZXc9wBc1PkRagPCr_p/s320/image1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br>In entrusting the Lord with the desires of my heart and declaring to him my lack of understanding at my needs, he has gifted me, however undeservedly, with the very best. We are getting married on March 19th, 2016.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"To God be the glory, great things he hath done!"</span></div>
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Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-15543021624913462292015-07-31T13:29:00.001-04:002015-07-31T14:07:23.473-04:00Would I Have Been Silent?<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10340" style="clear: both; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhTELALCHG0d8_9SuG2QqoLIvGR0_u98HJ4B9CH_xSqPYrE0F7wM4NARA6Q5WTmcNO0LSBDIrdsqiSHiyrhIPlVFTICKeCd6IatwMRl7T-GCOrueZN9pH70y7GZBycnuqkg7wp9urXVIQ/s1600/2015-06-03+12.57.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhTELALCHG0d8_9SuG2QqoLIvGR0_u98HJ4B9CH_xSqPYrE0F7wM4NARA6Q5WTmcNO0LSBDIrdsqiSHiyrhIPlVFTICKeCd6IatwMRl7T-GCOrueZN9pH70y7GZBycnuqkg7wp9urXVIQ/s320/2015-06-03+12.57.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10342" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">I (cannot) be silent.</span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8091" style="clear: both; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8097" style="padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9512" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10347" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8099"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8101" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8103" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8105" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Let me tell you, people get<i> very</i> incensed when a comparison is drawn between the modern-day Abortion practices and Holocaust. </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8107" style="padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9519" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10355" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8109"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8111" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8113" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8115" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">"<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8117">It's a stretch!"</i></span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><i class=""><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">They say.</span></span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8119" style="padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9527" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10364" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8123" style="padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9531" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10369" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8125" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">"<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8127">You people who compare the Holocaust to modern day Abortion practices are a bunch of #!%@!*#!%*."</i></span><br />
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><i class=""><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8129" style="padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9536" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10375" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">If you happen to be one of those individuals who would elect to describe people like me using certain four letter words (you know, like "cool?")</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8427" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10401" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8429"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8431" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8433" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8435" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">I have two for you:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8437" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10408" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8439" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8441" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8443" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8445" style="font-size: 13px;">Humor me.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8447" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10415" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10417"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8449"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8451" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8453" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8455" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Yes, I am no scholar, and I make no claim to be anything close to that. These thoughts written here are my own, and they come from the heart.</span></span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">I've personally set foot in Auschwitz, in fact, I visited and toured four concentration camps last month in Germany and Poland. I blogged my experiences while there, which you can read about at length: <a class="" href="http://astepheavenward.blogspot.de/2015/06/poland-auschwitz-birkenau.html?m=1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8457" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Auschwitz-Birkenau</a>, <a class="" href="http://astepheavenward.blogspot.de/2015/06/berlin-wall-buchenwald-travel-to-erfurt.html?m=1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8459" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Buchenwald: Day One</a>, <a class="" href="http://astepheavenward.blogspot.de/2015/06/buchenwald-day-two-travel-back-to.html?m=1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8461" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Buchenwald: Day Two</a>, and <a class="" href="http://astepheavenward.blogspot.de/2015/05/dachau-downtown-munich-st-peter-church.html?m=1" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8463" style="background: transparent; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Dachau</a>. </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8465" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">It's true that I have studied the Third Reich and the Holocaust extensively. </span><br />
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">And I am here to tell you something. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8467" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10429" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8469"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8471" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8473" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8475" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">There were entire villages and families that lived only miles away from where the site of the atrocities- what we have now come to know as the Holocaust- were committed over the course of years. In fact, the building in the picture below is close to the house where the camp Commandant of Auschwitz (Rudolph Hess) lived with his wife and children. He was adamant they live there, and is said to have told others that:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10435" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10437"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10439" /></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8477" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10442" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8479" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"> ".....it (Auschwitz) <i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8481">was a perfectly fine place to raise their family</i>."</span><br />
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10446" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10448"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10450" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10452" style="clear: both; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a class="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXCegsQ5htP732T_M7FvFBAywqxlWdfdG1W7nJ5Wtvi1lPcJYD812zvHlyHy6vlwNNyGNbnAJwvgzMosaq9qA87who3xkSC1Bkzpt3eGrCT55MylGeP4dLXfEjA3hB2hg-eg6HJDph84t/s1600/2015-06-03+11.48.11.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10454" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10456" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="e94a9049-358c-71da-9667-e994fef89ed2" height="320" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXCegsQ5htP732T_M7FvFBAywqxlWdfdG1W7nJ5Wtvi1lPcJYD812zvHlyHy6vlwNNyGNbnAJwvgzMosaq9qA87who3xkSC1Bkzpt3eGrCT55MylGeP4dLXfEjA3hB2hg-eg6HJDph84t/s320/2015-06-03+11.48.11.jpg" style="border: none;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10459" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10461"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10463" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10465" style="font-size: 13px;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10467" /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8810" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10470" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8812" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8814" style="font-size: 13px;">This begs the question:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8816" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10475" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8818"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8820" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8822" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8824" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Were these people, living in the shadow of the camps, </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">willingly ignorant? Or were they aware, yet simply turned a blind eye? </span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8836" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10489" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8838"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8840" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8842" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8844" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Or, did they just not care?</span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Perhaps some were aware, yet genuinely believed that it was necessary for the "good of the people" to not be "burdened" with these "un-necessaries" any longer. </span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">I don't think we can know for sure.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8846" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10496" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8848"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8850" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8852" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8854" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">I could quote Himmler or Goebbels, to show you what they thought of the "Non-Aryan" people groups, but chances are, you are already aware of this. In short, the Jews, the Communists, Slavs, Gypsies, Gays, as well as anyone who opposed them- men such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of my heroes- were all deemed "unfit" to live. The Jews, in particular, were bestowed with the special title of "<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8856">sub-human</i>" and "<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8858">not even human</i>."</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10504" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10506"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10508" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10510" /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10512" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center; word-break: normal;"><tbody class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10514" style="width: 300px;">
<tr class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10516"><td class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10518" style="border-spacing: 2px; padding: 0px;"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10520" style="padding: 0px;">
<a class="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInxjTu70tlto-KjO_EbfLnFsvZxvEBSET7PCBuzzYKGLVwZ4RXigP03dJfhlCZivb2OCW2s04mrYEE4gpg10Gm8JXp9OlewlFHSOcrWdT39gUqIqtaSWz03QaNEhSwkPaYCMLcX0u14A1/s1600/2015-06-03+11.28.13.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10522" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10524" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="f061fb5f-3ef3-c392-060d-5d647aa2174d" height="400" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10525" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInxjTu70tlto-KjO_EbfLnFsvZxvEBSET7PCBuzzYKGLVwZ4RXigP03dJfhlCZivb2OCW2s04mrYEE4gpg10Gm8JXp9OlewlFHSOcrWdT39gUqIqtaSWz03QaNEhSwkPaYCMLcX0u14A1/s400/2015-06-03+11.28.13.jpg" style="border: none;" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<tr class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10527"><td class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10529" style="border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px;"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10531" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10533" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Early Inmates of Auschwitz</span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10535" style="clear: both; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10537" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10539" /></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8947" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10542" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8949" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">How can we fail to see a pattern here? </span><br />
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Whenever a group of human beings is considered "<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8951">less than</i>" in a society- that is, whenever they are considered<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8953"> </i><span class="">to be somehow </span><i class="">"sub-human</i>" or "<i>not fully human," </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">we should pay </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>very</b> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">close attention.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"> Or, you could unwittingly find yourself in the midst of a society that tolerates, or worse, promotes, atrocity. Most frightening of all, you might not even know it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">Deeming a people group or a class of people "sub human" or "less than" then gives ample grounds to justify either their demise, as with the Holocaust, or their enslavement, as with slavery. Some of the (many) labels for justifying abortions include:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>"oh, it's not a human yet."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>"it's inconvenient for me to have a baby now."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>"if this baby even lived, the quality of life it would experience would be very low."</i></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8957" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10549" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8959"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8965" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Are you blinded by what has been going on in our country?</span></span></div>
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<div class="" data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8967" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10556" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8969"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8971" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8973" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8975" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Or, are we only enraged now that we see the evidence that the bodies of these babies are being profited from? This, completely aside from the fact that it is, in the first place, a murder that is not only sanctioned, but also funded, by our nation? </span></span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10562" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10564"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10566" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10568" /></span></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10570" style="clear: both; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a class="" href="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-28-at-9.25.01-AM.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10572" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10574" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="32d38f13-ba25-4142-4992-9ab0abdd7184" src="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-28-at-9.25.01-AM.jpg" height="200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10575" style="border: none;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10577" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10579"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10581" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10583" /></span></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_8999" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10586" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9001"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9003" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Are you speaking out?</span></span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9005" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10591" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9007"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9009" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9011" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9013" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Are you afraid of the consequences of doing so?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9015" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10598" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9017"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9019" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9021" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9023" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Are you afraid of what others will think? Of losing friendships? </span></span><br />
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">These are also the questions I ask myself.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9025" style="padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10611" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9027"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9033" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Or maybe I should put it this way. If you and I lived in Nazi Germany, would you have taken a stand for the helpless?</span></span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10619" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10621"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10623" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10625" /></span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10629"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10631" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center; word-break: normal;"><tbody class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10633" style="width: 300px;">
<tr class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10635"><td class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10637" style="border-spacing: 2px; padding: 0px;"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10639" style="padding: 0px;">
<a class="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmdiAyUEvnLt5Z_t-nNMGMpu82jUke3vRvn5vrRXCY8bZEPcjO06oiHoBlX720wt9aP_Y9tgnW9Pk-KDI-Pqi8UBW8iaCw9pX4RAOVE2yOVMpbDZp0iZ-2ejCWV43HlASxCxToPgcZNhr/s1600/2015-06-03+11.43.34.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10641" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10643" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="0e00233b-4934-b609-c201-d482113bc3d1" height="400" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10644" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmdiAyUEvnLt5Z_t-nNMGMpu82jUke3vRvn5vrRXCY8bZEPcjO06oiHoBlX720wt9aP_Y9tgnW9Pk-KDI-Pqi8UBW8iaCw9pX4RAOVE2yOVMpbDZp0iZ-2ejCWV43HlASxCxToPgcZNhr/s400/2015-06-03+11.43.34.jpg" style="border: none;" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<tr class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10646"><td class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10648" style="border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px;"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10650" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10652" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Children, imprisoned in Auschwitz</span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10654" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10656"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10658" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10660" /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10662" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center; word-break: normal;"><tbody class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10664" style="width: 300px;">
<tr class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10666"><td class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10668" style="border-spacing: 2px; padding: 0px;"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10670" style="padding: 0px;">
<a class="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLiEDpfCf_OEu2UaslCDVssptnhSXBTg68HqqqbVd2BjGtHLn4rd79Mwe0dkdTGxAyhwzF7ko75CKlv_iOhMW6Uc90cGYMhj9fT-Ewlghyphenhyphenx4N0rzvlPOt2uuuPaVUuKTcI4B8U0Nq1Oj6/s1600/2015-06-03+10.49.34.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10672" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10674" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="4e8bf799-4f59-b25c-e15c-2e9919be1076" height="400" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLiEDpfCf_OEu2UaslCDVssptnhSXBTg68HqqqbVd2BjGtHLn4rd79Mwe0dkdTGxAyhwzF7ko75CKlv_iOhMW6Uc90cGYMhj9fT-Ewlghyphenhyphenx4N0rzvlPOt2uuuPaVUuKTcI4B8U0Nq1Oj6/s400/2015-06-03+10.49.34.jpg" style="border: none;" width="300" /></span></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10677"><td class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10679" style="border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px;"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10681" style="padding: 0px;">
<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10683"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10685" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Unfit for Work"</span></i></div>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_7881" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9061" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10689" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10691"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10693" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10695" /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9061" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; padding: 0px;">
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10698" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9063"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9065" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">If you live in America today, will you take a stand for the helpless?</span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10705"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10707" /></span></div>
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10710" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10712"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10714" /></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10718"></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10720" style="clear: both; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a class="" href="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-21-at-9.07.20-AM.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10722" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10724" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="5dc946e5-2e33-df6b-4eaf-e6a968435e3f" src="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-21-at-9.07.20-AM.jpg" height="247" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10725" style="border: none;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10729"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10731" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10733" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10735" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10737" /></span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10741"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10743" /></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10747" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a class="" href="http://impiousdigest.com/handsfeet.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10749" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="d5c1b8db-8ae8-528b-9ff1-b643ceca48f0" src="http://impiousdigest.com/handsfeet.jpg" height="301" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10750" style="border: none;" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10754"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10756" /></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10783" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px;">One exhibit I visited in Auschwitz displayed the clothes of some babies and children who were exterminated by the Nazis. I can still hardly bear to look at these two pictures, and at the time, I struggled to stay my shaking hands long enough to take them.</span></div>
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<a class="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcVrGbUQunXhGsN__5CPDzv62tpAR3YHy3Unq2gfPOH9MQ65KRYhV6qZRFC33IaAAkrYcFt6jGoFeeAVhHOMWw8P5drs_26bqd5UrGSQWAU22SexK-jDs5fVtsQRuYwZ_kWm3zhVB9Kvg/s1600/2015-06-03+11.21.30.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10795" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10797" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" class="" data-id="c9f76c96-e404-2f97-fb9d-188d5fcfcbb3" height="400" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10798" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcVrGbUQunXhGsN__5CPDzv62tpAR3YHy3Unq2gfPOH9MQ65KRYhV6qZRFC33IaAAkrYcFt6jGoFeeAVhHOMWw8P5drs_26bqd5UrGSQWAU22SexK-jDs5fVtsQRuYwZ_kWm3zhVB9Kvg/s400/2015-06-03+11.21.30.jpg" style="border: none;" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9170"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9172" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Tell me, what is different? </span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9176"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9178" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9180" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9182" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">Will we look back upon these years when Planned Parenthood and abortion-on-demand reigned supreme and wonder why on earth no one stood up for what was right? Just as we do now, when we look back on the Holocaust? </span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9186"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9188" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9190" style="font-size: 13px;" /></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_9192" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">May it never be. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10868" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a class="" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/54/d4/ef/54d4ef219e3e0d9e4fa97160382f2513.jpg" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10870" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue; cursor: text !important; margin: 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><img border="0" class="img-overlay-selected" data-id="03839430-cd97-c9a6-41e3-9904e9d8b4e8" height="400" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1438358455395_10871" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/54/d4/ef/54d4ef219e3e0d9e4fa97160382f2513.jpg" style="border: none; outline: none;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-77238986546251146402015-06-30T22:36:00.001-04:002015-06-30T23:02:09.286-04:00A Few Closing Thoughts (alternate title: The Grand Finale)<div>I feel as though a closing post, a "bookend" of sorts, is in order as I conclude these posts on my travels. </div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First of all, I must say how extremely grateful I am for my time overseas, for the family that made it possible, for the beds that were given up for us to sleep on, the meals paid for even when we attempted to pay for them ourselves. I am nothing but thankful to have had this opportunity to spend overseas, and I'm especially thankful to have my Mother, who ran my baking business seamlessly in my absence along with keeping her many other responsibilities as a homeschooling Mother with eight children. When it comes down to it, she is the reason why I was even able to go on this trip.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One thing I realized about traveling is that you really can't see it all and do everything once you arrive in your location of choice, be it Germany or Europe or somewhere else. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One cannot possibly do everything or see everything, and if you try, you're sure to drive yourself crazy, and, just like the clocks they sell around the area I visited, you will undoubtedly go cuckoo. Trying to "do it all" for the sake of doing it all will have that kind of effect. This can apply to other areas of life as well. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWbAQf_nItgKfo8T2F5Z1HPj6hQwlhBdSF8XOytR2KFUME20nGGxVE6hozMCq4AeTx4B9dmCusHhz6z9tyNePOi7m7hsJ55kQuC2r9e2wmBGcyhwIjwu0WOPtpxRcqofhT4nSqxmwGBUj/s640/blogger-image-627145131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWbAQf_nItgKfo8T2F5Z1HPj6hQwlhBdSF8XOytR2KFUME20nGGxVE6hozMCq4AeTx4B9dmCusHhz6z9tyNePOi7m7hsJ55kQuC2r9e2wmBGcyhwIjwu0WOPtpxRcqofhT4nSqxmwGBUj/s640/blogger-image-627145131.jpg"></a></div>(<i>plane view of southern Germany) </i></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Namely, why is it that we grab for what we do not have while ignoring the many blessings which we already possess? </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Instead of chasing the "next thing" in life, always looking for more, how about we simply pause and be thankful? </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As such, I want to make the best of and the most of my time, wherever I might happen to be. I strive to uphold this principle, which is, in the words of Jim Elliot- </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>Wherever you are, be all there."</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOtpuyC2EOKG77Qs81iwBiNkcEGYzBM5QlmHyBM7R9fkbEuPJ78clW0zfGjsP-tEFIGLAVNFlAuglEOXPXj_ecGa6xaKSEWsXsLVTnnVDWrJ70DEnkEzy9T5lDLJWeWy_VRFPq6yqAgnw/s640/blogger-image--1328307765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOtpuyC2EOKG77Qs81iwBiNkcEGYzBM5QlmHyBM7R9fkbEuPJ78clW0zfGjsP-tEFIGLAVNFlAuglEOXPXj_ecGa6xaKSEWsXsLVTnnVDWrJ70DEnkEzy9T5lDLJWeWy_VRFPq6yqAgnw/s640/blogger-image--1328307765.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And I am. Haven't always been, but I am. I want to always live in that manner, no matter if I am at home, working on the farm, or traveling to a new place or culture as I did recently.</span></div><div><br></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After all, the Enemy does not wish us to live this way. He wishes us to be discontent, living life in halves due to fear and worry.</span><div><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="yui-gen5" style="width: 308px;"><tbody id="yui-gen4"><tr id="yui-gen3"><td class="v1Col" id="yui-gen2" style="border: 0px solid rgb(43, 43, 43); vertical-align: text-top; width: 320px;"><span id="verse10" class="height"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..."<br></i></span><br>There is plenty of that being exemplified in our culture today. But thankfully, there is someone who wishes to help us live this life we have on earth to the full: <br><br><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"....I <i>have come that they may have life, and that they may have </i></span><i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">it</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> more abundantly." (John 10:10)</span></i><br><br><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More abundantly. I don't know about you, but that's the way that I would like to live. <br><br></span><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="yui-gen5" style="width: 308px;"><tbody id="yui-gen4"><tr id="yui-gen3"><td class="v1Col" id="yui-gen2" style="border: 0px solid rgb(43, 43, 43); vertical-align: text-top; width: 320px;"><span id="verse10" class="height"><span id="yui-gen1"><span class="rl" id="yui-gen0" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Eph. 5:15-16 comes to mind when I think about spending every moment well:<br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="yui-gen4" style="width: 308px;"><tbody id="yui-gen3"><tr id="yui-gen2"><td class="v1Col" id="yui-gen1" style="border: 0px solid rgb(43, 43, 43); vertical-align: text-top; width: 320px;"><span id="verse15" class="height"><span class="h1" id="yui-gen0">"<i>See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,</i></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="v1Col" style="border: 0px solid rgb(43, 43, 43); vertical-align: text-top; width: 320px;"><span id="verse16" class="height"><span class="h1"><i>redeeming the time, because the days are evil.</i></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="v1Col" style="border: 0px solid rgb(43, 43, 43); vertical-align: text-top; width: 320px;"><span id="verse17" class="height"><span class="h1"><i>Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4SRqmVNkQvxuo9LuoN2vDGInAF0WJMItP2TnDEkXi0nxtZrLTkNVvuvu-YrZml02zeIwKU-pRTpp37eUVsqomRoPWIr95LSnklB3ovGwm4GmVj3eP6eg33TqiIve8863aR71XaabHLbi/s640/blogger-image--1024690168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4SRqmVNkQvxuo9LuoN2vDGInAF0WJMItP2TnDEkXi0nxtZrLTkNVvuvu-YrZml02zeIwKU-pRTpp37eUVsqomRoPWIr95LSnklB3ovGwm4GmVj3eP6eg33TqiIve8863aR71XaabHLbi/s640/blogger-image--1024690168.jpg"></a></div>(church, Esslingen-am-Neckar)</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And what is that "will?" </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To love God, love People, and make Disciples.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"....<i>to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."</i></span></div></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtW_07EjEp0aqYGTNsrugITc8eKh7fDxEsxrIlqAlN2Wg2vkKi4HmwdBUmiSNJGSp3b6ijgQ9PhG72hkItaupCdmnSF3NJ-r3Co0cqCvoHmXtbouUqWdn7QczoW1N3V-wjWZ0r1486gDX4/s640/blogger-image--1593004607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtW_07EjEp0aqYGTNsrugITc8eKh7fDxEsxrIlqAlN2Wg2vkKi4HmwdBUmiSNJGSp3b6ijgQ9PhG72hkItaupCdmnSF3NJ-r3Co0cqCvoHmXtbouUqWdn7QczoW1N3V-wjWZ0r1486gDX4/s640/blogger-image--1593004607.jpg"></a></div>(<i>Flower boxes, Tübingen)</i></span></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For many reasons, some personal, this trip was very therapeutic for me. I believe it grew me in different ways and also taught me some things that I am now taking to heart. It also made me aware of some things and attitudes about myself that are most clearly seen when you are taken outside out of your normal routine or "rut," so to speak.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF3EClTs60V9ahRWWEL8tWwn1gOZS_gBzFGc1WRNa_6qPFEEE5mgoaI6HEzfRl_l4ApUU1xskCBsWD9LdJ7zfahY49em6iTr-nMWnOn46B_YbYBHAg7l6j66E002A_vdt0j58A3l1ktqZ/s640/blogger-image-1761491952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF3EClTs60V9ahRWWEL8tWwn1gOZS_gBzFGc1WRNa_6qPFEEE5mgoaI6HEzfRl_l4ApUU1xskCBsWD9LdJ7zfahY49em6iTr-nMWnOn46B_YbYBHAg7l6j66E002A_vdt0j58A3l1ktqZ/s640/blogger-image-1761491952.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(</span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yours truly on climbing wall, Köln)</i></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When you get well outside your usual routine and mode of operation, it's almost as if the fog and shortsightedness that can sometimes surround our doings as individuals </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">has lifted, and the patterns of behavior one has been unconsciously operating under are suddenly made clear. The dross rises to the surface, and then the changes can be made.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I feel so blessed to have had this amazing experience and to be able to share the written account here on my blog. For </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">my part, I have certainly enjoyed writing and compiling the posts, even though there were a couple times I didn't think I'd be able to continue my writing streak due to one factor or another. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's true that I definitely had my fair share of late-nights spent lying in bed, typing up posts. But looking back, those late nights and the work that comes with putting things into words was absolutely worth it. I now have a detailed record of my time so that I won't soon forget my experiences for years to come.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(<i>Church, Tübingen)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSTUzq-fx7_wHQ_op0DxJYiLKd0dl0u-mf3bTVGotaGT6a0fVkvG57IVBAYuuPbENluXaQbIII5WFOYYawST0JOuTdEtbLid3250HWzujFAu125mbFIjbakupvkvrG6-uIMYCiFwcIbSj/s640/blogger-image-1800790023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSTUzq-fx7_wHQ_op0DxJYiLKd0dl0u-mf3bTVGotaGT6a0fVkvG57IVBAYuuPbENluXaQbIII5WFOYYawST0JOuTdEtbLid3250HWzujFAu125mbFIjbakupvkvrG6-uIMYCiFwcIbSj/s640/blogger-image-1800790023.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And all I have left to say is:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="yui-gen4" style="width: 308px;"><tbody id="yui-gen3"><tr id="yui-gen2"><td class="v1Col" id="yui-gen1" style="border: 0px solid rgb(43, 43, 43); vertical-align: text-top; width: 320px;"><span id="verse3" class="height"><i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The LORD has done great things for us, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> we are glad."</span></i><br><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Psalm 126:3)</span></span></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-41151128688577998432015-06-30T00:14:00.001-04:002015-06-30T00:15:34.424-04:00Travel Home to NC: Stuttgart-->Atlanta-->Charlotte-->Farm!<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Today, I was running on about 5 hours of sleep. As much as I tried to get to bed early last night, it just didn't happen, too much packing and such to accomplish.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">After hugging all the kids and saying our goodbyes to Arnheidur before they left for school, George drove Rachel and I down the Autobahn one last time, to the Stuttgart airport.</span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The path to get on the plane for our Atlanta leg of the journey was a process and we kinda thought we weren't going to make it at first. The lines to check in a bag were absurdly long, not to mention the security check. However, it was nice that they do not do x-Ray screening on everyone here in Europe (unless the detector goes off.)<div><br></div><div>And of course, I totally forgot about the small jar of honey I had stowed away for my Father. Apparently, thick creamed honey is considered a liquid. Whatever. At least I have my little single serve packs for him to try.</div><div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It wouldn't have been so bad if the security guy hadn't enjoyed teasing me about it. I had used my line about having two sisters and five brothers back home.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div>"<i>Aber Sie haben fünf brüder!"</i></div><div><i>"Who will feed them?"</i></div><div><br></div><div><i>"I think he was flirting with you, just a little bit.</i>" said Aunt Rachel. </div><div><br></div><div>(Sometimes I have trouble telling when people are flirting.)</div><div><br></div><div>"<i>But he's old-ish, and that's creepy!"</i></div><div><br></div><div>This same chap tried to take Aunt Rachel's extra collapsible cane because it might be "used as a weapon." </div><div><br></div><div>"<i>Oh, you mean like this? *WHACK*</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>Thankfull she did not take my advice, listed above. We may not have made it home.</div><div>;)</div><div><br></div><div>Next, my laptop, my phone and yours truly had to walk all the way to this shady back room to be swabbed with strip of what appeared to be paper by a Polizei dude. (I was not swabbed, but I wouldn't have put that entirely out of the question. Anything is possible.) </div><div><br></div></div><div><div>Though I really have no right to complain, because my bag (and Rachel's too) were not overweight, and the main thing that I was concerned about- letting my super cool yet rather big Deuter backpack pass for a "purse"- ended up being nothing to worry about. They let it on.</div><div><br></div><div>I think it was because I said "yes ma'am" to the check in lady and perhaps she thought that was cute. </div></div><div><br></div><div>Do you recall the flirty Amsterdam border guard? No? Well, you can read about him. </div><div><br></div><div>Apparently, the stamp that he put on my passport was so very wobbly that the Germany border guards had trouble reading my date of departure. Thanks buddy.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Since we boarded the flight rather late, and with me carrying all but one bag of luggage, and then the luggage struggling to fit in the overhead, let's just say that by the time I got to my seat I was just DONE. And still thinking about the jar of honey I had to leave. Oh well. Thank goodness they didn't bat an eye at my seventy bars of chocolate.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To set the mood, I plugged in my long-dormant "folksy/bluegrass/country" playlist on Spotify, clicked shuffle, and the first song I got was Charlie Daniels playing "South's Gonna Do It Again."</span></div><div><br></div><div>The guy I ended up sitting next to on the plane was reading a civil war history book and so I figured we'd get along just swimmingly. He kept very much to himself and went from book to movie to snack to movie to sleep.</div><div><br></div><div>I looked over the middle aisle to see Rachel sitting next to man with a little girl chattering away on his lap. When the flight time is nine hours, I think that I got the better end of the deal with Mr. Keep-To-Himself. I don't like sitting next to "talkers" on long flights, so this suited me just fine.</div><div><br></div><div>It was a very clear day and as such, when we took off, one could see all the way back to the airport and took the all too familiar route that most over seas flights go, over Schönaich and Böblingen and Esslingen and Sindelfingen and Vahlingen and all the other towns I know so well. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid6I1ap5_keWESw_ircD3aFbGSR_lILuHNoS7kUqw092OuSjAysc6xcW7CoHSsjxZIzrOXc-cvp2zHJLMv48ZFsyZeS5LuEQRmBl_jDgi8vcFcsdE6be6Swg9TXX27wMucs9qd7ucY2ar/s640/blogger-image-759259277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid6I1ap5_keWESw_ircD3aFbGSR_lILuHNoS7kUqw092OuSjAysc6xcW7CoHSsjxZIzrOXc-cvp2zHJLMv48ZFsyZeS5LuEQRmBl_jDgi8vcFcsdE6be6Swg9TXX27wMucs9qd7ucY2ar/s640/blogger-image-759259277.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>You know you are flying high when you can see planes flying below you. Yeesh. We flew over some of Switzerland and France, which did not have the red and orange roofs I have become accustomed to. Spain's cities look like ugly glittering-grey gashes in the earth when seen from above. I also saw plenty of ocean, which, on a clear day, is almost indistinguishable from the sky.</div><div><br></div><div>During the nine hours, when we weren't eating the surprisingly good food served to us, I watched the Imitation Game (BENEDICT!!) and Unbroken (thankfully they had the edited version of that last one.) I have read the novel that inspired <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Unbroken, and the </span>only thing I didn't like about the movie adaptation of was that in my opinion, it didn't give proper credit to his faith and his journey to the Lord after the war was over, but other than that, I thought it fantastic.</div><div><br></div><div>I also watched Cinderella, the new one with Lily Jones, along with Cate Blanchett as the stepmother, and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother. Cute adaptation, and I do love a good happy ending. Well, I take that back. I like either happy ending stories or tragic/depressing story endings. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The movies helped keep my mind off the slowly creeping plane icon on the modem that tells you just how far you have left to go (longer than you might wish.)</span></div><div><br></div><div>Then we had a rather frustrating time at ATL airport. Frustrating would be an understatement.</div><div><br></div><div>Our layover was so short that when I realized the time we had left before our next flight's take off, I had no idea how we'd manage to make it through customs, immigration, picking up our checked baggage AND get done with the second security check.</div><div><br></div><div>The wheelchair that was supposed to expedite the process was AWOL, and so Aunt Rachel had to walk all over tarnation with no assistance. By the time we got through all the aforementioned hoopla and found a wheelchair that I could push for her, I rushed like a madwoman through the airport only to arrive at the gate minutes after they closed the flight. We (well, especially me) were very frustrated at this point. How on earth does one manage to get through all necessary checkpoints within such a narrow time frame? Why even put that time on the ticket, if it can't happen?</div><div><br></div><div>Thankfully, a Delta flight going to Charlotte was leaving in an hour, so we were transferred to that one. </div><div>By the time we got on that plane I was covered in sweat and we were worn out, but so happy to be finally headed back to Carolina.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0VZ2Wguik9U6WaetwrVvowwzr37XO3gzS2aNNJW0VEf6B0QDQPPStvpQkMJP_Sl1iavB4FNBvIqNCTBBjlY_PqinSA3YHGbXtqRno1yE2Mk5xnzXuCfakdp8ZnTT9hRaw5zg79gf_AyB/s640/blogger-image--1380731025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0VZ2Wguik9U6WaetwrVvowwzr37XO3gzS2aNNJW0VEf6B0QDQPPStvpQkMJP_Sl1iavB4FNBvIqNCTBBjlY_PqinSA3YHGbXtqRno1yE2Mk5xnzXuCfakdp8ZnTT9hRaw5zg79gf_AyB/s640/blogger-image--1380731025.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>At the time, it was extremely frustrating, but looking back, it's rather comical, the two of us rushing around the Atlanta airport on a Monday afternoon, with our poor biological clocks set at approx. 10 PM Germany time.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I had prepared myself for the inevitable reverse culture shock, and it may sound ridiculous, but one </span>of the first things I thought was "wow, everything is written in English! No more constant decoding/ code cracking." Well yeah, no joke, it is America after all. Already said "Danke" and "Entschuldigung" by mistake.</div><div><br></div><div>Let me tell you, it is one of the best feelings in the whole world to see your Mom waiting expectantly for you at Baggage Claim. I waved to her and then ran up for a big ol' hug.</div><div><br></div><div>Having our checked luggage safely in hand, we headed to the van. Can I say how HUMONGOUS it looks to my eyes, which are conditioned to seeing small cars and minivans? </div><div><br></div><div>We ate at Jason's Deli together and we enjoyed talking about the trip and what I missed on the home front, along with what's going on at home.</div><div><br></div><div>Mother drove part of the way home and then I did the rest. I walked in to a flurry of hugs and banners and FLOWERS and wild blueberries picked especially for me. I felt so loved, and I'm so grateful to be home! I missed everyone so much. Will blog my closing thoughts tomorrow.</div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-17261205827485428472015-06-28T18:46:00.001-04:002015-06-28T18:51:20.274-04:00Last Day in Germany: Rope Course and Zipline in Herrenberg, Evening and
Dinner in Tübingen<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Aunt Rachel and I began to pack up camp shortly after waking up this morning.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Scrimping for space in suitcases is our speciality, and I plan to leave no nook or cranny unused in mine, and I have my brand new backpack to use as my "purse."</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">By some miracle, all of my chocolate was able to fit in my carry on bag. If they give me any problems as to the (relatively obscene) amount I am bringing back, I just have this to say, Mr. German TSA guy:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>"Ich habe zwei schwestern und fünf brüder bei Mir zuhause."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Or I'll just say:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>Pick your favorite and let me by, sonny!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>(Only, please do not take the dunkel vollnuss. Ich mag dieses art die beste.) </i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Ok. Clearly I'm getting sidetracked here. I'm going to need to find someone to speak German with when I get home.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">There were pancakes to be had this morning. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8Yre_sD0p-BOTRaNHQRmHlHAwb8vF6pNYDZF24iUtno1_yAEoZfKPrUMW2cWjxayxEzN8ZjfldER8uGGQ1qreBKPXOgzubc8UazZKb55V8Qz6llEeZalBOkfdcT90tB5pDW-U9U2GBjb/s640/blogger-image-1342544150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8Yre_sD0p-BOTRaNHQRmHlHAwb8vF6pNYDZF24iUtno1_yAEoZfKPrUMW2cWjxayxEzN8ZjfldER8uGGQ1qreBKPXOgzubc8UazZKb55V8Qz6llEeZalBOkfdcT90tB5pDW-U9U2GBjb/s640/blogger-image-1342544150.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>Oh no, don't get my underwear in the picture!!"</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>"Eh, I can crop it out, no problem. But it still </i></span><i style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">doesn't change the fact you sleep in your underwear."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>*giggles ensued*</i></span></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">However, for some reason, I felt like eating fish. I am one of those weird people who don't limit breakfast to "breakfast-y items" such as bread and cereal and such. I hadn't said anything, and Arnheidur must have read my mind, because she offered me some smoked trout I have yet to taste, fished from the lake near her family home all the way back in Iceland. It was gooooood. Oh man. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmG1fZfKDu5YQMStQYqFtWGNoxZHLM5hrIXWTVJzNa3dEnRnIKaqqaKQiPY1iQF50ICf6GgV5eccQdXlcUgb-LrYRKcdk0CUq7KXGx810tnHVmD83LoZBq1bbgXt_Go7P1tTPimv_BVRm/s640/blogger-image-674541865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmG1fZfKDu5YQMStQYqFtWGNoxZHLM5hrIXWTVJzNa3dEnRnIKaqqaKQiPY1iQF50ICf6GgV5eccQdXlcUgb-LrYRKcdk0CUq7KXGx810tnHVmD83LoZBq1bbgXt_Go7P1tTPimv_BVRm/s640/blogger-image-674541865.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Along with some sauerkraut, tomatoes, and butter on a pretzel and I'm good to go.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">And go we did. But not before we got coffee and I got an espresso....with a scoop of ice cream. They don't do ice in coffee and thus, the ice cream. Arnheidur had the idea and got it for me. <i>Great</i> idea.</div><div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We drove a ways through the beautiful sunny countryside to what had vaguely been described to as a "park" of some sort, but to our surprise, it was a full-on ropes course, filled with treacherous courses and phobia-inducing runs full of tricky footwork. Not to mention the zip lines and other balance courses which were, all in all, enough to last much more than the three hours allotted to each group.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But boy, did we ever have us a good time. Embla and I did every course save one, and some multiple times. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We didn't get many pictures because we were too busy jumping off of posts and flying through the wilderness, but we did get this picture, just go document how <i>reediculous </i>our outfits looked.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhzymLWj54D0JzVi55f-Ym4ay6ZM8QqZXBuJF4LFMcjanb_-qu3CvkwEDFE-vyQu-aeo4XLeVijfUZMlmgUZM7pLwehyjc1UvNX9oKgORTb4QnZ9-L8v2V4Iv920VL_YIxWlwdC2cBSAb/s640/blogger-image-129420974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhzymLWj54D0JzVi55f-Ym4ay6ZM8QqZXBuJF4LFMcjanb_-qu3CvkwEDFE-vyQu-aeo4XLeVijfUZMlmgUZM7pLwehyjc1UvNX9oKgORTb4QnZ9-L8v2V4Iv920VL_YIxWlwdC2cBSAb/s640/blogger-image-129420974.jpg"></a></div></span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxCbPw-J2ee2-zVdx8ryNE89FcPxAKX3sJ8jAleJSmei8maeZsi52XTTHrT1jR-teg3n_3Y0NaRk0NtzRrLpC6jSvfr-ma5cXS0On7WXy84Ur4NMGxyhEhAh6QVOygidIk93po29cY2eL/s640/blogger-image--578848881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxCbPw-J2ee2-zVdx8ryNE89FcPxAKX3sJ8jAleJSmei8maeZsi52XTTHrT1jR-teg3n_3Y0NaRk0NtzRrLpC6jSvfr-ma5cXS0On7WXy84Ur4NMGxyhEhAh6QVOygidIk93po29cY2eL/s640/blogger-image--578848881.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">There was even a little course for Erla to do.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">At this place, before you get started, they have you a required course how to safely clip yourself on and off each run. Once you are done with training, you are on your own and from then on out, you are the one solely responsible for clipping on and off the courses safely. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">In the states, they would never EVER EVER allow you to be this responsible, but here, things are different. One fella supervised the whole place, and he was rarely called upon to assist. It would appear that since they both teach you carefully, and then give <i>you</i> the full responsibility, the rest seems to take care of itself. I will admit more than once double or triple checking my line, wondering if I didn't have it wrong before I put my whole body weight on the two skinny lines of rope and then zoomed away, thirty feet off the ground.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I climbed to the top of one very, very tall tree on a skinny ladder and realized I was in the location of the free fall. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">When you have to clip yourself in a complicated manner onto a ring that looks entirely too small to hold your bulk in preparation to jump straight down fifty some feet below you before, if all goes well, the line catches you and you float to the ground, you must get it right 100% the first time.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I saw the instructions on how to clip in first in German, and then, to my relief, English. Even so, I still wasn't sure if I got it right and called down to the helper dude who looked to be a very small ant below me, and he could tell from the ground I had it on correctly.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I mean, it's all well and fine if you don't understand all of what you are ordering from a German menu and you end up getting Head Cheese or something instead, but this right here is CRUCIAL to get the English/German translation correct.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Of course I jumped.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Would do it again. It is just what I imagined jumping out of a ten story window would feel like.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We were all pretty hungry and worn out but we stopped in Tübingen for dinner, which was a lovely town about a half hour away from Schönaich. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw72dkuNnijGFUrrmFdGaz23q_jgmmOmw2heEP4bihUpo0Iypb1Y8_Tikx8SlFdDFSXQ9zELf1vJ_PbbfIumt19fFW89BwDHHYk06HWMns8e7gNnRCUenYIzEwmksVoQjVjnuhl3GWSarp/s640/blogger-image--820332670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw72dkuNnijGFUrrmFdGaz23q_jgmmOmw2heEP4bihUpo0Iypb1Y8_Tikx8SlFdDFSXQ9zELf1vJ_PbbfIumt19fFW89BwDHHYk06HWMns8e7gNnRCUenYIzEwmksVoQjVjnuhl3GWSarp/s640/blogger-image--820332670.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(<i>Typical driving view, as seen from the backseat)</i></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">It was a picture perfect, quaint German town and a lovely place to spend the evening.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJaSzLx9jVqIJt4Srq0MVVP_52NYqOmHzWJCPH1EY8MAlpnOFirPzJYkjBeeVTw3EiaBj6WlVBIgHwpue5yEfoNENazDVNcKrqKr0nivZLM_G718gK0PACog2shNOk1oS3AfdisKPwZlm/s640/blogger-image--312425676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJaSzLx9jVqIJt4Srq0MVVP_52NYqOmHzWJCPH1EY8MAlpnOFirPzJYkjBeeVTw3EiaBj6WlVBIgHwpue5yEfoNENazDVNcKrqKr0nivZLM_G718gK0PACog2shNOk1oS3AfdisKPwZlm/s640/blogger-image--312425676.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">ARCHITECTURE! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTbi5C_HoxaGFKaS077lQP3O79menbfgKqc_NyeGnJZcodMzb-AaZGgxiSp06O-1fOG3U_e9Sfzl34HQeJp_6XAcyoUYVB8IEq2pKVAdyvfIef5KUpvQYqnLCy4niC5r2i35rtF-wty5E/s640/blogger-image-1191664693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTbi5C_HoxaGFKaS077lQP3O79menbfgKqc_NyeGnJZcodMzb-AaZGgxiSp06O-1fOG3U_e9Sfzl34HQeJp_6XAcyoUYVB8IEq2pKVAdyvfIef5KUpvQYqnLCy4niC5r2i35rtF-wty5E/s640/blogger-image-1191664693.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_h7sb_SlOrs9K_taWBumnxY__RN9oALXKxz8ylp31TpWxbrCmXT787IqiXdROnVqQN71kEt9CVBLxcZUfj46B2DCLzElvdYNfpTqDDRSNhyFCsd_IJhY5Y06XOZAmtv86f30f_Vro7KI/s640/blogger-image--284176978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_h7sb_SlOrs9K_taWBumnxY__RN9oALXKxz8ylp31TpWxbrCmXT787IqiXdROnVqQN71kEt9CVBLxcZUfj46B2DCLzElvdYNfpTqDDRSNhyFCsd_IJhY5Y06XOZAmtv86f30f_Vro7KI/s640/blogger-image--284176978.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Of course, I couldn't have my last night in Germany without some traditional Maultaschen, aka German "ravioli," which is what I ended up getting. (Mit Ei)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrn3lJy1ndwZ3yUyq-ufHCcOXDA0SnMl2r9om-5JMQdZsDl51WKGIND0nv4oJZj_SeCUvGNNaJ1Zp6cH9ymoiz9C24aO-xeuPj6nBghkfDlU6YMGIIg5NpkQw4_AFf5Tzj3YkwIOr-tfy/s640/blogger-image-534161934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrn3lJy1ndwZ3yUyq-ufHCcOXDA0SnMl2r9om-5JMQdZsDl51WKGIND0nv4oJZj_SeCUvGNNaJ1Zp6cH9ymoiz9C24aO-xeuPj6nBghkfDlU6YMGIIg5NpkQw4_AFf5Tzj3YkwIOr-tfy/s640/blogger-image-534161934.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I also ate some of Embla's "pancake soup," which is like a savory pancake in chicken broth with seasoning.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5c1ShbgILy8YChpWlKzxi4tyrYefMGgdYdU5THVR1UhtvIfvqjoBCO3SvmhsCyuABP1Jxp8I4EImkWv4gfSs3GMQwshJ5X-BpV085_41Apiywch7hQ9z6J88GnkcgUmqsWlo-opy6X7F/s640/blogger-image--851474973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5c1ShbgILy8YChpWlKzxi4tyrYefMGgdYdU5THVR1UhtvIfvqjoBCO3SvmhsCyuABP1Jxp8I4EImkWv4gfSs3GMQwshJ5X-BpV085_41Apiywch7hQ9z6J88GnkcgUmqsWlo-opy6X7F/s640/blogger-image--851474973.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I should also show you Spätzle, which is handmade pasta that is served all over Schwabia and beyond.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqK2-ROJCXqlu61Z1MwnCz26v6h1Zqykyf2Hl4xm96kO98C1Mo-x6QhCjYvipx3gFCo4-d-nfURx_SsPEmPN8yQmG3o_2KU3UDJiTsu7XnsE_xCt0UpkzQ-WGTIVw6clSibwk-MpvMFES/s640/blogger-image--1302052461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqK2-ROJCXqlu61Z1MwnCz26v6h1Zqykyf2Hl4xm96kO98C1Mo-x6QhCjYvipx3gFCo4-d-nfURx_SsPEmPN8yQmG3o_2KU3UDJiTsu7XnsE_xCt0UpkzQ-WGTIVw6clSibwk-MpvMFES/s640/blogger-image--1302052461.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The drive home was lovely.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy1IBgcVfNZ3ciHNuAdN6OakS42Q6DRYi_OCv9-FrwedPmn9_tnm3Dtu9IUDq7bJP32GynibdZgJVZ64T_ivvsvD7MIkrw4I-iLb_fYQoXgQB9LUFoLQMdRSDdEreoRaFGN7kZNTDVjbl/s640/blogger-image-1289704666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy1IBgcVfNZ3ciHNuAdN6OakS42Q6DRYi_OCv9-FrwedPmn9_tnm3Dtu9IUDq7bJP32GynibdZgJVZ64T_ivvsvD7MIkrw4I-iLb_fYQoXgQB9LUFoLQMdRSDdEreoRaFGN7kZNTDVjbl/s640/blogger-image-1289704666.jpg"></a></div>(But what do you expect? It's Germany!)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We had a slice of two of Arnheidur's banana cake when we got home and then Racel and I finished packing. Sleep is next. </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">My biological clock, which is a very well</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">-adjusted to Euro time, is </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">getting ready to be all shaken up again tomorrow. We fly out for Atlanta and will be back in good ol' NC by Monday evening. I </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">have some things to say as well as closing thoughts as I wrap this trip up, so look for those coming soon. Was going to post those tonight but we were having too much fun in Tübingen, ya know. :)</span></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-55892434741767755202015-06-27T18:37:00.001-04:002015-06-27T18:37:58.941-04:00Last Saturday in Germany: Recycle Center and Soccer Tournament<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">With it being a Saturday, we were able to sleep in somewhat before I visited a place I have yet to visit here in Germany- the Trash Dump. Yep.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>why the dickens does she want to talk about TRASH of all things?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Well, because it was definitely a different experience.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Since it was raining (and I didn't want a sign in flashing lights above my head that says "TOURIST") I have no photos of the place, but think of it as a regular looking recycle place except for the sorting is very precise indeed. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">You bring your pre-sorted bags of trash and throw the items, one by one, into their respective bins-<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">brown, white and green glass, aluminum, cardboard, paper, and plastic. There is not a bottle of scrap of cardboard out of place, and the long fluorescent bulbs are stacked neatly in a pile. </span>Some Germans even <i>clean out and dry each bottle </i>before bringing it to the recycle center in their reusable tote bag. I had heard tell of this, and today I did witness a lady with bottles that looked so clean you could probably drink right out of them.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You can tell a lot about a person about what they throw away, and the sure sign that an American has been in the vicinity is the sighting of exclusively American products, such as such as bottles of Propel water, Doritos bags, Tide </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cartons, etc.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Based on that criteria, it would appear that there are precious little Americans that use this particular dump, and as I tossed Ellert's Propel bottle into the plastic bottle bin, I left my mark, saying "<i>American was here."</i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">It's almost fun, a sorting game, and the glass was particularly fun to dispose of due to the satisfying sound of the bottle smashing as it goes down the chute. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">As I described, everything is organized and regimented and if you decide you want to throw everything away without bothering to sort it, it costs €7.50 for putting trash in the mixed trash bin (also known as the lazy man's trash bin) </div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">George took us to the PX exchange so that Aunt Rachel could get some ornaments she wanted to take back home. I browsed around the clothes section, marveling at how it's already the time of year for Fourth of July decorations and then we both went to the Starbucks in the food court area.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The ice in my iced tea from Starbucks broke my "ice fast," as I haven't even touched ice since I left DC almost four weeks ago. It's just the way they do drinks here in Europe, cold, with no ice. (and I say "Europe" because I know it's basically the same across the board. They are ice-prejudiced. Or perhaps they are simply trying to avoid confusion, because "Eis" (pronounced: ice) is the term for Ice Cream in at least two popular European languages. So if you ask for ice in your water, you will probably get some weird looks.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>We drove to the soccer field to meet up with the entourage of Germans from our village who were headed with their boys to the soccer tournament. I also saw the first pickup truck I have seen in four weeks which was driven, of all people, by an Italian guy whose son also plays for Schönaich. It feels like everyone drives a sports car or sedan here, and when I saw the truck I realized I hadn't seen one in ages.</div><div><br></div><div>Soccer is a big deal here, as I have said several times before, and these boys take their soccer very seriously. We all went to the outdoor soccer complex about 30 minutes away that had five fields, a cafe that sells items such as butterbretzels and hamburgers and pommes and .05€ sour belts. It was quite the setup.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise4uy4oQxQfkLPF8dhRTpCkvGHdqJt__YbIdjr1Ua43HtfGUl_BMo5KCbm7cTxHhsOmEulh0ryn3oERcjT_CWlCleguRuNGZRBJrQTcusoILo2okswxUFQCza_W4V6c2KHkbyUNp6vZ2s/s640/blogger-image--1377591341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise4uy4oQxQfkLPF8dhRTpCkvGHdqJt__YbIdjr1Ua43HtfGUl_BMo5KCbm7cTxHhsOmEulh0ryn3oERcjT_CWlCleguRuNGZRBJrQTcusoILo2okswxUFQCza_W4V6c2KHkbyUNp6vZ2s/s640/blogger-image--1377591341.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>We spent the whole of the afternoon sitting out near the field and watching all the various teams play, tournament style. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdVyxRw5itClF27wb34ajjnQaoslT5sy361x8Gmio-0k7tqyw5VJMPuPvmKjTK8Crt0sNX_1N9-HQKxu74GB7fkKpQiiykbZXNMi2oQ3suWTFwIhHSdZh5HTSa37oYAKhIF9ri008zMuE/s640/blogger-image--1732533922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdVyxRw5itClF27wb34ajjnQaoslT5sy361x8Gmio-0k7tqyw5VJMPuPvmKjTK8Crt0sNX_1N9-HQKxu74GB7fkKpQiiykbZXNMi2oQ3suWTFwIhHSdZh5HTSa37oYAKhIF9ri008zMuE/s640/blogger-image--1732533922.jpg"></a></div></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>Ellert in his warm-up suit</i></div><div><br></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURBJCEtJIIkGr5zC1zZcuRyLHmJA7VaOtI_vHEGzvc6u0_zlN67FvvFFT2pwO7J7YZnYOgeonBPIU3DriqBcGvdhS8e6WURpIJkeja2zJPzH0k11rnCkQbBBZyAMW12TzbLTjRiVrZI3A/s640/blogger-image--979052264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURBJCEtJIIkGr5zC1zZcuRyLHmJA7VaOtI_vHEGzvc6u0_zlN67FvvFFT2pwO7J7YZnYOgeonBPIU3DriqBcGvdhS8e6WURpIJkeja2zJPzH0k11rnCkQbBBZyAMW12TzbLTjRiVrZI3A/s640/blogger-image--979052264.jpg"></a></div></i></div><div><br></div><div><i>Being all cute for the Paparazzi (aka me)</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydTuUs0x_ruuPlq3MGFN_mL5kiiCg-_AXQPoUCLHeR8147qY2pZCH7d0hn2Ny8pF335EXjJy2VjEym6UulfN8RJ2qr0xpX4AAnRaZ6SdOy7kUyXzTU7g22DsLAxMfv1lPMIJILpz1wV05/s640/blogger-image--407027733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydTuUs0x_ruuPlq3MGFN_mL5kiiCg-_AXQPoUCLHeR8147qY2pZCH7d0hn2Ny8pF335EXjJy2VjEym6UulfN8RJ2qr0xpX4AAnRaZ6SdOy7kUyXzTU7g22DsLAxMfv1lPMIJILpz1wV05/s640/blogger-image--407027733.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUjUnyF6Z4ZhTVjvU54vQGztoYyiZyhmdu9SE4Fj0JcceyT2J0VUCO5_T1DaP_04c6m59ht99XTmO3v9ECkooVapFDVKUBe338NgsDGKtBCLFeVk2UL9h_dPr2BOyisG1Oo2fp5ZL6cdi/s640/blogger-image--197774382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUjUnyF6Z4ZhTVjvU54vQGztoYyiZyhmdu9SE4Fj0JcceyT2J0VUCO5_T1DaP_04c6m59ht99XTmO3v9ECkooVapFDVKUBe338NgsDGKtBCLFeVk2UL9h_dPr2BOyisG1Oo2fp5ZL6cdi/s640/blogger-image--197774382.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>The team in action. Also featuring half-naked Erla in playing in the foreground.</i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I got myself a butterbretzel, which is a giant German style pretzel, split and filled with butter. The pretzels here are unlike any I've ever had before, soft on the bottom, and thin and crisped on the top where the pretzel is twisted.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiH_AxRo9wd27RMNaZrEHDYYCwj8FkhcNyjHSizoIxxJEqIP3H9UKr9WZ-bZnjrqgt-M6kIHSNgmUyMv7V0aXHWJ0IYKsJABHXKf7vk1vz5swy-HhzKrjN-pvOkgfNSOVzimXBkeV8OrT/s640/blogger-image--211026589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiH_AxRo9wd27RMNaZrEHDYYCwj8FkhcNyjHSizoIxxJEqIP3H9UKr9WZ-bZnjrqgt-M6kIHSNgmUyMv7V0aXHWJ0IYKsJABHXKf7vk1vz5swy-HhzKrjN-pvOkgfNSOVzimXBkeV8OrT/s640/blogger-image--211026589.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Apfelschorle is the drink of choice for the soccer watchers. It's sparkling mineral water mixed with half Apple juice. And not just any apple juice, the German kind, which is generally unpasteurized and is extremely flavorful. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It was a special treat and quite the experience to be able to attend the tournament and to watch Ellert play. Though it rained for a spell, we were well armed with umbrellas and suffered little damage to life, limb or spirits.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Though we came close to suffering at least a little damage to life and limb. </div><div> </div><div>I was showing a video of the game to Arnheidur and Ellert when all of a sudden, I felt a gigantic "THWACK" on my face and jaw and all was black for a few seconds, as my reflexes must have caused me to shut my eyes, hard. It hurt, like someone had abruptly punched me in be jaw, but it startled me more than anything. As you might have guessed, an AWOL soccer ball had come out of nowhere and ricocheted off the three of us just like a pinball machine. Ellert appeared to be the worst affected out of the three of us, but when one takes into account his considerable skills in the area of acting (see: The Stomachache Story) it is somewhat doubtful it hurt as badly as he portrayed. He was surprised to hear that I got hit as well, because I didn't react much. I explained to him that just because I wasn't rolling around on the floor *hint hint* didn't mean I hadn't gotten hurt too. </div><div><br></div><div>However, I wasn't going to allow a trivial little thing such as getting hit in the face with a ball ruin my day.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I sat with Embla and we people watched, talked, played with the soccer ball a little bit, and I even taught her how to polka.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug3BO8KzJnTqPD9CmbRci6Deb67NG9MQ9IEGjARAEsOsfokd2h5jjhrypmwIShOtWJWOWtrz9dClowajuhj3RiOk1iKUytVPemmlkOdd9mXNOMvICLjdIwIHewpEHeDt7xR4M1AuLwzGd/s640/blogger-image--1100299014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug3BO8KzJnTqPD9CmbRci6Deb67NG9MQ9IEGjARAEsOsfokd2h5jjhrypmwIShOtWJWOWtrz9dClowajuhj3RiOk1iKUytVPemmlkOdd9mXNOMvICLjdIwIHewpEHeDt7xR4M1AuLwzGd/s640/blogger-image--1100299014.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><i>"Would you rather- marry the richest man in the world or the best looking?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Oh wow."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Wow what?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"that little boy over there just cussed really bad in German. Gosh, I hope his coach doesn't hear that." </i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Truth or Dare?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Dare."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"I dare you to walk past those people with a soccer ball under your shirt to look like a pregnant lady. Except you are....a twelve year old."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We tried to cheer like proper ladies for the players but ended up getting pretty animated nonetheless. She did the Icelandic, for only Ellert's ears to understand, and I did German. And a few southern slang in there too for good measure.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font>"<i>Hra</i></font><i>ðer, Ellert!"</i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"SCHNELLER! SCHNELLER!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Lauf, lauf, lauf!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Run y'all! Get 'em round the front! round the front!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Ja! Ja Ellert! Super."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>His tournament ended up coming in 4th place out of 10 teams, and we were very proud of his performance.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLTAXHaM4lgnrDK5HgbfRqq8AwHEvmxR37oFVxkXJVU8Ymt0mqA5DkuF9IejtvVQKmgi4Pg_loHq11W3L-1QI-rVqwDZJdMnLH0Zqx8P9OLvB3MEMXqw6mHqHWViqhy-RHL81rsXXpoQt/s640/blogger-image-1587704418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLTAXHaM4lgnrDK5HgbfRqq8AwHEvmxR37oFVxkXJVU8Ymt0mqA5DkuF9IejtvVQKmgi4Pg_loHq11W3L-1QI-rVqwDZJdMnLH0Zqx8P9OLvB3MEMXqw6mHqHWViqhy-RHL81rsXXpoQt/s640/blogger-image-1587704418.jpg"></a></div><i>(The lovely view from the parking lot of the soccer complex)</i></div><div><br></div><div>We ate dinner together at the same restaurant that we ate the day after arriving in Germany, Sulzbachtal.</div><div><br></div><div>The weather the past few days has been the best we've had on our entire trip, and the sunset was lovely tonight. As we drove home, the clouds were pink with the setting sun and the country landscape and waving fields of rye were beautiful in the evening light. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvD-4EiquqgAt0F6DhRcaNymt_-S9_VAYrrCtwAwWRDyiZfFJoEFQsG71HRs7IQ84a_iAP1nBbA5Tl2rkly1FUBxspdyuBm3YFmTSOKTmJAgIFAvuUsninDGZfCZhd7vZob00Dh7tc3wU/s640/blogger-image-1544755235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvD-4EiquqgAt0F6DhRcaNymt_-S9_VAYrrCtwAwWRDyiZfFJoEFQsG71HRs7IQ84a_iAP1nBbA5Tl2rkly1FUBxspdyuBm3YFmTSOKTmJAgIFAvuUsninDGZfCZhd7vZob00Dh7tc3wU/s640/blogger-image-1544755235.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My mind has gone back to travel-mode and I started packing in earnest this morning, since we travel back to the U.S. on Monday. People have asked, "<i>are you ready to go home?"</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>Well, yes and no.</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps I will write my closing thoughts about my trip in a later blog post, but I shall leave you with this for now. It is somewhat of a paradox, as part of me is ready to go home, to get back to the normal rhythm of the family life and the farm life that the Lord has blessed me with for the time being. However, at the same time, I know that I could be fairly easily persuaded not to leave this beautiful and fascinating country, with its history, distinctive culture, and, of course, its immaculate Trash Dumps. </div><div><br></div><div>Can't forget that.</div><div>;)</div><div><br></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-19394142097161822662015-06-26T18:34:00.001-04:002015-06-26T18:51:05.135-04:00Ritter Sport Schokoshop, Family Picture, Army Retirement Ceremony, Fist
Bump from the Boss, and Dinner in Reichenbach<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I had a dream partially in German last night. It was so strange! I suppose it is a sign of my immersion in the language, even though I can't understand all of what is spoken by locals, at least now I have been exposed to the language so much so that it pervades even my dreams. </span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">A haircut has the magical power to transform a boy who cares practically nothing about the care and keeping of his hair into a boy that styles his hair with a whole lot of care. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftIprlqgm8-IYxZuZFNSbI87M_YmHQ88kurTwBJlXVm80du7bVpvhyphenhyphenIOtVy_dGzDnY2LWcFOY-KR0-9iI0_T5z1U7LeFWtkRYRh4OkCG9uzKTsn72lHC6cd5wZ4fa-SM7vU-oA9oF5D8X/s640/blogger-image--99430872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftIprlqgm8-IYxZuZFNSbI87M_YmHQ88kurTwBJlXVm80du7bVpvhyphenhyphenIOtVy_dGzDnY2LWcFOY-KR0-9iI0_T5z1U7LeFWtkRYRh4OkCG9uzKTsn72lHC6cd5wZ4fa-SM7vU-oA9oF5D8X/s640/blogger-image--99430872.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAKfwALS55qtygvb4sUDt2vZwb8rtxA8dHOVPfs-_5DLWUpLm-KGAEFOsS8uvLqChO3wOOL4f3CgY0uzf0iH9IyhAU9TSGcVYbY1W7m8T9b03ImHqrM1FgXwOu9aO0VHNd6RNT_9F8Eyi/s640/blogger-image-2140272158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAKfwALS55qtygvb4sUDt2vZwb8rtxA8dHOVPfs-_5DLWUpLm-KGAEFOsS8uvLqChO3wOOL4f3CgY0uzf0iH9IyhAU9TSGcVYbY1W7m8T9b03ImHqrM1FgXwOu9aO0VHNd6RNT_9F8Eyi/s640/blogger-image-2140272158.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">And as such, it just might get him to take a shower more often. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lAgi2p6pz4svPBNj6U0qiKsZmVwN8Br-sOwPJw2qwy180qV0uns9Sqm8n13dhjuja0UXEfxJbkZbd8YCQpS-BbE1cH-N2bUKhCOTXgxzryFBL4Q9OqztT_l6w9G5DAAnbK9lmw5HTsBe/s640/blogger-image--1494589976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lAgi2p6pz4svPBNj6U0qiKsZmVwN8Br-sOwPJw2qwy180qV0uns9Sqm8n13dhjuja0UXEfxJbkZbd8YCQpS-BbE1cH-N2bUKhCOTXgxzryFBL4Q9OqztT_l6w9G5DAAnbK9lmw5HTsBe/s640/blogger-image--1494589976.jpg"></font></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY-HyJb89eFgIUqugHDOpJurQU1aPLTxdXZks3UmTvkW6f4m09kS9k2riyMVEYAcr7MGFDey1-GmW8pkI9uGMkk2AVmZnLnClM-7Lq_3jWuJAqwzKDwqItAoAa4c9D0E3uJn1Qi27fIix/s640/blogger-image--1135554051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY-HyJb89eFgIUqugHDOpJurQU1aPLTxdXZks3UmTvkW6f4m09kS9k2riyMVEYAcr7MGFDey1-GmW8pkI9uGMkk2AVmZnLnClM-7Lq_3jWuJAqwzKDwqItAoAa4c9D0E3uJn1Qi27fIix/s640/blogger-image--1135554051.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">(Don't tell him I said that!)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In other important news, the entirety of my chocolate fit in the carry on bag with room to spare. And all the people said "amen." </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">After breakfast, Rachel and I went back to the Ritter Sport factory to buy some more chocolate (Like we need any more!) But thus far I have more room than I anticipated, and as such, I got more of my favorite flavors at the unheard of price of .69€</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoLNmB3UiJZAIBixKUjR-FOgIRxp00Nx07U4ogcsT_jOJ5G7D-JxeqVoelP72S0QSeFt-S3T1aorrqwvXUtjiZ5WgADM-lO1uvjLK7QxLO4aISFDJ1vZth4Gv4nuYpZXPiSdcVL2_H_iL/s640/blogger-image-1370909366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoLNmB3UiJZAIBixKUjR-FOgIRxp00Nx07U4ogcsT_jOJ5G7D-JxeqVoelP72S0QSeFt-S3T1aorrqwvXUtjiZ5WgADM-lO1uvjLK7QxLO4aISFDJ1vZth4Gv4nuYpZXPiSdcVL2_H_iL/s640/blogger-image-1370909366.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Schokoshop!</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsJXLbI-ExFu67OlSKN3r7MrB1agH3w71vqXVAlwF9xT23HtsuXVeT_Qj-FBMP91ymrwne8FCzxa4Zegyx7pMzqdwQ5VT2PNyvgxkwxcIuOmOdJ19VVbjUNUvWilWMhyphenhyphenBc9mSoAt61eju/s640/blogger-image--1419282503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsJXLbI-ExFu67OlSKN3r7MrB1agH3w71vqXVAlwF9xT23HtsuXVeT_Qj-FBMP91ymrwne8FCzxa4Zegyx7pMzqdwQ5VT2PNyvgxkwxcIuOmOdJ19VVbjUNUvWilWMhyphenhyphenBc9mSoAt61eju/s640/blogger-image--1419282503.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkzZ-miec4vvOhixZ9gGFD_4Jm9h_jEvz813SKkvbnXzNaOWaMxeqnKtaD0drKdwP_nQSQAgZKv_RRSEbWh5pAUiALFMMfifTk8QWzmxfM3tOAcoQ_ZJEAwk-gaQbMvGNsGFJwP-H1G2f/s640/blogger-image--559102796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkzZ-miec4vvOhixZ9gGFD_4Jm9h_jEvz813SKkvbnXzNaOWaMxeqnKtaD0drKdwP_nQSQAgZKv_RRSEbWh5pAUiALFMMfifTk8QWzmxfM3tOAcoQ_ZJEAwk-gaQbMvGNsGFJwP-H1G2f/s640/blogger-image--559102796.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Schokoshop and Museum, as seen from outside.)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So far, my favorites are the dunkel (dark) with hazelnuts and the Edel Bitter. Those other two I got just because they looked interesting.</span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZc448OQ2U51yg1Fdg0g1oXCciv3-13LbklXf1kJmLmY12rc8QznGOCDHcoe9ep0LajuvFbW6KZonjrE3-WNL1x9VBdnfeQxJrkKkc9mQPUpM9uXOjoEJ6iNdnrtzXuDkvlUpie5AFXCi/s640/blogger-image-1858861667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZc448OQ2U51yg1Fdg0g1oXCciv3-13LbklXf1kJmLmY12rc8QznGOCDHcoe9ep0LajuvFbW6KZonjrE3-WNL1x9VBdnfeQxJrkKkc9mQPUpM9uXOjoEJ6iNdnrtzXuDkvlUpie5AFXCi/s640/blogger-image-1858861667.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We drove back to the mall at Böblingen, where there were three items I was interested in purchasing.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">My buying personality for most things is as follows: see item, pick up and inspect item, think about item, go home, consider item more for approx 9.5 days, if still desirous of item, go and buy item.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu4gyOWBeysh3W3Td3xhn13XhIIvMOFMSVXHsfPomhmXOHOjw6_38-oYSW_bda4koja2DPgcbRgbR1sykxFc_rQHKLmngC72maLHIdvxyu8kgsNKy_X_1SOyFgxSOWvOPSEZdb_SejBDW/s640/blogger-image-1107127493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu4gyOWBeysh3W3Td3xhn13XhIIvMOFMSVXHsfPomhmXOHOjw6_38-oYSW_bda4koja2DPgcbRgbR1sykxFc_rQHKLmngC72maLHIdvxyu8kgsNKy_X_1SOyFgxSOWvOPSEZdb_SejBDW/s640/blogger-image-1107127493.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">And I like to think I would make a good German shopper, as they have a similar philosophy as mine. They aren't much for window shopping, from what I have observed, and they tend to be "on a mission" and only go into a store or a mall if they actually need of something there. They are not "touchy," and don't feel and handle things like American shoppers do. A phrase I have had to learn and use frequently is "just looking, thank you." If you are a German store owner and someone comes into your store, you're assuming they are there for a reason, not just looking around for fun.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Today I went in and got my three things- a dress and shirt from H&M, and my brand new German-designed Deuter backpack that I cannot wait to use. </div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjexUv8Qi767c6fDXVPNzlJxT5UPG94TDwS4hMoNBkT__zZhlBxPQ-Judz8kzWpJWzOEnogjqYVCIsSuAUcukmvxU2rGfjdsyQymKnH7eDZOnFz8qOYvYcH5YbZTnVhbexilEKMZFvKY4/s640/blogger-image--1992552784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjexUv8Qi767c6fDXVPNzlJxT5UPG94TDwS4hMoNBkT__zZhlBxPQ-Judz8kzWpJWzOEnogjqYVCIsSuAUcukmvxU2rGfjdsyQymKnH7eDZOnFz8qOYvYcH5YbZTnVhbexilEKMZFvKY4/s640/blogger-image--1992552784.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We found the German equivalent of a Claire's accessory store (only better quality here) and spent some time in there.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoqTOAo3B3seWX5gRVesd_mGXJs17OyoPuthF7QJWF-HNg-APNJMxsIYmGfXAioyFkstjISJ0r0gvNu0aijbzRFo7PTUzDyBV27jF-RRMXKAD-Ce5a06e29cxEsbO99opX3RbRg4bqgk5/s640/blogger-image--1357389104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoqTOAo3B3seWX5gRVesd_mGXJs17OyoPuthF7QJWF-HNg-APNJMxsIYmGfXAioyFkstjISJ0r0gvNu0aijbzRFo7PTUzDyBV27jF-RRMXKAD-Ce5a06e29cxEsbO99opX3RbRg4bqgk5/s640/blogger-image--1357389104.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>"<i>You should wear big glamorous things."</i></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifluRJNPiUWHyMVNbNUi8f7fKORv5DxNwDHWsV8BRTk3KN8aC5SAen-frVCD97RsabT7Ec1KmPVLQX1Tdd7L8lIUsH7G8j-qXpTx7QXqLvkELJvUi7_9NujY-YTaHEKpbEyqRXI_SSHkEs/s640/blogger-image-479620169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifluRJNPiUWHyMVNbNUi8f7fKORv5DxNwDHWsV8BRTk3KN8aC5SAen-frVCD97RsabT7Ec1KmPVLQX1Tdd7L8lIUsH7G8j-qXpTx7QXqLvkELJvUi7_9NujY-YTaHEKpbEyqRXI_SSHkEs/s640/blogger-image-479620169.jpg"></a></div><br></i></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">....said Aunt Rachel as she tried on some super cool sunglasses. They went so well with her complexion she ended up buying them.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">She told me I should get these:</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL2mNetiMmIoJO17BM9lVVKEoM-Z6UHAJbT8-RL0IqRMdpu6O-Jw5Iiu8HTvUUho1IVWbz-aLCoDISD0rU8jVScYOQOToQ7J9359O6uTG3Yvei5iZgkrsxueiEoO5NBOT9LtvhAGi-8cE/s640/blogger-image--115694842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL2mNetiMmIoJO17BM9lVVKEoM-Z6UHAJbT8-RL0IqRMdpu6O-Jw5Iiu8HTvUUho1IVWbz-aLCoDISD0rU8jVScYOQOToQ7J9359O6uTG3Yvei5iZgkrsxueiEoO5NBOT9LtvhAGi-8cE/s640/blogger-image--115694842.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">...buf I said they were a leeetle too Rapper-ish for me.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Our errands finished, we picked up Embla and after getting the rest of the crew, drove to Patch for the family portrait with Rachel that was planned. She wanted to get a portrait done of her with all of George's family, and so I stood in the back and snuck candid photos while the professional snapped his.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCm3ssWXRf6kBiigEG5KpffrixTlCmOkgZMKn9Y6b8_BS28YYlzyk_BPlVNLJolTWQskdouB-NByaJl6HIHpI4beRrXfHEmqlgu6szUEaHX-q-Ur1D59Hbtn27gut3hVixiVq9EgqfHI78/s640/blogger-image--218201082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCm3ssWXRf6kBiigEG5KpffrixTlCmOkgZMKn9Y6b8_BS28YYlzyk_BPlVNLJolTWQskdouB-NByaJl6HIHpI4beRrXfHEmqlgu6szUEaHX-q-Ur1D59Hbtn27gut3hVixiVq9EgqfHI78/s640/blogger-image--218201082.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM_k69sI3xRCm1Ohn2PTy8gmlZ-Hu-cPzYWiKlWIUq-ELDgZqoFmFxx_AUNzR6ltk59qCvhL1okdRTa4L-KON0E7-JES_uRRDE67ywmKfIXfooVqf_XqI-JuvNI2Nxk4Xd9UcWIeOiVde/s640/blogger-image--2024018527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM_k69sI3xRCm1Ohn2PTy8gmlZ-Hu-cPzYWiKlWIUq-ELDgZqoFmFxx_AUNzR6ltk59qCvhL1okdRTa4L-KON0E7-JES_uRRDE67ywmKfIXfooVqf_XqI-JuvNI2Nxk4Xd9UcWIeOiVde/s640/blogger-image--2024018527.jpg"></a></div>Good lookin' family!</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">And now, for something completely different: an Army Retirement Ceremony. We tagged along with George to the retirement party of one of his friends.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">There were no photos allowed during the service, but I managed this one before.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX9KmZ6jT7QoiyUx2Ug-BPC_rsXeOoUkBMVPGxCtYUKhLXMN8DZGWDF2DUKwODW0i0sqY9nc61lbObHcSZc8a5W_PvyJtobo7bLHwRa4DNYaTIG92GpJnzPi9ZhjR8BNlKZ2Ei5s3fJb8/s640/blogger-image-2006801191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX9KmZ6jT7QoiyUx2Ug-BPC_rsXeOoUkBMVPGxCtYUKhLXMN8DZGWDF2DUKwODW0i0sqY9nc61lbObHcSZc8a5W_PvyJtobo7bLHwRa4DNYaTIG92GpJnzPi9ZhjR8BNlKZ2Ei5s3fJb8/s640/blogger-image-2006801191.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>The chaplain prayed over the service, </div><div>then the USMC Brigadier General David Ottignion gave a speech on behalf of the retiree.</div><div><br></div><div>Then the man himself have a speech of thanks, to his co workers, to the Lord for protection through his three tours in Iraq, and most of all, to his wife, who was in attendance along with his two girls. He said a few words of thanks to his girls and his wife before honoring each of them with their own bouquet of flowers.</div><div><br></div><div>"<i>Of all the things I have done in life, the best thing I've done was to marry my wife."</i></div><div><br></div><div>The integral part that an army wife plays in her husband's work was wonderfully displayed. The wife was given a special letter and diploma of thanks from the same General that gave her husband his diploma of retirement. It thanked her for being supportive and holding down the home front while her husband served his country well. It reminded me of the Proverbs 31 woman- "the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her."</div><div><br></div><div>It also showed the team work required of the different branches of the military, since there were various representatives of the Navy, Marines, Air Force, and of course, the Army that were all present for this retirement ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> in all, I was very honored to get </span>witness this special ceremony. It might sound appallingly <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">cliche, but it truly did my heart good.</span></div><div><br></div><div>After singing the Army song, the ceremony ended and the reception began. We were able to meet George's co-worker who lives with his wife and three children a half hour away from Patch.</div><div><br></div><div>We were also introduced to the boss-man's boss from EUCOM (aka: George's boss) an African American guy.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When he found out I lived on a farm and had my own baking business: </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>Girl, no way! You know, you need to bake us something before you leave. That's what they like around here."</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><br></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then, this boss-man of George's branch of EUCOM gave me a fist bump. Not too shabby.</span></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">With the kids at home with a sitter, Rachel, Arnheidur and I left to go visit Bernie and Fritz at their house in Hotchdorf, near Esslingen, the village where we ate breakfast last Sunday.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMptwAGfTSzwGUV5ZP_E9Wsg6-JU9Ect2L4Z6K0hUxTKmNV_e8c875Sb6ujviC6QAnxCTxTmp8iaG5LxlO1oqq6NhqwpWlo6Z2oCH4p6D9EohaDnVVf2-73DR_O2p8x4jG_EiUrJyPfQR/s640/blogger-image--1660282446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMptwAGfTSzwGUV5ZP_E9Wsg6-JU9Ect2L4Z6K0hUxTKmNV_e8c875Sb6ujviC6QAnxCTxTmp8iaG5LxlO1oqq6NhqwpWlo6Z2oCH4p6D9EohaDnVVf2-73DR_O2p8x4jG_EiUrJyPfQR/s640/blogger-image--1660282446.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">After taking a tour of their lovely home, which was no only beautifully crafted inside, but had an amazing view to boot, we rode to nearby village of Reichenbach for a dinner I believe was one of the best I have had here in Germany. </div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9M6fnHXu7xqtxVTNyGZ6zBbHiGVlZoO1bKjLJLPxPq5ykp-CTMsrGKSatzTDzDNKkmEahtwVTFTXPzOCbih9qIdLbBNQSRnI1zyirw9b0ve7sYCqKB-oyEhyphenhyphen9gL3-B3VpxEI289SlEut/s640/blogger-image-418937332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9M6fnHXu7xqtxVTNyGZ6zBbHiGVlZoO1bKjLJLPxPq5ykp-CTMsrGKSatzTDzDNKkmEahtwVTFTXPzOCbih9qIdLbBNQSRnI1zyirw9b0ve7sYCqKB-oyEhyphenhyphen9gL3-B3VpxEI289SlEut/s640/blogger-image-418937332.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF1TbC7HSitGWKlUAVf2YgDS5BSfstvDeJ0SqgVqVW_CSCIiNhJghZgIH0c-z76uA2vTR01b2oMPR2skKO1IVTY_zF0iO_YQuAmGbh3Ei32BLP_Afg1QiHwwrGUQRG4dxqnoh1kpI29ys/s640/blogger-image-1006552983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF1TbC7HSitGWKlUAVf2YgDS5BSfstvDeJ0SqgVqVW_CSCIiNhJghZgIH0c-z76uA2vTR01b2oMPR2skKO1IVTY_zF0iO_YQuAmGbh3Ei32BLP_Afg1QiHwwrGUQRG4dxqnoh1kpI29ys/s640/blogger-image-1006552983.jpg"></a></div>(der GrillTeller)</div><div><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">George joined us from work and we spent the evening with Bernie and Fritz. We were in stitches hearing the tales of their life in a small village, and the details of how Bernie and Fritz met and dated. </span></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaVDf5N35v9BLLMvqGqYlFD8haRK750KNZqBNIdCNNp1SvUHlikuHodJBbtPS4SQVD7Bl0BycNJUqycaf-1K2ROv7xelsTXvLp3LwVGSIVSzXdPFto__UBwIENxEpLvtkLBxV9OTyXZB0/s640/blogger-image--1257932824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaVDf5N35v9BLLMvqGqYlFD8haRK750KNZqBNIdCNNp1SvUHlikuHodJBbtPS4SQVD7Bl0BycNJUqycaf-1K2ROv7xelsTXvLp3LwVGSIVSzXdPFto__UBwIENxEpLvtkLBxV9OTyXZB0/s640/blogger-image--1257932824.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We had a lovely visit, and didn't want to leave when the time came. Then it was home, and bed. (But not before safely sequestering my newly purchased chocolate in the suitcase.) </div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">;)</div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-14486104314245340362015-06-25T17:57:00.001-04:002015-06-25T18:20:18.436-04:00Stuttgart Proper: Breakfast, Markets, and Errands; Dentist Visit and
Swim Practice<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We were so pleased to be able to meet Bernie at the main station in Stuttgart to spend the day with her in the city.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We left Schönaich rather early, after Embla and Erla went to school. I </span>have the S-bahn system pretty well figured out, so after Arnheidur dropped us off at the station in Böblingen, Aunt Rachel and I hopped on the S-bahn to Hauptbahnhof (main station.) You never know who or what you will see on the Bahn, and today we saw a loud and boisterous fußbal team of some sort. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div>We had no problem getting to the main station and met Bernie on the platform, and then it was up, up, up on the escalators.</div><div><br></div><div>Thankfully, I saved myself a whole lot of awkwardness by remembering that when you're on an escalator here, <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the people that are not walking stand on right, and those who wish to walk up stand on the left. This way, you don't block anyone from walking up should they wish to do so. I figured out this unspoken piece of escalator etiquette when I visited England a few years ago. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We tagged along with Bernie and covered a lot of ground while in Stuttgart- we saw the main square, the <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">State of Baden Wurttemberg Parliament building where, as Bernie put it, they "Turn the coin around three times before they spend it." ;)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNplavCN2BY4RmVcEU5GMxhBbspUMkGHHR0JtwZMjwAyk2XhnkHPhGjoac2OOVWccXgqateX4c_UV1Yze9yKAytDlx4PdpO4PeEXNYy4TqkWkpMHYrm_8jahH3GxCpcIeGC-AuoQIDwgLR/s640/blogger-image--120481285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNplavCN2BY4RmVcEU5GMxhBbspUMkGHHR0JtwZMjwAyk2XhnkHPhGjoac2OOVWccXgqateX4c_UV1Yze9yKAytDlx4PdpO4PeEXNYy4TqkWkpMHYrm_8jahH3GxCpcIeGC-AuoQIDwgLR/s640/blogger-image--120481285.jpg"></font></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7NQ7OxWSrKgNlkMEKogJyZ7vn0kbA9wNA4onReMXtw0u09f4S_Zw7gj0-iYCHzD4gDJ9cTDh-V36TCnjpjOY48AQoOrGTL1wdpiEisREEpVrB6zRRZoz0JCIdAtqGVm3m2mX5BzWz72u/s640/blogger-image--287482946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7NQ7OxWSrKgNlkMEKogJyZ7vn0kbA9wNA4onReMXtw0u09f4S_Zw7gj0-iYCHzD4gDJ9cTDh-V36TCnjpjOY48AQoOrGTL1wdpiEisREEpVrB6zRRZoz0JCIdAtqGVm3m2mX5BzWz72u/s640/blogger-image--287482946.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">A short walk from the station yielded several flower and vegetable markets, the main Stuttgart indoor market, which sells everything from pancetta to fresh flowers, macarons to locally made champagne. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsUtgHOC9_IEyWwvGipoK1XrgH8iAjYdlejYLXaJ-iWSsf4SXahR_A3qjs5DkUSFCnluPa20wIuHvK4jCajw53nA8MzBpd64kCXwmfnv86XY1qMZ2mKucYU-CiukHCU26kWFrZoXPIT1v/s640/blogger-image--1007045367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF0V221MFWiXcaQYw2SgBTuE3rn0ZMlbzuEIl1MLjRlRmB2bJVgeWzr41Nkp1h_hUllf1EX01a7dLybBMQzqwIDi47tPbHXuPj30KYco091ersghE1XWjssKnGkQV5gZbXzR1Ii8M87pi/s640/blogger-image-874170050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF0V221MFWiXcaQYw2SgBTuE3rn0ZMlbzuEIl1MLjRlRmB2bJVgeWzr41Nkp1h_hUllf1EX01a7dLybBMQzqwIDi47tPbHXuPj30KYco091ersghE1XWjssKnGkQV5gZbXzR1Ii8M87pi/s640/blogger-image-874170050.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">It was so surreal to to be in Germany with someone from such a familiar place as Eden, which is not only Aunt Rachel's hometown, but my Mother's as well. It was so delightful to get to spend time with Bernie </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">and walk around to some of her favorite </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">haunts and shops.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuRJbKHBwOqQDoR3bhn_C03NFJK_m21PU4EGykMHAR4D_kYjwmdMT-TwKf16HRyC_z5C2DVFgueWN8KFfBlbyDVQ77dXFVSZRNGR38lw4vGzM_ObXqv_0ec7sS-JXwmAWFBHwA4p5nIte/s640/blogger-image-2075387096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuRJbKHBwOqQDoR3bhn_C03NFJK_m21PU4EGykMHAR4D_kYjwmdMT-TwKf16HRyC_z5C2DVFgueWN8KFfBlbyDVQ77dXFVSZRNGR38lw4vGzM_ObXqv_0ec7sS-JXwmAWFBHwA4p5nIte/s640/blogger-image-2075387096.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Of course, breakfast was amazing, as is the norm for Germany. </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We ate at a cafe/bäckerei just outside the indoor market and enjoyed some good conversation and people watching too.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Of course, a trip to Stuttgart would not be complete without a trip to Breuning, the fancy-schmancy department store. It included some <i>very fine </i>stores where the only thing in there that I would be able to afford are the clips they use to pin the clothes on the size 0 mannequins.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLz8kWGjDXQ4MiCIQXLxLc07Wgtc98CZaRHb1nwdtsJYit2vm4gswhmyHuOjTnkYxdK_r4CcbFIODMILysPvooXftLebRRIpXfh1BFTT3zJs46iD5QUBp-_ZcUr_oUefw741Opf6-XjYL/s640/blogger-image--2052645355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLz8kWGjDXQ4MiCIQXLxLc07Wgtc98CZaRHb1nwdtsJYit2vm4gswhmyHuOjTnkYxdK_r4CcbFIODMILysPvooXftLebRRIpXfh1BFTT3zJs46iD5QUBp-_ZcUr_oUefw741Opf6-XjYL/s640/blogger-image--2052645355.jpg"></a>Such as:</div></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrYtecBaXHT-r9FQjBWRWSaQw-EV60x4epw2MgIIAGY1HjVy-N4Dykj3JSFAVnNW49ZeHMQQGeHtNnzrjBPhJots961-fC2OWLFL6OTlTVTu6aBmRyXTdGj8-_m31DIp3hyphenhyphenOFsWAaggvy/s640/blogger-image--342648893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrYtecBaXHT-r9FQjBWRWSaQw-EV60x4epw2MgIIAGY1HjVy-N4Dykj3JSFAVnNW49ZeHMQQGeHtNnzrjBPhJots961-fC2OWLFL6OTlTVTu6aBmRyXTdGj8-_m31DIp3hyphenhyphenOFsWAaggvy/s640/blogger-image--342648893.jpg"></a></div>(Not pictured: Valentino, Tiffany and Co, Dolce and Gabbana, etc.)</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bYswJEODnMP4i799dQXliU-vQnLIOU_T635ncVlZvJVsHuiHcp3Rd8jySBTr48pXIhbdB0xbYJj1L-5nkdQJyKCFJt8VvYe5-JfBYmqHR9xPEfw-Yof_LJRN5IxN3LEbBdEOK73vLpip/s640/blogger-image--269406273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bYswJEODnMP4i799dQXliU-vQnLIOU_T635ncVlZvJVsHuiHcp3Rd8jySBTr48pXIhbdB0xbYJj1L-5nkdQJyKCFJt8VvYe5-JfBYmqHR9xPEfw-Yof_LJRN5IxN3LEbBdEOK73vLpip/s640/blogger-image--269406273.jpg"></a></div>Kids, Gucci makes clothes in your size so that you too can dress to impress.....your </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">kindergarten acquaintances. </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We also went in a makeup store. I feel a little twinge of something like self-consciousness when I go in makeup store since makeup is not the norm for me, by my own choice. It's my preference for people to be used to and conditioned to seeing me as the "real" me, and not becoming conditioned to the "enhanced" me.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirJ7_LI4_Y9GVKtJDJxGamWvRgPwgEYLdj6cJjOMaS-7Y-rdHIpcc7kNNsNPpqdcDk7wpqlxdYhAdozLrql5WUko9F0Y-YSCsxNoJJja318eoTNCXVofSbgOXnOMk062aeVsRDZa3soJ0/s640/blogger-image-1613708848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirJ7_LI4_Y9GVKtJDJxGamWvRgPwgEYLdj6cJjOMaS-7Y-rdHIpcc7kNNsNPpqdcDk7wpqlxdYhAdozLrql5WUko9F0Y-YSCsxNoJJja318eoTNCXVofSbgOXnOMk062aeVsRDZa3soJ0/s640/blogger-image-1613708848.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dqn3WQIpWgm1qp-5PIGf4yY2UmZx4FMj-8Q_vkz_e7Ut2cdmORJAi8Pp3j-blrg9q3r3S-osSGAR1kcEyWmajwbtmk5UXTe-fo2VhOacxxZpoAE01nChuwO0uQRt3bwmG6ROzT-8erYz/s640/blogger-image--1645556496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dqn3WQIpWgm1qp-5PIGf4yY2UmZx4FMj-8Q_vkz_e7Ut2cdmORJAi8Pp3j-blrg9q3r3S-osSGAR1kcEyWmajwbtmk5UXTe-fo2VhOacxxZpoAE01nChuwO0uQRt3bwmG6ROzT-8erYz/s640/blogger-image--1645556496.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I guess I am succeeding on that front to some degree, because when I wore makeup for my brother's wedding, several people didn't recognize me.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">But anyway. The ladies in said makeup stores are always done up to the nines, and as for me, well, I'm just lucky if I got my hair brushed. The ladies in this store were no exception.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">German ladies seem to have a particular fascinaition for eyebrows and eyelashes. Eyebrows must be contured, and eyelashes are teased very long indeed or are worn fake, if you really want to bowl people over.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">By the way, the ladies' undergarment section at the mall here is......um.......<i>extensive</i>. We will leave it at that. </span></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Though I will be leaving in a few days, I have noticed that my comprehension of the spoken German language has cotinued to improve with every interaction, which is encouraging. I can now understand some of the snippets of conversation I eavesdrop along the street.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Though I do have trouble switching sometimes. I have said "Bitte Schön" or "Morgen" to people on base before on accident, I forget that I'm in "America-ville" for the time being while on base. I have to catch myself and switch quickly between the two languages, because once you step off base, it's back to German. I can't imagine the brain contortions required to switch between three languages, as Arnheidur and the kids do on a daily basis.</span></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We enjoyed Stuttgart and Bernie's company very much, and </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">when we were done for the day, we bid farewell to her as we left from separate platforms. We hopped aboard our S1 nach Herrenberg and Arnheidur + kinder picked us up.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">And imagine our surprise to see chat somebody had gotten himself a supa cool European haircut. </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlO87KCNLGeKbjUuet2jJYP8JoLyrtelq7vXIet4vKceznkUYGTNRKw7ktIuXezOM0mKJMWyCDPXubePo_2mwGlIedUa_e-tRA0ft0hSDGtcUMBXaNhumXmJPoNNQiHEbEI92RK9DoDSF/s640/blogger-image-1831230689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlO87KCNLGeKbjUuet2jJYP8JoLyrtelq7vXIet4vKceznkUYGTNRKw7ktIuXezOM0mKJMWyCDPXubePo_2mwGlIedUa_e-tRA0ft0hSDGtcUMBXaNhumXmJPoNNQiHEbEI92RK9DoDSF/s640/blogger-image-1831230689.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div>Isn't it sharp? All the girls just squealed (and by "all the girls," of course I mean Rachel and I. We are his biggest fans.)</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">He looks several years older with his cool dude hairstyle. I'm already slated to help him style it for the soccer tournament we are going to his Saturday. I told him if will help him play better.</span></div><div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Visiting a dentist's office for Embla's appointment was a rare glimpse into the German way of doing things. (Hint: logical, efficient, and maybe even a little perfectionistic.) </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Of course, the dentist spoke perfect English and chatted with us as we sat and watched as he fitted her retainer.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlaDEIdUos9OYgZOhEfO2bEr0j5KOvZHzKDz289sDZDrLk2ynGwRPZVWEskoyBeDG1iTOx6w9Y7CsYhxdyDw2C3cpYTcTIRWinKL36c-4hOL7pApnwMa-O2AabWlSXa-r_QKNLegrGk3W/s640/blogger-image-1744823070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlaDEIdUos9OYgZOhEfO2bEr0j5KOvZHzKDz289sDZDrLk2ynGwRPZVWEskoyBeDG1iTOx6w9Y7CsYhxdyDw2C3cpYTcTIRWinKL36c-4hOL7pApnwMa-O2AabWlSXa-r_QKNLegrGk3W/s640/blogger-image-1744823070.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>German Orthodontics is different from America, no? <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We work with the development of the bone instead of against it, and it is easier </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">to fix a problem as it is developing instead of afterwards."</span></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I would have loved to talk more with him and have him expound on those differences, but the visit did not take very long and soon we were on our way to dinner in downtown Sindelfingen.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But not before we went in Müllers, which is like a drugstore/department store. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The tea section was fun to look through, and this one made me giggle.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyLWR4U_lD5ddzFEnQUr1ECmTYuitvW6OC15vpZJ8nUzIN6ilhZ6wgJ06-mv-irPOxFCR18nJmGYBaXH6eRxbZdkwTvA2lRn1-7iGMHLHhI4wAq2FdcYQJ1kh0IsjKS43lzZF01Vd_njg/s640/blogger-image--1312668531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyLWR4U_lD5ddzFEnQUr1ECmTYuitvW6OC15vpZJ8nUzIN6ilhZ6wgJ06-mv-irPOxFCR18nJmGYBaXH6eRxbZdkwTvA2lRn1-7iGMHLHhI4wAq2FdcYQJ1kh0IsjKS43lzZF01Vd_njg/s640/blogger-image--1312668531.jpg"></a></div></span><div><br></div><div>I translated it in my head:</div></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Heiße= hot</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Liebe= love</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Okay then. Seriously, who makes these names?</span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Mh7NCnVNqjuuPTA98I9DivWnzu-jUXGeqI4xGNR7C4SRL7qrTesWAVhsmHagPnhw5jYc8RKlzluC4GKGAARA9xA0lRRjK2-dz4bbZohW2GKvIlwHqGT2w251bE7WJUsfrY0CROESxCJ7/s640/blogger-image-278185385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Mh7NCnVNqjuuPTA98I9DivWnzu-jUXGeqI4xGNR7C4SRL7qrTesWAVhsmHagPnhw5jYc8RKlzluC4GKGAARA9xA0lRRjK2-dz4bbZohW2GKvIlwHqGT2w251bE7WJUsfrY0CROESxCJ7/s640/blogger-image-278185385.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Waitin' on the food</i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzo4NJLhvxuNZK4THNYGQeNUufDrq0db3MgmO0fl2vgvVWiS_EXHAyZ-aFFV2U-2U1EjRL_weY9My90RJ-QqUm9mg4k-9sAl7aImuNz5Bf8xY5uzNVigJKLuyOobafAC7WqyHBIsFW88D/s640/blogger-image-497756560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzo4NJLhvxuNZK4THNYGQeNUufDrq0db3MgmO0fl2vgvVWiS_EXHAyZ-aFFV2U-2U1EjRL_weY9My90RJ-QqUm9mg4k-9sAl7aImuNz5Bf8xY5uzNVigJKLuyOobafAC7WqyHBIsFW88D/s640/blogger-image-497756560.jpg"></a></div><i>Mr. Cool, smiling version </i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We ate at Köchloffel (lit: cooking spoon) where they have these specialized forks for the pommes, as Embla demonstrated in this picture.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCo-EkOaoUE3hn80Mbq2DiWsxRWWFLmLTqTXje_qBBS6h3Fp7vE_jO_T_1WRLpwtRNTveoqdoVA2Tf_Fg_F-cYswXHuUaLt1011BQ0G1DY9KdczcgcvU0GYDeszoP50E5sWEwnFAdQdiw/s640/blogger-image--492065251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCo-EkOaoUE3hn80Mbq2DiWsxRWWFLmLTqTXje_qBBS6h3Fp7vE_jO_T_1WRLpwtRNTveoqdoVA2Tf_Fg_F-cYswXHuUaLt1011BQ0G1DY9KdczcgcvU0GYDeszoP50E5sWEwnFAdQdiw/s640/blogger-image--492065251.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I should mention that in Europe, for whatever reason, there are no ice for drinks, not in the machine that dispenses drinks, not in restaurants. Drinks are served cold, yes, but I haven't had ice in a drink in five weeks, and I haven't missed it really. However, I may not need ice in my drink now, but I have a raging sparkling water habit that will continue, I have no doubt.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today was what I have deemed a "local flavor/local color" sort of day because we did and saw some things that the average German might do in a single day: take the kids to school, rode the S-Bahn, did a lot of errands in Stuttgart, went to the dentist, and our last activity for the day, which was take the kids to swimming practice.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLYk8CEppRA0z24awcoSBN4I2F9CqpfR9YV1tXlWbtIMxbL6sULIlBx6PP-9M7uX0llaadgZW2RPC6aN2foo9KnK2bih3ffBHzYA80wcV3U4qYqJrNsj8Em4jEf5vHPfhifnECJzhXOzP/s640/blogger-image--843817258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLYk8CEppRA0z24awcoSBN4I2F9CqpfR9YV1tXlWbtIMxbL6sULIlBx6PP-9M7uX0llaadgZW2RPC6aN2foo9KnK2bih3ffBHzYA80wcV3U4qYqJrNsj8Em4jEf5vHPfhifnECJzhXOzP/s640/blogger-image--843817258.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZoDXWrN-pV4iGSId7uqVSy2d80PH2Let8LiQsyeQ5VDKL2-gBXdvRP2kyOfZ3friaaoWackamIibh0KExwh2P7KoKy5akV_l8RyJb9BIrdFeLC13nvdmqB1-f0PBzevxXkv04MsDr9tc/s640/blogger-image-1394519638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZoDXWrN-pV4iGSId7uqVSy2d80PH2Let8LiQsyeQ5VDKL2-gBXdvRP2kyOfZ3friaaoWackamIibh0KExwh2P7KoKy5akV_l8RyJb9BIrdFeLC13nvdmqB1-f0PBzevxXkv04MsDr9tc/s640/blogger-image-1394519638.jpg"></a></div>I swam competitively for nine years and thoroughly enjoyed it, and so seeing them practice definitely brought back memories for me. To be honest, I</span><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">was itching to get in there myself.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-63372167602655478412015-06-24T18:29:00.001-04:002015-06-24T18:35:29.966-04:00Haircut on Panzer, Erla's Birthday Party<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I woke up at 6:30 this morning, sat up in bed and took one earplug out and held it in my hand while I held my water bottle with the other. Then I proceeded to attempt take the earplug like it was a nutritional supplement. This either illustrates just how many supplements I take when I travel or the fact that I was tired, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't know which. </span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After I woke up, Arnheidur walked by and offered to take Embla to school today so I could sleep after staying up late making the cake, and I took her up on it. It's hard to sleep after you're already "up," so to speak, but I laid back down and willed myself to rest. I did end up sleeping until ten or so, and I even had time to exercise before we left to pick up Embla from school to get her a haircut on base. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>She had told me what she wanted to get and I found pictures on Google that accurately represented her desired style. </div><div><br></div><div>Thus, she had entrusted me with accurately interpreting the hairstyle she desired to the hairstylist at the salon on Panzer. It's located on the base PX, which is similar to a mall and food court.</div><div><br></div><div>It is precarious thing, to be in charge of someone else's hair cut, a risky thing. Even though she assured me repeatedly that it wouldn't be my fault if it went wrong, but I knew that I would still hold at least some of the responsibility for the failed haircut. </div><div><br></div><div>One stylist was very bubbly and outgoing, the other was reserved and appeared to be somewhat snippy (no pun intended.) But as the haircut progressed, though seemingly a sober-minded individual, she proved to be excellent with hair and gave Embla exactly what she wanted- soft layers and some framing around her face. She intentionally made it long enough so it wouldn't be too short to put in a ponytail and did the layers soft enough so her fine hair would not have jagged edges.</div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-gclLxbDUyp07IZGKTcmoEWUUkVHXTUy0KnME1auvXuot2N5f-FJMmWTzUkHAIbvdRO6WMuavr0InnK0piWvvuNSvJRSjyjD5KuOEjUvFJ25dbZsUPcQdjouj-bpKiCg15sx01vYC-g7/s640/blogger-image--2008075817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-gclLxbDUyp07IZGKTcmoEWUUkVHXTUy0KnME1auvXuot2N5f-FJMmWTzUkHAIbvdRO6WMuavr0InnK0piWvvuNSvJRSjyjD5KuOEjUvFJ25dbZsUPcQdjouj-bpKiCg15sx01vYC-g7/s640/blogger-image--2008075817.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Regardless, the cut was cute and very becoming for my girl here.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is before:</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLOjI6UVh7LeMazTUGw-lxLtb5U7L3qFzGEQnXdXXzzs_A76ZDnVkcU7GzGHsSotoZ4Vmlq9Q7yffqZGKdhC0IOVsts9fgNUX86GL316YlUUdl_FySnDdzHyIhzuoQWT99YuMM6Hl-oVJ/s640/blogger-image-1790659412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLOjI6UVh7LeMazTUGw-lxLtb5U7L3qFzGEQnXdXXzzs_A76ZDnVkcU7GzGHsSotoZ4Vmlq9Q7yffqZGKdhC0IOVsts9fgNUX86GL316YlUUdl_FySnDdzHyIhzuoQWT99YuMM6Hl-oVJ/s640/blogger-image-1790659412.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And this is after.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILPES5UYnt6ixlsLEEx1JjKzVOpcGWk-cHJNS_x1VjuQW5cdaP2PJESqWuhwk2mWYQ8amrnxstgkxk3EjkmcqGhXhaTHuXPgVjNiU8R23OA_aT9aWG7gVkmJpNCwVWoYF1TXtxGDnvcMi/s640/blogger-image-428576855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILPES5UYnt6ixlsLEEx1JjKzVOpcGWk-cHJNS_x1VjuQW5cdaP2PJESqWuhwk2mWYQ8amrnxstgkxk3EjkmcqGhXhaTHuXPgVjNiU8R23OA_aT9aWG7gVkmJpNCwVWoYF1TXtxGDnvcMi/s640/blogger-image-428576855.jpg"></a></div> </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>We came back home to load up for Erla's Birthday party at the park a few minutes away.</div><div><br></div><div>If you are German and throw a birthday party at a park, as is quite common here, you bring your own nice plates, cups and dishes from home, and spread out a blanket and have your picnic and cake. You use them and then take them back home dirty in a special caddy.</div><div><br></div><div>Today we had what Arnheidur jokingly referred to as a "half German and half American"</div><div>birthday, where she used some paper products and some dishes from home. </div><div><br></div><div>It was a pleasant time getting to meet some of Arnheidur's fellow Navy wives and their kids along with some girls from Erla's kindergarten. Even Guthrun, the landlord's wife and our neighbor, came out for the party.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vs6P7Y2vRVpmqXTL1SOp82FBnBQspx8r0nljD0mtI_b4fXmEjMZ3XfUghX_oi6eonnlycFE4XUF-20kPjpOPKLfo867024tY7Stfb7lxGGR4FPXprmz8_7I3KkDXkgWJzxuR8aYH5Stc/s640/blogger-image--1064352610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vs6P7Y2vRVpmqXTL1SOp82FBnBQspx8r0nljD0mtI_b4fXmEjMZ3XfUghX_oi6eonnlycFE4XUF-20kPjpOPKLfo867024tY7Stfb7lxGGR4FPXprmz8_7I3KkDXkgWJzxuR8aYH5Stc/s640/blogger-image--1064352610.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>This little park is accessible by the highway or the bike path that runs through to the nearby villages. And it is beautiful.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy-fc9E06kBgZLryAduPWz5txF6IAgjqcTHkB6_9MMn560sLzIOfOvuUSeSGnZ2Y-046tqB0jX62ragapy1TsKVLgRSWuYmUvZZ-SuWKQQQPeeNHdRHudgr20T0nb1Av2fs8Wlv_TnW1V/s640/blogger-image-844488994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy-fc9E06kBgZLryAduPWz5txF6IAgjqcTHkB6_9MMn560sLzIOfOvuUSeSGnZ2Y-046tqB0jX62ragapy1TsKVLgRSWuYmUvZZ-SuWKQQQPeeNHdRHudgr20T0nb1Av2fs8Wlv_TnW1V/s640/blogger-image-844488994.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8Qbjuk7ROHFwy7DB64Bc14YaH9nNrPRiUvdZlq78KFFU-qtwUdw9CIi_xDJYWLsIHmKIc-AASL0iYO-mWZtNRCGZoqwnsNJk_6e-4JBo6Q6RtzChMLMvbBPUg9WlylK_krnk90XVFfvn/s640/blogger-image-1784675792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8Qbjuk7ROHFwy7DB64Bc14YaH9nNrPRiUvdZlq78KFFU-qtwUdw9CIi_xDJYWLsIHmKIc-AASL0iYO-mWZtNRCGZoqwnsNJk_6e-4JBo6Q6RtzChMLMvbBPUg9WlylK_krnk90XVFfvn/s640/blogger-image-1784675792.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>In the background, you can see the shared garden plots on the hill. Since the houses here are somewhat packed close together within the towns, typically each village has a space like this where you and your family have a shared plot to tend as you see fit.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFw-d6-6UBR1n9FvahpcyYzREXxPFvlrVWAqIikce1dEZOTxkwlZ9ka3c06A7YaK0w6fJMrYrb-Emdv1YFuvxknZdwu29CuDVgdW4zkS0FNxQvPdvntB2MbPDcsBEPzxEFs7mLNnk1vsq/s640/blogger-image-756346749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFw-d6-6UBR1n9FvahpcyYzREXxPFvlrVWAqIikce1dEZOTxkwlZ9ka3c06A7YaK0w6fJMrYrb-Emdv1YFuvxknZdwu29CuDVgdW4zkS0FNxQvPdvntB2MbPDcsBEPzxEFs7mLNnk1vsq/s640/blogger-image-756346749.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Here is a better view.</div><div><br></div><div>The cake was a big success and Erla enjoyed the party and the limelight.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19Hs_0N2Rizhnw-TwlTvbzt4Mog_vEPv6u0QV9XRqG7UerTxw8zBCMa2SBjiinUPNAqvaOASXUA_FqOK5Be-lbDjhL2ohqACjPmF96Y3l0arUtLiCZ1if3Yd4TsLshc98l45Rpl_REuJ9/s640/blogger-image--706408779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19Hs_0N2Rizhnw-TwlTvbzt4Mog_vEPv6u0QV9XRqG7UerTxw8zBCMa2SBjiinUPNAqvaOASXUA_FqOK5Be-lbDjhL2ohqACjPmF96Y3l0arUtLiCZ1if3Yd4TsLshc98l45Rpl_REuJ9/s640/blogger-image--706408779.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-OlAsRCXxx3w-qKenufyoKnh-VygPqlwAvrt7q6ocxLqQR5LARvJbhytcWZCUztHlxeL1wWUpYzV3ePyi22Px6TaNUWwvwA3TXSEOCGdx1KGhanUAryCsWRyHUhXB_GlXU3dFyUffPPW/s640/blogger-image--1572119816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-OlAsRCXxx3w-qKenufyoKnh-VygPqlwAvrt7q6ocxLqQR5LARvJbhytcWZCUztHlxeL1wWUpYzV3ePyi22Px6TaNUWwvwA3TXSEOCGdx1KGhanUAryCsWRyHUhXB_GlXU3dFyUffPPW/s640/blogger-image--1572119816.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHsdcLNLz8v2E5rS77NGOWMz0k7d4U41wmu_DZdlqsNA76WzNcvkePD6nHZ1UKek8HoYE6Y8nNx2AKoJik0J2-p4Zf4UiUi9X80qqcLjrpsZRtHdnI-ELwh0qRfVSP0rTi3UglV51k1f7/s640/blogger-image--1351646028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHsdcLNLz8v2E5rS77NGOWMz0k7d4U41wmu_DZdlqsNA76WzNcvkePD6nHZ1UKek8HoYE6Y8nNx2AKoJik0J2-p4Zf4UiUi9X80qqcLjrpsZRtHdnI-ELwh0qRfVSP0rTi3UglV51k1f7/s640/blogger-image--1351646028.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Besides two Russian kids who would not stop throwing rocks at us, all the children we met at the park were just darling. </div><div><br></div><div><div>Played hide and seek tag, which has become the game of choice for Embla and I. I did a lot of running, and one comic moment occurred when I was chasing her down the nearby sidewalk. </div><div>We whizzed by an old man puttering down the sidewalk in his little drivable wheelchair, wearing an old fashioned German hat, that kind you wear with lederhosen. I'm sure that as we rode past he thought "kids these days!"</div></div><div><br></div><div>We also took a picture together on top of the climbing wall.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYciCn2dDA9eC6Kt79VX4fPjbaNFJ5yKodY74dOT5z0ieoiRBwK0WN2sSO2aOPlcEyXj8M34S669Z5hHHledOotcjiqZe24WRAYfmZLnwgfOCe3OCbPvsvMKy3PhUIMUz73nDamtD00pj/s640/blogger-image-330400395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYciCn2dDA9eC6Kt79VX4fPjbaNFJ5yKodY74dOT5z0ieoiRBwK0WN2sSO2aOPlcEyXj8M34S669Z5hHHledOotcjiqZe24WRAYfmZLnwgfOCe3OCbPvsvMKy3PhUIMUz73nDamtD00pj/s640/blogger-image-330400395.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The boys played soccer on the field.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8FU_XIjSDOWZJiJ2QAA3SqVCz83Mkg5pluyD_85JljY2xhPH9inH1zdbK1iW-2va8pwrb2yn7mV1Za_KD5wWqJmskHzW39Uf0pv7sP_NiQ7Y30p8apWzbJJP-edVQwAZNLTjlNzdtv_N/s640/blogger-image-532117144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8FU_XIjSDOWZJiJ2QAA3SqVCz83Mkg5pluyD_85JljY2xhPH9inH1zdbK1iW-2va8pwrb2yn7mV1Za_KD5wWqJmskHzW39Uf0pv7sP_NiQ7Y30p8apWzbJJP-edVQwAZNLTjlNzdtv_N/s640/blogger-image-532117144.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>7 year old Alicia, an African American girl who rode her bike to the park with her Dad and brothers, introduced herself to me and we were fast friends.</div><div><br></div><div>"<i>Wanna see me ride my bike? I can show you."</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>"Want to meet my little brother? I hope you could meet my Mom! She would like you too."</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>(I did end up meeting her Mom, as she came by to pick the baby up.)</div><div><br></div><div>Goodness, this outgoing little girl was such a sweetheart. She was born in Germany but her language is English. Her Mom works on Panzer, and her Father does IT work from home. </div><div><br></div><div>I don't know how many friends she has, but it was clear she might be in need of one. And so, for at least a short while, I was able to be her friend, to watch her ride her bike really fast and play with rocks, to talk about the new school she is going to this year, the one at Panzer near the bowling alley, the one I've passed on quite a few occasions while on base.</div><div><br></div><div>By the end of our time together, she had invited me to their house which was just up the hill in the nearby village. She gave me a big hug when I had to leave. I treasure these kind of encounters.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Everyone was very tired when we arrived home but nonetheless, we managed to get things unloaded out of the car and the laundry finished.</div><div><br></div><div><div>However, we were not too tired to enjoy looking through the photos of my brother's wedding, since George wasn't able to make it. In turn, he showed Rachel and I some old pics of Embla and Ellert when they were young</div><div>and he showed us Erla's pictures from when she was baptized as a baby back in Iceland. Then we had a wonderful time looking through some old (very old!) family photos before crashing for the night.</div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-63802515020490668252015-06-23T18:04:00.001-04:002015-06-23T18:17:05.021-04:00Patch Library, Breuningland Mall, and Mission (somewhat) Impossible:
Making Erla's Birthday Cake<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This is what I see Schönaich when I wake up </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">in the morning-SUN</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">! (Well, if you're lucky, sometimes there is sun, but you get the idea.)</span><div><font color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254)" face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></font><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OrPFfrT6ec7HPdNUXb5yHT7ryOCH72R7SedU67sbdV7grdeMdSOGcZb-z_2tPrs5u4ah_XP3YpjVmfJYGSWyDUnpVbZaR1EzHVxEya6l14pF_XDQIjmwUKYTSSJa0mKxs_VZV2KwrTTs/s640/blogger-image-275848151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OrPFfrT6ec7HPdNUXb5yHT7ryOCH72R7SedU67sbdV7grdeMdSOGcZb-z_2tPrs5u4ah_XP3YpjVmfJYGSWyDUnpVbZaR1EzHVxEya6l14pF_XDQIjmwUKYTSSJa0mKxs_VZV2KwrTTs/s640/blogger-image-275848151.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I took this laying in bed. For whatever reason it is very, VERY bright here at 6 AM.</span><div><br></div><div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Took Embla to school. As usual, on the way we discussed many matters on varying scales of importance.<div><br></div><div>I taught her my top secret chair and/ or steering wheel stretch, "thumbs away, ribs up, inhale big, exhale bigger!" ;)</div><div><br></div><div>We saw an old-ish fellow with white hair showing off riding his bike on the bike path near the road with no hands, lacing them behind his head like he was taking a nap in the park. Shortly thereafter we saw him spit, and I joked that any old ladies in the area that were checking him were not anymore after that display. </div><div><br></div><div>I almost got smashed by an impatient lady on the way back home. I was pulled over to let someone by from the other direction, as one does, and she must have either been impatient or thought I was parked, because she pulled around me go try to get ahead.</div><div><br></div><div>I hope you were on your way to a very important event, missy. It would have been an expensive one too if you smashed your Audi.</div><div><br></div><div>As it was not quite eight, I was alongside all the other Germans sitting in their cars waiting for Penny to open up at eight. Since they are German after all, punctual to the enth degree, it opened on the dot and I was able to buy my water.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyVa-XmQZX0MhCzaZqgLjCEB_-FDAXn_kC0G_f9pRvx3L3-9dRSH9l4ai61Y6idCD_Cjrxt0rAB3IPWUnxQ6Za3Y-p7urMc3HB42lfEi_n7jgbmA3GVDV-elwpOwqenmbMbch7e6fRKjm/s640/blogger-image-846973822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyVa-XmQZX0MhCzaZqgLjCEB_-FDAXn_kC0G_f9pRvx3L3-9dRSH9l4ai61Y6idCD_Cjrxt0rAB3IPWUnxQ6Za3Y-p7urMc3HB42lfEi_n7jgbmA3GVDV-elwpOwqenmbMbch7e6fRKjm/s640/blogger-image-846973822.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>I realized today I haven't described some of the streets and such. There are very few telephone poles here, which makes the scenery a lot more aesthetically pleasing when you are in a town.</div><div> </div><div>You would be hard pressed to find trash on the road or litter of any kind lying around. People seem conditioned to not litter due to either fees or moral feelings.</div><div><br></div><div>Germans pay attention. If you are doing something wrong, whether that is failing to shut the door on the Sauna, putting the garbage out near the street too early on collection day, forgetting to take the .50 € coin out of the slot on the shopping cart, parking in a spot that is not allowed, or biking on the autobahn, they will tell you or they will call you on it. And oftentimes it is for your own good, they mean to help you.</div><div><br></div><div>One might say that they are "quick to correct", but perhaps, it should be "quick to help."</div><div><br></div><div>In most instances they are helping you not get fined or physically hurt, in the case of the Autobahn biker we saw today. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>As is our usual Tuesday routine, we began the day on Patch Barracks with coffee. Then Arnheidur took us to the on-base library, which was fantastic. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboBw4UfLq798uESQE4PlFUWssgWsujC-YRQ5wJlF9R4AjBoCAB_ZmqvL_rkwsphPblLeNycZ2T5iv8BT0Fkvu8P1KnOAOPxsSRo-CzwhZSTCYudLyX4bgBaayxOLfKRU1iFZJck4-NQPm/s640/blogger-image-1603479269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboBw4UfLq798uESQE4PlFUWssgWsujC-YRQ5wJlF9R4AjBoCAB_ZmqvL_rkwsphPblLeNycZ2T5iv8BT0Fkvu8P1KnOAOPxsSRo-CzwhZSTCYudLyX4bgBaayxOLfKRU1iFZJck4-NQPm/s640/blogger-image-1603479269.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>They even have a recommended selection of books to read for you to read if you or your family member is serving in EuroCom or AfricaCom. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1cT77NGK_NCCbgR2_CILmsx8aYSYljMfTu4SFK-FcKjXkzKRDPPH-NeBud8yPYZql4r4FqGwm7nznwMnA83bk5R92m8XzMUw3RJ24_jBMP6oSPEiXBLlD7s10KlzyE_Qxyi8Oe4E9kk3/s640/blogger-image-1229669708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1cT77NGK_NCCbgR2_CILmsx8aYSYljMfTu4SFK-FcKjXkzKRDPPH-NeBud8yPYZql4r4FqGwm7nznwMnA83bk5R92m8XzMUw3RJ24_jBMP6oSPEiXBLlD7s10KlzyE_Qxyi8Oe4E9kk3/s640/blogger-image-1229669708.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>This is very thoughtful, as it would give you a broader view of the history of the place your work with the Army has taken you.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>I found two books I might have to bring home from the free used book section. Russian fairy tales and a military history account, of course. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Arnheidur asked me to be on the lookout for books the kids would like and I was very pleased to </span>find Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the free book section, which they haven't read before.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We all shopped at the commissary and got stuff for Erla's birthday party tomorrow and supplies for the cake I'm making.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerXHOTgzxOuoHIHODZhxu-RKxrpvjtgJQeYTJuCBO-GJw_REeZ4GWjSaxGWYbIXsGPAo1MVaewxXZbTR2DLO33f485_3Ogte9Okvxy1qwSwnisFcYWG-3OJPTIzsYJm68rEO2pUuNyekd/s640/blogger-image-1208844324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerXHOTgzxOuoHIHODZhxu-RKxrpvjtgJQeYTJuCBO-GJw_REeZ4GWjSaxGWYbIXsGPAo1MVaewxXZbTR2DLO33f485_3Ogte9Okvxy1qwSwnisFcYWG-3OJPTIzsYJm68rEO2pUuNyekd/s640/blogger-image-1208844324.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Rachel bought two coke Zeros and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a pic.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>here, you be Legend, I'll be Better Half."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Well you're definitely my Better Half, but I'm no Legend."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"You're a Legend because you are my Better Half."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>On the way back from base, Arnheidur dropped us off at Breuningland Mall for an hour or two. It's a rather ritzy three story mall in nearby Sindelfingen. Breuningland is kinda like the U.S. equivalent of a Macy's, except nicer.</div><div><br></div><div>We had lunch at Frisch, an eatery in the mall that looked straight out of an Ikea catalog. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnmDcMzKZQVMSdJV_41dH4LrCMs0GJOrhVyYiHuKojv9ebxVf6yaRRakfotUaL8_NqmSCXwlEZQ5yY9rJknx83ydKKPLF5Abj33cU_39tIEirw6RjQCzrl6zqDkJ_-Kp_MJ5hk4JJ4cxT/s640/blogger-image--1635227761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnmDcMzKZQVMSdJV_41dH4LrCMs0GJOrhVyYiHuKojv9ebxVf6yaRRakfotUaL8_NqmSCXwlEZQ5yY9rJknx83ydKKPLF5Abj33cU_39tIEirw6RjQCzrl6zqDkJ_-Kp_MJ5hk4JJ4cxT/s640/blogger-image--1635227761.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgKqA9DOOJkEyJml80oLr-aMA6s_ysqDdJ18WBjAUjijnP1ONWIIvOD-vTpGdnvF1D0V9GQJYeiTrkMthRPk4OkYsSx7xKIsvMmMLXJ1yAR1XnW9P8KqFvrcNBcACt0Tkf4m35zMbomR8/s640/blogger-image-986722946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgKqA9DOOJkEyJml80oLr-aMA6s_ysqDdJ18WBjAUjijnP1ONWIIvOD-vTpGdnvF1D0V9GQJYeiTrkMthRPk4OkYsSx7xKIsvMmMLXJ1yAR1XnW9P8KqFvrcNBcACt0Tkf4m35zMbomR8/s640/blogger-image-986722946.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Soo many shops! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMoogpuxOea8u5_qCUlhl_bPF3qnOIkPgIesoWqa1Xht6TauxpaE0XWoijSiE4NBC1QF_fSSPZMUKnEpby6pCwZ7Y9zcClboIROSe2aeq8J-3bnin2az8bKTwme2QMe4mEwolyWop-ddO/s640/blogger-image--1680701851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMoogpuxOea8u5_qCUlhl_bPF3qnOIkPgIesoWqa1Xht6TauxpaE0XWoijSiE4NBC1QF_fSSPZMUKnEpby6pCwZ7Y9zcClboIROSe2aeq8J-3bnin2az8bKTwme2QMe4mEwolyWop-ddO/s640/blogger-image--1680701851.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRysJXEgNHR2vfYPGUxSG2lfV-UBl6r623ZEBhJxWbTzyCCQb1Ul07-llupYejAum9Pnqf_b12WZF8zU7s_zCFt7dcQF4j4laart3uWxY_nCtOLRIRO-ykzAtyNSHBh7IPWnSAVfjoykXN/s640/blogger-image--237007936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRysJXEgNHR2vfYPGUxSG2lfV-UBl6r623ZEBhJxWbTzyCCQb1Ul07-llupYejAum9Pnqf_b12WZF8zU7s_zCFt7dcQF4j4laart3uWxY_nCtOLRIRO-ykzAtyNSHBh7IPWnSAVfjoykXN/s640/blogger-image--237007936.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><i>Very</i> fancy sweets aplenty.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuGCwZ0WoVHbBYNFl5UtfRCyZgI9RGVUq3wVQ1YAppzh7eF-lC1qQNmIL48qaWl5xw97XqFslzPUjh0bDV0QTTLGNEeaBteHj84RdEVLzns16SiO8wPZzfPLAPvHeXnmYuVfKxiHjtdnh/s640/blogger-image--1418538275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuGCwZ0WoVHbBYNFl5UtfRCyZgI9RGVUq3wVQ1YAppzh7eF-lC1qQNmIL48qaWl5xw97XqFslzPUjh0bDV0QTTLGNEeaBteHj84RdEVLzns16SiO8wPZzfPLAPvHeXnmYuVfKxiHjtdnh/s640/blogger-image--1418538275.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8YT2ATPj1xbO-fsmNmwQHDcli7QYd2Ni3hcIzbfhIUDf75reeolOhzaSOh5aMeLoBcLj783YCrIA6iBPkNKiBYKxkRJ9FFT_Y2-cc-Nbi4vcfq9gCZ3AXJaXR8PENvoxBB7XNT2k0i2V/s640/blogger-image-1621512042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8YT2ATPj1xbO-fsmNmwQHDcli7QYd2Ni3hcIzbfhIUDf75reeolOhzaSOh5aMeLoBcLj783YCrIA6iBPkNKiBYKxkRJ9FFT_Y2-cc-Nbi4vcfq9gCZ3AXJaXR8PENvoxBB7XNT2k0i2V/s640/blogger-image-1621512042.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Only in Germany do you have a fish market and meat market....at a mall!</div><div><br></div><div>Of course, they had an Apple Store.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7UjXfAWYJGha1Mj8YKsz0dAIegWm_WW2oCexL5LokJLe_UwjC98XZjVeItY5DPJ8Srsz5xcQKusDnmUIqkf0EZWRURCLYtf3tDoBQ6IUDmNQUtVDsHw114J_g8VsJQXmokmgEcoZCvWZ/s640/blogger-image--264356015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7UjXfAWYJGha1Mj8YKsz0dAIegWm_WW2oCexL5LokJLe_UwjC98XZjVeItY5DPJ8Srsz5xcQKusDnmUIqkf0EZWRURCLYtf3tDoBQ6IUDmNQUtVDsHw114J_g8VsJQXmokmgEcoZCvWZ/s640/blogger-image--264356015.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We uwent in this store called Mangos, which we decided was the German equivalent of a Banana Republic, except it's based from Barcelona.</div><div><br></div><div>Rachel got a good amount of items and found some good deals on gifts for her friends and family back home. She is one of the giving-est people I know and has such a heart to bless others that I think the only thing she got for herself was a 3 € scarf, the rest was gifts for her friends and family.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>As for me, I bought nothing. I am one of those people who can go shopping for three hours and talk myself out of buying everything I might see. If I already know and have thought about said item and weighed the pros and cons, I am more likely to buy it. My all-or-nothing personality can extend to shopping as well. I'm either buying nothing, or four shirts off the sale rack.</div><div><br></div><div>And excuse me, but how come it's always the parents giving the talks on their children's frivolous spending choices? </div><div><br></div><div>"<i>Sweetie you already have a teddy bear like that at home."</i></div><div><i>"You don't need another one of those, you have several almost exactly like that, why do you need another?</i></div><div><br></div><div>What if the tables were turned?</div><div><br></div><div>"<i>Mom, you've already got a dress just like that at home....technically, you've got four."</i></div><div><i>"Why do you need another shotgun, Daddy? You have two already."</i></div><div><br></div><div>Just food for thought. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>When I got home, I started work on Erla's birthday cake for the party tomorrow. I will admit that I felt a certain level of intimidation at making a decorated birthday cake without the use of any of the usual tools and various accoutrements I am accustomed to. The thought made me nervous. However, I pulled myself together and was able to locate all the necessary ingredients for my go-to dark chocolate cake recipe that I have memorized.</div><div><br></div><div>I honestly couldn't have done it if Rachel hadn't cleaned the kitchen ahead of my beginning the cake, as I needed every bit of what little counter space there is in the kitchen.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Baking a cake from scratch with little equipment was like an episode of one of those food network challenges, except for cakes. Think: No cooling rack, no piping bags, no offset spatula for icing, a half cup and a teaspoon as my only measuring utensils, no cake board, a Celsius oven to fiddle with and a cute little toddler in her underwear running in and out?</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Bring it on. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Actually, the oven is quite nice, they have a Bosch with settings for convection options. It reminds me of my oven at home, since it cooks quickly and evenly regardless of temperature. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVftK-Pt_XLnOmQ__3fvocDuBqpU27Uoc5CFj608mPDlDRHYUr8Gm8ZZYVwY8ut1K8ucexwN4-T9p0e3r7VMYUf68jUqaSRJFQOVxYccO1kFleq2_FO4JYD1XBP90SQ-HPfnigqX9-vFa/s640/blogger-image--209074757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVftK-Pt_XLnOmQ__3fvocDuBqpU27Uoc5CFj608mPDlDRHYUr8Gm8ZZYVwY8ut1K8ucexwN4-T9p0e3r7VMYUf68jUqaSRJFQOVxYccO1kFleq2_FO4JYD1XBP90SQ-HPfnigqX9-vFa/s640/blogger-image--209074757.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My homemade marshmallow fondant turned out especially nice this time around for some reason. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Must have been the microwave I had to use to melt the marshmallows.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ugh.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm normally a snob about such things as microwaves, but hey. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnrQkZQgIPQ8GZ8u4EqWQ7Fj4sMvSrFKhJn34tZ75rLSTQGpyqIZlKjqxXwaXcR7O11ZoLPZgY5ZjNWMg9q-edR5tjJ9PxqPoO7IRkh4OIWUfMzVZ0IizgTxlsqmWqxHtJjfdie7bo477/s640/blogger-image--742644996.jpg"></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I was pleased to be able to use German dairy in my icing. That balanced out my abject horror of using a microwave instead of a double boiler my prep work. You'd think they'd indoctrinated me at the Cordon Bleu or something, but I've never been to cooking school. I must just be naturally snobbish about doing things old-fashioned. And from scratch.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMew0Upt3WlHViSrVE-elH9nTeP8_TePOaKcTflyTDHNRtLYfh4ixiKh88JtWScegWZztMWrEmzUMuZ49vGFxUAMUufOblthgqDBU2q562C_EX-YB-xMBxd_cmuHHBLM8q9r9opbzgVw5/s640/blogger-image--547387293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMew0Upt3WlHViSrVE-elH9nTeP8_TePOaKcTflyTDHNRtLYfh4ixiKh88JtWScegWZztMWrEmzUMuZ49vGFxUAMUufOblthgqDBU2q562C_EX-YB-xMBxd_cmuHHBLM8q9r9opbzgVw5/s640/blogger-image--547387293.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Embla was a natural at covering the cupcakes in the fondant. I told her the basics, turned around to wash my hands, and by the time I turned back around she had one covered better than if I'd done it myself. Methinks I have found a new employee.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-vSbJacqDDuFk23TehTe02nlstt_uWWLnhMcYKG80kILNpk5DVnDHgxsq86whPjZF5XAMdcAroDhHWTYQ4Zz46X6DBbvZUM3V9YCnY17jB5qunjqSOQYezzWYwL9-WOVwl8tGwUfCCbt/s640/blogger-image-647835011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-vSbJacqDDuFk23TehTe02nlstt_uWWLnhMcYKG80kILNpk5DVnDHgxsq86whPjZF5XAMdcAroDhHWTYQ4Zz46X6DBbvZUM3V9YCnY17jB5qunjqSOQYezzWYwL9-WOVwl8tGwUfCCbt/s640/blogger-image-647835011.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We got those covered and I set to work covering the cake in fondant. No mat and no rolling pin was an adventure, but it actually turned out decent, all things considered.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGh8-eZerqHZik-EZOQDC3BmDJFwrQam5JWsaw8xi6PP4rC70wMiZDDx5PodsoUrfUN6XePKjhY-pVAvURaWbU-U1pk0TeYpVOkJCl7I49QSKSoELjns2lrpe_0ZSSW3eSstIWMMhLlP2/s640/blogger-image--1553621246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGh8-eZerqHZik-EZOQDC3BmDJFwrQam5JWsaw8xi6PP4rC70wMiZDDx5PodsoUrfUN6XePKjhY-pVAvURaWbU-U1pk0TeYpVOkJCl7I49QSKSoELjns2lrpe_0ZSSW3eSstIWMMhLlP2/s640/blogger-image--1553621246.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I spent a lot of time making flowers for the cupcakes and the cake. Arnheidur was in the kitchen as well, working on her Icelandic cheese salad to take to the party, so we had a pleasant evening chatting away as we both worked. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hhtJKjk7uvJ_xqo_7hM-eN88eHi6GwgfNAIRo2ytp89ptV8imnHk-KjYG8Lu8amNRmHiapmjhAexKS6uwpsy9YP3yMF4m0CjUcUtEPfnkxSvJ1TEndoTDxBrJQDZRkmXIZ1ijUQpdyAz/s640/blogger-image--226460135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hhtJKjk7uvJ_xqo_7hM-eN88eHi6GwgfNAIRo2ytp89ptV8imnHk-KjYG8Lu8amNRmHiapmjhAexKS6uwpsy9YP3yMF4m0CjUcUtEPfnkxSvJ1TEndoTDxBrJQDZRkmXIZ1ijUQpdyAz/s640/blogger-image--226460135.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And in the end, all things considered, the finished product and cupcakes turned out good enough for three year old's birthday cake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Everything with the cake went so smoothly that I was quite surprised. I am the type of person that thinks ahead to the 10 worst case scenarios for a given situation or problem and then plans ahead and creates solutions to those problems, except then I remember a little important fact that they are all, well, <i>imaginary. </i>I'm a problem solver, it's just that at times, I can expend a lot of unnecessary energies doing so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"<i>I have worst cases 1-7 solved, working on 7-10 right now."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is flaw, I suppose, but I guess that being aware of the problem is half the battle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I can solve the problem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And make myself quit thinking through and worrying about solving the problem of solving the problem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ok, I'll stop now. And give you a picture of CAKE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbrSbwK57C-JQustMllPAlhBI0qLD7mhlChwzQIwBvFf4oNUSE2ItLAwd61bhNbt_3fCsYkHfs6LjSKR5B19gsXUjjpPjaJfATiO-1mivWPtDhyphenhyphencleQEhA80aSsJ-LbLglSSttfPFueOo/s640/blogger-image-1555101486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbrSbwK57C-JQustMllPAlhBI0qLD7mhlChwzQIwBvFf4oNUSE2ItLAwd61bhNbt_3fCsYkHfs6LjSKR5B19gsXUjjpPjaJfATiO-1mivWPtDhyphenhyphencleQEhA80aSsJ-LbLglSSttfPFueOo/s640/blogger-image-1555101486.jpg"></a></div>I safely sequestered them on a vacant shelf in the bomb shelter room downstairs, of all places, before cleaning up and getting ready for bed, because I am tired. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-6156672891811013322015-06-22T16:31:00.001-04:002015-06-22T17:34:14.882-04:00Not Your Average Monday: Mineraltherme Böblingen and Girls' Shopping
Trip<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I got up early to take Embla to school, after which I had planned go spend a few hours at the Mineraltherme spa. I had packed myself up the night before and was all psyched up to get relaxed, if that makes sense.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">After arriving to the spa and discovering they opened on Mondays at nine instead of eight (go figure!) <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I drove around town and then bought some gas for the first time in Germany. There is no paying at the pump, it's all pay inside. And there are five different kinds of gas. I picked the cheapest one, though I still don't know if I got the right one.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I almost went in Lidls to buy a few things but I decided to put this off until later. For some reason, today was just one of those days where creepy people were staring at me and generally acting creep-ish. Maybe it was because I was by myself and not with the rest of my crew, with </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">my "children" or my "husband," (cause it would seem that is what people assume when I am with my cousin George or with one of his kids.) </span></div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I drove, I was able to locate the German electronica station, which featured primarily German, Dutch and other European artists. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I do enjoy the genre, and it was fun to drive around and run errands listening to it.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJlgUhhIZXPh4Iz104W_j-R5fpOBTYOFyZFmn0EMcrhtFgaIATpLQDSaKV_El8moyIQvYMDrpKdKzsuH7P_cC49sDGbRNZTS7Jq2uXR9Vgo906U05yft9jKnrwAX1_Hbm1eM3uqER7MPU/s640/blogger-image--2117420606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJlgUhhIZXPh4Iz104W_j-R5fpOBTYOFyZFmn0EMcrhtFgaIATpLQDSaKV_El8moyIQvYMDrpKdKzsuH7P_cC49sDGbRNZTS7Jq2uXR9Vgo906U05yft9jKnrwAX1_Hbm1eM3uqER7MPU/s640/blogger-image--2117420606.jpg"></a></div>If you're curious, the above song is an example of the style of Electronica that the station I listened to liked to play.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Siri assisted me with figuring out the name of the songs from the Euro artists that I didn't know. Siri is a good friend and though I forget about her sometimes, she is quite handy.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Since there are no pictures or phones are allowed inside the spa, so you'll just have to imagine the scene:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Yours truly going here and there, trying out all the pools, floating around, going in and out of the cold pool and the hot pool.....along with bunches and bunches of German Grannies and Papas. I could easily bet that I was the only person under sixty at the spa today.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">There were some worker dudes with halters on about twenty feet up in a tree nearby, trimming away with long knives on sticks. This seemed to be the chief source of entertainment of those relaxing in the pool.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">One older man that joined me in the cold pool pointed at the men perched precariously high in the tree and laughed, saying "nichts fur mich." (not for me!)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This time around, I cheated the system, skirted the policy, did my own thing, etc.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> as far as the saunas were concerned. Remember my post on the sauna where I got in trouble for wearing a top? You don't? (Well, go find it in the archives if you've got time and brain cells to kill.)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I typically wear swim shorts and a top when I swim. I wrapped up in a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">giant towel and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">hid the straps to my swimsuit underneath. My long hair further camouflaged the straps and so it looked to all the pesky sauna Naked Patrol Employees like I only had on a towel.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">So essentially, I was afraid to let my towel slip and show, not a lack of clothes, but that I was actually wearing something underneath. Ironic, is it not?</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">But anyway. I didn't get caught. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I found a sauna that was mostly deserted, with no one policing to make sure you were naked, and as </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">there wasn't anyone there, I made good use of this little sauna. It had some aromatherapy going on inside, </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the diffusion was of lemongrass and it smelled very pleasant.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There was also this other sauna room I discovered that was 90 degrees, Celsius. I did the math in my head and then came to this conclusion: <i>That's real, REAL hot. </i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was in and out of these two saunas and by the time I was done, I had left a big old sweat print on the wooden slats. Sweating, especially in this manner, feels very good. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(the autocorrect on my iPhone had that as "swearing feels very good.")</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If I hadn't lost you yet, you three readers of my blog, I most likely would lose all of you </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">after that sort of declaration. </span></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But, moving along.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The aforementioned old folks were all good natured and friendly. The old fellow that I talked to in the cold pool-the one that joked that the high tree trimming was "not for him"-this same fellow and his wife were making their way out of the pool area the same time as I. He saw I was having trouble with my locker, and he asked if he could help me, then went to get the employee in charge of the locker room area. I never had a chance to properly thank him, as he left while the employee was assisting me, but I was so impressed by his kindness to the poor clueless American (that would be me.)</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Quite relaxed and in a good humor (thanks to all the minerals I absorbed, no doubt), I drove back to the house and picked up Rachel. We in turn drove to pick up Embla from school and then the real fun began. We had planned to take her on a shopping trip to purchase her Mom and Erla a birthday gift. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">With her help, we located the mall in <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Böblingen </span>and I managed to park the van in the tiny parkhaus (parking deck.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI4SbZKEGyuKKibYEQ3pEcNKsn6nX8AM3RXPIVVS6W7sclvjP_LF9nNQDmoPtQwac6PtdbXXF63WRkLG3K0fzdRUoE8dinNrqufGhrLVH_kVpJOjGsyHzHJKnQKitwrXGQI9rfoZKjiPh/s640/blogger-image--1785742141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI4SbZKEGyuKKibYEQ3pEcNKsn6nX8AM3RXPIVVS6W7sclvjP_LF9nNQDmoPtQwac6PtdbXXF63WRkLG3K0fzdRUoE8dinNrqufGhrLVH_kVpJOjGsyHzHJKnQKitwrXGQI9rfoZKjiPh/s640/blogger-image--1785742141.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It was a jolly old time tooling around the mall together, just the three of us.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZTal0wIyVSAnR0_dDGrvVadT13EGW0T-27WoTnJ9NkId3PSACgzdB6k6C8PM5y9UdyDrIhTzXMwgNy1VXQyOOcs3-a_N6UL5tcidAMPrtw9IGF7oYo_Z4HWlWIjRlzroqFL9OUJn7Yi_/s640/blogger-image-1168634018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZTal0wIyVSAnR0_dDGrvVadT13EGW0T-27WoTnJ9NkId3PSACgzdB6k6C8PM5y9UdyDrIhTzXMwgNy1VXQyOOcs3-a_N6UL5tcidAMPrtw9IGF7oYo_Z4HWlWIjRlzroqFL9OUJn7Yi_/s640/blogger-image-1168634018.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We browsed around....</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG9MgX53O4WvF4XQmSMFok64QSs67iifsTZ_UTY8V74YxYZNLS4LrWxV1eqXBhD1DrwNssssack-29YGxTjDy9x7HhQSlbj59PcQDb-xQP5oGhBu0AMfeeKxz9acC3KG4qmZd6e0yfuHv/s640/blogger-image-1361950422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG9MgX53O4WvF4XQmSMFok64QSs67iifsTZ_UTY8V74YxYZNLS4LrWxV1eqXBhD1DrwNssssack-29YGxTjDy9x7HhQSlbj59PcQDb-xQP5oGhBu0AMfeeKxz9acC3KG4qmZd6e0yfuHv/s640/blogger-image-1361950422.jpg"></a></div>(<i>PLAYMOBIL</i>!!)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">made fun of fashion...</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRJLOjnz6Jbo8q-oEpGnBOonU7Uye_qUQm8m7TaoTmxL0jI-y5EXW5jqT1PBmmXOfy3zJe-ORjNe8TvGVl-Ec-pWzt8kIEiPdqN-FRTzi4sPHox4cQnr7DTD-2I5cAe_-gPsiLogfzlTz/s640/blogger-image--1111124494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRJLOjnz6Jbo8q-oEpGnBOonU7Uye_qUQm8m7TaoTmxL0jI-y5EXW5jqT1PBmmXOfy3zJe-ORjNe8TvGVl-Ec-pWzt8kIEiPdqN-FRTzi4sPHox4cQnr7DTD-2I5cAe_-gPsiLogfzlTz/s640/blogger-image--1111124494.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(<i>The Death Eater Sweater, only € 9.99. Not recommended for daycare or kindergarten<b> </b>workers, as it may affect a child's mental well-being.)</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRJOFcOHpT7zop7HX0MMKE44YXzUuGWQrJTrXlkK1zB50aXp40OWHYFk19M6lvio4wBmtF1zEJfrbOc2ZGZ9bkv0mM0CeXQU4LEXsOxwonBip9AKS9TxHxG7lNgW8RxcQtWTtaGnnN30i/s640/blogger-image--434281243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRJOFcOHpT7zop7HX0MMKE44YXzUuGWQrJTrXlkK1zB50aXp40OWHYFk19M6lvio4wBmtF1zEJfrbOc2ZGZ9bkv0mM0CeXQU4LEXsOxwonBip9AKS9TxHxG7lNgW8RxcQtWTtaGnnN30i/s640/blogger-image--434281243.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">....and generally enjoyed each other's company. </span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATWGNr1Q8KNNgEkigzZHgrczattAXqlesq5N9EYCWKki5j6DN-LM0a_6PiBwFob7jnZicAcze9TjqFuxRbIq0TpZOysGHlqNVmVGlERo6IOVuKp1Cn1QF7QrJi1kVrvusM6ZdfsF_Qu8t/s640/blogger-image--178975931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATWGNr1Q8KNNgEkigzZHgrczattAXqlesq5N9EYCWKki5j6DN-LM0a_6PiBwFob7jnZicAcze9TjqFuxRbIq0TpZOysGHlqNVmVGlERo6IOVuKp1Cn1QF7QrJi1kVrvusM6ZdfsF_Qu8t/s640/blogger-image--178975931.jpg"></a></div><i>Grandma and Granddaughter </i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Oh.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">And did I mention I got engaged?</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWhopUCO18Y9XruEW1OULESXh2S_hOcLyY6Fas10Q0eEyUEeuoOnc2-sBU2e0JhKmrygu8SIjwAXNWhvPywxNhOSXr07GafATPnUQkjNyL8RL8KCQx7pIR17LDZxCWNDC6A6d251RWqz5/s640/blogger-image--931087652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWhopUCO18Y9XruEW1OULESXh2S_hOcLyY6Fas10Q0eEyUEeuoOnc2-sBU2e0JhKmrygu8SIjwAXNWhvPywxNhOSXr07GafATPnUQkjNyL8RL8KCQx7pIR17LDZxCWNDC6A6d251RWqz5/s640/blogger-image--931087652.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Poor guy had to sell his house to buy me the ring, so I kinda couldn't say no.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">After successfully acquiring the necessary gifts, we treated ourselves to some coffee at the Italian cafe inside the mall.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYKWYW8E_VVY2-8rsSOQdWmLDrPp1b-ltb69D6T4rfjesSkSTwiYn7EFsao3f_s02dyQr6c4vh31Tv3rlcgb5xnchaXOugrUIaHYBy1CFAxNhLK-bH0fKvImSPuwPIxdilTMFspXah5Gx/s640/blogger-image-1545708082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYKWYW8E_VVY2-8rsSOQdWmLDrPp1b-ltb69D6T4rfjesSkSTwiYn7EFsao3f_s02dyQr6c4vh31Tv3rlcgb5xnchaXOugrUIaHYBy1CFAxNhLK-bH0fKvImSPuwPIxdilTMFspXah5Gx/s640/blogger-image-1545708082.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The mall food here is just like the food everywhere else: fantastic. Where else could you have a slice of cake and sip tea or coffee in a wicker chair as you watch the passerby?</div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP-deNJNxC5fp34tHFJY_hQ256qv6C18T5cdbO76IvMOh_15h28l6YSJXT9vISLx5HMQGEVjws05qpeMek4i34It7kpvkbbBIDnOZaSCVIN-DURxa-t87YhKaN5e6aTMAHc65hdxp3vv9/s640/blogger-image-1056615694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP-deNJNxC5fp34tHFJY_hQ256qv6C18T5cdbO76IvMOh_15h28l6YSJXT9vISLx5HMQGEVjws05qpeMek4i34It7kpvkbbBIDnOZaSCVIN-DURxa-t87YhKaN5e6aTMAHc65hdxp3vv9/s640/blogger-image-1056615694.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Rachel and I will definitely come back to this mall, because we saw a few</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">stores that will require Further Investigation- a chocolate store, a German backpack store, and the entire second half of H&M wherin lies the 2€ sale bin.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Imagine my surprise upon my arrival back home to find lots of German made lace doilies, table runners and tablecloths sent over from Guthrun, the landlord's wife next door. She has collected many of them over the years and has no one to pass them on to, as her daughter is a very modern type of girl and doesn't wish to have them. She sent us three entire boxes full of them and said to take whatever we wanted, and I was just floored. These things aren't cheap, and she is <i>giving them to us. </i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UR9NRfLzYG4TGg0JAFy51O0Ihyphenhyphen7LFTp-u49t5z2_jdX1YohGjKg7UoFae1QE74rD0mmmSglBHy-ISdxmhwq0JlqjbwLyK6tBfNXKqYAir31Raz44sZX9Ne4409s9GZkqfy88jEUoYoJy/s640/blogger-image-103787281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UR9NRfLzYG4TGg0JAFy51O0Ihyphenhyphen7LFTp-u49t5z2_jdX1YohGjKg7UoFae1QE74rD0mmmSglBHy-ISdxmhwq0JlqjbwLyK6tBfNXKqYAir31Raz44sZX9Ne4409s9GZkqfy88jEUoYoJy/s640/blogger-image-103787281.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>For our dinner, Rachel made some delicious chicken wrapped in bacon, parmesan broccoli, and fruit. I made some GF brownies for everyone to enjoy for dessert.</div><div><br></div><div>I cleaned up the kitchen and shortly thereafter documented some shenanigans going on upstairs.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KpYle0VABR9npFB-v__AEdP9TdFYUBDAmB6EEt5y5Y6lUO8cSOzQ2zIgIcR9DPpMKPKWc6Ty13_JIx6FgwFpZ9eeG6xJB1Nxkgkeh3_YpYD2rx0BqIu8a9BbelRrzzbkSEeUcYg_vG01/s640/blogger-image-412912994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KpYle0VABR9npFB-v__AEdP9TdFYUBDAmB6EEt5y5Y6lUO8cSOzQ2zIgIcR9DPpMKPKWc6Ty13_JIx6FgwFpZ9eeG6xJB1Nxkgkeh3_YpYD2rx0BqIu8a9BbelRrzzbkSEeUcYg_vG01/s640/blogger-image-412912994.jpg"></a></div></div><div><font color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254)" face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> </span></font><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">*cough cough* </span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyzieLZorC-cgRKZmZjhloKc6DIPeDY6LH9P5-14HclxQr7qUFArUb968IVpn5xA6ULmVa7lNi1oLbwIY7HFXuQenGpIddmWp4BYUxIGq8jFX68qx_0g0EJCnO6IpVX69eVX5UBLE7Le7/s640/blogger-image-575757029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyzieLZorC-cgRKZmZjhloKc6DIPeDY6LH9P5-14HclxQr7qUFArUb968IVpn5xA6ULmVa7lNi1oLbwIY7HFXuQenGpIddmWp4BYUxIGq8jFX68qx_0g0EJCnO6IpVX69eVX5UBLE7Le7/s640/blogger-image-575757029.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ellert, when you are a world famous soccer star, I will have these pictures of you in the makeup your sister so skillfully applied to match your blonde hair and porcelain skin tone. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">;)</span></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-90025450176949591172015-06-21T15:36:00.001-04:002015-06-21T16:24:24.921-04:00Esslingen: How to Eat Frühstück like a German, (Brunch with Fritz and
Bernie), St. Dionys Church<div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I went to bed dreadfully late last night and woke up quite bleary-eyed around 9. We had brunch plans that required we leave by 10 am, so we quickly made ourselves ready.<br></span><div><div></div></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">As we prepared to leave, I had a chat with my awesome room-mate and traveling companion (aka Aunt Rachel.) She tole me she was able spend the first part of her weekend in Baden-Baden, visiting the daughter of a friend of hers from Eden who is married to a German fella.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><br></div><div>When she mentioned that she saw Barbarossa's castle AND a Russian Orthodox Church, I about died. Just a wee bit jealous, perhaps. But judging by her reaction at my mentioning our travels along the Rhine valley and the Schokolade museum, it would seem we were both "equally jealous of the other's travels." ;)</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Riding in the car this morning I had some quiet time due to two factors. </div><div>When we have all ridden in the car, I usually have one child at each elbow. But today, since Embla was not coming on account of being worn out from the trip, both of the other kids sat closer up front, so I was relatively undisturbed and had a little time to collect my thoughts, so to speak.</div><div><br></div><div>Today we met up with Bernie, Aunt Rachel's friend from Eden and her husband Fritz, who is from Germany. They took us to this absolutely incredible brunch and Frühstück place in the town of Esslingen, a 40 minute drive from Schönaich. Last year it was voted the best cafe and breakfast place in all of Germany.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3l93vX7RWIVRg9jF0yLJOSPa7zuhegc3YQ46jDL8_OIGl-FZkK9kogk6QbybRS2LESybX24LEWipnhgGftHzMF-DTAd-slnP9uDFrL33kyjHdEkxqhMQqq8kbIT_JHl-kxeGJcGihnPI/s640/blogger-image-1707397000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3l93vX7RWIVRg9jF0yLJOSPa7zuhegc3YQ46jDL8_OIGl-FZkK9kogk6QbybRS2LESybX24LEWipnhgGftHzMF-DTAd-slnP9uDFrL33kyjHdEkxqhMQqq8kbIT_JHl-kxeGJcGihnPI/s640/blogger-image-1707397000.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Believe me, it deserves the title.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBvM5zu-9jeQlS5sTf8IbzPusE7OwaJC4Lxi9MRdv6Sngr3sQQrj9QqfDqWNfekxk4lSto38vQ_NEdfdg7tWwsqnAfOgYQvfgLg_8tbXTli5tQyiopHfWnxCZTEbF5e1OpALyjuucAAOz/s640/blogger-image-101136276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBvM5zu-9jeQlS5sTf8IbzPusE7OwaJC4Lxi9MRdv6Sngr3sQQrj9QqfDqWNfekxk4lSto38vQ_NEdfdg7tWwsqnAfOgYQvfgLg_8tbXTli5tQyiopHfWnxCZTEbF5e1OpALyjuucAAOz/s640/blogger-image-101136276.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qxFiuJAtgv7lfTz3muEL_cEuTeCc69gSY7vBD_QKSoMr8r7bvaTJh4L9xxQwcywaNnW2rRvnLwnRKVfmoKj3xNrl5YbtiQTCigCwg1gzLgGA5yV6E-UiIXLGygLvRqAWxKj9gwc_0GW0/s640/blogger-image-1768325729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qxFiuJAtgv7lfTz3muEL_cEuTeCc69gSY7vBD_QKSoMr8r7bvaTJh4L9xxQwcywaNnW2rRvnLwnRKVfmoKj3xNrl5YbtiQTCigCwg1gzLgGA5yV6E-UiIXLGygLvRqAWxKj9gwc_0GW0/s640/blogger-image-1768325729.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Let's just say the Germans sure know how to do breakfast.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zTgMB2JruwMlu2bA3CC4r0jaM8yVQ_chRH6hEKh1yGi8DaU_Y02zvhha6Do2JG5m2YWIVyNS91pmQSGfQQrSxFsi032QeAZTDO8mVG4K30FHUtTIpCwke8wLhQ0xJ5yZEiTFZjtlmb7C/s640/blogger-image-1305329396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zTgMB2JruwMlu2bA3CC4r0jaM8yVQ_chRH6hEKh1yGi8DaU_Y02zvhha6Do2JG5m2YWIVyNS91pmQSGfQQrSxFsi032QeAZTDO8mVG4K30FHUtTIpCwke8wLhQ0xJ5yZEiTFZjtlmb7C/s640/blogger-image-1305329396.jpg"></a></div></div><div>(Not pictured: the additional croissant I ate. And the müsli I got afterwards.)</div><div><br></div><div>There were meats, gravlax, cheeses, five different kinds of bread, fresh veggies, fruit, yogurt, quark, müsli, croissants, many kinds of marmelade as well as jam, butter, herbed sour cream and cream cheese, bacon, sausages, and eggs. </div><div><br></div><div>And that's not even counting the drinks.</div><div> </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_7Nf5-aI7trbyPvHK8DsxKA6ipRpUwMRUmO6fUgXw4lqB9b54VY5G8h__IT1PJCwRG4b_lz41Oph6VnkX9Dr2ci36MSHTI7QIzUFLZjlcCV9YkAZqnq0iwVNv0gKMaE41WQbGC8x-DVA/s640/blogger-image--101832131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_7Nf5-aI7trbyPvHK8DsxKA6ipRpUwMRUmO6fUgXw4lqB9b54VY5G8h__IT1PJCwRG4b_lz41Oph6VnkX9Dr2ci36MSHTI7QIzUFLZjlcCV9YkAZqnq0iwVNv0gKMaE41WQbGC8x-DVA/s640/blogger-image--101832131.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>For example, the Heiß Schokolade (Hot chocolate) alone was worth the entire trip. Arnheidur said I must get it, and I'm so very glad I did. They give it to you like so, frothed milk and melted chocolate which you mix together with a long handled spoon. </div><div><br></div><div>The Way To Eat A Proper Breakfast, German Editon (<i>aka: my purely observational conclusions on the subject)</i></div><div><br></div><div>You pick your brötchen (bread roll) or piece of bread. You split it down the middle (for bread, leave open faced) and butter it liberally with either butter, leberwurst, herbed cream cheese, herbed sour cream or Nutella (if you are going sweet.) Then you take whatever meats you like, such as salami, Bologna, (the REAL kind) pastrami, or any other cold cuts and layer them on along with one of the many cheeses offered. Then you put tomatoes, cucumbers, or sauerkraut on top of that. Take note that the order of the layering seems to depend on the person, with some liking it to end with meat, others the cheese, others the veggies. </div><div><br></div><div>Finally, you fold it like a sandwich and eat it that way or enjoy it open faced. And if you are a müsli person, you layer or mix this cereal with either quark (yogurt cheese) yogurt, or milk. The most common way to eat if seems to be in a berry yogurt (the real kind, with fruit visible) with additional fruit or berries placed on top. Some even let the müsli in the yogurt and let it soften for a short while. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0vIME28Hovd9XfMQw7qJXN7Tuda9v0G9TuJjiFbaLfhlrkv56p3Rt2xeU8zBPP6WN_J6GF0hZJdf-T2jcqnwCSep-YWX70ZlBTlI3g-wNy2UzbOsFqaewG0RMANxuxdpPiTm0pGxaMlK/s640/blogger-image-397363172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0vIME28Hovd9XfMQw7qJXN7Tuda9v0G9TuJjiFbaLfhlrkv56p3Rt2xeU8zBPP6WN_J6GF0hZJdf-T2jcqnwCSep-YWX70ZlBTlI3g-wNy2UzbOsFqaewG0RMANxuxdpPiTm0pGxaMlK/s640/blogger-image-397363172.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>We walked (waddled?) by a Champagne factory</div><div>on the way to the Evangelical church in Esslingen, called St. Dionys.</div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2dK_EGaEcgRDMfSOUBnTygWZRRZd8vVFrJzr0zJKEOd1aJ2XhNeEgIC05PeX4QiQv7Lks6LrJQ7StX1KgUsQC9JJyq_-IxE_OkiWyDQwa-GdftVNErZEDFyJPzEJ2hurFcnQ4_mQcjCE/s640/blogger-image--1512779242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2dK_EGaEcgRDMfSOUBnTygWZRRZd8vVFrJzr0zJKEOd1aJ2XhNeEgIC05PeX4QiQv7Lks6LrJQ7StX1KgUsQC9JJyq_-IxE_OkiWyDQwa-GdftVNErZEDFyJPzEJ2hurFcnQ4_mQcjCE/s640/blogger-image--1512779242.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Goodness, it sure was lovely (and old, built in the 1200's)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyKDJcJwc_PZ9wk_K5yGAyQe-ebgHu1RHDoeuHnmQvYJumZOFVx-NtRxA7uGGGa2OUIyo7pgZjQK0IfB62Dkq6IsV60Q_HNOiwLXIoy74gGo_hdkhNQk6mTtmnKiu3iYBSnDN5lMx-TlQ/s640/blogger-image-454496713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyKDJcJwc_PZ9wk_K5yGAyQe-ebgHu1RHDoeuHnmQvYJumZOFVx-NtRxA7uGGGa2OUIyo7pgZjQK0IfB62Dkq6IsV60Q_HNOiwLXIoy74gGo_hdkhNQk6mTtmnKiu3iYBSnDN5lMx-TlQ/s640/blogger-image-454496713.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TTEW0_ZoxptkRQ5KmELnFtavGewD9Anu9IjXZR98C_ePKyQPJ8xoJJmeiSOjtOB5U27SqM5nw2O3kVA4F1rzAHydcdt3wTenRnXMA9f_5bzrchYGIBfEgWxqRkA9UFjX-ONRGK6ehJOI/s640/blogger-image-1741299317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TTEW0_ZoxptkRQ5KmELnFtavGewD9Anu9IjXZR98C_ePKyQPJ8xoJJmeiSOjtOB5U27SqM5nw2O3kVA4F1rzAHydcdt3wTenRnXMA9f_5bzrchYGIBfEgWxqRkA9UFjX-ONRGK6ehJOI/s640/blogger-image-1741299317.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We walked by the water to reach the main square of the town of Esslingen. The adults sat at a table while the kids played at a park. I kicked the soccer ball with Ellert for a bit before joining the adults. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21s36JNGCARCNPYOwjD0cfQuabaab2l2hpFVlwtKWp5T1uXYE6QQj-hkMw-WhdGiIEQjY4i0L2bLYPyLXgE33a6dDEjQC8aXRlaDnoz5VivQm05HGaxU3BkpSW13kTVWSE3pJyDWaBYEi/s640/blogger-image-335396695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21s36JNGCARCNPYOwjD0cfQuabaab2l2hpFVlwtKWp5T1uXYE6QQj-hkMw-WhdGiIEQjY4i0L2bLYPyLXgE33a6dDEjQC8aXRlaDnoz5VivQm05HGaxU3BkpSW13kTVWSE3pJyDWaBYEi/s640/blogger-image-335396695.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;">It was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon, sitting in the square, chatting with Bernie and her husband while looking out over a nearby vineyard.</div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN9xNv5LSfrOBNlaF0vxxApVqF5OHE9F7SCR4oOng2JlQG7ySYFTKxAdsjDac7baH8bUYEYTmedvc8K-t_Ol-x4dbnqXoqAUzDTh91_YVTI7aHq6WkKQMvZg5oTJ8PQIbeJuxLHq6g1iY/s640/blogger-image--1492151559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN9xNv5LSfrOBNlaF0vxxApVqF5OHE9F7SCR4oOng2JlQG7ySYFTKxAdsjDac7baH8bUYEYTmedvc8K-t_Ol-x4dbnqXoqAUzDTh91_YVTI7aHq6WkKQMvZg5oTJ8PQIbeJuxLHq6g1iY/s640/blogger-image--1492151559.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div>Fritz was such a kind man, a true gentleman. He is perfectly fluent in English, but he knew that I was learning the language and so he took it upon himself to start a little conversation with me in German. He was very patient with me as I bumbled along, taking pauses as I would repeatedly forget words and also the proper form of "der/das/die." But what a treat to be able to relax and try out my German with a patient, non-judgmental person.</div><div><br></div><div>In our talk, I learned about the Schwabian language, which is a regional German dialect that adds some additional sounds and such to German words. He said even he can have a little trouble understanding the Schwab dialect, as it is not so clear sounding, more mumble-y and not well enunciated. It is spoken widely in the <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Baden-Wurttemburg area (the "state" in which we live) and this </span>may be part of the answer to why I can understand the language in some areas better than others. </div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that the "High Deutsch" (hoch-Deutsch) language, the "textbook-quality" German language is very proper sounding and clear-cut, with not as much mumbling and no added sounds as with Schwabian. This is spoken in the Hanover area of Germany.</div><div><br></div><div>I told him I can read the language better than I can speak it in conversation. He said not to be discouraged, the speaking part will come with a little time and some practice.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhn7tf0WDK0ItzKLIC5LesXuX-yfWSgqFlO8qZa9U-aIUkDARb1I1Dx00AoU7aOZTlq3S75SXGnEW1fNyENVE7mQccCL6pk36XootzOumnPPaJ6nfO9UiLzgHt43ASEiNhFnRMCOed3Ax/s640/blogger-image--1709417314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhn7tf0WDK0ItzKLIC5LesXuX-yfWSgqFlO8qZa9U-aIUkDARb1I1Dx00AoU7aOZTlq3S75SXGnEW1fNyENVE7mQccCL6pk36XootzOumnPPaJ6nfO9UiLzgHt43ASEiNhFnRMCOed3Ax/s640/blogger-image--1709417314.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We even got a picture of the whole crew! We had a lovely time with you both, Bernie and Fritz. What a treat! We had a lovely time!</div><div><br></div><div>It was fun fo walk a different way back to the car, as we were able to see a little more of the quaint streets that make up Esslingen. This one was a foot-traffic-only street.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpNQ14Yjejz40jkgZ3Th1YsAN84owaEcmfw4g7lpbbnWzIjBpMV5Sp7Ge_t38qraAUSEIi7Xwh0kV9eq725d-nAsxHDuQbvqsJIKm19zwU_cWpy0uJihmqi6GaQd8rdT1yZzZKobTKN82/s640/blogger-image-1437889400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpNQ14Yjejz40jkgZ3Th1YsAN84owaEcmfw4g7lpbbnWzIjBpMV5Sp7Ge_t38qraAUSEIi7Xwh0kV9eq725d-nAsxHDuQbvqsJIKm19zwU_cWpy0uJihmqi6GaQd8rdT1yZzZKobTKN82/s640/blogger-image-1437889400.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikcRJBdnTygLs74iQzz3RooDE4A7s4ndy6xnhDBa0zFSRY5KXC5Q7p3Vn9GrAyuEy2WuM9_vyQjic2ur5c5JyRQKue77FYo6sGNL98zOg68-r_N2rtsdM9z_MebR3nPo_AGX6O6JsJ69Q/s640/blogger-image-1388679788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikcRJBdnTygLs74iQzz3RooDE4A7s4ndy6xnhDBa0zFSRY5KXC5Q7p3Vn9GrAyuEy2WuM9_vyQjic2ur5c5JyRQKue77FYo6sGNL98zOg68-r_N2rtsdM9z_MebR3nPo_AGX6O6JsJ69Q/s640/blogger-image-1388679788.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>As I have mentioned before, most stores are closed in Germany on Sundays, with the exception of a few restaurants here and there. But nevertheless, we had fun doing a little window shopping on our way to the car.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkJIgP3w7cbecX_drFG6Rvc1S4Qy36jl9taAENCngHBBdwSPxfOsdLCruJ3UnlPfLGJ4huxyuukVtlj_5GqhN-WzD8Z5J7I6hEeE6RQ2EjDNLNo9K8RGka76dp_KLyMziepH-VhliO5mD/s640/blogger-image--44623520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkJIgP3w7cbecX_drFG6Rvc1S4Qy36jl9taAENCngHBBdwSPxfOsdLCruJ3UnlPfLGJ4huxyuukVtlj_5GqhN-WzD8Z5J7I6hEeE6RQ2EjDNLNo9K8RGka76dp_KLyMziepH-VhliO5mD/s640/blogger-image--44623520.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mSoFvc-q31exng_vTC4kVOfRUv2ABA3_A1MEgutF_6yMDHPrqToVmUCV2PQMJivnfPXDexh-ykDtki1-Y7_BcFJp36BxppAirbfjQOY-z3qmzdoI2__0L0i1W7gcwuh2HSl5tunUqq_b/s640/blogger-image-1136556915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mSoFvc-q31exng_vTC4kVOfRUv2ABA3_A1MEgutF_6yMDHPrqToVmUCV2PQMJivnfPXDexh-ykDtki1-Y7_BcFJp36BxppAirbfjQOY-z3qmzdoI2__0L0i1W7gcwuh2HSl5tunUqq_b/s640/blogger-image-1136556915.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We also passed some swans, next to the infamous park where Ellert broke his collarbone.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV4tWoTTQFpOcZO1huXR023IzlwqLhHgMhqe3R-han7G28cz1LNbvJAr2lAqxyaLopmaNsmFz5ag-kyP52BA8YXMK2g_mq1Gm3FoY8B7QNdTJDUE1r89zZdbrtTdZNh53eugsbDJgrZZj/s640/blogger-image-1997637724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV4tWoTTQFpOcZO1huXR023IzlwqLhHgMhqe3R-han7G28cz1LNbvJAr2lAqxyaLopmaNsmFz5ag-kyP52BA8YXMK2g_mq1Gm3FoY8B7QNdTJDUE1r89zZdbrtTdZNh53eugsbDJgrZZj/s640/blogger-image-1997637724.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsYW0naHHT92k47sPy2G00Muxy5ggJw8XpnZ3GLPKH3AIepDWWV_oXP5AwGPIurz-4_oPBOjIyx6ykNvMC-PPWZGesmc7QOuEfYjIybVF1Y98v1ScKqFK5mC8usNpXhhRTRo-Vwfn-hLC/s640/blogger-image--1302917715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsYW0naHHT92k47sPy2G00Muxy5ggJw8XpnZ3GLPKH3AIepDWWV_oXP5AwGPIurz-4_oPBOjIyx6ykNvMC-PPWZGesmc7QOuEfYjIybVF1Y98v1ScKqFK5mC8usNpXhhRTRo-Vwfn-hLC/s640/blogger-image--1302917715.jpg"></a></div>(Look ma, I'm German!)</div><div><br></div><div>We arrived home and my thoughts turned to the upcoming week, which is my last week here in Germany. I already have plans to make a birthday cake for Erla on Wednesday; Rachel, Embla and I are going shopping tomorrow, and we might go to Stuttgart proper again, since we've only been once, right after we arrived here. </div><div><br></div><div><div>My mind has also turned to packing for the return trip. I have used all of the snacks I brought along as well as most of my favorite travel supplements, so I know I will have room for the things I have purchased while here.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Well, except for some of the chocolate (shown here stacked nine deep.) But, what can I say. Buy it in bulk at the factory ten minutes away and you end up getting a fine chocolate bar that is sold for $5 or more in the states for .20 to .77 Euro each.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3NyizmC3EytXg4JgpW6OPeNp-BQmbxzNWL-WG5qYMobWFhERmyE7HcR_04wjgmAq9LooBR200IoajTVw02yH5IvGvUQzDz87pcD18LHloaYSoss5euhfOE_bOF5nwaSNRahwpvIpXOmi/s640/blogger-image-199502965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3NyizmC3EytXg4JgpW6OPeNp-BQmbxzNWL-WG5qYMobWFhERmyE7HcR_04wjgmAq9LooBR200IoajTVw02yH5IvGvUQzDz87pcD18LHloaYSoss5euhfOE_bOF5nwaSNRahwpvIpXOmi/s640/blogger-image-199502965.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>I have all but decided to ship home the obscene amount of chocolate I have acquired as gifts for friends and family. It is not very expensive to ship priority mail and arrives in the states in 6-10 days (or so says the site) so I think this might be my best option.</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps the real reason is that I want to have more room to fit these horrible confections in my suitcase.</div><div><br></div><div>And by "horrible," I mean terribly good.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW3ayWf6RpsFAqacWTGvsSrnv2ouJNSSMCEztewFI9Ta0yIr9G-d7BA4XAXeCGQkSB4NkYhRvyH5d73gNkKp7Mjx5YVspCH3J_qge0rB-VEMwu72SUsg8hdEFT01cT9EkKI2pIvA7rB3w/s640/blogger-image--1059364698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW3ayWf6RpsFAqacWTGvsSrnv2ouJNSSMCEztewFI9Ta0yIr9G-d7BA4XAXeCGQkSB4NkYhRvyH5d73gNkKp7Mjx5YVspCH3J_qge0rB-VEMwu72SUsg8hdEFT01cT9EkKI2pIvA7rB3w/s640/blogger-image--1059364698.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>They are a wafer bar, made and dreamed up somewhere in Poland. It's a lightly sweet and dipped in dark chocolate. </div></div><div><br></div><div>But anyway. I may get more of those tomorrow when we attempt a trip to the Polish fresh market. If you are local and would like to become an addict too, I can set you up when I get home. It just takes one bar. </div><div>;)</div></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-3682262900108971272015-06-20T19:20:00.001-04:002015-06-20T19:43:29.155-04:00Köln (Cologne) Day Two: Science Museum and Schokolade Miseum, Travel
Back to Schönaich<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Our hotel we stayed in last night was very nice. So nice, in fact, that a breakfast buffet was priced at $26 euro. Of course, when we found that out, we decided not to partake. How can you make breakfast that expensive? Gold spoons? Caviar? Convoluted logic with a side of Money to Burn?</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I woke up before everyone else this morning and was quite hungry. And so, I decided to eat what I call the scrounger's breakfast- a complimentary green apple from the lobby plus a packet of almond butter I brought for emergency purposes such as these. Those blessed packets containing around 200 precious calories or so of almond butter have saved me on many occasions of being out and about with no food available.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">It took us all a while to get up, especially the Lady of Honor, who had been thoroughly worn out by the concert and the day before. We ended up leaving the hotel around 10:30.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We were all hungry and so picked out a breakfast/lunch at the little take-out pastry place we ate at yesterday,</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Bp6yykirvPY6S6j1YtoftbSyIp-wPVAdWyOtrh9sR0TjQkLMRyWgpcMlmIcMjuL1R3p4otqnJ0cqib8JN7w_C7UpO-OZjMM-kpOH98KCaJrSLnUlJdD90rEX8QmNVqAwS89mLIWpUr4/s640/blogger-image--1908160727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Bp6yykirvPY6S6j1YtoftbSyIp-wPVAdWyOtrh9sR0TjQkLMRyWgpcMlmIcMjuL1R3p4otqnJ0cqib8JN7w_C7UpO-OZjMM-kpOH98KCaJrSLnUlJdD90rEX8QmNVqAwS89mLIWpUr4/s640/blogger-image--1908160727.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">With it being Embla's trip, we let her decide where she would want to go, and the Odysseum science museum was her first choice. It is an interactive science museum geared towards children. I wasn't sure if they'd have English translations for the terms or not, and wasn't particularly looking forward to having to decipher German science terms, which are made up of many words squashed together, but thankfully, they had English subtitles on almost everything.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We walked everywhere and as such, never had to take a bus or a subway. It is fun to discuss the buildings and sights as we do. On the long walk to the science museum, Embla asked to hear my various Accents, including Australian, New Zealand, Scottish, Yorkshire, and classic British. Well, that's one way to keep ya busy, right?</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I had everything I needed packed in a backpack, and while it was a lovely feeling to have all I needed conveniently stored there, it got rather heavy on my shoulders after a few hours. I need go get a proper backpack (like the ones they wear here, called Deuter) It was, however, vastly superior to a rolling suitcase. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RWCxrRZ5lRyK597hqb6ZdVTktMZGlhgms6NymppeSlANBrZ9NK8Pj38umhwZqWDOvdGpyIuyTUZFQDmU3gKKpE58GYo2ElhpPJwCL5gGf7fcbYUy-duFnHRfFiCI4g_lkMl_aAvJoNQY/s640/blogger-image-2010522171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RWCxrRZ5lRyK597hqb6ZdVTktMZGlhgms6NymppeSlANBrZ9NK8Pj38umhwZqWDOvdGpyIuyTUZFQDmU3gKKpE58GYo2ElhpPJwCL5gGf7fcbYUy-duFnHRfFiCI4g_lkMl_aAvJoNQY/s640/blogger-image-2010522171.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">(At the Science Museum. We are quite the travel group, let me tell ya)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">In one room of the museum sat the astronaut training simulator. Embla said she would do it if I would, and I'm always down for a challenge, so I agreed. She went first, and I had to fend off several boys that tried to cut in line as I waited my turn. </div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA5x4guAbIXqic33ubUQs217cwxt_JVHAdS3o0GIiLvodmnZqWbGVcFYKaqzvAlGjaEssrlKdjJlw_o-M2RFQsRavg7w32hvE9MVHShzByGVAZKuC7sLcfLbMOm7yKJRh7NTbPETwvj_6/s640/blogger-image-567468918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA5x4guAbIXqic33ubUQs217cwxt_JVHAdS3o0GIiLvodmnZqWbGVcFYKaqzvAlGjaEssrlKdjJlw_o-M2RFQsRavg7w32hvE9MVHShzByGVAZKuC7sLcfLbMOm7yKJRh7NTbPETwvj_6/s640/blogger-image-567468918.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I suppose they just assumed that a Big Girl like me would not want to do such a thing as ride a legit astronaut simulator. Oh yes I do, fellas, yes I do. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The operator dude asked me if I wanted slow, medium or fast.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Schnell."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I have no photos or videos of my ride, but George tried to film it and his phone ran out of space right in the middle of it.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>I know he must have had fun with me while I was at his mercy, especially when he works with little kids all day that don't like to go super fast. I am fairly certain that I hit 4G's at least twice. By the end my stomach felt like it had migrated to my nose, but other than odd that sensation, I felt totally fine. He seemed surprised that I was able to walk a straight line after I was done with it. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This obviously means that I could be an astronaut. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(as long as math is not involved.)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">;)</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><br></div><div><div>I am never too old for a playground, and so when we reached the outside portion of the museum, I climbed the climbing wall. And all the kids stared, and Embla snapped these pictures of Yours Truly.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqct0k-8LWpOpAbBPxrjQ8K7-68KbvGhW_RLlFG8sZi50Xk7VGVC20z6MI8eEsXRJbMD6jC9piszh0BRfemdbVEV3_aw_tEZm_sZgB1j1rHDJaHSDUjDiIfluqWbnIKYg64faG_f96ED3l/s640/blogger-image--1902054822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqct0k-8LWpOpAbBPxrjQ8K7-68KbvGhW_RLlFG8sZi50Xk7VGVC20z6MI8eEsXRJbMD6jC9piszh0BRfemdbVEV3_aw_tEZm_sZgB1j1rHDJaHSDUjDiIfluqWbnIKYg64faG_f96ED3l/s640/blogger-image--1902054822.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvaUDx-4fFiD0W7IHs_KJNHZrF6V02OlNvZ8AsELsmYMF15MeVgUHyHpPmzBgvPyTgKD9zh1t-YViQ2sz6ws0z3MiaSWcKEJanzd6ahSXSrE6oFv_nWLz8dcLcidPgatuIeRbM58NBOPE/s640/blogger-image--953451585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvaUDx-4fFiD0W7IHs_KJNHZrF6V02OlNvZ8AsELsmYMF15MeVgUHyHpPmzBgvPyTgKD9zh1t-YViQ2sz6ws0z3MiaSWcKEJanzd6ahSXSrE6oFv_nWLz8dcLcidPgatuIeRbM58NBOPE/s640/blogger-image--953451585.jpg"></a></div>The young man we happened to get in the frame is demonstrating how most kids must feel about having a twenty something girl on the playground. Too bad, sonny. It's a free country.</div><div><br></div><div>There were so many cute German kids playing on the park and in the museum that I could barely contain myself. This one in the pilot cap had me in a fit. This was the best I could do for a photo without looking like a stalker. Think German baby with chubby cheeks and blue eyes.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyEq-Bd4AhU05aRTeP8Hh0aahmhOuMGQsa8DcNJmD8eKSoYz3GUoD-MFfu0cYTkaYd4bo4XZjyVVAsvinysSXp3LWFrfNZe98202CniTez1Y937pk8R2S0ORSm2CGkVn80yb5sDRR9DGe/s640/blogger-image--1758654621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyEq-Bd4AhU05aRTeP8Hh0aahmhOuMGQsa8DcNJmD8eKSoYz3GUoD-MFfu0cYTkaYd4bo4XZjyVVAsvinysSXp3LWFrfNZe98202CniTez1Y937pk8R2S0ORSm2CGkVn80yb5sDRR9DGe/s640/blogger-image--1758654621.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>From the science center, we walked to the Schokolade museum, which is on a little peninsula in the Rhine River. I learned a whole lot about the growing and the manufacturing of chocolate that I didn't know before. For example: The whole process of propagating, picking, and preparing the beans in bulk for shipment to buyers is done entirely by hand. I learned that Germany is the top producer of chocolate in the world, but the Swiss take the prize for top consumption of chocolate.</div><div><br></div><div>They actually had a factory line set up so you could see how the machines mix the raw materials together and then temper and mold the chocolate.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDR52EC75J-NE2ytmT8Jq2FgThkW0Am2a7rEm1DjC8SxEUh0MDQtQ_GmlhVBv_AeVZKpAkmMACGOE36Dd_ooZqPB2li69JY0atE2gfctHyM6nUELiUP8Ys7pywoCFWrhcGdWtCeCvsjkn/s640/blogger-image--1240683333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDR52EC75J-NE2ytmT8Jq2FgThkW0Am2a7rEm1DjC8SxEUh0MDQtQ_GmlhVBv_AeVZKpAkmMACGOE36Dd_ooZqPB2li69JY0atE2gfctHyM6nUELiUP8Ys7pywoCFWrhcGdWtCeCvsjkn/s640/blogger-image--1240683333.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>A gigantic chocolate fountain sat near the assembly line from which we were all given a wafer dipped in chocolate. As we were all quite famished, this was equivalent to a (perhaps slightly less nutritious) form of Manna in our eyes.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jHCXiW_ecxQkeKEmzyDEt7595TFVoBmGYECBWSp7Sq6eCyKa6e3VtuobmqwleMVLdp4xOONxOktkVlSdxFdnPBs8qJ53cQWFYwl2_tll5_tzvFnFDxRjhu9REgR5l1xSylFv0Z7SGpXQ/s640/blogger-image-1407012938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jHCXiW_ecxQkeKEmzyDEt7595TFVoBmGYECBWSp7Sq6eCyKa6e3VtuobmqwleMVLdp4xOONxOktkVlSdxFdnPBs8qJ53cQWFYwl2_tll5_tzvFnFDxRjhu9REgR5l1xSylFv0Z7SGpXQ/s640/blogger-image-1407012938.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>With all of us being so hungry, it's a wonder we didn't break the glass in the display cabinets to get at the bars of chocolate used as props for the exhibits. Though the thought crossed my mind, I will admit.</div><div><br></div><div>When we finally came to it, it's a wonder we didn't buy the whole store, which had everything chocolate you could imagine. Ever wanted false teeth made of chocolate? It's yours. A chocolate Russian nesting doll? You can get that too. Embla and I got some chocolate to share on the train and I got my Mother a bar of dark chocolate wrapped in an art nouveau wrapper that hails form Barcelona.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The building we ate dinner outside of was a classic German-style building near the waterfront and next to the "Echo church" I wrote about yesterday. I am getting so spoiled with all these open air restaurants here in Germany! You can sit back and enjoy a meal while you watch the boats sail away and the people walk by.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLE_3FvOAidzDHimCy5JVJX0X20xW1UkblthL8eo3YVeaFtvDLWvr3f0cjPmBw9KTsjSzgEZc0zAgOTV2LJmDhIjGqOfa6u71I3EWDWzepHvT-X3BIaqyYgp6_nMOk9pngjdIIfZ0KD9f/s640/blogger-image--197802848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLE_3FvOAidzDHimCy5JVJX0X20xW1UkblthL8eo3YVeaFtvDLWvr3f0cjPmBw9KTsjSzgEZc0zAgOTV2LJmDhIjGqOfa6u71I3EWDWzepHvT-X3BIaqyYgp6_nMOk9pngjdIIfZ0KD9f/s640/blogger-image--197802848.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It must be a big wedding weekend here, because we saw a wedding at the church we visited yesterday and also witnessed the chintzy "Wedding train" that drive by. It is a small tram wherein the brides a groom and their guests sit on the way to and from their wedding. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The wedding at the church was very interesting, because they appeared to have had the wedding in the church and then walked out front, with all the guests standing on the cobblestones strewn with rose petals. The reception appeared to be the guests drinking champagne and socializing as the Bride and Groom took their final wedding shots with their vintage Rolls Royce getaway car nearby. Interesting way to do it!</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMNO-1VRtAMnBSREXNGVroLu_kWAk9TZtvDdaPk1pgmdFhGBIPUFmQIRgm8YERO9ieioPbdJAyUXfgmHW1Nr4cVOzisrXIWB4dgn3rblGCRleE0OmXhQsDRSSEw23rx9-QiWIl8l7x4Ev/s640/blogger-image--263762333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMNO-1VRtAMnBSREXNGVroLu_kWAk9TZtvDdaPk1pgmdFhGBIPUFmQIRgm8YERO9ieioPbdJAyUXfgmHW1Nr4cVOzisrXIWB4dgn3rblGCRleE0OmXhQsDRSSEw23rx9-QiWIl8l7x4Ev/s640/blogger-image--263762333.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It may be interesting to note that it would appear that most Germans and Europeans that I have seen wear their wedding ring on their ring finger of their right hand. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">There were plenty of Bachelorette partygoers as well, evidenced by a lady in a ridiculous get-up and a pin that says "Ich bin ein Braut."</span></div></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We took a "fast train" (aka an ICE train that goes around 200 mph) from Köln to Frankfurt, then from Frankfurt to Stuttgart. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our train also had stops in both in Mannheim and Heidelberg. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBoaBByLcyvsD-wZAz2TMZKbJKnIU4MEpuBJ9KA2BwZY5KXypFp7DZQ5zLHNn3eyzjmvupacUkDkg8WEyYdMIi_OumHFt7EIu3AYTvF8qIA_LybtlYAz2iA3HdecprNvxNkbt0whRf1qB/s640/blogger-image-1374467688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBoaBByLcyvsD-wZAz2TMZKbJKnIU4MEpuBJ9KA2BwZY5KXypFp7DZQ5zLHNn3eyzjmvupacUkDkg8WEyYdMIi_OumHFt7EIu3AYTvF8qIA_LybtlYAz2iA3HdecprNvxNkbt0whRf1qB/s640/blogger-image-1374467688.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3456uLTPz45360BUnBKLMcstnAYG1314DRPNU2kbPGbUHcYF7PWCxoQVU3mEC0dkcJnpKCM4LwwFO-I-3WgB0qmPnw8zD_8SMWHO3jptja36Ea8DHijazEHCNVNQ0o_HoVD5SkoU37BI/s640/blogger-image-1116421316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3456uLTPz45360BUnBKLMcstnAYG1314DRPNU2kbPGbUHcYF7PWCxoQVU3mEC0dkcJnpKCM4LwwFO-I-3WgB0qmPnw8zD_8SMWHO3jptja36Ea8DHijazEHCNVNQ0o_HoVD5SkoU37BI/s640/blogger-image-1116421316.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It was a surprisingly uneventfully trip, and we weren't even sitting next to any interesting characters, which tends to be uthe norm for me. Embla and I played cards (namely, the speed game Spit) to keep awake. Once we were bored of cards, we listened to music together via splitting the earbuds. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvOqt0ivLv1NaRIE5h0Lxfgd0TOUGzF1i_rKl64m5DVjnb1plGTScWzL2-DDP7YBYwAlRl0PVcMlgULslaIqO_runtRumzZO3RcoJo5a-YQs7hmCZIKeRtSbxk-Ihsj2v6nLr3FJTlpZx/s640/blogger-image-1524117711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvOqt0ivLv1NaRIE5h0Lxfgd0TOUGzF1i_rKl64m5DVjnb1plGTScWzL2-DDP7YBYwAlRl0PVcMlgULslaIqO_runtRumzZO3RcoJo5a-YQs7hmCZIKeRtSbxk-Ihsj2v6nLr3FJTlpZx/s640/blogger-image-1524117711.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">After hopping on the S-Bahn for the final leg of our trip to Böblingen, we finally arrived at home around 23:30, quite worn out. Though I can't be too worn out come tomorrow, because we have brunch plans in Esslingen. :) </div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-21321306694519061702015-06-19T13:04:00.001-04:002015-06-19T18:22:15.405-04:00Travel to Köln (Cologne), Exploring the City, and Surprise Trip
Activity: Revealed!<div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The thing about travel is you set off on your journey feeling like you have all the time in the world, and then you blink, and suddenly it's the 18th of June on a trip that lasts until the 29th. It goes so very fast! But I am making it a point to seize every moment that I have left here.</span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We left early this morning for the Top Secret Birthday Trip of which I alluded to yesterday.</span></div></div><div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Probing questions were repeatedly asked by Embla as she desperately tried to determine the location of the surprise and activities that will be entailed therin. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Pabbi, can't you at least tell me where we are going?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Why can't I know? It's an easy question!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Are we staying in Germany?"</i></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We took a bullet train from Stuttgart to Mannheim and from there, switched to another train. </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our final destination was to be Köln (aka Cologne) which is located in Northwest Germany, west of Frankfurt and not too far from the Netherlands. </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By the way, can I state for the record that I love train stations. They are so much fun, and train travel here is both easy to figure out and PUNCTUAL (Because, German.)</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most folks go for wearing neutrals here-grey, black, brown-and realized I was rather colorful, as I sported a </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">mismatched assortment of clothes: my camo/foral flats, bright patterned dress, Hawaiian flower backpack, and Aqua hoodie. </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvAkc6vxlPR5fqP0qg1S2O7gsETS6wrgeWhtbhEE3DaeQdO3igOV2vf2Tpjn8GdWAk8hm4fsalwJeIdt3oFIFs-Zfm46F4kXCsiq0ZYSI1qi5J1TZR9uj-OklPE15nQ4Uevwvk95_HstP/s640/blogger-image-1070045570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvAkc6vxlPR5fqP0qg1S2O7gsETS6wrgeWhtbhEE3DaeQdO3igOV2vf2Tpjn8GdWAk8hm4fsalwJeIdt3oFIFs-Zfm46F4kXCsiq0ZYSI1qi5J1TZR9uj-OklPE15nQ4Uevwvk95_HstP/s640/blogger-image-1070045570.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then, I saw this lady, and I realized I was an Amateur.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqVHaJlTycV5SXTBvSuow_xC1p1POiqV3m4GM96zyGal1o3hgINKP0I-lhEGGZ4He6dZnKjGgD-iL3ETuslmCcvLZgQs6Xn0P2DF6SVn6h5p5T8CpEajv824rFr6hJg0Sh28EJUuPaYMB/s640/blogger-image--1699028380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqVHaJlTycV5SXTBvSuow_xC1p1POiqV3m4GM96zyGal1o3hgINKP0I-lhEGGZ4He6dZnKjGgD-iL3ETuslmCcvLZgQs6Xn0P2DF6SVn6h5p5T8CpEajv824rFr6hJg0Sh28EJUuPaYMB/s640/blogger-image--1699028380.jpg"></a></div></div></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not pictured is her peacock handbag. This lady was rockin' it in a station full of grey, black, and brown.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> scenery on our train journey was stunningly beautiful. I couldn't believe it! </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">There were more castles, churches and old ruins than you can shake a stick at. Every few miles you would see a new castle perched atop a ridge or in a field. </span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Taking pictures outside a train window is comparable to that Arcade game where you have to stop the light <i>exactly</i> on the number to win tickets. It's hit or miss, and if you're in luck, you will have the castle you wanted in the picture. Otherwise, you end up with an ugly depot building, or a light pole, or a graffiti laden wall.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">But I managed to get a few halfway decent ones.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75cTZdZjDMuK_yOz2r9-2AKeFuNhQnAxERjhh-WeTkTwpJBo1Xsxfooj8v1lHou600vQ4CUUkO01zmWK8xQ0EGQto7_CPjBlxidzLLJzp4BN3RCfKpa7p_v5YJEinV0aBt4BsTv7qbqzt/s640/blogger-image--170986890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75cTZdZjDMuK_yOz2r9-2AKeFuNhQnAxERjhh-WeTkTwpJBo1Xsxfooj8v1lHou600vQ4CUUkO01zmWK8xQ0EGQto7_CPjBlxidzLLJzp4BN3RCfKpa7p_v5YJEinV0aBt4BsTv7qbqzt/s640/blogger-image--170986890.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4TTGVBCe9YNDnqgKAxsn02pFXtU_aeBYBrBb0eJ6jPRaanDblj8qnceW24KwMzUnnU1skVSljKPAZQL9IFTigxBLMGmcD_VmKqX86B3oAklJ3nFoiPr-JXwSRnSIK8soDkzNXKth0y1K/s640/blogger-image--688454034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4TTGVBCe9YNDnqgKAxsn02pFXtU_aeBYBrBb0eJ6jPRaanDblj8qnceW24KwMzUnnU1skVSljKPAZQL9IFTigxBLMGmcD_VmKqX86B3oAklJ3nFoiPr-JXwSRnSIK8soDkzNXKth0y1K/s640/blogger-image--688454034.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZ02B0_GEnv0Q5jLX-Dq_BEnC1dyCzqsiu51P9PUhw7i7d0A9_IWDxnrWSiajIrmLM94a8sqWrzmi_s-RNhd4es0JbKfyeUCFSEalErCvtF2-hLyVI6NvsdFJyeDT1aBYQovkekDj2Nj/s640/blogger-image-755327058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZ02B0_GEnv0Q5jLX-Dq_BEnC1dyCzqsiu51P9PUhw7i7d0A9_IWDxnrWSiajIrmLM94a8sqWrzmi_s-RNhd4es0JbKfyeUCFSEalErCvtF2-hLyVI6NvsdFJyeDT1aBYQovkekDj2Nj/s640/blogger-image-755327058.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VsRYNsyJj03e7HwjeM8gesEYJNj_1RLxLE0cDgHVfJ9PgzGIbHFCiVOdJ9Vp_dtA4EfiM6E7udryCK5znZt9BveMDyNPeYaEt0C023xLBT070aRpTrrfSU7GUbtIluk80rJtO5I6y-Vk/s640/blogger-image-685351602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VsRYNsyJj03e7HwjeM8gesEYJNj_1RLxLE0cDgHVfJ9PgzGIbHFCiVOdJ9Vp_dtA4EfiM6E7udryCK5znZt9BveMDyNPeYaEt0C023xLBT070aRpTrrfSU7GUbtIluk80rJtO5I6y-Vk/s640/blogger-image-685351602.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKrnAUk57oYASmpugpR79wxnanOXX5iAU0PR94C3zF0aTn85yutS3CeA-rl0uO2MtURl3fcXDSJXlIMqxi2DmxtD_Ko6PZWjy3fsnVZBK3-G5wLTMQwFqrOM3exgirfOVxJ-kEnJ0o6UB/s640/blogger-image-178880706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKrnAUk57oYASmpugpR79wxnanOXX5iAU0PR94C3zF0aTn85yutS3CeA-rl0uO2MtURl3fcXDSJXlIMqxi2DmxtD_Ko6PZWjy3fsnVZBK3-G5wLTMQwFqrOM3exgirfOVxJ-kEnJ0o6UB/s640/blogger-image-178880706.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(someone took my camera...hmm...)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYXmtHHxz-CK40QaP6Qc6IwRpmzB2vowlshYuI88uHBC4I7ozBFZCn2ksYlkLSdfWe-SBM-4dny5umI8u1G6DYY2m1CwAmaT2T-zotvSyTtVqm_k7W7Z83y-Fjt0U3lOaMbppoR9fyTdR/s640/blogger-image-1097731210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYXmtHHxz-CK40QaP6Qc6IwRpmzB2vowlshYuI88uHBC4I7ozBFZCn2ksYlkLSdfWe-SBM-4dny5umI8u1G6DYY2m1CwAmaT2T-zotvSyTtVqm_k7W7Z83y-Fjt0U3lOaMbppoR9fyTdR/s640/blogger-image-1097731210.jpg"></a></div>(B day girl bein' goofy) ;)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">While on the train, we met an older fellow who has been a teacher for 40 years at a Catholic boys school in Louisville, KY. He was a very outgoing and interesting gentleman and as such, the two hours passed very pleasantly between chatting with him and playing cards with Embla on the table. He has been to Europe every year as long as he has been teaching and as such, is quite knowledgable about the area.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our train trip followed the famous Rhein River, and he pointed out as we passed the same bend in the river that inspired the famous poem Die Lorelei, written by Heinrich Henrie. Who knew! The original German version happens to be printed out and stuck to on my bulletin board at home. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div>When you get off, BAM! There's the cathedral, right in front of the station.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZANxCACzUo7CGp47S8ek2Cu4wR61f0NRYtey94IajJNLMIZzB5PuPaqIfgzCzeT3UzS4OQFWTTQS8Qauyp111PjUmAo0MirsN8DpOkIXSbSgfV2MSXcFeylc4yH2EjPrxhLCW_-d-jhzq/s640/blogger-image-1505915945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZANxCACzUo7CGp47S8ek2Cu4wR61f0NRYtey94IajJNLMIZzB5PuPaqIfgzCzeT3UzS4OQFWTTQS8Qauyp111PjUmAo0MirsN8DpOkIXSbSgfV2MSXcFeylc4yH2EjPrxhLCW_-d-jhzq/s640/blogger-image-1505915945.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Lunch was eaten at Nudelnhause, which was positioned with a great view as it was literally right next to the Cathedral.</span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquIe0cg0WZ6JxseAt90IH0yBhH6Ysz_bvjxqn26bsTq3Q4dyQ2MgTiAoEO3hCgzuUdQafW-5VvjwVBJ0Cg094dlCuGRaBg1GWejM91mNJl1TCZulgioouXTRPQeuVz9njI3S1JerlTLn4/s640/blogger-image-1241196130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquIe0cg0WZ6JxseAt90IH0yBhH6Ysz_bvjxqn26bsTq3Q4dyQ2MgTiAoEO3hCgzuUdQafW-5VvjwVBJ0Cg094dlCuGRaBg1GWejM91mNJl1TCZulgioouXTRPQeuVz9njI3S1JerlTLn4/s640/blogger-image-1241196130.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I added three more churches to my visit list now, one of which was the aforementioned Köln cathedral, the largest cathedral in Germany.</span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxZZtWlfGBs7RDTArVc106w-nhd_exJw_QaF23t-fAQ5kwEiyLcHJtbtThLKthBG0dBB_wxX_xaXaAPR3eZDlJLM_gCHfAiFpt_BZ_keNpXJ8s0VA-1kTXf7TTPcU6Soozq0ajvWDr4-7/s640/blogger-image-1698011219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxZZtWlfGBs7RDTArVc106w-nhd_exJw_QaF23t-fAQ5kwEiyLcHJtbtThLKthBG0dBB_wxX_xaXaAPR3eZDlJLM_gCHfAiFpt_BZ_keNpXJ8s0VA-1kTXf7TTPcU6Soozq0ajvWDr4-7/s640/blogger-image-1698011219.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3rsEWKEE-4y3lMLDYvrl47HHeAqSio61ublwKobBMD897EjKmVueDQ6aqU2DADWKtq-lZFPv5fG3tYOgA5DAnYSMTN2F2dW7s1yGIRYArUwK0EByMR7nwBpShAnCC-0wUQbTKlCfqsWV/s640/blogger-image-439870219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3rsEWKEE-4y3lMLDYvrl47HHeAqSio61ublwKobBMD897EjKmVueDQ6aqU2DADWKtq-lZFPv5fG3tYOgA5DAnYSMTN2F2dW7s1yGIRYArUwK0EByMR7nwBpShAnCC-0wUQbTKlCfqsWV/s640/blogger-image-439870219.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N_emQLBZRdQabSuvEHJePD9qLQDeB6iecOHCHYdEkNukog4OPmLSJdKmm-nxrkyyiw44w5gs5OtvoWs50tbyIH4aToLGifivTMHLKsE1AfsJi6mnDApC-GAEt-gfPDP4rD3Ly97d0XX0/s640/blogger-image--882047755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N_emQLBZRdQabSuvEHJePD9qLQDeB6iecOHCHYdEkNukog4OPmLSJdKmm-nxrkyyiw44w5gs5OtvoWs50tbyIH4aToLGifivTMHLKsE1AfsJi6mnDApC-GAEt-gfPDP4rD3Ly97d0XX0/s640/blogger-image--882047755.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr5Rn3l5ku7n3eoRIeEx4Iv5C0Rsc9Cg-APFp_QWeu9X5r_I1DysOWNoBKPAxxkk5zIsX1LaHDWnUkicIPoLJ7ygFUavujIad2CQ4ogK_EqmSrqOnQ80pp-y-8s3niCAQKUH-fqPKm_jq/s640/blogger-image--586599031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr5Rn3l5ku7n3eoRIeEx4Iv5C0Rsc9Cg-APFp_QWeu9X5r_I1DysOWNoBKPAxxkk5zIsX1LaHDWnUkicIPoLJ7ygFUavujIad2CQ4ogK_EqmSrqOnQ80pp-y-8s3niCAQKUH-fqPKm_jq/s640/blogger-image--586599031.jpg"></a></div>I have approximately five thousand additional photos of this amazing place, which I might post at a later date. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Being the highly observant person that I am, ever since we had got off the train I kept seeing people go by sporting AC/DC merchandise- shirts, hats, leather jackets, devil horns, etc. We all wondered why, and when the sixth guy wearing a leather jacket featuring the logo passed us as we were in the cathedral (the CATHEDRAL!) we decided something MUST be up. George googled it.</div><div><br></div><div><i>"....performing June 19, Cologne, Germany"</i></div><div>No way. </div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">In order to share the next story I must divulge a little known fact about me. As a matter of fact, I have the AC/DC song Back in Black as my ringtone. It's an inside joke, really, as I do like to wear black, but not for any evil reason, just because I like it. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">When the girl in the foral pattern dress, ballet flats, and a pink glitter iPhone case gets a call and you hear:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"DA! Na-Na-Na, Na Na Na....."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>".....BACK IN BLAAAACK."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It can really throw people off. I suppose this is a bit of my split personality showing, the floral/camo axis of my brain being manifest in a tangible way.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Our idea was for me to play it when one of the groupies walked past, just for fun. It didn't work, because the crowds here were so loud and they probably couldn't even hear it, but nevertheless, it was a good idea.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>We wandered around the quaint streets, dodged the rain here and there, and even eavesdropped on a few tours, just for fun.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGizIzTnXW3KX3ervuk5mTkvREakutF3mymtWepABPxxXN79Qg5A3Pg27wmLJ4HBJIZJBRvO43J-DDK0EhdY3Er7EHzP_i0k5cfACfmgniSdvPBeQXg0fhwDiNmiZKShCXcri8bYYoKKU/s640/blogger-image-1846118223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGizIzTnXW3KX3ervuk5mTkvREakutF3mymtWepABPxxXN79Qg5A3Pg27wmLJ4HBJIZJBRvO43J-DDK0EhdY3Er7EHzP_i0k5cfACfmgniSdvPBeQXg0fhwDiNmiZKShCXcri8bYYoKKU/s640/blogger-image-1846118223.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Gkw4yBMyGB266B9R-f5oB97z0xJm-VoqDN9jfKP1Ns_aXi5_u2K-8NZPpWPBRgZaJNwKNP-L5wUZHwkljzdn8IMYrXf3ymglHz7sScyNfrem9XNIlgPQlX2MqqjDFLaArJRlUSIa0vcv/s640/blogger-image-3263996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Gkw4yBMyGB266B9R-f5oB97z0xJm-VoqDN9jfKP1Ns_aXi5_u2K-8NZPpWPBRgZaJNwKNP-L5wUZHwkljzdn8IMYrXf3ymglHz7sScyNfrem9XNIlgPQlX2MqqjDFLaArJRlUSIa0vcv/s640/blogger-image-3263996.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEKiVU1p83GCChgpgg7WGm3tu8kFLV1S8fZ7aKr60v6oIccniUdMrUUw2mR9Nyak85MOpDy7_Rlz0FOt4WCihWeUTcUIATTQWSID262-1Myj2_4NY3IB68nLFYamWrnMwMMXRRtCiRflt/s640/blogger-image-118527506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEKiVU1p83GCChgpgg7WGm3tu8kFLV1S8fZ7aKr60v6oIccniUdMrUUw2mR9Nyak85MOpDy7_Rlz0FOt4WCihWeUTcUIATTQWSID262-1Myj2_4NY3IB68nLFYamWrnMwMMXRRtCiRflt/s640/blogger-image-118527506.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We went in this one church that was part of a monastery. It was the quietest of the eleven churches I have seen here in Europe- so quiet, in fact, that you could hear the water bottle sloshing in my backpack clean across the room. This was a true silence, and you <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">could almost feel it settle in on you.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsb-R5b7-9GkyHt6Ex4Q7eCRQTRj42hL7D8FolW3byMUo4TTlbsYL9-EgMUexfIOkALIrrF8y1dTL_AcVIRzDD0uuPI3ZycsdgCcwBJsBNvV1_t5qOUVldieqOjXK8JwYl2f_IQj1Kvja/s640/blogger-image--1139836477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsb-R5b7-9GkyHt6Ex4Q7eCRQTRj42hL7D8FolW3byMUo4TTlbsYL9-EgMUexfIOkALIrrF8y1dTL_AcVIRzDD0uuPI3ZycsdgCcwBJsBNvV1_t5qOUVldieqOjXK8JwYl2f_IQj1Kvja/s640/blogger-image--1139836477.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>For a long while, it was just the three of us, sitting amazed at the echoes and acoustics of a place where any whisper could be heard from very far away, which we discovered shortly after entering the church. I tried out humming three separate notes and it was mixed by the echo into a chord. And of course, we giggled at the thought of what it would be like if a priest dropping a candelabra or something-ear splittingly loud. </div><div><br></div><div>I can't imagine what it would be like to sing in there, and the acoustics alone would be worth the few months' prison time undoubtedly required for *disturbing the peace* at a historic church. Let me tell ya, it was all I could do to not start up "Ave Maria" or somethin' while we were in there today. I may go back and sing on my way out the door or something so that they can't catch me.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>George: "<i>Embla, you can get married in one of these churches one day, you know."</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>"Aw that would be cool! And Margaret, you could be my...what's if called?"</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>"Yes! When you get married in one of these churches I'll be your slave....I mean, your bridesmaid."</i></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We walked across the Deutches Brücke to see another church, which was not very crowded and had a very local feel to it. A few little old ladies had stopped in to pray on their way back from the market.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_q9i-PprAn1kErAsmtOfjm8qazhrPAMLX75FfgjqjNWAZlwel0KDwEuqpSr9R6E30mWe4lrxawBNaliyHVVt0SWgKPuhH5uVCpFRg7phu4SHvhg7kxst5kKanPZTP-efOAl_g7GVOmkk/s640/blogger-image--833870159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_q9i-PprAn1kErAsmtOfjm8qazhrPAMLX75FfgjqjNWAZlwel0KDwEuqpSr9R6E30mWe4lrxawBNaliyHVVt0SWgKPuhH5uVCpFRg7phu4SHvhg7kxst5kKanPZTP-efOAl_g7GVOmkk/s640/blogger-image--833870159.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR6vKiY2zUWxM9o7fsfO8HGCXXYs9QvNAIGH7eLhZGI0MiFZ_kNZn5dlcG8PpZDBxYWIhliMMquxvixVZ8qt_v6eON_ddjvJQbXHZaI1O-R3NjkBxta1MQGhn0eWJ10zAToADLLU2V9rD/s640/blogger-image--1314624798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR6vKiY2zUWxM9o7fsfO8HGCXXYs9QvNAIGH7eLhZGI0MiFZ_kNZn5dlcG8PpZDBxYWIhliMMquxvixVZ8qt_v6eON_ddjvJQbXHZaI1O-R3NjkBxta1MQGhn0eWJ10zAToADLLU2V9rD/s640/blogger-image--1314624798.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">And just in case you didn't believe me, here is proof of the AC/DC </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">concert, stuck on a light pole right next to our hotel, which we checked into late this afternoon.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwDTGIn79gpRMTKEh0jue8dYxNr8D80AVEDR09hrG2pONH9hF_jT6FAx7Ua0ZHOY1BlHe-5eBJSYTESu36Y1DJoFfPUEwFsh9Zaf63sTNQT3NxVWHgR08Wrbrw9Ej8b6vYdIK7abLuqmW/s640/blogger-image--1231529881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwDTGIn79gpRMTKEh0jue8dYxNr8D80AVEDR09hrG2pONH9hF_jT6FAx7Ua0ZHOY1BlHe-5eBJSYTESu36Y1DJoFfPUEwFsh9Zaf63sTNQT3NxVWHgR08Wrbrw9Ej8b6vYdIK7abLuqmW/s640/blogger-image--1231529881.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Our next order of business was the walk across the street to what George had described to Embla as a "carnival." </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jx_fnFABgi8G3eJB1FIsKusNgjtb4IbLBEqv221In7ClUJ1-cZc1wMQtJ_Z3WAwzzCDxb8GuNpbF20fE892bD7siIzDRJslCXE52BUGElRNtP4eNto4pv779qfy5HAvcrmrdINjT7Giz/s640/blogger-image-1382981900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jx_fnFABgi8G3eJB1FIsKusNgjtb4IbLBEqv221In7ClUJ1-cZc1wMQtJ_Z3WAwzzCDxb8GuNpbF20fE892bD7siIzDRJslCXE52BUGElRNtP4eNto4pv779qfy5HAvcrmrdINjT7Giz/s640/blogger-image-1382981900.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Except that this was a "carnival" featuring Taylor Swift. </div><div><br></div><div>Embla was very surprised to discover that we were indeed at a concert and not a carnival, but only after we walked into the arena, because when she saw her name on the tickets, she thought it was "just an ad." Cute. :)</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRUmkSHqbvePu8Yf8XKGmkB4H6QptgyCiAC76RoG0-cQKzc7V0K_Sxa2zFEva76lVFXDHFf6_sWtl58vEDwLmY8tZXSLsO4_Rk2CCPgGhyphenhyphencVisyuBXFoL0raR07-p_MpghTp4G5EtlFOP/s640/blogger-image--704274933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRUmkSHqbvePu8Yf8XKGmkB4H6QptgyCiAC76RoG0-cQKzc7V0K_Sxa2zFEva76lVFXDHFf6_sWtl58vEDwLmY8tZXSLsO4_Rk2CCPgGhyphenhyphencVisyuBXFoL0raR07-p_MpghTp4G5EtlFOP/s640/blogger-image--704274933.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>I have a kind of aversion to guys that wear mostly black, are fond of skinny jeans, who wear their hair rather long-ish and who enjoy sporting a puddleglum-esque hat. However, James Bay, the opener for the concert (whose appearance I just described) was rather tolerable, I daresay quite good, when I decided to pay no mind to the previously outlined factors that impeded my interest.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div>It took me all of two seconds to go total fangirl once T. Swift walked onstage in a cute pink dress and started singing "Welcome to New York." </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajOkuQ8vhv6sCz-t_X2tVkuQqtj84YyfKOSQLdw8e2r8Bvi5ppjhtkBMAm4m424ptN9p6TDsdoCvfB8xsXsC86fHdK3ezDSYEQpBTGNXT9v8qEZtxIy-Bl2XYueWSSNoL4yPm2w3ti1Ky/s640/blogger-image-1553897013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajOkuQ8vhv6sCz-t_X2tVkuQqtj84YyfKOSQLdw8e2r8Bvi5ppjhtkBMAm4m424ptN9p6TDsdoCvfB8xsXsC86fHdK3ezDSYEQpBTGNXT9v8qEZtxIy-Bl2XYueWSSNoL4yPm2w3ti1Ky/s640/blogger-image-1553897013.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">What can I say. The concert was awesome!</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Swift is so down-to-earth and personal even in her concerts, and posses the unique ability to speak to a sold-out crowd of 15,000 people in such a way that it makes you feel as if you were sitting across from her at a coffee shop or something. It was that sweet and sincere, which is how she comes across as a person.</span></div></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKiIPIqBzqCaF3Hz6iIji22uyp6TVCasvvml1efuScpgtDXxMYY1Sd4RX2XqrcjOMSy5_5mzpYQkV5Ks8TFyS-isowSNN34uvui5My6npb40O0mbQ5PiMBt00hsTGPsGhrDT-fQ4sigIg/s640/blogger-image--1506279441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKiIPIqBzqCaF3Hz6iIji22uyp6TVCasvvml1efuScpgtDXxMYY1Sd4RX2XqrcjOMSy5_5mzpYQkV5Ks8TFyS-isowSNN34uvui5My6npb40O0mbQ5PiMBt00hsTGPsGhrDT-fQ4sigIg/s640/blogger-image--1506279441.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSOEJ0qqLhnEV2N8uaLc7oYVRzr83d9RnJGiVmHDUlGS2gu96h1fknQuUZsFvkTgw1tJw00UJxj3BoBkdsde_A63-ZayGYU2c2WfLDQDGWv2-UUB8N6uhSjDTW4ZJRFrUnEIiZjFq7e02/s640/blogger-image--992296873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSOEJ0qqLhnEV2N8uaLc7oYVRzr83d9RnJGiVmHDUlGS2gu96h1fknQuUZsFvkTgw1tJw00UJxj3BoBkdsde_A63-ZayGYU2c2WfLDQDGWv2-UUB8N6uhSjDTW4ZJRFrUnEIiZjFq7e02/s640/blogger-image--992296873.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Not to mention, the gal is extremely talented. Her guitar solo and piano piece showcased that fact very clearly.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenzbQxfBwo2qjBbAVtVFk8J8WiiL-h5l8Bl0406EEryOW_m6N3wvTZ_doKhFvanTr4QbcqQBQa6DGwWNH-Y_RraGgLbRe2jltrt6DikR-kuGLtdlbswqn9oorrPSu1ejf7r3K1jYj3S7R/s640/blogger-image--1647080319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenzbQxfBwo2qjBbAVtVFk8J8WiiL-h5l8Bl0406EEryOW_m6N3wvTZ_doKhFvanTr4QbcqQBQa6DGwWNH-Y_RraGgLbRe2jltrt6DikR-kuGLtdlbswqn9oorrPSu1ejf7r3K1jYj3S7R/s640/blogger-image--1647080319.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Then we walked back to the hotel and just crashed. More Köln to explore come tomorrow! </div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-31928169780099476812015-06-18T12:18:00.001-04:002015-06-18T16:10:20.073-04:00Book Review, Foodie Diaries, and Top Secret Trip Plans<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Embla and I both struggled to get up this morning, but somehow we managed to drag ourselves out of bed at 6:30 to get ready for school.</span><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">But as I would find out shortly thereafter, she needed her mom to drive to school this morning in order to sign a document. Of course, had I known, I definitely would have slept in, but as it was, I enjoyed the quiet and got some things done.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">And if I hadn't stayed home this morning, I wouldn't have found Rachel's driver's license which had been missing since yesterday. It had taken up residence in a shopping bag.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With Erla and Rachel still asleep, I began reading a book that Aunt Rachel bought at Auschwitz-Birkenau. After the first chapter I was hooked. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKKvE6YylBkD7t9R65eE8ImO-7FY_NhpqzoCK-l2wmfAyXNAeDikuq6SwGyDp36ZHmQrw64pyjreRpnP-97ZDqQSnHwy6RUq1eXJdpPWs4a7vAhbHbWC-TQnKq3mGUAkEgGjud7CsXju5/s640/blogger-image-984371975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKKvE6YylBkD7t9R65eE8ImO-7FY_NhpqzoCK-l2wmfAyXNAeDikuq6SwGyDp36ZHmQrw64pyjreRpnP-97ZDqQSnHwy6RUq1eXJdpPWs4a7vAhbHbWC-TQnKq3mGUAkEgGjud7CsXju5/s640/blogger-image-984371975.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It resonates on a vastly deeper scale than most Holocaust reads, because this book is his own story, in his own well-written words. He arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, a place where many didn't live for more than a few weeks, yet he survived. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAluHbBsJuQNjDKs4z21SdRaKHoSz2vExb5WrMXsRp3wyNRBe3HPItDM1s5JZjTiKci5EtSHYoV_ZMVXXw8RAHLyfRgD_MiJOzuy4P43Ll2J8ljjoE4xDS3sU33-lqnZRqZRPp-ZoSzr4u/s640/blogger-image--524436585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAluHbBsJuQNjDKs4z21SdRaKHoSz2vExb5WrMXsRp3wyNRBe3HPItDM1s5JZjTiKci5EtSHYoV_ZMVXXw8RAHLyfRgD_MiJOzuy4P43Ll2J8ljjoE4xDS3sU33-lqnZRqZRPp-ZoSzr4u/s640/blogger-image--524436585.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">His writing is just phenomenal. It has the unique ability to be both thought provoking and heartbreaking, chilling and poignant at the same time. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvyXDz3jf9AgBFwI4Nw0VyaZiU6KXEl1yvB2hIaBvArVgu_jnROgaBnt0KtJDcUh9EIft683Fklfi_jvHSNGddDwMlTiBE3gke6slskuZbvUR7vAOXR7L791DigAEZuJ0fMkPV_Txqmbf/s640/blogger-image-1625143696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvyXDz3jf9AgBFwI4Nw0VyaZiU6KXEl1yvB2hIaBvArVgu_jnROgaBnt0KtJDcUh9EIft683Fklfi_jvHSNGddDwMlTiBE3gke6slskuZbvUR7vAOXR7L791DigAEZuJ0fMkPV_Txqmbf/s640/blogger-image-1625143696.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">These two excerpts in particular really whacked me upside the head this morning.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpFaYLG1W8fKeNXRws2BI_VJDDnY5oygSZhtF4UBHvAS0THoiMqiNcicdPgnH7isBiab_PB6ZxGbHB2a6RNdHpqp3K9-1YLev6OEn_HPlbSfFMbU_ixcPfY7LWB4NYcwP4heZnTK1poiE/s640/blogger-image-983751147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpFaYLG1W8fKeNXRws2BI_VJDDnY5oygSZhtF4UBHvAS0THoiMqiNcicdPgnH7isBiab_PB6ZxGbHB2a6RNdHpqp3K9-1YLev6OEn_HPlbSfFMbU_ixcPfY7LWB4NYcwP4heZnTK1poiE/s640/blogger-image-983751147.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">After we got some of the housework squared away, Rachel and I prepared to go to the Mineraltherme Spa for a few hours. I have been wanting to go back ever since George took us a couple weeks ago. Since today was rainy, we thought it the perfect opportunity.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We pulled up, got out our gear and made our way to the door, umbrellas in hand due to the rain. The appearance of a great number of maintenance guys hanging about should have tipped us off to the fact that the place was closed for renovations.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">An employee met us at the door and informed us that they were "Geschlössen" (closed) and would be open again in Sunday. They have been closed since June 6th anyway, but we were still disappointed. We hope to go next week when they are open again.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>But the rainy day was made brighter </div><div>when I saw that Lidls store has Werkhosen! Day=made. </div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnTyi5RRekoB5Gd1C-LbC7q5Y13TVgRV0nICOvNdhr3nUoshlL2oGKU9bTmzSPFmNJ7A79TrA4oO8evpHrWk28OS3T0Qpeg8SPvdKFFGpxcudXImvk5LNBdWDmsEOOIEPTY7d5F5Rh0fn/s640/blogger-image-2081075690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnTyi5RRekoB5Gd1C-LbC7q5Y13TVgRV0nICOvNdhr3nUoshlL2oGKU9bTmzSPFmNJ7A79TrA4oO8evpHrWk28OS3T0Qpeg8SPvdKFFGpxcudXImvk5LNBdWDmsEOOIEPTY7d5F5Rh0fn/s640/blogger-image-2081075690.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ1eT9tZPSUl7wSssHl7ptYGX8eChpWmgnWL_BLIbXSnRP7k4IWkPR5MbRcgaNlf6fdnnbuQdGz0x9rXacFaIrq0bAXCKogxLVBRjAp4ff1Ae4Ynh4UY4Br8URNRwIBvIn9oCqkQHwH5e/s640/blogger-image-726552616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ1eT9tZPSUl7wSssHl7ptYGX8eChpWmgnWL_BLIbXSnRP7k4IWkPR5MbRcgaNlf6fdnnbuQdGz0x9rXacFaIrq0bAXCKogxLVBRjAp4ff1Ae4Ynh4UY4Br8URNRwIBvIn9oCqkQHwH5e/s640/blogger-image-726552616.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Father, Galen, Sulli, and anyone else, send me your equivalent size in Euro and I'll get you a pair! (Only 11.99€ ) </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt9KsrXzrEEYekkdSvaPtKpdkjNz0W8TQ8A6LQkVMtaKu0EL0y38zJnsLC5ShqNqTcUz7GHJA8H0oIN_hYnrTXiIac2opehygM9XGwi4cKHU1QhQYKLKnpZ-SeUWATVuWMmdQr4F6zKbq/s640/blogger-image-890485937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt9KsrXzrEEYekkdSvaPtKpdkjNz0W8TQ8A6LQkVMtaKu0EL0y38zJnsLC5ShqNqTcUz7GHJA8H0oIN_hYnrTXiIac2opehygM9XGwi4cKHU1QhQYKLKnpZ-SeUWATVuWMmdQr4F6zKbq/s640/blogger-image-890485937.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><br></div></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The thing about being in a country where the majority of people speak and understand at least a little English is that you become aware of the fact that when you speak English in public, you may be overheard and understood, but not necessarily vice versa. I am getting better at "eavesdropping" and understanding, but still I've got a ways to go. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">But, there is a way to even things out, so to speak, and we have determined that the ultimate "code scrambler" as far as the English language is concerned is Southern Slang and/or English with a Southern Accent. This ensures ain't nobody gonna understand you. You're fixin' for a big ol confusion. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTA1v4IeMAaQFv2iTNkPQGdEFhkTxGjZp4GgtGbBy_1VGKCy3iKnhTLGgsixJWrMIry06cA6k93UnBR1c5guJku-wBWZp2TmwyLX8CFaCAuJNujIgSPGNx8RkYzsDitF_5OMSnfAH6sMZ/s640/blogger-image--1775745076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTA1v4IeMAaQFv2iTNkPQGdEFhkTxGjZp4GgtGbBy_1VGKCy3iKnhTLGgsixJWrMIry06cA6k93UnBR1c5guJku-wBWZp2TmwyLX8CFaCAuJNujIgSPGNx8RkYzsDitF_5OMSnfAH6sMZ/s640/blogger-image--1775745076.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Aunt Rachel is so charmingly organized.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d63kJMsD6kpPjRUUDpL4O5fkiLO-nrpolN3K7_i84mE3FtY-h0ut1Vl6VQ212Egc3NE2WDTDHg35ctxl1zcivdff2IGxEaXQ1A0RV_6mpoS33Gsi251BwT3Lgmw-zfzEUwvbtDr7kCPA/s640/blogger-image-849069618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d63kJMsD6kpPjRUUDpL4O5fkiLO-nrpolN3K7_i84mE3FtY-h0ut1Vl6VQ212Egc3NE2WDTDHg35ctxl1zcivdff2IGxEaXQ1A0RV_6mpoS33Gsi251BwT3Lgmw-zfzEUwvbtDr7kCPA/s640/blogger-image-849069618.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>I don't know why, but at the market today, I was extremely intimidated by the idea of getting a pound and a half of ground beef when I don't even know the correct way to say "pound" in German. </div><div><br></div><div>Aunt Rachel was braver than I and she walked on up to the counter and made use of the good old-fashioned technique known by travelers in a land with a different language, this technique called the "point and hope." She had no sooner begun this, motioning in the direction of the ground beef, when the lady spoke in perfect English: </div><div><br></div><div>"<i>ah yes, the ground beef. Would you like that with just beef or pork and beef mixed?"</i></div><div><br></div><div>She spoke perfect English and when we complimented her on that, she said:</div><div><i>"Aw well thank you! Yes, I lived in Texas for a few years."</i></div><div><br></div><div>Texas? A German living in Texas. The thought makes me giggle. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We passed through some aisles we've never seen before at Knittels today.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbCxRabVu8eZmjQN9HjGau6ydvB3FSc0aGCgzEDUn1zlGBkCXzvR6SDNWpMBZcXMKZ9kYbJiSZekMdvUFWG9JNdDz3MpJlMR6V96nHsv-kBRdpTbc0f8Qls4b_LVDUngozHGxbdAyBRoA/s640/blogger-image--901369176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbCxRabVu8eZmjQN9HjGau6ydvB3FSc0aGCgzEDUn1zlGBkCXzvR6SDNWpMBZcXMKZ9kYbJiSZekMdvUFWG9JNdDz3MpJlMR6V96nHsv-kBRdpTbc0f8Qls4b_LVDUngozHGxbdAyBRoA/s640/blogger-image--901369176.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The above is a portion of the sauerkraut aisle.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLDgniyfL12g9spaOFz9_y6FRYvWkgjwsQdHz3eizbzi4S8I7SfYQVdDsLqfdyREusDIB3wjAotgIOLMw-E4Ce3lFyes5msC0ydBwXXuSpX6KfNxhqykHeuSVpjBWD-wDeEG3ra6-I6RS/s640/blogger-image-33512875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLDgniyfL12g9spaOFz9_y6FRYvWkgjwsQdHz3eizbzi4S8I7SfYQVdDsLqfdyREusDIB3wjAotgIOLMw-E4Ce3lFyes5msC0ydBwXXuSpX6KfNxhqykHeuSVpjBWD-wDeEG3ra6-I6RS/s640/blogger-image-33512875.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">In the baking aisle, there are many kinds of marzipan and even premade decorations for cakes.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A_NJJWnGQbkHHawvYQCp0f7fIYXUU4jXoQTMkjBOhZmtdQ8Dnyv3cXk0J0aKghyphenhyphenTUO1nAfbRig6yqvojPchyphenhyphenR97BRtBK579Pkj3A3p_Tlib9arVyme5pVOacBRZA7EXWIHk1z6qMurZP/s640/blogger-image--383818198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A_NJJWnGQbkHHawvYQCp0f7fIYXUU4jXoQTMkjBOhZmtdQ8Dnyv3cXk0J0aKghyphenhyphenTUO1nAfbRig6yqvojPchyphenhyphenR97BRtBK579Pkj3A3p_Tlib9arVyme5pVOacBRZA7EXWIHk1z6qMurZP/s640/blogger-image--383818198.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirm-3yjjfzHyGPvH4B9FHGEBDvdbC4KpzVxcOOzgStqBQlYAPXEezK10lA7Krpf-ThiiPdXdOwV29FQqae0faiqoW8KB9DB3XiNjp67sT3YnomEUtv85JoGSHJqbb3YLMXuUgfnem8HAJ/s640/blogger-image--1480627901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirm-3yjjfzHyGPvH4B9FHGEBDvdbC4KpzVxcOOzgStqBQlYAPXEezK10lA7Krpf-ThiiPdXdOwV29FQqae0faiqoW8KB9DB3XiNjp67sT3YnomEUtv85JoGSHJqbb3YLMXuUgfnem8HAJ/s640/blogger-image--1480627901.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">And by the way, this is what mustard (senf) looks like, and it's commonly sold in a toothpaste-like tube. And it is delicious.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk82o76ttctraM31rC66NYPrkvqxt2CCh4t2GivLNYRXvqmL6zsqsvCk_BKFQa9A9McIF22vfQAASXUxpJXphgI4pT4ZPrJADRPAOL7kvBbd3l2Escl7tzOCA37PxDhYTTxA3SGF4Wz7c/s640/blogger-image-1376730214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk82o76ttctraM31rC66NYPrkvqxt2CCh4t2GivLNYRXvqmL6zsqsvCk_BKFQa9A9McIF22vfQAASXUxpJXphgI4pT4ZPrJADRPAOL7kvBbd3l2Escl7tzOCA37PxDhYTTxA3SGF4Wz7c/s640/blogger-image-1376730214.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Honey aisle!</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>The three things I hate the most are chicken, swimming, and....and I can't remember the last thing." -Ellert</i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Talking about random things like German futbol stars or the American Revolution with Rachel at the stove, me sitting on the kitchen stool and Ellert sitting on the floor is one of my favorite that times we spend together. Rachel and I made a very nice meal tonight along with a GF cake made with lemon and raspberry. </div><div><br></div><div>After enjoying an episode or two of Folye's War, I made preparations for a certain top secret trip. George is taking Embla- well, let's just say, "somewhere"-and I got invited to go along. Yes, of course *I* know where we are going, but I am not at liberty to divulge such information as of yet. So, just as Embla must do, you'll have to wait and see where that location is and what exactly we will be up to. The three of us will leave via train early tomorrow morning and will be staying until Saturday night. </div><div><br></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-37911913345149839642015-06-17T15:48:00.001-04:002015-06-17T17:42:31.277-04:00Around Schönaich (including: Bookstore, Meat Market, Apothoke, Church,
WWII era Graveyard) and Patch Barracks Movie Theater!<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Shortly after I went to bed, with last night's blog post newly published, George came in and said he saw the post and asked if I could edit it and take out a few of pictures of him in his uniform </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">just to ensure security. </span><div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Naturally, I was mortified to find out, since</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I had no idea that it could be an issue. Half asleep though I was, I went and edited it immediately.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span>I'm just so glad that he told me so it wouldn't have ended up creating the potential for a problem. It was very easy to "fix."</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But since you cannot see it, you'll have to just take my word for it that the </span>uniform is just entirely too cool for mortal eyes such as yours.</div><div>;)</div><div><br></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Embla and I drove to school, making it there just in time. Her class was taking a field trip to pick strawberries today, and so she took a big wicker basket with her. Here is the typical daily drop off scene:</span></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD45MvVdkdx2TU4dVRXd3t9nU59FAh5n0a6Y_4nFcluG0tRI3r61c6mZ48tN7T13rphDjOKOwgraMYGsIhPoJFyFDa7-iZKZHZ4bMZUkWujOOggqtBjt_pBxmuhLun4O1lyfS1Mxrl_bS/s640/blogger-image-1053911018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD45MvVdkdx2TU4dVRXd3t9nU59FAh5n0a6Y_4nFcluG0tRI3r61c6mZ48tN7T13rphDjOKOwgraMYGsIhPoJFyFDa7-iZKZHZ4bMZUkWujOOggqtBjt_pBxmuhLun4O1lyfS1Mxrl_bS/s640/blogger-image-1053911018.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">When I got home, almost everyone was out of the house for a little while and as such, I enjoyed a few precious minutes alone with two of my best friends: T-Tapp (aka: exercise) and silence. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is true that I am what like to call a "selective introvert." I definitely need alone time and quiet time, but at the same time I enjoy and have a need for fellowship and discussion. Being placed as an introvert in an extrovert environment, like I am here, is definitely a good experience for me, as alone time is somewhat of a rarity.</span></div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">During my time this AM, I thought of calling home, until I realized that it was 3:30 AM back in NC, that is. I'm glad that I didn't forget and ring them at such an early hour.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>So, where do you wanna go today?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>"Oh, I don't know, maybe we can walk or drive around town, there is supposed to be a mall in Vaihlingen.....wait, we better not let people hear us intellectual girls talking like that."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>*laughs* "oh yeah, malls are soo mainstream."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Since we are Refined Intellectuals, we opted to walk about town and see more of the small, locally owned shops.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnV6zAEKws2NX_xF8Fx3PB1aKTYoevE-ucOcQPvaly8BUn3WlAzevMSYPpXsElKa7CIx_1YVnpwjugJqN7XeAzt6VpvCuAyuqyKAUwtU6H2znY3VeLOMNa2s3bFky3aS8o85F4TQkPjhe/s640/blogger-image--1009570112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnV6zAEKws2NX_xF8Fx3PB1aKTYoevE-ucOcQPvaly8BUn3WlAzevMSYPpXsElKa7CIx_1YVnpwjugJqN7XeAzt6VpvCuAyuqyKAUwtU6H2znY3VeLOMNa2s3bFky3aS8o85F4TQkPjhe/s640/blogger-image--1009570112.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I can't believe that it took us this long to discover the village bookstore, but we did so today. It is my favorite shop in Schönaich thus far, with the exception of the fresh market Knittels, but that kinda goes without saying. Grocery/market shopping is a full time hobby here, because the food is extraordinary in freshness, variety and quality.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXsaG_LY4_85khxYRShrvTYOerIA0tzNMB20_c_Rl1gTnpjHWPiSZIgdmgUNw2NJj4HpmOhx8Mez-WFy6TKyQJ2YD0BpaWGtcL1uKyu60eFVhO-5K673YVIBTcC9k-OF8SxywsSKC1DRc/s640/blogger-image-1647191128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXsaG_LY4_85khxYRShrvTYOerIA0tzNMB20_c_Rl1gTnpjHWPiSZIgdmgUNw2NJj4HpmOhx8Mez-WFy6TKyQJ2YD0BpaWGtcL1uKyu60eFVhO-5K673YVIBTcC9k-OF8SxywsSKC1DRc/s640/blogger-image-1647191128.jpg"></a></div>But now: back to the bookstore! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbyRlynl9cbXwnPVg2aW01tKG6kQnm_e6fYJ5msCsfWALGpNIjuZil1B2oDXDwxNmlUyNKAmqHyvVd0hUtwT8Qwn_C6xpRUmc7eI7UyN_F4SOBwLXHTIS5P5RuIpPCHKvFVaAofjlIhUU/s640/blogger-image--1479378340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbyRlynl9cbXwnPVg2aW01tKG6kQnm_e6fYJ5msCsfWALGpNIjuZil1B2oDXDwxNmlUyNKAmqHyvVd0hUtwT8Qwn_C6xpRUmc7eI7UyN_F4SOBwLXHTIS5P5RuIpPCHKvFVaAofjlIhUU/s640/blogger-image--1479378340.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0glz69vVlUD-3kF80jZR9YKCFR-upucQqI8-umbfaWu-F8kb8pyFYGr-ylA17MIbu77cmQMKHcQinZvkSSLbeDaF742NyYKTMOSboqyfPb1Jvh-lC2fLJdqRRqSd-GQG_1Xc_qmGRtb3u/s640/blogger-image-1534983933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0glz69vVlUD-3kF80jZR9YKCFR-upucQqI8-umbfaWu-F8kb8pyFYGr-ylA17MIbu77cmQMKHcQinZvkSSLbeDaF742NyYKTMOSboqyfPb1Jvh-lC2fLJdqRRqSd-GQG_1Xc_qmGRtb3u/s640/blogger-image-1534983933.jpg"></a></div>LOOK! It's a worker dude in those Werkhosen! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">(ok, ok, I'll admit I'm beginning to seem a leetle bit obsessed about those things.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXtma1-0964lpEXxwVt_vxhI_vE7MYHvsNY-AXnEN34Wii7GS77ybKoDD1rruPptoqVjLIk-3ejZU1I5NOGudblbNS5d1_lPebj8DOk81Pvard9EK8pSvaf4863YW5DqaEttDYhby19_k/s640/blogger-image-1945472679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXtma1-0964lpEXxwVt_vxhI_vE7MYHvsNY-AXnEN34Wii7GS77ybKoDD1rruPptoqVjLIk-3ejZU1I5NOGudblbNS5d1_lPebj8DOk81Pvard9EK8pSvaf4863YW5DqaEttDYhby19_k/s640/blogger-image-1945472679.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div>So sweet.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tuhYs-L1Sm2O8sgeUz5VYS8ZvwuKuw-Z-ZcIxQeQpJQE_ibHpzSAxd1K9ds-ld7qo7C-nHc_pciJHFnR4UnnwqapBZ7Hz_Ugq4eJZc5DbaNlFVZ8jbMeR5OOh3CgzgWvU546f8QxzOmK/s640/blogger-image--1216050769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tuhYs-L1Sm2O8sgeUz5VYS8ZvwuKuw-Z-ZcIxQeQpJQE_ibHpzSAxd1K9ds-ld7qo7C-nHc_pciJHFnR4UnnwqapBZ7Hz_Ugq4eJZc5DbaNlFVZ8jbMeR5OOh3CgzgWvU546f8QxzOmK/s640/blogger-image--1216050769.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAKQXRXuh13U4vvntgrHdx7z3eQ1QPaQKm3R389d2jJaN64xp02TwZWY4U80qyuHtxd2RelZtlcctAPaN2aYsyT1l2s4yCmNay2GJlYDt_dbjcqY5JL7-nEDKUVX9UXlW-yvDQlTQqEmh/s640/blogger-image--1570242630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAKQXRXuh13U4vvntgrHdx7z3eQ1QPaQKm3R389d2jJaN64xp02TwZWY4U80qyuHtxd2RelZtlcctAPaN2aYsyT1l2s4yCmNay2GJlYDt_dbjcqY5JL7-nEDKUVX9UXlW-yvDQlTQqEmh/s640/blogger-image--1570242630.jpg"></a></div>They even have "Where's Walter" (aka Where's Waldo)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I couldn't resist purchasing two tiny little books to bring home:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0PVN_Ap6CqN2N09Jb-Y3ODCS6DHrvLb4m9BGQiWdflFiy-PeSnWilWQuSRGipplCbKMgDtd1P1pSTXPYET9lvawIJEUZWhmYKt7qQcq1Ihq2vx8-ilSozyFQQH9aPpJ6VOL3x21TE600/s640/blogger-image--1830270017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0PVN_Ap6CqN2N09Jb-Y3ODCS6DHrvLb4m9BGQiWdflFiy-PeSnWilWQuSRGipplCbKMgDtd1P1pSTXPYET9lvawIJEUZWhmYKt7qQcq1Ihq2vx8-ilSozyFQQH9aPpJ6VOL3x21TE600/s640/blogger-image--1830270017.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(Yep, that's Shaun the Sheep! It's very popular here.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Next stop was the village butcher store, which is also a cafe. The selection and quality was amazing (and see the squares of pastry? That's the <i>Maultasche</i> pasta of which I spoke yesterday.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YgTG_Yd-zd_NjKKjznf0RxubEbaMgjk4hO_4d8I0kDwg_icHPxD8nw1slLZ-YcG0clYuRe6hvqtolsBamN3JBX-ALdrO9AQcCV5WFj7eMDD9QZCaLA9c-vOas7VeGbQrRfCKhYqw-Hzg/s640/blogger-image-852946271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YgTG_Yd-zd_NjKKjznf0RxubEbaMgjk4hO_4d8I0kDwg_icHPxD8nw1slLZ-YcG0clYuRe6hvqtolsBamN3JBX-ALdrO9AQcCV5WFj7eMDD9QZCaLA9c-vOas7VeGbQrRfCKhYqw-Hzg/s640/blogger-image-852946271.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">So much meat!</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkrMQtZi0tN0u38w23NQ5aHxdrD_HhbDvL8P6UPXBS6O4gYf4lVbSFi7wDvm9sP51SZSYCcvus6ihY1X9ewm0Yx1GHgsLf-jQ3bBgAbP5ghGwyhke3jngWH1OEOJVUQ_ujVYGsnU_7IRx/s640/blogger-image-1361277724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkrMQtZi0tN0u38w23NQ5aHxdrD_HhbDvL8P6UPXBS6O4gYf4lVbSFi7wDvm9sP51SZSYCcvus6ihY1X9ewm0Yx1GHgsLf-jQ3bBgAbP5ghGwyhke3jngWH1OEOJVUQ_ujVYGsnU_7IRx/s640/blogger-image-1361277724.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Rachel got a cappuccino while I took pictures. They also had to-go salads, drinks, and eat-in options.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We discovered another new favorite store of mine: the Apothoke. Think of it as the German version of a drugstore, only it sells extremely high quality products mostly consisting of herbal remedies. Yes, they have allergy drugs and such, but the majority of the store is natural and/or herbal items. Every village or town in Germany seems to have one or two Apothoke in the vicinity.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G_0PQCZANf1x-OqiDrheONZPwbjOQKzr-h28HCfWqQB7LtLpKDlV1JzRTnwl_w4V3RpDBeWWliUKyzOGD_Jtn6hrRUBehuHCKi0nxUrzxgzxtc-lAz0S69xoD3-Z8-olLXCwvXqGTmQ2/s640/blogger-image-631494037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G_0PQCZANf1x-OqiDrheONZPwbjOQKzr-h28HCfWqQB7LtLpKDlV1JzRTnwl_w4V3RpDBeWWliUKyzOGD_Jtn6hrRUBehuHCKi0nxUrzxgzxtc-lAz0S69xoD3-Z8-olLXCwvXqGTmQ2/s640/blogger-image-631494037.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They even had my preferred kind of magnesium, the easily-absorbable Citrate form, which can be rather hard to find, even in the U.S.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBIS-QOHxEKsydf4N1mCeAzeS1e-JWaxI3XnXVIrqW5b2VRVXNsYKUp-VKwlZU-cL1eWT8Y91VjnFnAY3Syqf0fHZIaz7EN0e39TniljKLvACFZt7abX36e9hiSfrJHP4CFvhSunmZTWY/s640/blogger-image--1083818690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBIS-QOHxEKsydf4N1mCeAzeS1e-JWaxI3XnXVIrqW5b2VRVXNsYKUp-VKwlZU-cL1eWT8Y91VjnFnAY3Syqf0fHZIaz7EN0e39TniljKLvACFZt7abX36e9hiSfrJHP4CFvhSunmZTWY/s640/blogger-image--1083818690.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The citrate I got toda is mixable and comes in individual sticks, similar to Natural Calm Mag powder back in the states. This is another mystery solved, because I kept seeing people with plastic water bottles filled with faint orange colored water. My first thought was that it was those diet drink sticks or the Gatorade they sell back in the states, but here in Germany those <i>do not</i> exist.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">From what I have gathered, here in Germany, they sell most minerals and vitamins in a mixable form or dissolvable tablet, and so when you see someone with a bottle of orange-ish water here, most likely they are just drinking their daily vitamins/minerals. It makes sense really, as you don't have to digest a capsule or a tablet. Interesting.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7U_IZG-9rL_3KO5rCCvLnASEHZ7OplvqJI-6q3xhASOZWuZCb3329fl-fHmGkEaKUDFFJQgHbTriggUdTbwofOOEe90c4wUI2hbnHwqAmgXPlMl6-vAbOsWFkVkqLvhIggBdTlbhN75w/s640/blogger-image--1182328974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7U_IZG-9rL_3KO5rCCvLnASEHZ7OplvqJI-6q3xhASOZWuZCb3329fl-fHmGkEaKUDFFJQgHbTriggUdTbwofOOEe90c4wUI2hbnHwqAmgXPlMl6-vAbOsWFkVkqLvhIggBdTlbhN75w/s640/blogger-image--1182328974.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">By the way, just as a public service announcement: adding Mag citrate to a slightly shaken bottle of sparkling water is the health conscious persons version of the mentos + coke experiment. Oops. The bedroom carpet did <i>not</i> appreciate the little demonstration.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Anyway, enough of that tangent. I have a certain fondness for tangents, and I suppose it is because I want to record and share what I am learning, absorbing, and making connections about. I'm a "sponge," so to speak, except that I'm a sponge whose brain is similar to a computer with 500 tabs open.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>We heard the church bell chiming noon nearby. Since we have yet to visit the village church, we thought "why not go find it?"</div><div><br></div><div>It was not hard to locate, and when I walked around the corner and saw the Sunday School building, and what a pleasant surprise to see that it was named for one of my favorite Germans.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k2kq_XtEbO9IyfAYyhsiXWjS2cUkhWMWQQTqJJaA5zBwppG31p3eoAFgR5k3nGMFWWz5NivUjl-eut8wrnnKZP60QmtWdQKh0BajmosK09Jl9RvckX6EMS3g7zdugoueaZgxNtn-_b-C/s640/blogger-image-655958725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k2kq_XtEbO9IyfAYyhsiXWjS2cUkhWMWQQTqJJaA5zBwppG31p3eoAFgR5k3nGMFWWz5NivUjl-eut8wrnnKZP60QmtWdQKh0BajmosK09Jl9RvckX6EMS3g7zdugoueaZgxNtn-_b-C/s640/blogger-image-655958725.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Then we walked round to see the church. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was built in 1840, made it through both World Wars and still holds services on Sunday. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is the same church that is visible from our house and whose chimes can be heard hourly throughout town. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2L9S0P4OFv5lRTB7iuI3Dbx6dXDEtojm5ieWvq2d5aL2JVXZn9vhLomUeYJ-QLG5wq11P6BdQI7MoEPiMvIIRRqv2Fgrvs784ykofhHph0cVi6kvLU2Q0lJWMWM12BPU5v2rFTGppolQ/s640/blogger-image-2087828623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2L9S0P4OFv5lRTB7iuI3Dbx6dXDEtojm5ieWvq2d5aL2JVXZn9vhLomUeYJ-QLG5wq11P6BdQI7MoEPiMvIIRRqv2Fgrvs784ykofhHph0cVi6kvLU2Q0lJWMWM12BPU5v2rFTGppolQ/s640/blogger-image-2087828623.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSeHUYkzauTX5DGnBpzcpNsvNgpnVwl4WNfuYzB1NGl0GJOZ_nlVYZ1zhz0l5D8YnHkTpZHu-qGSQI9GleOie_fwhp3pt6qxuu_s7zgJaWKkcVA1PS1cNamWo9sunzWe_36diigXvFHuN/s640/blogger-image-1810129150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSeHUYkzauTX5DGnBpzcpNsvNgpnVwl4WNfuYzB1NGl0GJOZ_nlVYZ1zhz0l5D8YnHkTpZHu-qGSQI9GleOie_fwhp3pt6qxuu_s7zgJaWKkcVA1PS1cNamWo9sunzWe_36diigXvFHuN/s640/blogger-image-1810129150.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The most intriguing part was the graveyard. I never knew that Germans had such lovely grave sites. It may sound morbid, but I probably wouldn't mind dying so much if I knew I would have an enormous rose bush like fhis one growing above me.</div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLSIKad3Lma7Qq206llKYRnHRFJZDbrZkP1ETzPyF0er4pbZSMHn61M8PO1lKBdsTxA0JWBzr1seDfyN-OggKRAqAI0SZOrQd7Aony0mD622QTuljeqYzlujX_dQFdzpkZyGx1HGS5mrv/s640/blogger-image--1938469195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLSIKad3Lma7Qq206llKYRnHRFJZDbrZkP1ETzPyF0er4pbZSMHn61M8PO1lKBdsTxA0JWBzr1seDfyN-OggKRAqAI0SZOrQd7Aony0mD622QTuljeqYzlujX_dQFdzpkZyGx1HGS5mrv/s640/blogger-image--1938469195.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_xm2kMNmuERzU3bqfHWtEiYhyexyW4BqYemEvJcBEV15yAUyKl3SFLM-SNDHDpK0mCOV-RETYdhcm3L3uXOQIdyPuy-jnJpO8w0KdrIuYKXZhq6bSLpdp7X05NcE7ETUVsUEsvbO2kws/s640/blogger-image-1919063349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_xm2kMNmuERzU3bqfHWtEiYhyexyW4BqYemEvJcBEV15yAUyKl3SFLM-SNDHDpK0mCOV-RETYdhcm3L3uXOQIdyPuy-jnJpO8w0KdrIuYKXZhq6bSLpdp7X05NcE7ETUVsUEsvbO2kws/s640/blogger-image-1919063349.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Without exception, every grave has a plot on top for flowers or bushes to be grown. It is fascinating, and as shown in this picture, there are complimentary watering cans and a water spigot for people to tend to the flowers of their loved ones when they visit the grave.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPv2SrgmcyuiXlFJMT2NIdpuEhvUzry-fQfF8wAAauE9176AQRvhGc7UWthbV2BwDEM7Wxj_uEm2d9UaPxIl4ST6zsfiLxd9ntplY8wMeju-LViGITAmRyX26RfuJg5b_777F8d8RrTHz/s640/blogger-image-2146860878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPv2SrgmcyuiXlFJMT2NIdpuEhvUzry-fQfF8wAAauE9176AQRvhGc7UWthbV2BwDEM7Wxj_uEm2d9UaPxIl4ST6zsfiLxd9ntplY8wMeju-LViGITAmRyX26RfuJg5b_777F8d8RrTHz/s640/blogger-image-2146860878.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div><div><br></div></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There was a WWI and WWII memorial in the little graveyard as well. </span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEMfyJcRCFh53t2oiJtDBYtwQyrsimz0_zDNypajzk6JIhkntrMDsJmuy9y1mbBDgZ1bZl04a-bUQa4ajkbouZsFTwcVsTzZKgXjiKtjgFyI70DqtsChzoRAPSEeWHjBlP7pgaSGr2MFE/s640/blogger-image--954752506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEMfyJcRCFh53t2oiJtDBYtwQyrsimz0_zDNypajzk6JIhkntrMDsJmuy9y1mbBDgZ1bZl04a-bUQa4ajkbouZsFTwcVsTzZKgXjiKtjgFyI70DqtsChzoRAPSEeWHjBlP7pgaSGr2MFE/s640/blogger-image--954752506.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It's a unique experience to be on the other side of the fence, so to speak, especially when it comes to an event as monumental as World War II. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdvNsOY5iEN84PdIwfDySVSmcCQ-qNFPUnqcFJggfrqhiV0syg92i0akKsO8gaay05qTrWu2vypbHqTZ4g8EpYMTd6tk5QdsVzgIUURLkd9PWEMpbt3RuQPaU14RNNnkyGsRgyy45IqgM/s640/blogger-image-1004716151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdvNsOY5iEN84PdIwfDySVSmcCQ-qNFPUnqcFJggfrqhiV0syg92i0akKsO8gaay05qTrWu2vypbHqTZ4g8EpYMTd6tk5QdsVzgIUURLkd9PWEMpbt3RuQPaU14RNNnkyGsRgyy45IqgM/s640/blogger-image-1004716151.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">There were also twelve graves of the men from this very village who gave their lives in the second World War.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhha9cRdNRI1megknGGIRn4mVYmjI7iWrjGFXX2qdywDbhZ2NpC24JABDSYmulUSe8DtVWyBy-tirN_FQyJXiL-aSgSx8JT3JO9uRX54l7DgUApWkqbI9jsDn_gWy2rssi9osyxzIo6I3Dw/s640/blogger-image--62853509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhha9cRdNRI1megknGGIRn4mVYmjI7iWrjGFXX2qdywDbhZ2NpC24JABDSYmulUSe8DtVWyBy-tirN_FQyJXiL-aSgSx8JT3JO9uRX54l7DgUApWkqbI9jsDn_gWy2rssi9osyxzIo6I3Dw/s640/blogger-image--62853509.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This place reminds us that these people, though they may have been seen as the "enemy" for a time- they are human too. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19phXq0kWcBVD4Z75wvO3d3TqJL6al6EBDgdKGqPlhmdOi6Q0PIoDTo9ZsZAnW8BlGrTgo0mMxMyF6ATlk9onrjzcr0tTbPvayts1-oaolHt0NhhJZ5eiOpHbaox-9lthQOEGy_8Ljtbn/s640/blogger-image-1652865358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19phXq0kWcBVD4Z75wvO3d3TqJL6al6EBDgdKGqPlhmdOi6Q0PIoDTo9ZsZAnW8BlGrTgo0mMxMyF6ATlk9onrjzcr0tTbPvayts1-oaolHt0NhhJZ5eiOpHbaox-9lthQOEGy_8Ljtbn/s640/blogger-image-1652865358.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In fact, they are just as much human as "our" American boys were. It </span>humanized the effect of war as it called to rememberence the men that gave their lives for a cause, lost though it was in the end. The</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> twenty two year old men, the forty year old ones, the eighteen year old ones- no </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">one can say they were not devoted, because they were, and to the death. These gave their all and as such, should be remembered.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61ZfEESkv7Zs68-aHOHVwdrryQLZZ8JmZ_tPCnJPcYGRhxdVCJXPfK7iI4F-PbYbL5Mhz4YiE0hs-HaWfXuZi0mWn9qpItHJUGATlbCa-P1SiryzfamqrSi58IUVk1uqGtbSia3LtToBk/s640/blogger-image--1636949413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61ZfEESkv7Zs68-aHOHVwdrryQLZZ8JmZ_tPCnJPcYGRhxdVCJXPfK7iI4F-PbYbL5Mhz4YiE0hs-HaWfXuZi0mWn9qpItHJUGATlbCa-P1SiryzfamqrSi58IUVk1uqGtbSia3LtToBk/s640/blogger-image--1636949413.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I observed an older lady lovingly watering he flowers of a grave nearby. She </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">appeared to be on her way home from town, with a shopping bag in hand, the watering can in the other. The town is small enough to be in walking distance of eventing. I wondered- was it her sisters' grave? Father's grave? Late husbands' grave?</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0GcPFBivc0Eufzyq42kVSOxnBfhxxkkDJ2Z0hKmD2pEUwdfyu0gBbkPW_XK9KZu2c-03fxeE1auSktjOhJQ9GHCpFy7JmI924YYlUDdqLJOKwvHcDrXWeJHJdu_NbC795jpMhCMKXpIw/s640/blogger-image-2108181579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0GcPFBivc0Eufzyq42kVSOxnBfhxxkkDJ2Z0hKmD2pEUwdfyu0gBbkPW_XK9KZu2c-03fxeE1auSktjOhJQ9GHCpFy7JmI924YYlUDdqLJOKwvHcDrXWeJHJdu_NbC795jpMhCMKXpIw/s640/blogger-image-2108181579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It was a beautiful, touching place, that graveyard.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy0i80CAJky7ZNm6EJUNeU3TgGL0IaMgoCMms90rkA4WjDptNq1zZU-u42xiOBC_z5T5Sn5gndi4wYFevn84UuAqeRcerBTBG6g3p6yW5-ysMcnp6f-iBo4L7eQN950YNKjoi83dF2doC/s640/blogger-image-217907465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy0i80CAJky7ZNm6EJUNeU3TgGL0IaMgoCMms90rkA4WjDptNq1zZU-u42xiOBC_z5T5Sn5gndi4wYFevn84UuAqeRcerBTBG6g3p6yW5-ysMcnp6f-iBo4L7eQN950YNKjoi83dF2doC/s640/blogger-image-217907465.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We went back home after a run to the grocery store. I have a "secret" sitting spot near the side of the house that I use for my "introvert time" and I decided to eat my lunch there today. This is where I sit, and that green fence there separates our yard from the Kindergarten.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiI4pSIuzgHPmgQWFouhlM0uK9AF8Wzjw_Suun-8wRaW5mvoZOiMKQbvdeXggCuZCROe7_ydOtXnJZw17qe9NmZgU0odDdyWDxicfNqQqu055DkrwqW0qbS08smmgjUr-gX-7XzAINl8S/s640/blogger-image--779560100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiI4pSIuzgHPmgQWFouhlM0uK9AF8Wzjw_Suun-8wRaW5mvoZOiMKQbvdeXggCuZCROe7_ydOtXnJZw17qe9NmZgU0odDdyWDxicfNqQqu055DkrwqW0qbS08smmgjUr-gX-7XzAINl8S/s640/blogger-image--779560100.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I enjoy the fact that we live next to the kindergarten, even if the kids pick off all the cherries on our cherry tree that hangs over the fence, leaving only the harder-to-reach ones.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have noticed that many of the kindergartens here </span>hire teenagers and young adults, both male and female, to play with the kids. This gives a nice degree of diversity to a field typically dominated by middle aged ladies.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Children are a top priority for Germans, from the schools, to the playgrounds, to the restaurants- everything is designed with kids in mind. Kids here are expected to behave well and you don't see any kids out past their bedtime which is usually 7:30 or 8. As Arnheidur likes to joke: "<i>Germans only have one child because they want to pour all that energy into that one child so they can ensure they are PERFECT."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>After a good deal of chaos wherein the car keys for given away to a stranger by Erla while on base mailing packages with her Mom, it was decided that we (Embla, Ellert, Rachel and I) would go see the newly released movie <i>Jurassic World </i>which was playing at the Patch barracks theater tonight at 1800.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn0JKYxRGVRb_R4S7U3KcjuR4tBSciQ_7Mdg7zv9Ar02mJb5PL3pXjnPNNsxFIr8hAjNxEsywzvF-LwhXRhPzPV5yIdKxyMJFvRdR46Nyu3KhZqaYw_TGdd6Yb29GyH4mmNQJSTN1fr2w/s640/blogger-image--1266049873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn0JKYxRGVRb_R4S7U3KcjuR4tBSciQ_7Mdg7zv9Ar02mJb5PL3pXjnPNNsxFIr8hAjNxEsywzvF-LwhXRhPzPV5yIdKxyMJFvRdR46Nyu3KhZqaYw_TGdd6Yb29GyH4mmNQJSTN1fr2w/s640/blogger-image--1266049873.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div>(PX cup!) </div><div><br></div><div>Because where else do you get to stand for the playing of the national anthem before the movie starts?</div><div><br></div><div><div>We had a grand old time and we really enjoyed getting to see the movie together (and take pictures with our goofy 3D glasses, of course.)</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1oU51uxQmwU-jKMtIHxdkedcVHoPsZlbWJZXrer1bZ8RFEGh__D97ae_d9es1zdcm_zmCP9ed5jUGkteIsy-5TcJ3PsxnOJKaJJILXsMiWc_Ku7q6ax413A85wecoEAeKTWvF9W2bCG1/s640/blogger-image--1080046297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1oU51uxQmwU-jKMtIHxdkedcVHoPsZlbWJZXrer1bZ8RFEGh__D97ae_d9es1zdcm_zmCP9ed5jUGkteIsy-5TcJ3PsxnOJKaJJILXsMiWc_Ku7q6ax413A85wecoEAeKTWvF9W2bCG1/s640/blogger-image--1080046297.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBgy1l-IvqCwK3h1OwI_GJuiiK42NPkZrKzGsAwAyRgCuC-WiAxiSJiML0_OMKsw0c10gs48IwB5T1KQMUEJgkIDgRKjbKfqhXUpaGFAJpk2RTvWBtqma4WMie0DC3QQEaVkLycvei_ea/s640/blogger-image--391512356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBgy1l-IvqCwK3h1OwI_GJuiiK42NPkZrKzGsAwAyRgCuC-WiAxiSJiML0_OMKsw0c10gs48IwB5T1KQMUEJgkIDgRKjbKfqhXUpaGFAJpk2RTvWBtqma4WMie0DC3QQEaVkLycvei_ea/s640/blogger-image--391512356.jpg"></a></div>For some reason, Ellert reminds me of Ray Charles in this picture...a blonde Ray Charles, I should say.</div><div><br></div><div><div>The movie was fun and exciting and scary. Our summary of the film is the following:</div><div>"<i>It brings a new and terrifying meaning to the meaning to the phrase: "run for your life."</i></div></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>After the movie we ate take-out Tikka Masala that Arnheidur </div><div>had gotten us on the way home. She also gave me some presents she got me from Venice! I was so surprised!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkDNEAi_lj1v5F2CNqrrbpKHkT0pJ2BDYzzFq1lnFHwlvyk13Jccy04f2pxobZHqnFsGgZ3N-xub2W-Qa4ff6SaDwWhBsSfO6hYrKuP1hsO72DiUOiUIHTlJiIf9jrWjCLxBxEQ6xEKrx/s640/blogger-image-568882246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkDNEAi_lj1v5F2CNqrrbpKHkT0pJ2BDYzzFq1lnFHwlvyk13Jccy04f2pxobZHqnFsGgZ3N-xub2W-Qa4ff6SaDwWhBsSfO6hYrKuP1hsO72DiUOiUIHTlJiIf9jrWjCLxBxEQ6xEKrx/s640/blogger-image-568882246.jpg"></a></div>The green bag has the sweetest smelling cinnamon I've ever smelled that she bought from an open air spice market. I can't wait to try it out! The jar is some Italian honey for my Dad to try out, and the Kleenex sleeve? She knows I like camo/green patterns. :) </div><div><br></div><div>And now I crash. Such a good day was had by all.</div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-65691487736347437322015-06-16T17:05:00.001-04:002015-06-16T17:59:51.329-04:00End Of Nanny Gig, Lunch & Tour at Panzer, Hitler Is A Seamstress, and
Werkhosen Mystery: Solved!<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>I need to get up extra early tomorrow, can you wake me up when you wake up?"</i></span><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"Yes, sure thing!"</i><br><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><br></div><div><div>As it happened, Erla crawled into my bed at approximately 5:45 am. I highly doubted that Ellert, who requested the early wake-up, would wish to be up at such a time of day, though I'll admit the thought crossed my mind to jump into the room playing Reville turned all the way up on my iPhone.</div><div><br></div><div>Erla's Mom and Dad got home very late last night from their vacation in Venice and must have been fast asleep. It appeared that she had decided to resort to plan B, with plan B being Yours Truly. Thankfully, I was able to keep her from waking up anyone else, since she sat quietly in bed with me reading books (in German, of course.) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MveAArjxTHU4ajz7E5p7Co5CnQrTdQgWx_QJ6_WYYlGNl03CM2LDDFlJO1tr9hkPSl-ED161eNoelXvITFi8PrXZQ3b5wVrU0xmvA99cHITi7xPmbqYMsCAvd-wJm7lNWG2vvFky01sE/s640/blogger-image--164615628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MveAArjxTHU4ajz7E5p7Co5CnQrTdQgWx_QJ6_WYYlGNl03CM2LDDFlJO1tr9hkPSl-ED161eNoelXvITFi8PrXZQ3b5wVrU0xmvA99cHITi7xPmbqYMsCAvd-wJm7lNWG2vvFky01sE/s640/blogger-image--164615628.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>At around seven, Erla and I walked down to the bathroom, thinking we were still the only ones up. But as we walked <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">around the corner, there was George, swatting at a moth with his phone, of all things. Erla was so happy to have her Pabbi back, that's for sure. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>So, y'all survived, huh?" </i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"Yup, we make a good team."</i></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Shortly thereafter, he had to go shave and then trim his hair back into the military style required of his office, and so Erla and I went about our business. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As it turned out, Embla didn't have to leave until 8 instead of 7:15 today, so we didn't have to rush quite as much on our way out the door. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div>As has become traditional, she and I discussed many subjects on the way to school, ranging from the not so important to the moderately profound. Discussion topics included the never-ending saga of certain problematic school friends and cliques, as well as our brilliant business idea of a Chauffeur-service "Pilot car" for people (namely, men) to follow who don't like to have to follow a GPS or directions. </div><div><br></div><div>We also discussed Burquas, of all things, as we <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">see several ladies wearing the full Burqua every morning on our way to school. Explaining such a complex subject in a few minutes in terms understandable by a twelve year old gal was a challenge, but nevertheless, it was a good discussion. </span></div><div><br></div><div>When I came back home, Rachel and Arnheidur were sitting around the table, set with the new colorful placemats we had purchased earlier in the week. She said was glad to have had a little break and also an orderly house to return to. It made me happy to hear that she was able to relax and unwind from fhe everyday chaos somewhat.</div></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>With all the kids in their respective schools, the three of us sat together around the breakfast table and chatted and enjoyed one another's company for a little while. While we talked, we shared a few farm-fresh figs drizzled with homemade caramel along with some tea.</div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wnDDWAI39Vd6svjaBysRBq1cmcfGrDyxceU8gEen_0PRB6lFLESb9kEcSVR2vIsh6IwUsNaFyFDJF9RfxeV0gu3GqYt1k7hZKBvRSetevmAj3hufsITA39aoA8THFF7BX0Zbz6U3BUZX/s640/blogger-image-1676143282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wnDDWAI39Vd6svjaBysRBq1cmcfGrDyxceU8gEen_0PRB6lFLESb9kEcSVR2vIsh6IwUsNaFyFDJF9RfxeV0gu3GqYt1k7hZKBvRSetevmAj3hufsITA39aoA8THFF7BX0Zbz6U3BUZX/s640/blogger-image-1676143282.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Arnheidur had collected ten squares of Swiss </span>chocolate <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">from the airline </span>for me to take home along with two<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> single serve packets of Italian strawberry jam.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhiq5VvlBQcQrMAHnHhxZflt_Pig3v6xZP8oDbY5jjywc2ZoTBqj1m8SAjgH452GMflwfqStfWHKZ-AOsaw_1QXeDqDH-tOI18qmHTr0bnbhZ9F2YHuNB6e5MDT8s5NKRxzx37EDfUU2I/s640/blogger-image-410547561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhiq5VvlBQcQrMAHnHhxZflt_Pig3v6xZP8oDbY5jjywc2ZoTBqj1m8SAjgH452GMflwfqStfWHKZ-AOsaw_1QXeDqDH-tOI18qmHTr0bnbhZ9F2YHuNB6e5MDT8s5NKRxzx37EDfUU2I/s640/blogger-image-410547561.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We also sampled an Italian pastry which had been smuggled along in their backpack. It was a chocolate creation similar to a brownie with bits of biscotti and nuts.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was soon determined that a trip to Panzer was in order, and so </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Arnheidur drove us to the base via the scenic route, which runs the villages of both Steinenbronn and Vaihlingen. It was a lovely drive, and the perfect example of how here in Germany, you can go from village to farmland in mere few minutes.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_50QzjnUf1LsTaP3qmdtbvfBsFqgN4eg-b0B9X0JAHEkeRgaetjeyAjoGmpUqj0D_Luz0lsw6g-UdC5xDJr3g3X3CiNzyqq_5eGVuYX5JjyYbUkhp12bmHc2KucrB82My2VKMnjEkIHdv/s640/blogger-image--1686530869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_50QzjnUf1LsTaP3qmdtbvfBsFqgN4eg-b0B9X0JAHEkeRgaetjeyAjoGmpUqj0D_Luz0lsw6g-UdC5xDJr3g3X3CiNzyqq_5eGVuYX5JjyYbUkhp12bmHc2KucrB82My2VKMnjEkIHdv/s640/blogger-image--1686530869.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv6MqdCix3CU6qyuF_9gvZwYoo7og3hgpvtDaXySIYe8No-zWXQthvoQOFoxSLx-1_GRWHOiVMFgDrQsGpY-l3xE-85XtZCJudDEr92Q4BDsvwojkYGDYlNJxcJbUFxpee6J0BPZnonT3/s640/blogger-image--676970056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv6MqdCix3CU6qyuF_9gvZwYoo7og3hgpvtDaXySIYe8No-zWXQthvoQOFoxSLx-1_GRWHOiVMFgDrQsGpY-l3xE-85XtZCJudDEr92Q4BDsvwojkYGDYlNJxcJbUFxpee6J0BPZnonT3/s640/blogger-image--676970056.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bike paths are everywhere here </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and you can travel from most any village to another via these lovely paths. This is George's method of transport to work each day, and his bike path goes all the way to the base he works on.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">En route to Panzer, we stopped by the cutest little produce stand I've ever seen. They sold breakfast foods like muesli, milk and eggs; meats and veggies, fruit and honey, even some locally produced raw apple juice.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgi5Ks5V49lnpW19goztFRlUlQzgKTTNSfVkb1wuRzZ06EtoM7NmCOD4qg5Z4wRM7nifknDP02Jsc7VsdZr0t_a-PVnCw1fc6Eqr9VORH1G2WLzC3a9hQdeR6mQVRTSloN1xxHRaG_-mF/s640/blogger-image--1274031862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgi5Ks5V49lnpW19goztFRlUlQzgKTTNSfVkb1wuRzZ06EtoM7NmCOD4qg5Z4wRM7nifknDP02Jsc7VsdZr0t_a-PVnCw1fc6Eqr9VORH1G2WLzC3a9hQdeR6mQVRTSloN1xxHRaG_-mF/s640/blogger-image--1274031862.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQQ1hMI6geTNgKBXZJeiDS6M7TGv9PrwwrhxWlv2NIrZA2fFQ3uA8nvN4Z6ra9r-OCKhZemacygm6MaaWqrG76nRzaAWvf5dBnLOXgUSuuEmRSsq5OlZA-9ElIjhtE5D7npGN7GRSVhKu/s640/blogger-image-820082405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQQ1hMI6geTNgKBXZJeiDS6M7TGv9PrwwrhxWlv2NIrZA2fFQ3uA8nvN4Z6ra9r-OCKhZemacygm6MaaWqrG76nRzaAWvf5dBnLOXgUSuuEmRSsq5OlZA-9ElIjhtE5D7npGN7GRSVhKu/s640/blogger-image-820082405.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz_gNKW1Pfkerdn6CgnFFbOBlI-DZ_LrgyX6rCEsp9ROPQ8I1LK_78MjR4j5kHTswlV2eFx2yISVD-pRNzLEsFkE3EC_D9X-iWrSLPiEc1c662VCfRvpaYrEJMsXY3P-4xeUE0zgO_qMI/s640/blogger-image--1860773935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz_gNKW1Pfkerdn6CgnFFbOBlI-DZ_LrgyX6rCEsp9ROPQ8I1LK_78MjR4j5kHTswlV2eFx2yISVD-pRNzLEsFkE3EC_D9X-iWrSLPiEc1c662VCfRvpaYrEJMsXY3P-4xeUE0zgO_qMI/s640/blogger-image--1860773935.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And if you happen to be in need of something outside their operating hours, they actually have a refrigerated vending </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">machine from which you can purchase eggs, strawberries, cheese, apple juice, etc. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75h00trJFdmihF5lp8qoXnl-U9khb9cHEDlLfAAv47JChAekpvB4vUQNAG5O4uHqoLNMVSISPae5OK727tz-JBPRIRdvmLIGWoK3mZ-ZuoQ1IoDFElwfGmTkSBw2fDGsu0JGW1a_iwRt-/s640/blogger-image--1416480613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75h00trJFdmihF5lp8qoXnl-U9khb9cHEDlLfAAv47JChAekpvB4vUQNAG5O4uHqoLNMVSISPae5OK727tz-JBPRIRdvmLIGWoK3mZ-ZuoQ1IoDFElwfGmTkSBw2fDGsu0JGW1a_iwRt-/s640/blogger-image--1416480613.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After the post office errand was through, we decided to meet George for lunch, and we amused ourselves with people watching while we waited for him to arrive.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVeeH6L6PnH5qF0VNAHumypmzNysdvcajsjOJCEJqFqj3WG2QvhcIiNL2LsC3CJJZQGRUKxMfq3ipptMnaE6SVaB57-2O2VO1vewvo9UZsUk8cCFSbfQE4MmeZ8Gd-eU2KjdOeZXUgpjJ/s640/blogger-image-2053603018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVeeH6L6PnH5qF0VNAHumypmzNysdvcajsjOJCEJqFqj3WG2QvhcIiNL2LsC3CJJZQGRUKxMfq3ipptMnaE6SVaB57-2O2VO1vewvo9UZsUk8cCFSbfQE4MmeZ8Gd-eU2KjdOeZXUgpjJ/s640/blogger-image-2053603018.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We spotted the good ol' NC flag amidst the lineup of the state flags next to the main field, Husky, where </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">group of Army fellas were playing ultimate frisbee. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvMr9FZisMEmRFALpvOh9bMne8jK4xn5we1Xnz_SqVemCRh7_qsk4-4-L-kX5Hc65gi-_z2fnDTNCGMQ06usHbMUHIJqo9HUg_AsDQridlH6r_zwkZqgZ7Mri-Duy5DOPXh2K4kt9J4nf/s640/blogger-image-1386710070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvMr9FZisMEmRFALpvOh9bMne8jK4xn5we1Xnz_SqVemCRh7_qsk4-4-L-kX5Hc65gi-_z2fnDTNCGMQ06usHbMUHIJqo9HUg_AsDQridlH6r_zwkZqgZ7Mri-Duy5DOPXh2K4kt9J4nf/s640/blogger-image-1386710070.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div>The four of us-Rachel, George, Arnheidur, and yours truly-all had a very nice lunch together at the Patch Garden Restaurant, the on base buffet/cafeteria.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tit6hVlnvPxfkni3W7OTgIeaziEG8aB8A1HkDtZFFkuFhRjJDScxf9_YR4aRhzxZifc8sip_GTJIk0RYOTSxTF9LAwFJXH8NLCmuxWjbF_w3t-VgIKkKwjMuAtdejx1gmr8RIkSrPMrL/s640/blogger-image-5156729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tit6hVlnvPxfkni3W7OTgIeaziEG8aB8A1HkDtZFFkuFhRjJDScxf9_YR4aRhzxZifc8sip_GTJIk0RYOTSxTF9LAwFJXH8NLCmuxWjbF_w3t-VgIKkKwjMuAtdejx1gmr8RIkSrPMrL/s640/blogger-image-5156729.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifacWk7_X3S980x9LprvJrD4aKWjuoFOzCRe3lIOzXmfDcQ1bMfH5_h0dt1_iyTFzznx5l7n7mgd8rcMPuiWTJ7r2E-P2pDE7sFmOz3LyZyEHLzVY41m_SYXipuuUwvmVC24dhjdWQtAFH/s640/blogger-image--1840781924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifacWk7_X3S980x9LprvJrD4aKWjuoFOzCRe3lIOzXmfDcQ1bMfH5_h0dt1_iyTFzznx5l7n7mgd8rcMPuiWTJ7r2E-P2pDE7sFmOz3LyZyEHLzVY41m_SYXipuuUwvmVC24dhjdWQtAFH/s640/blogger-image--1840781924.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">#Merica </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They have a themed cuisine each day and today's theme for the buffet was: German food. Well, imagine that! They had schnitzel, salad, German tomaten suppe, bread, another dish made of ground meat that I can't remember the name of, roast potatoes, and Maultasche. I haven't told you about </span>Maultasche <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">yet. It's a truly regional speciality, as it is the Swabian's take on Ravioli- little pinwheels or purses of pasta that can be filled with spinach, cheese, meat, veggies- you name it. It's really tasty, and coming from me, that's saying a lot, as I don't really even care for pasta all that much. </span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Arnheidur went to pick up Erla from Kindergarten whilst George, Rachel and I walked through the base together to the commissary. We hadn't seen him in his on-base Commander fatigues, and he looked very impressive.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most every military individual will salute another when they walk past, but walking with Mr. Commander George was kinda like walking with a celebrity or something. Without exception, all </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">the other military men would salute him as he walked past.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The highlight of the day for me was that we ended up getting a short tour of the base as we walked to the commissary together. With George as our guide. We saw where he works and most major command centers, including the three start General's command post building. The guys on the base jokingly refer to the house where the General resides as "The White House." The real top-gun general in charge of the entire Euro command resides in Belgium. </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4onUYc2wjrOdzYrAV4rJ1u8G64JtekBzVeuw3ad13T7wg9G1jDJpIbZhFGQSkPFDCwM6ys7M_jQllNDpVtz7LS4PuSPWqPsv1KktzosqpEZvY2VQJ60bY1jotoB3SFL7a7oTapU2f483n/s640/blogger-image--984279737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4onUYc2wjrOdzYrAV4rJ1u8G64JtekBzVeuw3ad13T7wg9G1jDJpIbZhFGQSkPFDCwM6ys7M_jQllNDpVtz7LS4PuSPWqPsv1KktzosqpEZvY2VQJ60bY1jotoB3SFL7a7oTapU2f483n/s640/blogger-image--984279737.jpg"></a></div><div>(The "White House")</div></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Most of the buildings on-base are old German military housing and there are even a few Nazi Era buildings still standing here and there.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Wq6K3m2k8GWiSOv5g-m-EekPKBaG42J3CkcRJgfPeUUs47Zj1ACkh666HxyYHu1Zk7hbrSR_DV7kFiY-ATU_b2XeC9jqAIAVgeu2qR6NH9Swzn06F9q1kUDKFAq34wG0Vw22f6whjX0/s640/blogger-image--1412692604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Wq6K3m2k8GWiSOv5g-m-EekPKBaG42J3CkcRJgfPeUUs47Zj1ACkh666HxyYHu1Zk7hbrSR_DV7kFiY-ATU_b2XeC9jqAIAVgeu2qR6NH9Swzn06F9q1kUDKFAq34wG0Vw22f6whjX0/s640/blogger-image--1412692604.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">My favorite building (one with a great story to go along with it!) was this one, currently a building used for Army Admins. It used to be an old German mess hall and barracks, with the original WWII-era mural still visible at the front.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv76nWcRIkxEg3IZgtjoUlF8pVatJHI5V3_qV61a-M3g8NjZQ9XTj60Pgra9jKTglcixqS5kspFSOi2JyLgh95B_LtZmzqZEGhgnKJ_5TEfLiLexPWG1uC4ARi_koOl_JivJOkoInAbeBW/s640/blogger-image--1914603747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv76nWcRIkxEg3IZgtjoUlF8pVatJHI5V3_qV61a-M3g8NjZQ9XTj60Pgra9jKTglcixqS5kspFSOi2JyLgh95B_LtZmzqZEGhgnKJ_5TEfLiLexPWG1uC4ARi_koOl_JivJOkoInAbeBW/s640/blogger-image--1914603747.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">At the end of the war, when the U.S. took the building over for its own military use, as any good Nazi mural would have, it featured not only a large swastika, but the likeness of Hitler himself. The swastika, which was located on the left hand side of the mural, was simply patched and painted over, with the faint outline of the patch is still visible.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As for Hitler? Well, his likeness had a far more amusing fate. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">He was painted in <i>as a seamstress.</i> </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFHUwdHJ45IZsN8UT6fUU7cZxNxTkTnrUmcIszjrPDlNO09aTTwTmneh8spk9EgM9bcC6urJn7n21wo7gI26v7qXFmiaPcVKfQ3Bcor94YJYpOa1dRqx-qNBKpEj8HDNWyMmJEdVjhKXE/s640/blogger-image-1142566458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFHUwdHJ45IZsN8UT6fUU7cZxNxTkTnrUmcIszjrPDlNO09aTTwTmneh8spk9EgM9bcC6urJn7n21wo7gI26v7qXFmiaPcVKfQ3Bcor94YJYpOa1dRqx-qNBKpEj8HDNWyMmJEdVjhKXE/s640/blogger-image-1142566458.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">No kidding. You can see it clearly in this photo- yes, he's the one with that mustache. Gosh, these Americans and their sense of humor! Sheesh. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Talk about dis-ree-spectful! </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(.....and hilarious)</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We had a good shopping trip to the commissary and ended up staying for quite a while, as we waited on Armheidur to get back from picking up Erla. Then again, Rachel and I joke that grocery shopping is a hobby for us here. It's just so much fun to see what you can find.</span></div><div><font color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254)" face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></font><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6AYenNKkWosRyBUHkWmSiiwZaqtsFn8MYmENaZrSo_BKKUxTcIJpafozsnzfJq8wCh9TIeSLJ_lbZGDNw7cLJ2B-TZ31NiagO-EKfsqlAiXx-0zwalB0TiDEMEIMIJZWyYS_8NgzOzMn/s640/blogger-image--558875435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6AYenNKkWosRyBUHkWmSiiwZaqtsFn8MYmENaZrSo_BKKUxTcIJpafozsnzfJq8wCh9TIeSLJ_lbZGDNw7cLJ2B-TZ31NiagO-EKfsqlAiXx-0zwalB0TiDEMEIMIJZWyYS_8NgzOzMn/s640/blogger-image--558875435.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(such as: cooking sprays you'd be hard pressed to find in the U.S.)</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGO_uodYdmBtUTHM4L_J3tZJ-3jmB8zKz5OfvPMH0xVs6241awvfqJbeh_cuvZq-oJzBB8IDkxjWO100NUvMpnLRT4F_xWJ6kZgRhHa9oKl-gVo7RAU2vpSNRc-XCDgk-AWmx_XdBCtoP/s640/blogger-image--1337800510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGO_uodYdmBtUTHM4L_J3tZJ-3jmB8zKz5OfvPMH0xVs6241awvfqJbeh_cuvZq-oJzBB8IDkxjWO100NUvMpnLRT4F_xWJ6kZgRhHa9oKl-gVo7RAU2vpSNRc-XCDgk-AWmx_XdBCtoP/s640/blogger-image--1337800510.jpg"></a></div>(Passion fruit!)</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Both of us got a reusable tote bag featuring the logo to carry our undying love of the Comissary with us back home. Cause you know, I'm all about those practical souvenirs</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">. And I also kinda feel like I'm turning into a groupie or something.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFgHjZLnZhoxMiBdfaUB52JrTdYX1dAytqunm4o_LW3jIBfoQbbulKj0VKZSr8_cx4-YEwNBtWankHSr8DA5l_qp0Byr7948BM0UXhxpvqeQYTXsLm9DqGNAq18OhkexkEcXzGjN13ePP/s640/blogger-image-442906441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFgHjZLnZhoxMiBdfaUB52JrTdYX1dAytqunm4o_LW3jIBfoQbbulKj0VKZSr8_cx4-YEwNBtWankHSr8DA5l_qp0Byr7948BM0UXhxpvqeQYTXsLm9DqGNAq18OhkexkEcXzGjN13ePP/s640/blogger-image-442906441.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Ellert went to soccer practice with Rachel accompanied him this time around. Embla went to Horse riding with her Mom and I stayed home with Erla.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqKvkeWZ1_o4pC0Amu8IG4oOy8tlIze4qttQk1nn03JJtApXaG5Pgu5_N7IKDKdImpTEcGGNYexHs8P9wpJAx7syDW_NdVXYaEWvz1ZEOsALdcleeoG9he91R5wG56cW2cFOkDrwJQdhr/s640/blogger-image-1414722995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqKvkeWZ1_o4pC0Amu8IG4oOy8tlIze4qttQk1nn03JJtApXaG5Pgu5_N7IKDKdImpTEcGGNYexHs8P9wpJAx7syDW_NdVXYaEWvz1ZEOsALdcleeoG9he91R5wG56cW2cFOkDrwJQdhr/s640/blogger-image-1414722995.jpg"></a></div>(Erla: If a Peppa Pig umbrella inside the house is wrong, I don't want to be right.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I started dinner. When Rachel got home, we divided and conquered and once done, those that were home enjoyed the finished product. Those that weren't home? Well, they missed out big time.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ICYIYWzNAUAHD6zqhK-SyxCDMNb_OXjQ12KJmWWFtmV8Zn4Nx5fPm2Xpdd02PeSg0s9obILQHwAl7ZH0-ZnsyVAjI5Cg2qEV7Xd_YKblBl-ExXmfV-tB7y7bkRyZu3pQHQaJWdLY0g-o/s640/blogger-image-1067521400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ICYIYWzNAUAHD6zqhK-SyxCDMNb_OXjQ12KJmWWFtmV8Zn4Nx5fPm2Xpdd02PeSg0s9obILQHwAl7ZH0-ZnsyVAjI5Cg2qEV7Xd_YKblBl-ExXmfV-tB7y7bkRyZu3pQHQaJWdLY0g-o/s640/blogger-image-1067521400.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>This is somewhat random, but I am happy to report that I solved a mystery of sorts today. Soon after I arrived in Germany, I noticed that most laborers and workers such as Farmers, Road workers, Construction workers-even the lady the worked at the Altdorf Mühle storehouse we went to last week- all wore these certain work pants or overalls, with multiple color-coordinated pockets.They just looked comfy, practical and stylish to me, even though they were "just" work clothes. It intrigued me, and I couldn't get a picture of someone wearing them without looking undeniably creepy. Until today, that is.</div><div><br></div><div><div>Two German repair guys walked into the commissary to repair a busted fridge. I saw them come in and had time to get out my camera to take a few pictures unbeknownst to them.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Thus, thanks to google and these two men that unknowingly assisted me in my quest (thanks guys!) I discovered that the most popular brand of this kind of pants ( <i>Werkhosen ) </i>comes from Urech Lyss, a Swiss company. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NPOu2sKKwofsIGDuiyyx3no9qBT0WtWDlTc9R6M56gNDlVOC58_7ytn-Tl7yUFI31rNXjXATb3brbN7ufqjohBAKwG_mdOwYNNWt14HE3TiRWuy68oju47gxefXQx5oXYrp1ozthJ4kb/s640/blogger-image-1010509258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NPOu2sKKwofsIGDuiyyx3no9qBT0WtWDlTc9R6M56gNDlVOC58_7ytn-Tl7yUFI31rNXjXATb3brbN7ufqjohBAKwG_mdOwYNNWt14HE3TiRWuy68oju47gxefXQx5oXYrp1ozthJ4kb/s640/blogger-image-1010509258.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Guys' pants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuq7b7UrYhPPkTN5JOd9qfooVveRUOeHlte3wKOPzFoiyllpRpVBzB9sDTFzzPXJQ880RTFgUfBCQScjl0dnC0GNS8G4nOL1mxW1KDT3zGYYeuN39YP-MbbWvaPK4YELi6hi2Ufycwa87/s640/blogger-image-1782063984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuq7b7UrYhPPkTN5JOd9qfooVveRUOeHlte3wKOPzFoiyllpRpVBzB9sDTFzzPXJQ880RTFgUfBCQScjl0dnC0GNS8G4nOL1mxW1KDT3zGYYeuN39YP-MbbWvaPK4YELi6hi2Ufycwa87/s640/blogger-image-1782063984.jpg"></a></div>Ladies' work pants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l4YXRYAm2HJ5pA4HR0xM6JTyf-thpWlRTOg6UaCzygGiUNBbSk0R5YNEChIecfuEatdOVnNq1FrNAY0Vlp2AUVGLQocOkGZQGBQqyFpEyI8g4J2MmBNNb7PuYs3eUhE8O2lM_PCVw0v4/s640/blogger-image-1235663094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l4YXRYAm2HJ5pA4HR0xM6JTyf-thpWlRTOg6UaCzygGiUNBbSk0R5YNEChIecfuEatdOVnNq1FrNAY0Vlp2AUVGLQocOkGZQGBQqyFpEyI8g4J2MmBNNb7PuYs3eUhE8O2lM_PCVw0v4/s640/blogger-image-1235663094.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Overall version that I saw today)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After dinner, the kitchen needed to be cleaned. It was a wreck, I tell you. This was one of those situations where no one wanted to clean it, but still, it needed to be done. I was supposed to have a certain young man help me with the job but he ended up in bed, because "....I <i>need to get up early for school."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Uh huh. Heard that one before, sonny. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had great hopes of to going to bed early tonight, as I have had to go to bed at 11 PM almost every night of late, regardless of my level of tiredness. That was due to the necessity of taking a half-asleep Erla to the bathroom so that she wouldn't wet the bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But tonight, the only thing that stood in my way of sleep was a filthy kitchen. I could also say that a certain little boy that wouldn't help was standing in the way, but I didn't have time to fool with that. Now that they are home I see it as up to the parents to enforce such rules unless I am put in charge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To describe how messy the kitchen was, let's just put it this way: I am VERY MUCH a clean-as-you-go person. No one else here is. The End. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But it's done now. And once I press publish on this post I am C-R-A-S-H-I-N-G. Well, at least until the school alarm in the morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-88312679297887740682015-06-15T15:31:00.001-04:002015-06-15T17:51:51.383-04:00Day Four of Nanny Gig and The Stomach Ache Story: A Tale of Two Wills<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bounced (eh, more like crawled) out of bed shortly after six. Matter of fact, I was</span> up so early that I beat Erla to it. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If I wasn't already, I was very much awake after smacking </span>my head on the low-clearance ceiling walking up the loft stairs en route to wake up the kids. Ouch.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgQb9xGtRYgF2fNfamf9BCL8d6fFpa8YMPHDhNOhHaf6cHayqaU7TZr_O4zGHmapQRLvQ1_ILeSNZ7wGeU1Ks9sfuSw4tTvlctGqL9xPdOfdG5A8WKnpf5uFvytIZ1YeGDaFw8mR2y2gM/s640/blogger-image--1335220515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgQb9xGtRYgF2fNfamf9BCL8d6fFpa8YMPHDhNOhHaf6cHayqaU7TZr_O4zGHmapQRLvQ1_ILeSNZ7wGeU1Ks9sfuSw4tTvlctGqL9xPdOfdG5A8WKnpf5uFvytIZ1YeGDaFw8mR2y2gM/s640/blogger-image--1335220515.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Little Miss Bed Head, shortly after she woke up. As you can see, this child is entirely too adorable for her own good.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">At the breakfast table, Embla was finishing some homework which was unfortunately discovered last night. I noticed she was writing it with a pink fountain pen. She told me that all students in her school use fountain pens as a general rule, and you can buy them (and the <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">special eraser used for mistakes) at</span> most any grocery store. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">(Galen, you would definitely appreciate this little tidbit.)</div><div><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I think I have gained pseudo-mommy status, because when I dropped Erla off at Kindergarten this morning she did NOT want me to leave. But eventually, I was able to leave. Rachel walked to get coffee, and I headed home.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">By 9:30 AM (3:30 AM for my U.S. folks, to be technical about it) we had all children in their proper places. I had just begun to settle down, unload the dishes and start thinking towards a shower, when who should show up but Ellert. He was frustrated because he couldn't figure out where his class went to take their Monday music lessons, as this was only his second week at this particular school. He couldn't locate them and thus decided to just come back home.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">After I showered and finished chores, it would appear that a Stomachache of epic proportions had seized our young student, thus rendering him unable to go to class. I should note that it got even worse the more the word "school" was mentioned.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The stomachache was, as he described it:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i> "....moving up my arm and to my neck, and if it gets to my neck I won't be able to talk for like two minutes!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Aunt Rachel and I raised our eyebrows incredulously as we viewed the patient. About this time, the ache began to visibly manifest itself in the form of contortions.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>Pleeeeease believe me, you gotta believe me! It hurts really bad." </i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Ah, no. Was not convinced.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>I knew that I would have a difficult time getting Erla to stay at school, but I never thought I would have any trouble with getting you to school." </i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I informed him that if he was going to stay home, there would be no movies, no computer games, and that he'd have to come with us to run errands first. He agreed to this, and meanwhile, unbeknownst <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">to him, I secretly tossed his backpack and coat in the trunk. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">He brought a blanket with him, and I did an unannounced search before we pulled out of the driveway, the result of which was my discovery of the Kindle Fire which was hidden in said blanket. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Before we pulled out of the driveway, I whipped around in the seat. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"Look, I know you are faking, we all know you are faking. But for now, you're coming with us."</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">But instead of going to the grocery store, I drove the car over to the sidewalk near his school.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"What? Where are we?" </i>said a shaky voice with a feigned weakness added to it.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"You know where we are."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I removed the backpack from the trunk.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I told him I was going to walk with him to the classroom where he would announce to his teacher and </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">in front of the whole class</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">that he *air quotes* "had a stomachache" and that's why he was so late.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">He and I marched through the courtyard and nary a word was spoken between us. The jig was up, and he knew it. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">When we opened the door to the classroom, twenty pairs of eyes turned to look at us, surprised to see Ellert appear in the middle of a school day as they quietly worked on their math lesson. He looked at his feet and sheepishly mumbled:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Ich hätten ein Bauchschmerzen...."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The teacher nodded and then asked who I was.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Dein Schwester?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Nein, couzin."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I replied.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Ah, ok. Alles klar. Danke."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Whether for my good or to my detriment, I can be rather headstrong, which is really just a nicer way of saying I'm stubborn. But I suppose my strong will came in handy, at least for today. I doubt he'll try that stunt out again anytime soon.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I will admit that I strutted just a tad as I walked back to the car, triumphant in my quest,<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> with the Avengers theme song playing in my mind like background music in a movie.</span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With a big smile and a thumbs up to Aunt Rachel who was sitting in the passenger seat, I hopped back into he driver seat.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Well, that was oddly satisfying."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Where to next? I think we should go..."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"....get a shot of vodka? Not that I drink it, but you know what I mean."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Yes, a glass of hemlock perhaps?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We crack ourselves up.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Truth is, you </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">could make a killing being a kick-butt Nanny."</span></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Maybe I could.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The crisis at an end, we ran our errands and made a quick lunch afterwards. It involved Salami, and it was good.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I picked up Erla from Kindergarten, and we all ate lunch together. Ellert arrived back home from school and my recon (Aunt Rachel) later informed me that he was glad that he went back. Our relationship went on as before, there appeared to be no breach in it. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My carefully orchestrated</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">plan for Erla's afternoon was as follows:</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Home from Kindergarten</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2. Lunch</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Park</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Bath</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Dinner</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6. Sleep</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It went splendidly. I was able to her occupied, as she is one busy, busy, busy girl. Rachel was able to finish some of the cleaning while Erla and I spent over two hours together at the park.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUI5MyzPXV-RxbByV1-Uicg7DXyxJi0qMrBylW1H4rp9p_GftuyzLrJwLmfqxRdR3FmQ2Diq9-PH5gZIbPtx2dgxNOo0QJrYmtPAZ_Ol2xCnAJtSs_oafXs04DRrNMxz8D65rnFy4ORo6/s640/blogger-image--1051523591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUI5MyzPXV-RxbByV1-Uicg7DXyxJi0qMrBylW1H4rp9p_GftuyzLrJwLmfqxRdR3FmQ2Diq9-PH5gZIbPtx2dgxNOo0QJrYmtPAZ_Ol2xCnAJtSs_oafXs04DRrNMxz8D65rnFy4ORo6/s640/blogger-image--1051523591.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTb6n_blarCpDh5zJQlW-aQzjy7WYb2lhXDCwVqabXC58AK-dA1cG9851TBLM4Z7qSp8RdLhziK9Advw-UlgOqccZC5LyaxilPrznd_26ObPsb-Ai7edNY-GoQ9sG6moMR56-oBrmPT53/s640/blogger-image-1842913664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTb6n_blarCpDh5zJQlW-aQzjy7WYb2lhXDCwVqabXC58AK-dA1cG9851TBLM4Z7qSp8RdLhziK9Advw-UlgOqccZC5LyaxilPrznd_26ObPsb-Ai7edNY-GoQ9sG6moMR56-oBrmPT53/s640/blogger-image-1842913664.jpg"></a></div>She picked them for me.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAxgdvuZtb-8zoiAQi7yS5ppvDiW1U7TXbyq8YePnX1W-CuJH_lK5xBOEw8aiUF7NY0msaDukTraCQCtGI9jWehA49xx-iWMcab1H4jjQI0_fdKYA_WKZg3Sxc-GJyC4De06S4H21F4vk/s640/blogger-image-1412204404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAxgdvuZtb-8zoiAQi7yS5ppvDiW1U7TXbyq8YePnX1W-CuJH_lK5xBOEw8aiUF7NY0msaDukTraCQCtGI9jWehA49xx-iWMcab1H4jjQI0_fdKYA_WKZg3Sxc-GJyC4De06S4H21F4vk/s640/blogger-image-1412204404.jpg"></a></div><div>The park even had two concrete ping pong tables!</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>When we got home, Erla got anxious when I mentioned bath part, but I assured her that I had a special method that ensured no seife (soap) would get in her eyes (just the handy dandy head tilt.) She thought this was magic, and to watch her excitement as she realized that having a bath doesn't automatically mean soap in the eyes was very cute.</div><div><br></div><div>We made a wide assortment of things for dinner: pizza from Norma's, pasta, steak and salad.</div><div><br></div><div>The steak also came from Norma's and it was only 2.99€</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBQ7wkKhcDaPbFkXxJbXf1dzEBvtCtKBph6joJvMny6n6SW9xv_Fhy0cjMgtzAksN4EM-R1tZb3kYLNBA18-Q2y5MjzZCBKSznGlsf0NXAv7KdhlohF72qPmMRMYzqTz2tpNATbEx4L_t/s640/blogger-image--1136745635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBQ7wkKhcDaPbFkXxJbXf1dzEBvtCtKBph6joJvMny6n6SW9xv_Fhy0cjMgtzAksN4EM-R1tZb3kYLNBA18-Q2y5MjzZCBKSznGlsf0NXAv7KdhlohF72qPmMRMYzqTz2tpNATbEx4L_t/s640/blogger-image--1136745635.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>It's crazy how inexpensive good quality food is in Germany. They just don't have the enormous subsidies that other countries do, which is one of the reasons why back in the U.S. the healthy and/or real food can be more expensive while the junk food super cheap. </div><div><br></div><div>Erla fell asleep quite quickly tonight as we cruised around Böblingen. She's real cute even when she's all conked out.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RGYMbLjTKuEuQhXAP7EJCBizwl339aZSTceO9PQF7k6VbTUbiQb1os7PyEBsT8oCkX9KSrAPyCw77zFYJX9qhhoaVjv9uH1yBG5h-txcJvIB2mpqLlTBeGcIipRvQBnotnx25CdPl1zI/s640/blogger-image--1464761523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RGYMbLjTKuEuQhXAP7EJCBizwl339aZSTceO9PQF7k6VbTUbiQb1os7PyEBsT8oCkX9KSrAPyCw77zFYJX9qhhoaVjv9uH1yBG5h-txcJvIB2mpqLlTBeGcIipRvQBnotnx25CdPl1zI/s640/blogger-image--1464761523.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Rachel and I spent a relaxing evening finishing the house cleaning and then watched more of our TV series, as has become customary. Matter of fact, we finished it off tonight, so we're gonna have to find a new series soon. George and Arnheidur are expected back from Venice late tonight, but for now, I must crash. School routine comes early! :)</div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-22679422241268991162015-06-14T16:16:00.001-04:002015-06-14T16:27:11.915-04:00Day Three of Nanny Gig, Park Visit, and McDonalds<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Sundays are generally rather quiet here, what with stores being closed and school being out. You wake up and all you can hear are the birds singing- no cars, no machinery, and very little foot traffic going by on the sidewalk. The occasional bike might whir on by, but besides the birds, that's really the only noise there is.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit7_zU1upkW7LCAmG-bUeIJbfNxjWz1pYd8ah_C1pEK9mYtBNlLxLf5WQV7JNVL8s2Z_IEkNY0QzGOUsSFKyJnBz7vKmxlqolXcUUEDjaeJsUZLL2LZdPVyf5DT-yJ8WgAl9TJ5VKmG50/s640/blogger-image-1528412937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit7_zU1upkW7LCAmG-bUeIJbfNxjWz1pYd8ah_C1pEK9mYtBNlLxLf5WQV7JNVL8s2Z_IEkNY0QzGOUsSFKyJnBz7vKmxlqolXcUUEDjaeJsUZLL2LZdPVyf5DT-yJ8WgAl9TJ5VKmG50/s640/blogger-image-1528412937.jpg"></a></div>(Shönaich, 5:30 am)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I should mention that this observation only counts for outside sounds, as we generate plenty of indoor sounds here at the house.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Have you ever fed a three year old some French toast and Bartlett pears while she sits on your shoulders? It takes a good deal of skill, to blindly hold the fork up to the unseen mouth so that it can partake. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Provided the syrup does not drip into your eye and run down your ear, it can be a very effective way of feeding a small child. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We read more multilingual books together this morning, and I made a rather botched attempt at reading an Icelandic book. Let's just say that there are lots and lots of "th" sounds, which look like this: ð, along with plenty of accents and little æ / á / œ thingies.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">A balloon and stick kept her occupied for a good long time, as did feeding a toy dog strawberries. She fell ill around eleven, and required the aid of my doctoring skills.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZXTzpremdIEM4KHsNc5ioe0FGF-HLqtqXOWU3HI1zR8UpJjlqyIDjOXHwG3mhL7zFMOyTmJ6PSenhyXtbfkMYNjtNVbjwyKqAtSqWIaieFI04TFyeSZEt2IZ4q6EbxVxQURBTc1SkITA/s640/blogger-image-104447565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZXTzpremdIEM4KHsNc5ioe0FGF-HLqtqXOWU3HI1zR8UpJjlqyIDjOXHwG3mhL7zFMOyTmJ6PSenhyXtbfkMYNjtNVbjwyKqAtSqWIaieFI04TFyeSZEt2IZ4q6EbxVxQURBTc1SkITA/s640/blogger-image-104447565.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div>This picture was taken shortly before a very complex operation wherein I removed a piece of cake from her leg. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Next was clean-up time. We washed clothes, washed the floor, took out the trash, and generally set things right. Aunt Rachel made the foyer very attractive, with flowers and a tablecloth.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs6cZCnFnxDwTFKRz4I6wtM24h5HUYZn-E0Gb5uN1-37tPRtj5TPGnEjsMRrpu5puB3iIv_g07HGT2aoxHvj40V_hVXnJ93INsHD3gqVYbzo__KKTio0atMZzBoWMs0V3nGXI4AtLiMH9/s640/blogger-image--874168196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs6cZCnFnxDwTFKRz4I6wtM24h5HUYZn-E0Gb5uN1-37tPRtj5TPGnEjsMRrpu5puB3iIv_g07HGT2aoxHvj40V_hVXnJ93INsHD3gqVYbzo__KKTio0atMZzBoWMs0V3nGXI4AtLiMH9/s640/blogger-image--874168196.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">My outfit for the day was: workout knickers with shorts over top (my 3 year old fashion consultant recommended this combination) a blue shirt, and a red apron decorated with a big green apple on the front. I'm willing to bet that I looked rather conspicuous as I took the trash out this morning.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>After lunch, we took a delightful little outing to the park. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpj21_yS6mM2DFvJ3TzTMkIriRxGdHQsnsElUyeJzI-XxPnGdtXDgcbQF0rZAWjytGW0kiddcBNFZF8z8t6tAKJ6bxag7reJG4fLFSAev5TZvMy3rtg5i3BdUkQhEPdm75yg_HiPQCf91/s640/blogger-image--2020869266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpj21_yS6mM2DFvJ3TzTMkIriRxGdHQsnsElUyeJzI-XxPnGdtXDgcbQF0rZAWjytGW0kiddcBNFZF8z8t6tAKJ6bxag7reJG4fLFSAev5TZvMy3rtg5i3BdUkQhEPdm75yg_HiPQCf91/s640/blogger-image--2020869266.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The average park here in Germany is extremely kid friendly, with plenty of variety in its playground equipment, some of which is recycled- old tires, concrete drainage pipe, etc. Trees are a must, and it seems as though it is all designed with the child's imagination in mind. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The park we visited today was part of Ellert's school, but looking at the pictures you'd never know it.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">How many schools have a green play arbor like this in the front yard?</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi179b1mp8CTH2p8bMkiKUr2uY0Dn1ryOKm6jLZv8m5NlTlf9QOdpiIiEwXLYTi4YwjmD9iEkLQnrbfols8kLsYA2teYHjPo3j9_D10nNOjNI2XrQd8lhZ6hfwCegdDbBCucjZkMrNrTEjq/s640/blogger-image-808224940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi179b1mp8CTH2p8bMkiKUr2uY0Dn1ryOKm6jLZv8m5NlTlf9QOdpiIiEwXLYTi4YwjmD9iEkLQnrbfols8kLsYA2teYHjPo3j9_D10nNOjNI2XrQd8lhZ6hfwCegdDbBCucjZkMrNrTEjq/s640/blogger-image-808224940.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Or this, as part of the back play area? </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFNJQxl6ZaZDXOzd09nuwJKHwRcaAlAfiExQWCWwLo9sh5JBnwOy-wVhhNf97wpGhkjtF1WymLTaNF21nCvKFa8k7kJOXM8zikbtppFB6gNc7W6wX71crEaVCyTC3m7wp4bAGH8zASvAt/s640/blogger-image-963033559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFNJQxl6ZaZDXOzd09nuwJKHwRcaAlAfiExQWCWwLo9sh5JBnwOy-wVhhNf97wpGhkjtF1WymLTaNF21nCvKFa8k7kJOXM8zikbtppFB6gNc7W6wX71crEaVCyTC3m7wp4bAGH8zASvAt/s640/blogger-image-963033559.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8exPhkWoVToZpxYEYJGo810OnB80BzdLkDX2-OdXrjjKhrNQN5I46sXL378lTeQCbewkqMD2NYTdrRk17CzikPol3NdlNVqwf3BYEjzNr9jzu6GFhQqGs8ViKGOBO0QYqWTXDodqKrKPw/s640/blogger-image--1962402402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8exPhkWoVToZpxYEYJGo810OnB80BzdLkDX2-OdXrjjKhrNQN5I46sXL378lTeQCbewkqMD2NYTdrRk17CzikPol3NdlNVqwf3BYEjzNr9jzu6GFhQqGs8ViKGOBO0QYqWTXDodqKrKPw/s640/blogger-image--1962402402.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Side note: I forgot how much I enjoy hide and seek tag. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaLeSw2Wq_1bERIIMpz9lV1YAA5WR4-9oHfqMQQQb3c1g7Q6rTXooZVTSxhNqZrLtDtmmoByPjyCUO5MMJu-72ljpZrcrU5BBMWN2nJihLCwI9NDVpWilgrVXn-fLKMvyKDm7EEsid9pd/s640/blogger-image--1918909235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaLeSw2Wq_1bERIIMpz9lV1YAA5WR4-9oHfqMQQQb3c1g7Q6rTXooZVTSxhNqZrLtDtmmoByPjyCUO5MMJu-72ljpZrcrU5BBMWN2nJihLCwI9NDVpWilgrVXn-fLKMvyKDm7EEsid9pd/s640/blogger-image--1918909235.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Erla and I were playing together on a separate section of the park, behind the building. I knew she would need to pee, since she had guzzled an entire juice box not too long ago. As there were no bathrooms to be had, I decided to do what her Mama does with her, hold her around the back of her knees and thus, let her pee in the bushes.</div><div><br></div><div>This sounds unusual, but in other cultures and other countries, it's just an easy and convenient way to let a small child use the bathroom. You never have to worry about not having a bathroom when you are out. As long as there is a semi-private bush nearby, you are all set.</div><div><br></div><div>There appeared to be no one around, and so I employed the technique. Handy dandy. But as soon as things commenced and Erla started to throughly water the bushes, I saw two little old ladies puttering along on the sidewalk, looking rather startled to see the spectacle they beheld.</div><div><br></div><div>Oh well. It wouldn't have been so bad if we hadn't come upon them again on the way back to the house. Erla zoomed by them on her balance bike at a precariously close range, with one lady's facial expression indicating that she was certain Erla would crash into her walker. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div>Of course, she didn't (she's one smart cookie, that girl.) They smiled kindly and as I walked past, told me "<i>your child is very fast and very good with her bike."</i></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYXmWCfvFQfJ5aohJE6SyaLKvajdBpnLc7VzIOczyJiEYFDiMl6xeVgT-mUwTrWpq8IH12UlYJ61MCaL7UmHyRapCjere0wwUedVCUtk8i0wvlXvB6uzdciuN64Oz4YNlQs7Kt3dGUHK7/s640/blogger-image--972519467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYXmWCfvFQfJ5aohJE6SyaLKvajdBpnLc7VzIOczyJiEYFDiMl6xeVgT-mUwTrWpq8IH12UlYJ61MCaL7UmHyRapCjere0wwUedVCUtk8i0wvlXvB6uzdciuN64Oz4YNlQs7Kt3dGUHK7/s640/blogger-image--972519467.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Later on in the evening, Aunt Rachel said she'd just as soon as pay for a take out meal as have to clean up the kitchen again, and so I was sent out to procure a meal. Most stores and restaurants are closed here on Sundays, so I figured the pickings would be slim. The Italian place down the street had a line out the door and I knew that would be a pain, so I searched elsewhere.</div><div><div><br></div><div>Guess where I got food for the kids?</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkGmn4_acC3PET_d_mnMtenpYjdN38Pwde8hy-T2ks2Bg85qfTcEE9ZVR1Gxnxa_JhAmiG47jDJz9XNxmwEneupTJykHUzhcbXyYadFCwiKEfuWgrzvBSfF2zmHUAMWTA8thZEkf-2Oi9/s640/blogger-image-6277682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkGmn4_acC3PET_d_mnMtenpYjdN38Pwde8hy-T2ks2Bg85qfTcEE9ZVR1Gxnxa_JhAmiG47jDJz9XNxmwEneupTJykHUzhcbXyYadFCwiKEfuWgrzvBSfF2zmHUAMWTA8thZEkf-2Oi9/s640/blogger-image-6277682.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Yep. Hey, I said that the pickings would be slim, and I was correct. It was kinda fun though, to order "drei hamburgers mit kase und ketchup, ohne pickles. Ein große pommes, und zwei kleine coca cola. Ja, das ist alles."</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wH02IM08eMZYBbtN-QMZCfsvoc8jALnOK2b38aK1xagNI-YTXgaMFFUwg57dQcnpBSCU7FGkU8ZjYDKvuL8kQ5zNGGASi2B6nGgHFRvLDXcLyBA8kSvmluPz72ct5iFGoue7uskeLgdb/s640/blogger-image-2145574659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wH02IM08eMZYBbtN-QMZCfsvoc8jALnOK2b38aK1xagNI-YTXgaMFFUwg57dQcnpBSCU7FGkU8ZjYDKvuL8kQ5zNGGASi2B6nGgHFRvLDXcLyBA8kSvmluPz72ct5iFGoue7uskeLgdb/s640/blogger-image-2145574659.jpg"></a></div></div><div>Everyone was happy with my success. </div><div><br></div><div><div>Erla started to get kinda cranky, so I moved things towards bed. Apparently there was an ouchie on one of her toes, a scratch that was bleeding just enough to gain the notice of a three year old. The only bandage I could find was a rather big one, about 3 inches by 2 inches. I put it on the ouchie shortly before we left for our nightly Sleepmobile ride. </div><div><br></div><div>BIG mistake. A curse be upon that bandaid, as it impeded her from an easy descent into slumber. It moved to her foot, then migrated to her knee, to the other foot, and finally, over her mouth, my least favorite place for a large bandaid to be on the child I am babysitting. Let's just say it closely resembled a cruel-looking gag of some kind. Nope. Nicht gut. I asked her to put it back on her knee and thankfully she complied.</div><div><br></div><div>When little miss is singing along to the lullabies as you drive, you know you're in for a long ride. Tonight I was more than halfway to Tübingen before she decided to conk out, and conk out she did. </div><div><br></div><div>When she wouldn't fall asleep at first, I almost tried to get lost, since I was a little bored and just wanted to see if I could make it back. But as I discovered, everything is laid out in such a logical manner that it's truly difficult to get lost or turned around.</div><div><br></div><div>It's also worth noting that when you exit off the two lane highway like I did on the way to Tübingen, you have a little traffic circle with different routes to take, and if you get off the highway and realize that you've taken the wrong exit, you simply keep driving and you end up on an exit lane back to the highway where you just were. Hard to explain, but a lovely thing to behold. </div></div><div><br></div><div>I drove on back, ready to unwind for the evening. Let's just say that a shower had become a thing of the past and as such, I looked a little rough around the edges.</div><div><br></div><div><div>I was quite surprised to see someone in the driveway when I arrived back home. I had no idea who it could be- German plate, with a Yankee candle-like thing hanging up on the rear view. My instinct said "southern," for some reason. </div><div><br></div><div>I came into the house carrying Erla in a fireman hold over my shoulder, channeling my inner Jean Valjean. I safely put her to sleep and laid there myself for a few minutes of rest.</div><div><br></div><div>As it would turn out, it was Bernie.</div><div>Aunt Rachel knew Bernie because before she married her husband Fritz, a German gentleman, she lived in Eden NC, Rachel's hometown and current place of residence. We had a very pleasant visit, and plan to eat brunch with them in the nearby town of Essingen before we leave. </div></div><div><br></div><div>Rachel and I watched two episodes of our current series before turning in for the night. The school routine comes early after the weekend. </div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-2287665156466322322015-06-13T15:55:00.001-04:002015-06-13T17:16:55.827-04:00Day Two of Nanny Gig, Our Soccer Star and Baking Time!<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We woke up at 7:00, and by "we," I mean Erla and I.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By 9 am, I had her nails all pretty with polish, her fingers in purple and toes all done up in red.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k7hTF2p-wz4J9Y8RUokbyi-Y0GzwYJhg4P9GNVZ5ZuVglMCkAkAM8pRR0qCCv0a9W6j8nH0EtlKUhyXdItGrBWEIHqHmTxZJRI25S5atiBh9uqj3_Mn6TGEJ4kAPzC1zH66tql4Ify4P/s640/blogger-image-1729433929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k7hTF2p-wz4J9Y8RUokbyi-Y0GzwYJhg4P9GNVZ5ZuVglMCkAkAM8pRR0qCCv0a9W6j8nH0EtlKUhyXdItGrBWEIHqHmTxZJRI25S5atiBh9uqj3_Mn6TGEJ4kAPzC1zH66tql4Ify4P/s640/blogger-image-1729433929.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">wanted to do my nails, but I hate nail polish (and red would not be appreciated all over the white tile.) As such, I let her use a washable marker on my toes. Unfortunately, my cosmetologist forgot that yellow looks terrible on my olive skin, and my nails came out to be an ever-becoming shade of Jaundice yellow. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKFTtvqMsmrnPE5Amyu5uw1oEQLmeL7Zr_JQ0f5P9BZNdq8vyKhVbo7_1XYsAU4woYLCQZNPFJA6ir-jrUUuAP9shEw90wtxvhl7T21KIeSpeTLb6koQQcgT6HTioWu_-KYDjTb1ZSCzY/s640/blogger-image--2012850404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKFTtvqMsmrnPE5Amyu5uw1oEQLmeL7Zr_JQ0f5P9BZNdq8vyKhVbo7_1XYsAU4woYLCQZNPFJA6ir-jrUUuAP9shEw90wtxvhl7T21KIeSpeTLb6koQQcgT6HTioWu_-KYDjTb1ZSCzY/s640/blogger-image--2012850404.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As much as I tried to remember, naturally I totally forgot to wash it off before I ran errands later in the day. Oh well. :)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We did some coloring pages together, with Erla directing the color co-ordination. It's a little known fact, but apparently Sven is a Miami Dolphins fan.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSRQrZ1vCqGnCaWKLRy7LfoRe_Dwl7yO767UmG-mggjK47ymvZLc8t_zRk306thrpqUqfK3VDeODndJlPsKt712JGuqNHXPl3teTRt5YjpFBiFIjtSs4AEPyGtcvcOs72Jy2y0j8SCw1l/s640/blogger-image--9990421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSRQrZ1vCqGnCaWKLRy7LfoRe_Dwl7yO767UmG-mggjK47ymvZLc8t_zRk306thrpqUqfK3VDeODndJlPsKt712JGuqNHXPl3teTRt5YjpFBiFIjtSs4AEPyGtcvcOs72Jy2y0j8SCw1l/s640/blogger-image--9990421.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I make it a point to speak entirely in German with Erla, and it's truly a lot of fun. She seems to understands it better than English, and I </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">can almost feel the wheels turning in my mind as I have to switch from speaking German with her and English with the others. It's </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a good stretching experience for my brain, that's for sure.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I also read her several books in German which was super fun. Between SpongeBob and "Das alles hat Gott gemacht," I learned a lot.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgsyiTTxeV_LZx5lc3lKqbGa4EsXfiLVYCquFuQq-mAOkHL-fI2xxXjxOP_PXGf0M1nYmdqFgz0qFQKT6OffGfVXydb57MDOl-sY3YxZroH9UzLIHZKQ97jhKoe0n202FUWN8wyyPwHsv/s640/blogger-image-166759380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgsyiTTxeV_LZx5lc3lKqbGa4EsXfiLVYCquFuQq-mAOkHL-fI2xxXjxOP_PXGf0M1nYmdqFgz0qFQKT6OffGfVXydb57MDOl-sY3YxZroH9UzLIHZKQ97jhKoe0n202FUWN8wyyPwHsv/s640/blogger-image-166759380.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKPaCcgXu0g38yd_abm04Ki_k29Y4xb9K2Kn5qvvSgnMMh2kMls8lYf5bn90Ea4ixXeVAopgWkZ-nc_IE16xFfcxSMyD36FFwBiI-6YWYveDpP86wg68zM93XRKD0gDTB_AiH2JWWcW9T/s640/blogger-image--367939580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKPaCcgXu0g38yd_abm04Ki_k29Y4xb9K2Kn5qvvSgnMMh2kMls8lYf5bn90Ea4ixXeVAopgWkZ-nc_IE16xFfcxSMyD36FFwBiI-6YWYveDpP86wg68zM93XRKD0gDTB_AiH2JWWcW9T/s640/blogger-image--367939580.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">She handed me a book in Icelandic and I went "Uhhhh...."</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-KMAm3MAU2lLBxEfOyiJ6VBkQxZyUJTZK5Frz1foB_ItGNshY0d7wyn2OD_wz0CD-2h_q81fW_RpHhiStz2iDc_rrWR4F2qvChfwpJGX7s6HSik7LHs0gf6OiaWUCkK44TLklbgh-LXD/s640/blogger-image-499431668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-KMAm3MAU2lLBxEfOyiJ6VBkQxZyUJTZK5Frz1foB_ItGNshY0d7wyn2OD_wz0CD-2h_q81fW_RpHhiStz2iDc_rrWR4F2qvChfwpJGX7s6HSik7LHs0gf6OiaWUCkK44TLklbgh-LXD/s640/blogger-image-499431668.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Due to a breakdown in communication somewhere along the line (which is a rather common occurrence hereabouts) Ellert almost didn't get to go to his tournament.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Remember the sweet Grandma that lent me a coat at soccer practice earlier in the week? Shortly after Ellert left to go meet his ride at the soccer field, she and her grandson, Ellert's friend Colin, showed up in our driveway. Apparently, they were the ride for him and were told to meet at the house. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Not sure how that tidbit got lost in translation. Shortly after I sent them to the field where Ellert was supposed to be waiting, who should walk by but the man himself, saying no one was at the field. I told him he better hurry and get his butt back the field or he wouldn't play.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Rachel, Erla and I took a little outing to Böblingen before lunch, to go to the bank and also in search of a small tablecloth to make the foyer area look attractive.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Due to the difficulty of the pronunciation of Böblingen, we have decided that Rachel and I will henceforward shorten it to "Boo."</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>I dropped her off at a store that looked promising. Then I had to figure out how to get back on the one way street that I had just left. I began to get concerned after I had to back down a very narrow street that went unexpectedly into a dead end.</div><div><br></div><div>About this time, as I backed down said precarious street, the Icelandic Sing-along-song CD we had in the stereo began playing the most annoying/obnoxious song on the entire album, wherein the singer does a rather frightful yodeling demo that is punctuated by additional yelps and yells. Also, the road was so steep that my phone fell into some unseen crevice in the console as I was driving, whilst being simultaneously subjected to the horrific yodeling song that I mentioned previously. A perfect combo for a near mental breakdown, right? Naa. Shortly thereafter I was able to find a way to get back on the street, and I passed by just as she walked out the door. Crisis averted.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">This is the view I've been meaning to stop and take a picture of for weeks. The German countryside here is just stunning.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aw8zmKAPEVQPax_cVS6ms-tgJSaRdDUktZ8RcVb7WFQg4ZpQwukRk_1sDPuOm4aCe8Gq14tDvzzJcwftU8JaurDuM0goooN9eAxh5jxF4OUXH8hQ1qJ12jzz9bNWs3ipERrWLETQ8ZGw/s640/blogger-image--1280147054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aw8zmKAPEVQPax_cVS6ms-tgJSaRdDUktZ8RcVb7WFQg4ZpQwukRk_1sDPuOm4aCe8Gq14tDvzzJcwftU8JaurDuM0goooN9eAxh5jxF4OUXH8hQ1qJ12jzz9bNWs3ipERrWLETQ8ZGw/s640/blogger-image--1280147054.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszf9tZHB0gMCM5nFA-ayVWnTgrrlWH78Ny4uszeWNyf9WxDGLQDqBVaN2GuIXe7HDgA-CcuUpHiBLYEIWKxge3HB7eJv-c4EgTQaZxLnLvRfFCo4WKCwpHeuTMBaZfLsAaCtyHEwXYd_G/s640/blogger-image--255265586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszf9tZHB0gMCM5nFA-ayVWnTgrrlWH78Ny4uszeWNyf9WxDGLQDqBVaN2GuIXe7HDgA-CcuUpHiBLYEIWKxge3HB7eJv-c4EgTQaZxLnLvRfFCo4WKCwpHeuTMBaZfLsAaCtyHEwXYd_G/s640/blogger-image--255265586.jpg"></a></div>(The houses in the above photo belong to our little village) </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We arrived home, made some lunch, and cleaned and did laundry. I missed laundry, believe it or not; the absence of the simple satisfaction of cleaning, folding and putting up clothes was definitely felt.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hopefully she won't mind me putting this on here, but it was too funny not to share. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As we cleaned the kitchen, the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ever-Awesome and Quotable Aunt Rachel summed things up by saying:</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>But where on earth do we put all this crap?"</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"....<i>sorry, I am not a lady when it comes to reality."</i></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><br></i></span></div><div>We both had a good laugh.</div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And just in case you were wondering, here is what the German version of Mr. Clean looks like.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKwu2FIvAe5aiJJOUhVl-UkI1CNOOIJVwAkKrYRy74KMtXvwSLPvzl4H29pANeKSKbaGunpHBS9h91BsXgzBwZfUV3Qi17NP-w686IxXmrqLNHhjn7ko6gouA9BGGgP_jSN11uKQhAdgF/s640/blogger-image--1061604548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKwu2FIvAe5aiJJOUhVl-UkI1CNOOIJVwAkKrYRy74KMtXvwSLPvzl4H29pANeKSKbaGunpHBS9h91BsXgzBwZfUV3Qi17NP-w686IxXmrqLNHhjn7ko6gouA9BGGgP_jSN11uKQhAdgF/s640/blogger-image--1061604548.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">("Bad" is not an outright defamation of Mr. Clean's character, it means "bath" in German)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Colin and his Grandma brought Ellert home, who was bearing a medal and many tales of how his team won the tournament. We are so very proud to have a soccer star in the family, even if he did walk in the door with a Popsicle stick stuck in his mouth like this:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxi4k1wRYScdLLd6_-F0BkA7yY1isoDnLkRWAav0j96oiM9x5MERuiSKBDieTpGdM6FqIkUFRMQeP2gkb_2xeshfqsIb0DWNJP9t0uBy65m7Xi35l1RRujqQUi5VAD1hrRgp1FkAm0bAw/s640/blogger-image-1702198534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxi4k1wRYScdLLd6_-F0BkA7yY1isoDnLkRWAav0j96oiM9x5MERuiSKBDieTpGdM6FqIkUFRMQeP2gkb_2xeshfqsIb0DWNJP9t0uBy65m7Xi35l1RRujqQUi5VAD1hrRgp1FkAm0bAw/s640/blogger-image-1702198534.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">And then wouldn't smile for me properly:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawjv_KTL_YmwZoB4KcEjqVUHoqfztocaB-4UBunq5PfbWHGlIMBk8RNfBSTC11wCM46Uz6GcjhKn15xwlU1z4KBEh_c2QshZrjxyXIAZO0ABHz8fmzZljqBKX0EnKziSA57rfTbJWAxVJ/s640/blogger-image--1429938024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawjv_KTL_YmwZoB4KcEjqVUHoqfztocaB-4UBunq5PfbWHGlIMBk8RNfBSTC11wCM46Uz6GcjhKn15xwlU1z4KBEh_c2QshZrjxyXIAZO0ABHz8fmzZljqBKX0EnKziSA57rfTbJWAxVJ/s640/blogger-image--1429938024.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div>But we sure do love him.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I mentioned that I missed laundry. I should also mention that, of course, I also missed baking and kitchen creativity. As such, I got in the kitchen this afternoon and made some GF muffins from a mix Aunt Rachel </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">found at the commissary, and then I made chocolate chip cookies from scratch. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v0nJ90lioxf0kwwY9cNXXmi-CGsfWzMNzlmugNV0ioILcW1NdLxsXYFyTz7uR5OL_CAMYZ88uNWCY0WHsalRkJREy-Mzto_faIh5b5ttmDYlaTq3tje0yqRWC2QYKOMTGT54Yl0eTfJQ/s640/blogger-image--1864787950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v0nJ90lioxf0kwwY9cNXXmi-CGsfWzMNzlmugNV0ioILcW1NdLxsXYFyTz7uR5OL_CAMYZ88uNWCY0WHsalRkJREy-Mzto_faIh5b5ttmDYlaTq3tje0yqRWC2QYKOMTGT54Yl0eTfJQ/s640/blogger-image--1864787950.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IgJhJjkj4CtgBiUwoiu1KQmbIw5UNjI7tOQ-2t4JTxmQLmSsCvpKmkNIPeUZCGf9lJB3F4R8ggafTpnVTO1mhuaPu_SZ7O_43396IyDJtXEWMZQCrtHHS-GxWbVCzr4LT32z-eKa7sxV/s640/blogger-image--1480851139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IgJhJjkj4CtgBiUwoiu1KQmbIw5UNjI7tOQ-2t4JTxmQLmSsCvpKmkNIPeUZCGf9lJB3F4R8ggafTpnVTO1mhuaPu_SZ7O_43396IyDJtXEWMZQCrtHHS-GxWbVCzr4LT32z-eKa7sxV/s640/blogger-image--1480851139.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I had a very eager, very cute little helper with me.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRg9gXyXmcJ17114AlTCCl5zbPFRaKaqpHaWwwlJtNdyzCzdXmGS316OrIKNiZg9TSjAiBxj1oa7tVFsXIQrqiss2WuRzKLDPkby_8C5haVmIxw_q5-oWOXHU_R6K3WWkyxrg0RWKWPp4/s640/blogger-image--1298935494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRg9gXyXmcJ17114AlTCCl5zbPFRaKaqpHaWwwlJtNdyzCzdXmGS316OrIKNiZg9TSjAiBxj1oa7tVFsXIQrqiss2WuRzKLDPkby_8C5haVmIxw_q5-oWOXHU_R6K3WWkyxrg0RWKWPp4/s640/blogger-image--1298935494.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0YrH2aBRx6FDaOSy_yCsBmAgWgDb2rbFKq4_WzgsR-gD7eDfZAw1NcYj2yFtWyB-rrhCYuepihhXepN1qAb2poRKMUo05d-kqOGhIlIq4mw0Wr33xXMHaouyxg6asq2K44DkvwjzM_AS/s640/blogger-image-909586772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0YrH2aBRx6FDaOSy_yCsBmAgWgDb2rbFKq4_WzgsR-gD7eDfZAw1NcYj2yFtWyB-rrhCYuepihhXepN1qAb2poRKMUo05d-kqOGhIlIq4mw0Wr33xXMHaouyxg6asq2K44DkvwjzM_AS/s640/blogger-image-909586772.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Erla loves to do things involving fine motor skills like painting, sorting small objects, and playing play doh. To keep her occupied while I cleaned the kitchen, I decided to let her play with some sprinkles I found in the cabinet. Equipped with a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">small bowl, tiny spoon, and a mini spaghetti tool, she was kept happy and busy for quite a while. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TTHphJDDmj3I6LtzA8ZXYBTeaJYk-PqFoUPRRCX3USWa99kKd1CiqehANm6VBUkKPM6DksD3rrRyi5Fommn7W36-BnLMbjprZxnBuTRLb4aIaERxImG2UwCMFNK7BT9MwVsy0F6nloGQ/s640/blogger-image--1619526521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TTHphJDDmj3I6LtzA8ZXYBTeaJYk-PqFoUPRRCX3USWa99kKd1CiqehANm6VBUkKPM6DksD3rrRyi5Fommn7W36-BnLMbjprZxnBuTRLb4aIaERxImG2UwCMFNK7BT9MwVsy0F6nloGQ/s640/blogger-image--1619526521.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Afterwards, she ran outside to play with Guthrun, the neighbor lady. She is so extremely sweet and kind to play with Erla whenever she runs over to her yard. I try to keep that time at a minimum, because I hate to impose on her, though she is very willing to pitch in.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The strategic use of Barney was crucial for one instance today. I was washing dishes when I caught Erla with all her clothes off and halfway out the door, trying to sneak outside. A few minutes of Barney allowed the dishes to get done without someone calling the Polizei about a naked child on the street.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">As a side note, it is rather scary that I can remember such an astonishingly high percentage of the songs contained on any given episode of Barney. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Erla started to show signs of exhaustion and so I took her on a Sleepy Time Joyride. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It took her no time at all to fall asleep as we cruised down the little highway, with sun setting over the distant green mountains. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I found an Abba album to listen to (including the songs Dancing Queen and Take A Chance On Me, to be precise about it.) I had the windows down, cruising down the narrow streets on a warm summer night in Germany with a worn out baby sleeping soundly in the back of the car. It was perfect, and a very peaceful end to our busy day at home.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Once back at the old home place, I safely installed Erla in her bed. Ellert</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> and Embla hung out upstairs while Rachel and I made some garlic-butter-sea-salt popcorn to eat as we continued watching our Netflix series on Rev War era Spies. Then we crashed. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-68402144438430185452015-06-12T10:24:00.001-04:002015-06-12T17:55:38.499-04:00Disclaimer, Day One of Nanny Gig, The Witches of Gartenstraße, Thoughts
on the German Language<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I feel as though I should give a bit of a disclaimer before I begin today's installment. You should know that every single one of these posts have been written in my spare time and typed into my iPhone at the end of the day. No keyboard, just thumbs. </span><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">As such, they are not the best example of writing craftsmanship and can contain grammatical faults and possible misspellings that I fail to pick up on. I plan to go back through and edit later on to ensure I don't miss any glaring mistakes or autocorrects. But in the meantime, keep that in mind as you read and have mercy. ;) </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This is down-to-earth, "on the fly" journaling at its finest, and I'm just lucky to get my thoughts jotted down.</span><div><font color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254)" face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></font><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">But anyway. Moving along.</span><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Today I woke up. At 6 am, to be precise about it. I got out of bed, and I saw my reflection as I passed by the mirror.</span><div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">In general, I have three hairstyles: straight, wavy and homeless. If I'm lucky, my hair decides to be only one of those. But alas, when I woke up today, my hairstyle was wavy <i>and</i> homeless. Oh well.</span><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Nonetheless, Embla and I hopped in the car and set off for school. We usually have good conversations on the way to school. Today's topic involved girl drama of a sort, which I will not divulge the details of, as secrecy was implied. I explained that guys tend to be straightforward in their relationships (and in other areas too!) whereas girls are much more emotional, and take thw windy and convoluted way that is comparable to a roller coaster.</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">To illustrate, here is an example.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"> Same question:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"Want to hang out?"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Guy 1:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Want to hang out?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Guy 2.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Not really."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i>"Ok, see ya next time."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">*goes about his business*</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Girl 1:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Want to hang out?</i>"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Girl 2:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Oh I can't! Sorry!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Girl 1: *<i>mind runs wild- </i>IS SHE ANGRY AT ME? IS SOMETHING WRONG? WHAT HAVE I DONE?"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">*asks Girl 2 what is wrong*</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>Yes! Of course I am your Best Friend. Heart youuuuu!"</i></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"Oh I was just joking there. you're my *dear friend!"</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"Actually, I'm not sure anymore...."</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"Oh, I was only acting like that because of what happened yesterday."</i></span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Yes, I'm generalizing here, but you get the idea. Girls tend to complicate matters.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Thankfully, like yesterday, we didn't have any difficulty getting to school on time.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQVUsyxxVvez8h_JERcaGNwNGKHpaR9qhZPGgUluULZw2HkB1Btpl8sC5MWPGNTxs1OR3oWE_QsLjA7yjw__Gv1uv1qkJ9MvMBr_7kRajT9e-W-1iIiDu0BdJ8GaYxljn5wCsyxrXqNWU/s640/blogger-image-1788390117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQVUsyxxVvez8h_JERcaGNwNGKHpaR9qhZPGgUluULZw2HkB1Btpl8sC5MWPGNTxs1OR3oWE_QsLjA7yjw__Gv1uv1qkJ9MvMBr_7kRajT9e-W-1iIiDu0BdJ8GaYxljn5wCsyxrXqNWU/s640/blogger-image-1788390117.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(taken at a stoplight after the light turned green, don't worry) ;p</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>I don't have much trouble driving a comparatively large minivan on streets in a country designed for small cars. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Perhaps one </span>of the reasons I am comfortable with the narrowness of the roads may be that I actually learned how to drive on a 15 passenger van. My Mother said it would come in handy one day and I'd be able to drive anything (thank you Mother!) :)</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today while driving back from school I had ducked behind a car, with my dented side facing towards traffic, and it would appear the dent got two people pulling over to the other side of the road for me so that I could get around.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><div>Yesterday, I outlined the not so nice German road rage gestures</div><div>1. The Royal Hand (palm up, fingers forward)</div><div>2. Head Tilt (in the direction of your turn)</div></div><div>3. Kind Eyes (useless, unless in close proximity and no sunglasses worn)</div><div>4. The Big Smile</div><div>5. The "Bring 'Em Here." (exaggerated hand gesture in direction of traffic)</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Their parents left for their trip around 4 morning, and all three of the kids did very well getting ready for school this morning. Erla got ready for preschool with surprisingly few distractions. </div><div><br></div><div>The only near-disastrous distraction involved a Hello Kitty suitcase and some gummi Bears, but before she ran off, as is her custom when her Way has not been Gotten, Ellert caught her and I was able to divert attention by telling her about....something, in German. I don't even remember what it was exactly, but it worked, she complied, got on her balance bike and we were all off. Ellert walked to his school with us. Erla was dropped off at Kindergarten and then Rachel got a coffee at the bakery across the street.</div><div><br></div><div>In our wanderings, <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aunt Rachel was very thoughtful to buy them some new household items like placemats, organizing boxes and such. We purchased these and </span>other home keeping supplies at our favorite little kitchen store down the street.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYymY6HIKoaxVfofV2HYfHXf6-Xfi17oYF_IFGQ-AdWfQij-BtUB8s4qIxLNOv3Lai5egyn6y358xUw1iFe2N5OMd7wQVTtcMQFI93FNTbK7SWR8uSQVsZAuQ6TR120NkbGbwY-DHqirH/s640/blogger-image-63067849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYymY6HIKoaxVfofV2HYfHXf6-Xfi17oYF_IFGQ-AdWfQij-BtUB8s4qIxLNOv3Lai5egyn6y358xUw1iFe2N5OMd7wQVTtcMQFI93FNTbK7SWR8uSQVsZAuQ6TR120NkbGbwY-DHqirH/s640/blogger-image-63067849.jpg"></a></div>(fresh berries outside Knittel)</div><div><br></div><div>For fun, we went and checked out the seafood section of Knittel. Crazy thing is, we found out that fresh Salmon, as shown in the above picture, is only 1.99 euro here (like 2.50 USD.) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HQLjncuKUx2yXM8XDZth52dIPcDgTpLLxco6kYvXa1ArYmn2y-Ie3vx6ClCNoZN7_KMuNI6PVn0azgkHuMs8uKSt6wqoJUnOlOSSF8iCMrb4cloSkkx3h452wMN6wPQM3llEwDBH1c9K/s640/blogger-image-1357157613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HQLjncuKUx2yXM8XDZth52dIPcDgTpLLxco6kYvXa1ArYmn2y-Ie3vx6ClCNoZN7_KMuNI6PVn0azgkHuMs8uKSt6wqoJUnOlOSSF8iCMrb4cloSkkx3h452wMN6wPQM3llEwDBH1c9K/s640/blogger-image-1357157613.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>There is not a broom here to our liking, so we bought one while at Knittel. If we weren't already conspicuous weirdos to the folks in our neighborhood, we will most certainly be viewed as such now, since I walked through the streets and all around town carrying a gigantic broom.</div><div><br></div><div>Just call us the Witches of Gartenstraße. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Not to get sidetracked or nothin', but I have a few thoughts to share on the subject of the German Language.</div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">It's curious to me how pronunciation of words can vary regionally.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">For example, here in the south, "Strawberry" is pronounced:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Erdbeere (ert-bear, roll the "r")</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Whilst up north (aaaand on my Duolingo German language program) it is pronounced:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Erdbeere (erd-beee-ruh, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">roll the "r")</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Just look at how close I came to disaster when I misspelled this on google translate:</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHDGJDDX4xRfgnkJvjNM6g7s7KHdDa4TN5oC07rUhAa34q1M-RyDJodW5VDNsqe0em2-RQCvitdmpQbdQSIrMUbIQdX4KqqScOghU9WpJqMJfad2yyaDaqBbeayTBi2Y1fDFijh3vRW-2/s640/blogger-image-728580035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHDGJDDX4xRfgnkJvjNM6g7s7KHdDa4TN5oC07rUhAa34q1M-RyDJodW5VDNsqe0em2-RQCvitdmpQbdQSIrMUbIQdX4KqqScOghU9WpJqMJfad2yyaDaqBbeayTBi2Y1fDFijh3vRW-2/s640/blogger-image-728580035.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's also pretty tricky with the umlauts (the ö and ü)</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqoTMvbIxfCNLlAtHrSiqbSeSKKXHeZnuFogIMn0cZCOWNRnvyreWpZoE1KL3xli9ZY_sn3wVi1R2DDy4iNczq84sdKu-O8pX5avablt1vws5LYJD3OpSxqfq-lBsV6Pn3QC5VTlHAiEH/s640/blogger-image--1543785995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqoTMvbIxfCNLlAtHrSiqbSeSKKXHeZnuFogIMn0cZCOWNRnvyreWpZoE1KL3xli9ZY_sn3wVi1R2DDy4iNczq84sdKu-O8pX5avablt1vws5LYJD3OpSxqfq-lBsV6Pn3QC5VTlHAiEH/s640/blogger-image--1543785995.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTltaT9I1_hevKM4QuG_AIbIYA7aeCOUPUIPTo8utEcc2P-WrbZ5eRXaPuwSUoOZPPrajeE6ra0iIBBMKyKFy7fZnNmqZRilqmEhPOKydhB54dQXo42jeepagozcO5uZWPoEko0tdMiyy/s640/blogger-image--315515247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTltaT9I1_hevKM4QuG_AIbIYA7aeCOUPUIPTo8utEcc2P-WrbZ5eRXaPuwSUoOZPPrajeE6ra0iIBBMKyKFy7fZnNmqZRilqmEhPOKydhB54dQXo42jeepagozcO5uZWPoEko0tdMiyy/s640/blogger-image--315515247.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">See what I mean? You are two dots away from saying "bowl" or being a scatterbrain. </span></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Teenagers crack me up. Aunt Rachel and I took two chairs outside and sat in the sun near the front door, and as a group of them walked past, we heard:</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">mostly unintelligible lickety split German*</span></div><div><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">.....ja ja, und Gossip Girl, Teen Wolf, Hawaii Five-0"</i></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">*mostly unintelligible lickety split German*</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div>A cute thing that people say here when you leave a store here is "Schöntag" (Good day/have a good day.)</div><div>I would hear it mumbled here and there after we'd leave a store, but didn't hear clearly enough to understand. Today the lady at Knittle said it as we left and I understood, thanks to her excellent enunciation.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Back to the narrative:</div><div><br></div><div><div>Ellert came home from school and Aunt Rachel decided we'd pick him up a pizza for lunch from the pizzeria about two minutes down the street.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooi1uEMhEP8C-NXpC3Bz4O7KbofO8MC5DLMAysWSCy7Uvk-DQMiqKHV2ifW5F8bS__NmyY03Jg_7kmQOvxmb-O9qRGLFSetbXpylSoYYCC5MVTFLa4DP_QohrS36J0MElO9-AeeyJ3bg8/s640/blogger-image--1413719698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooi1uEMhEP8C-NXpC3Bz4O7KbofO8MC5DLMAysWSCy7Uvk-DQMiqKHV2ifW5F8bS__NmyY03Jg_7kmQOvxmb-O9qRGLFSetbXpylSoYYCC5MVTFLa4DP_QohrS36J0MElO9-AeeyJ3bg8/s640/blogger-image--1413719698.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>I parked the car on the street next to Norma's, which is like a German mini-Walmart, except the quality is approximately 10 times better than its American comparison.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>I did so well parking on the street for the first time I just "fit right in," so to speak. Well, except for the fact I was a minivan. I didn't have my phone with me to document my success with a picture, so you will just have to take my word for it. </div><div><br></div><div>I was waiting outside for Rachel to get the pizza she was picking up but I decided walked in to check if things were going ok. The waiter was an interesting, rather dramatic sort of fellow. When I walked in the room, he saw me and said:</div><div><br></div><div>*mumble of Italian/German*</div><div><br></div><div> ".....(sie) ist Bella, sehr bella."</div><div><br></div><div>*puts hand over heart and mimics it beating dramatically*</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps my homeless and wavy hair isn't all bad. Or perhaps he just wanted to sell more pizza and wanted us to come back. Oh yes. The latter is definitely it, sales approach a la flattery.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>On our way out of the restaurant, pizza in tow, who should we see but Embla, who was on her way home from the bus stop. She gets let out early on Fridays. We sent the pizza with her to take over to Ellert at home and we made our next stop at Norma's (I found some farm fresh OG eggs!) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUWfYBU94bev-25u3w2AtqglVIyWGx8ilQYbdLA0TWeoyOv1lzK0B-2u-XHMH0qfKhWdQTnE7HUSJyn548OfW4Och8aAoCJ4k49KPN00Sj4GkK-uUG_g0h-67Tv1KQYPNn0Pm_WSaBqU5/s640/blogger-image--640787634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUWfYBU94bev-25u3w2AtqglVIyWGx8ilQYbdLA0TWeoyOv1lzK0B-2u-XHMH0qfKhWdQTnE7HUSJyn548OfW4Och8aAoCJ4k49KPN00Sj4GkK-uUG_g0h-67Tv1KQYPNn0Pm_WSaBqU5/s640/blogger-image--640787634.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>I picked up Erla, who was apparently let out early on Fridays like her sister, but we didn't know. They had cleaned up the whole place for the weekend and were basically waiting for someone to come pick her up! Thankfully, they were very kind and understanding ladies.</div></div><div><br></div><div>We ate lunch, then we did some household stuff: sorted, hung out and folded some more clothes. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzLhVqXkLOldH5BUpz1cginy4gaSZ5Dw4y-zjsyWHBEjFxbGjOZB5sm1CGPrDIpm1n1CWpL3W-Q3EqBPpqqK7XOQ5Ytp6C9YR_miNNPNCBUTwtNPSRbQB8iJ7BDbBE5_YfR97WJTtdetq/s640/blogger-image-1850279834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzLhVqXkLOldH5BUpz1cginy4gaSZ5Dw4y-zjsyWHBEjFxbGjOZB5sm1CGPrDIpm1n1CWpL3W-Q3EqBPpqqK7XOQ5Ytp6C9YR_miNNPNCBUTwtNPSRbQB8iJ7BDbBE5_YfR97WJTtdetq/s640/blogger-image-1850279834.jpg"></a></div></div><div>(empty drying rack, a happy sight)</div><div><br></div><div>Aunt Rachel organized most of the countertop items and got attractive little bins to put things in. She made it look great!</div><div><br></div><div><div>The daycare/kindergarten next door is in session today. It's very warm and sunny, and I can look out my window and see all the kids playing happily. Their chatter has the effect of a soothing white noise to me, since the (mostly happy) chatter of little voices is what I am used to hearing back home.</div><div><br></div><div>The kids are just beyond cute, with their chubby cheeks, bright, smiling eyes and their happy, almost chirpy little voices. </div><div><br></div><div>I should add that "Nochmal!" (One more time! or Again!) is a word that is frequently repeated by little kids, which includes my little German/Icelandic baby. </div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of which, shortly after chore time, Erla started to get a little cranky, and and so we decided to take her on a little Joyride. Riding in the car around town is the method of choice for getting her to fall asleep.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r08ujWSPOUUmDDlafmrHwh9ss02L5MoaIpZ35wl0B-5oVtRmXcrxPN0AFEP1uF9xiMdK9QjQLQD_VuFxTWkNzkZIJbrbgbs1tRgjIuDbZs2uydWSU4I6kfzDz7c0mC41qco0zTVOly9u/s640/blogger-image-1819995100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r08ujWSPOUUmDDlafmrHwh9ss02L5MoaIpZ35wl0B-5oVtRmXcrxPN0AFEP1uF9xiMdK9QjQLQD_VuFxTWkNzkZIJbrbgbs1tRgjIuDbZs2uydWSU4I6kfzDz7c0mC41qco0zTVOly9u/s640/blogger-image-1819995100.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>Before we set off, a picture was taken to commemorate the occasion. </div></div><div><br></div><div><div>I have a decent memory for direction and as such, decided to drive to <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Böblingen and see what we could accomplish in the way of sleep. Sure enough, after only ten minutes or so (and in stop and start traffic, no less!) Erla decided to fall fast asleep.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Again, a picture was taken to commemorate the occasion (while in the Lidl store parking lot.)</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg-QgrT_cDbYsoT9_PUx6cSFYOSCKFInSBXVHoYtae9xlqN8KcAuTaBYWz6Ap9GP16zWgc9dpCLCnXiczyp-n0-sdw2rI-ZdMXGJP2fca30_s8IVVONZSarH25oUY1RWWOwygVX2ZEA7L/s640/blogger-image--414089918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg-QgrT_cDbYsoT9_PUx6cSFYOSCKFInSBXVHoYtae9xlqN8KcAuTaBYWz6Ap9GP16zWgc9dpCLCnXiczyp-n0-sdw2rI-ZdMXGJP2fca30_s8IVVONZSarH25oUY1RWWOwygVX2ZEA7L/s640/blogger-image--414089918.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After Aunt Rachel scouted out Lidl, a grocery store, we </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">made our way home. As it turns out, the road we were on led past Embla's school, an area I am very familiar with, so there was no getting lost for us.</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We all ate dinner, and once we were done with laundry detail, Aunt Rachel asked if I wanted to start watching a Netflix series on Revolutionary War Era Spies. Um, yes. No question there. Shortly thereafter, I got Erla down for the night and got our soccer star (mostly) ready for his game tomorrow. Still can't find his orange shin guards, maybe they will turn up before tomorrow morning. ;)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now I'm going to try and get a little sleep myself.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-75509077712101099762015-06-11T12:04:00.001-04:002015-06-11T16:05:37.650-04:00Driving in Germany, Street Market, Countryside, and HONEY<div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9BiX64rvr223_IvOqJ4bzx4DkvWsz6nYvGaJiFRcIvUXDFWDkRrVqso2ETAreOcJrGcRJPY3FDgKtCe_3ODxeN5XPPluRbLf4z2sBkIzLPDgI91N4dJiIEkOVMsV0y_hfPTwBtRn4o2w/s640/blogger-image-1307853193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9BiX64rvr223_IvOqJ4bzx4DkvWsz6nYvGaJiFRcIvUXDFWDkRrVqso2ETAreOcJrGcRJPY3FDgKtCe_3ODxeN5XPPluRbLf4z2sBkIzLPDgI91N4dJiIEkOVMsV0y_hfPTwBtRn4o2w/s640/blogger-image-1307853193.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">As we climbed into the car this morning, in a half-joking, half-serious sort of way, Embla asked:</span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>So, are you sure you know how to drive?"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>"Do you think you'll be okay having to reverse the directions when you are coming back home? </i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Yup.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This ain't my first rodeo.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I should say that I had this quote go through my head from Lord of the Rings that was surprisingly applicable:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Plug in my situation and you have:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>A chance for Margaret, the American in Shönaich, to show her reliability.)</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">If you are familiar with that quote and laughed at my attempt at humor, congratulations! You can have a square of Ritter chocolate when I get back home. (Oh, and bonus points given if you read that quote in Denethor's voice.) ;p</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Our drive to school went just fine. I managed to get her to school on time and was back home a little after eight. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPzrbdxtqhYTL-vwtFoo4fksNW1RrbpLMNy2XB51J4y7vzHUuVlwR031XjXwxghh0Ejot1lx0yDj64V-A28pJAT1ygBBS5VpP2x_nVk8C77wbGAD0PqIKhtUjlgXMzriP7q6LZ1O06aRF/s640/blogger-image-1819941428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPzrbdxtqhYTL-vwtFoo4fksNW1RrbpLMNy2XB51J4y7vzHUuVlwR031XjXwxghh0Ejot1lx0yDj64V-A28pJAT1ygBBS5VpP2x_nVk8C77wbGAD0PqIKhtUjlgXMzriP7q6LZ1O06aRF/s640/blogger-image-1819941428.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This is the drink of School Chauffer Champions: Green Tea+German Black tea, served together in a giant IKEA mug. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Being homeschooled, I never had to drive or worry about arrive on time to school, as school was in-session virtually all the time. The kids do very well with the early mornings and Embla woke up and got ready without a problem.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">It is definitely a unique driving experience here in Germany. There are <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">many variables and obstacles that come into play, </span>which <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">makes it a very exciting and dynamic driving experience to me, since I am used to straight-up country road driving.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This is our street, which is a good example of a typical village street, though there are usually more cars parked on the side. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJHxojE19JET-Cn6I13qh9kE1YBAlFLntdxFz8rlYmxlh567_wgT1sdjH85TaxC3dTiciTAlufXuAmb5JEfDTvZOMJ_3ViRSCbmLX_78Ifp59W1hsOLig3UcTC7AgnkdFZ4Ts5_bhzlfK/s640/blogger-image--1231928297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJHxojE19JET-Cn6I13qh9kE1YBAlFLntdxFz8rlYmxlh567_wgT1sdjH85TaxC3dTiciTAlufXuAmb5JEfDTvZOMJ_3ViRSCbmLX_78Ifp59W1hsOLig3UcTC7AgnkdFZ4Ts5_bhzlfK/s640/blogger-image--1231928297.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">As a general rule, you park on the right hand side of the and drive down the middle. If someone is approaching you from the opposite direction, it's your responsibility to do what I call "duck" behind the nearest line of cars to let them pass.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I should also disclose that Germans excel at visible expressions of road rage. This includes:</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">1. The Angry Hand </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">2. The Angry Hand Running Through the Hair</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">3. The Open Palm to Forehead (the "duh" expression, directed at another.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">4. The Verbal Beratement </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">5. Angry Eyes (note that the effect is further enhanced if the infuriated individual has a unibrow.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am fairly certain that I made a guy driving his black BMW behind me rather mad when I didn't do a risky left turn into some slow moving traffic. The tail end of the minivan would be in the street! But let me tell you, I really could care less if I made that guy mad.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Because I'd rather be safe than get t-boned in the driver side like Arnheidur did a few months ago. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The dent is still there, on the driver's side. It </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">grants one, shall we say, certain privileges, such as being let in or out of a line. Perhaps this is out of compassion, and the misguided impression that the dent must certainly betray the "poor driving skills" that gained it. Or perhaps it is from fear of the dent spreading like gangrene and somehow ending up on their faultlessly waxed car. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxtrbR2eujS0RxkZ2yIfGvLYD5x0VXYRNR-zG06hf8G8bWUFhyDk6KMUnyDSRvbFjvorOufFE0tAnDb79ggzo0bF5pNoHLXFXDMDTpWchycl56ZnJFlB7hW-jk2boTy6xhXI5AR_ybeQ4/s640/blogger-image-1880558526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxtrbR2eujS0RxkZ2yIfGvLYD5x0VXYRNR-zG06hf8G8bWUFhyDk6KMUnyDSRvbFjvorOufFE0tAnDb79ggzo0bF5pNoHLXFXDMDTpWchycl56ZnJFlB7hW-jk2boTy6xhXI5AR_ybeQ4/s640/blogger-image-1880558526.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(that's the good old Honda. We have a history together, as I drove it when they lived in Hawaii as well.)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In general, Germans are very prompt to fix things, and as such, proper citizen wouldn't be caught dead driving a car with a dent on the side. Geoge and Arnheidur are waiting on the insurance and as such, the car still must be driven for the time being.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We've settled into a nice routine the past couple of days. Usually I have some quiet time when I get home from Embla to school. After that, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aunt Rachel is usually and ready to go explore with me.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We passed alongside a fence that said "beware of dog" (Vorsicht von Hunde)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aunt Rachel: Hi doggie! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">*no reaction from the dog*</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Margaret: Hallo Hunde! </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">*swings head around and looks at me with eyes wide, snarls, and starts barking furiously*</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">His reaction was such a marked difference that I suppose that the dog, who obviously understands German, was offended that I was addressed him directly. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There was a market on near our street and naturally, Aunt Rachel and I went on over and perused the wares. There were clothes, lace tablecloths, housewares, watches, knitted items, and lots of street food and sweets.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBYfper9C-sNl5jL4do-48em9xNVYuN-UyDOzXLPdh2_B81mFqc03DUfdWMRevm2AHud-Y2KTxnJHWX1gp7uYAKCJSWnOM3Kg_sYFXSzDcpLKBlIOWXzj_gANRBOM_dvMn2J9uOHMKUi2/s640/blogger-image--910563561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBYfper9C-sNl5jL4do-48em9xNVYuN-UyDOzXLPdh2_B81mFqc03DUfdWMRevm2AHud-Y2KTxnJHWX1gp7uYAKCJSWnOM3Kg_sYFXSzDcpLKBlIOWXzj_gANRBOM_dvMn2J9uOHMKUi2/s640/blogger-image--910563561.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Schoolgirls walked by with towering puffs of cotton candy and little kids toddled alongside their parents, eating big soft pretzels studded with chunks of sea salt.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7W-GoAnRG3P4WgPWT60aGnPjSN-oqXloot7vKtOaCWLJJhpG7bAeZzyzy1XxWvGHPbLb3XsI_IQz86hk7ms-OzQgJ0K18Qzra91cNcMoM8kPx9oi5-TdiGVfqIwWtSW3wnpOC31IrpqmK/s640/blogger-image--1729309800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7W-GoAnRG3P4WgPWT60aGnPjSN-oqXloot7vKtOaCWLJJhpG7bAeZzyzy1XxWvGHPbLb3XsI_IQz86hk7ms-OzQgJ0K18Qzra91cNcMoM8kPx9oi5-TdiGVfqIwWtSW3wnpOC31IrpqmK/s640/blogger-image--1729309800.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I saw an older gentleman selling honey and of course, I had to stop and look. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I even bought some German apple blossom honey for my Dad to try back home. He was very nice and I was able to talk a little with him in German, and thankfully he was happy to let me take pictures of his cute little stand.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRFGPhCF5cyIf45eyr9UjoaLav854s6WinJ5VTMaNR3rIjPZ3whwRJhaRDxQkrR1iWMbXu9wP4nh1vtIf6t4zLz9sgl1PE2Pisj96CkQhRtzUeysY1onHb28VLBv_PRRpSeUmPIz3TGeA/s640/blogger-image-387959118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRFGPhCF5cyIf45eyr9UjoaLav854s6WinJ5VTMaNR3rIjPZ3whwRJhaRDxQkrR1iWMbXu9wP4nh1vtIf6t4zLz9sgl1PE2Pisj96CkQhRtzUeysY1onHb28VLBv_PRRpSeUmPIz3TGeA/s640/blogger-image-387959118.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy3V3G0lqGJyPWYaxX_FDpq35eyhX_883QM6b3PhQVnxWuYLY0tbYIsjMNov5wskiFbAiXOoU43CNfJLftcY-MHNj4h7AV-ejB77n0ltw4SxH7t97WG9vOEFPi5V96qoBNeV0oIqbRs2a/s640/blogger-image--2038358579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy3V3G0lqGJyPWYaxX_FDpq35eyhX_883QM6b3PhQVnxWuYLY0tbYIsjMNov5wskiFbAiXOoU43CNfJLftcY-MHNj4h7AV-ejB77n0ltw4SxH7t97WG9vOEFPi5V96qoBNeV0oIqbRs2a/s640/blogger-image--2038358579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">There were also plenty of clothes being sold at the market, which prompted my favorite Aunt Rachel quote of the day:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"<i>I have this creepy feeling that all these clothes were bought off the black market."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">My sentiments as well.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Later, I tried my hand at picking Erla up from school. I wasn't sure how it would go, or if she would even come with me. I walked past the playground at her school and when I saw her, I called out "Erla! Hallo!"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">She whipped her head around, smiled really big, and ran over to a random guy who was either a Dad waiting for his child or a school employee, not sure which. She looked up at him, tugged on his sleeve, pointed excitedly at me and cried:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"DAS IST MEINE SCHWESTER! DAS IST MEINE SCHWESTER."</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(that is my sister)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Aaaaand right then, you forget when they run off from you in a crowd, or scream in a restaurant, or spill their orange Fanta on your shirt. Your heart just kinda melts.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">I was hanging out the laundry on the drying rack when I head Arnheidur say:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"<i>Don't forget, today at 2, Guthrun is taking us to the mill."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><i><br></i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>Wait, is this the German lady that lives behind us? Guthrun is an Icelandic name too, right? Isn't that spelled "Guðrun?" Wasn't one of y'all's nannies named that?" </i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">^^ (that just about takes the cake for the most Multicultural sentence I've ever spoken. I mean, look at it: German, English, Iclandic, and Southern.)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Guthrun, the aforementioned neighbor lady, took us all to Altdorfer Mühl, which has been in operation since 1487. </span>She is the landlady of the house that George and Arnheidur currently rent. She is such a sweet and caring Grandmother-type and even babysits Erla sometimes. She doesn't speak any English, but we communicate fairly well nonetheless. </div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Three languages at once can be fun, let me tell you. When we were riding to the mill, the CD with Icelandic songs was on, German was spoken between Erla, Guthrun and Arnheidur, English was spoken between Rachel and I. I talked a little to Guthrun when I could remember what to say.</div><div><br></div><div>The mill was so much fun to visit! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhf_tkkBaIbCGvVEMoaj2rv5GvbBJfTLRvytdQGDYXXKKxBdVLXEjpPT_N8nqedLorzNpwoJcLLPFFNrKVks55RqKlJhKGZylhGx_q6q1B-BvsM_Y54H7QhinIvDMLEgq-0HUH00nlLDK/s640/blogger-image--1223201005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhf_tkkBaIbCGvVEMoaj2rv5GvbBJfTLRvytdQGDYXXKKxBdVLXEjpPT_N8nqedLorzNpwoJcLLPFFNrKVks55RqKlJhKGZylhGx_q6q1B-BvsM_Y54H7QhinIvDMLEgq-0HUH00nlLDK/s640/blogger-image--1223201005.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>They had all kinds of fresh milled flours, bread mixes, muffin mixes, nuts and seeds, you name it.)</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8OVmJQfNcH1zlfspiEJCfjkX_fZ2bj5MwBTqCykVj4-hFR4LhNeP52iq1h2rlZ6-VvKVr8AxzOF7FViSGj2ErHMCm_AxprLaYSrfMWqqTF5Y8VctFFuqzQrKaBfeIb4zp3F_iv2JmYzQ/s640/blogger-image--176542009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8OVmJQfNcH1zlfspiEJCfjkX_fZ2bj5MwBTqCykVj4-hFR4LhNeP52iq1h2rlZ6-VvKVr8AxzOF7FViSGj2ErHMCm_AxprLaYSrfMWqqTF5Y8VctFFuqzQrKaBfeIb4zp3F_iv2JmYzQ/s640/blogger-image--176542009.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtKb3nIewPAI0H5Hexwy8RIgz-0JuRAjNdylOPOVI2iEribxxFV5Q_ouCI0YwuJ18JyR5VDaY2uZFRgQn1PPfMh_XH-VboLPjJFBa79Mr77X0p0C8WcHXKVp02LJn6CGnMKj2fETlz_80/s640/blogger-image-1854899805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtKb3nIewPAI0H5Hexwy8RIgz-0JuRAjNdylOPOVI2iEribxxFV5Q_ouCI0YwuJ18JyR5VDaY2uZFRgQn1PPfMh_XH-VboLPjJFBa79Mr77X0p0C8WcHXKVp02LJn6CGnMKj2fETlz_80/s640/blogger-image-1854899805.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped by some other farms and got some Kartoffels (potatoes) and strawberries, and got to see what Arnheidur calls the "Smallest honey store in the world"- a little cabinet on the side of a German farmer's barn!</div></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFkVV8theDrQJEbwdBVBKfemTqiL839ka3Hga49sr_HXDaHcVN8q1yYrDn4-spSkJlQISrlQOK_tEpkIO0TxtZ2q26gMDyMtu1w_sqeD8bF6thbs1n1F2BVvWuA19src9b01JBC4cbpZH/s640/blogger-image--364585584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFkVV8theDrQJEbwdBVBKfemTqiL839ka3Hga49sr_HXDaHcVN8q1yYrDn4-spSkJlQISrlQOK_tEpkIO0TxtZ2q26gMDyMtu1w_sqeD8bF6thbs1n1F2BVvWuA19src9b01JBC4cbpZH/s640/blogger-image--364585584.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All purchases are made on the honor system, and you just set the money you owe on the shelf.</span></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDNZ48n1l42W5-jpK4feOlFoMOUiELh-YTUcOZ_IzCuYX4xaW258CI8o17NAOaX8IJFh7BH0B5K61B7jXG3ubGTrGhoNSc1oGbQoYa3fLsvgJxX6XgadD8yO7I-V_JeKosHHveZF6tEVw/s640/blogger-image--1659389879.jpg"></span></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdjJlsRTX_WLbqPRwxgiHm9SHxpz1QcNk8cnfs_SrDrAvahfK7V9jWnOoKQtlpmK9MBd9NkJdI22Li7zlrHlxyuRwlrjZ8U6btDuDrwKIrDc7dgYWKc8amYJJY1PR3mqd14CIMlti1lr6/s640/blogger-image-1647368391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdjJlsRTX_WLbqPRwxgiHm9SHxpz1QcNk8cnfs_SrDrAvahfK7V9jWnOoKQtlpmK9MBd9NkJdI22Li7zlrHlxyuRwlrjZ8U6btDuDrwKIrDc7dgYWKc8amYJJY1PR3mqd14CIMlti1lr6/s640/blogger-image-1647368391.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We stopped by a cafe for tea and coffee on the way home. I got the tea that was recommended by the barista, and it was quite good!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCh6BcWn2vuhSDVRq9asuFmL7-BWNphDBvWDD5YdRglAw-ot9el8i9cqVzbnC2O9azhCcZdUXUlpkY4KweDdFn5Tjg6frSzMrAcOGXbk6XCOxZjJXFc9WPKiC0Jk6Zj1lHgxEel6RZoj3/s640/blogger-image-604502906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCh6BcWn2vuhSDVRq9asuFmL7-BWNphDBvWDD5YdRglAw-ot9el8i9cqVzbnC2O9azhCcZdUXUlpkY4KweDdFn5Tjg6frSzMrAcOGXbk6XCOxZjJXFc9WPKiC0Jk6Zj1lHgxEel6RZoj3/s640/blogger-image-604502906.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div>It has been said: "since you make and sell cakes back home, why don't you order cake at every single store/cafe, to try it out?</div><div><br></div><div>Well,</div><div>Reason 1: Pancreas</div><div>Reason 2: Waistline</div><div>Reason 3: Etc.</div><div><br></div><div>But to save money (and conserve insulin) I eat bites of other people's cake. In general, a cake slice is entirely too much for one person, and as such, when people from our crew order cake at a restaurant, I am offered plenty of cake.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9REppvxP9xiysd0o12JeJ6kw6qgFHJWYlklDiLP-Abo1lYJkygw4EuI_mUVGyHXWAkkLAnSmWBZWunM0wlWA8ysRBAtYGIV9r-gVN3-bl9PJsYIAblev_27gw0kKWFbS6iqNXlT9UI7K/s640/blogger-image--590541098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9REppvxP9xiysd0o12JeJ6kw6qgFHJWYlklDiLP-Abo1lYJkygw4EuI_mUVGyHXWAkkLAnSmWBZWunM0wlWA8ysRBAtYGIV9r-gVN3-bl9PJsYIAblev_27gw0kKWFbS6iqNXlT9UI7K/s640/blogger-image--590541098.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>A bite is enough to get a feel for the flavor, and so far, I have tried raspberry torte, sachertorte, hazelnut torte, and, this afternoon, a bite of Rhubarb cake, which Guthrun offered to me. German cakes are definitely not as terribly sweet as they can be in the states, and the taste is fantastic and complex, without all that sugar to overpower it.</div></div><div><br></div><div>We arrived home and Aunt Rachel and I made a giant salad from some lettuce the neighbor across the street kindly gave us. Then we both started to buckle down and get ready for our three day babysitting gig whilst their parents are on vacation. The thing about Europe is that if you want to pop over to, say, Venice, you can just hop on a plane for an hour and a half and you are there. </div><div><br></div><div>Though I will say that it is not exactly comforting that Arnheidur just reported that tonight, it took her an hour and a half of driving in the car to get Erla to fall asleep.</div><div><br></div><div>Gulp.</div><div><br></div><div>Oh well. Bring it. :)</div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-71208587194961854622015-06-10T07:50:00.001-04:002015-06-10T16:12:14.412-04:00School, The Bomb Shelter in the Basement, and Chocolate<div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My alarm went off a lot earlier than usual this morning, as today I drove with Arnheidur to take Embla to school</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> so that I can learn the route. </span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">But, first things first. I went downstairs to get some laundry out of the dryer and I realized that I have not told y'all about the bomb shelter yet.</span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div></div></div></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCk-0zSM5fffddR0fD68uDY5g5PmB6EoYPzy8KwJr5n5gNO5rtCNShBzdEU77o7ACEoxVPEqupqbywdMWbRG6iuOyI5j5MLY26G_75_Tf3MrzdtxxQA7c6go8z2wV1WldCoQee8eey3sI/s640/blogger-image--557519278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCk-0zSM5fffddR0fD68uDY5g5PmB6EoYPzy8KwJr5n5gNO5rtCNShBzdEU77o7ACEoxVPEqupqbywdMWbRG6iuOyI5j5MLY26G_75_Tf3MrzdtxxQA7c6go8z2wV1WldCoQee8eey3sI/s640/blogger-image--557519278.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We have one here.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlX2e6OKN7lfI3Ddc9LbUpPwz6bXvLWf5TyuNA9iRdK5k7lS1YEclUZOxJ_Hb6z6uCkNE8BDkV6J1pSMHgAIIWF3kmsEy8X34ZAHO5R9Lj_QxjmgzbhrnlWWhwBTxWC9U9eOO1n-yM5Si/s640/blogger-image--1058058361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlX2e6OKN7lfI3Ddc9LbUpPwz6bXvLWf5TyuNA9iRdK5k7lS1YEclUZOxJ_Hb6z6uCkNE8BDkV6J1pSMHgAIIWF3kmsEy8X34ZAHO5R9Lj_QxjmgzbhrnlWWhwBTxWC9U9eOO1n-yM5Si/s640/blogger-image--1058058361.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I'm not exactly sure when this house was built, but it has a reinforced bomb shelter (a là WWII era) in the basement. It's pretty neat and yet eerie at the same time, especially when you combine it with the noise of planes and air traffic we have due to the nearby airport.</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I wonder if the people living here at the time ever had to use it and if so, what was it like to huddle in there, waiting for the all-clear signal? </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Odds are that it was used, and probably multiple times at that, since Stuttgart got hammered pretty badly by the Allies during WWII, due in part to the manufacturing capabilities of its nearby factories.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Now, back to School Stuff. The surrounding roads and sidewalks of our town, Schönaich, and the adjacent town, Böblingen, are a LOT busier between 7 and 8 am, which is the time when kids go to school and adults make their way to work.</div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Many towns have their own primary and kindergarten schools right in their own village, and here, Ellert's school is literally right next to Erla's Kindergarten. Embla's school is nearer to Böblingen.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The surrounding towns pass through here to get to the "big kid" school that Embla goes to in Böblingen, and as such, traffic snarls the usual route. As such, they have learned to use the so called "cheater route," which is more complicated but yields much less frustration. I learned the route today, and took notes just in case. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have learned that driving to school requires much more forethought than</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I first thought: scrimping for every second is all part of the program. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The way one talks about the route to school is almost like a battle plan, except instead of the goal being to win the battle, the goal is to arrive to school, on time, with minimal traffic. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is worth mentioning that the principle of right-of-way here in small German towns is crucially important and can oftentimes be the difference between getting smashed or getting ahead. Not only are the streets very narrow, but people park on one side of the street and then you are left to drive on the other. As such, sometimes you have to pull over and let people pass and do other tricky maneuvers to get by. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was throughly versed in the rules today, and I hope I apply them well. :)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From 7-8:30 or so it's a mad dash to get all the kids do school on time. Ellert walks to school, and we walk Erla to kindergarten. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOdwYRe77VLgrKC8O_V72gme-og-wT3LhYb4Zz7EXK6J2OYcUHJqo7z6TZzZ4dhdRdqBSwp7GhXyTNZYlv3_tfKU5Rxp2oMWYBNuR0fhZzkMyyFZx_WFRauErThWdlWe-Fqm_dKduYiQW/s640/blogger-image--745315059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOdwYRe77VLgrKC8O_V72gme-og-wT3LhYb4Zz7EXK6J2OYcUHJqo7z6TZzZ4dhdRdqBSwp7GhXyTNZYlv3_tfKU5Rxp2oMWYBNuR0fhZzkMyyFZx_WFRauErThWdlWe-Fqm_dKduYiQW/s640/blogger-image--745315059.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">fail to see how Ellert's school could not be fun if it has a huge volleyball court for games in the middle of the main room.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YH-C0cVPJiaMhhuvpr43CNVLl720NfeMl5iJOFcysYdEl-vyt7I843K9WtjSwjqLsjgOzPJnf36GpbfA5VwIq3-D8eZD2NGbDaQTzyKWOIaz13CbQF5YjimczBLjGzIDGe0RoaCcQQjG/s640/blogger-image-85179509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YH-C0cVPJiaMhhuvpr43CNVLl720NfeMl5iJOFcysYdEl-vyt7I843K9WtjSwjqLsjgOzPJnf36GpbfA5VwIq3-D8eZD2NGbDaQTzyKWOIaz13CbQF5YjimczBLjGzIDGe0RoaCcQQjG/s640/blogger-image-85179509.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Erla loves to take her bike to school, and we follow behind on foot.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM7SCOZ8xZoAjzPCoqHyX7VMj5Btts39ql_K0Lbcj4S-Dhyphenhyphen65UPx3ro4y06MLCF7BUtLsN8ARfAxtX_tSFnJWcGjFopqq-Q_y-xOH6xJ3jqqZq_FqCtRicCXuSSdv4ZgIsap6SOZjYSF6/s640/blogger-image--877732192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM7SCOZ8xZoAjzPCoqHyX7VMj5Btts39ql_K0Lbcj4S-Dhyphenhyphen65UPx3ro4y06MLCF7BUtLsN8ARfAxtX_tSFnJWcGjFopqq-Q_y-xOH6xJ3jqqZq_FqCtRicCXuSSdv4ZgIsap6SOZjYSF6/s640/blogger-image--877732192.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpGeSQvU065rTOSwNihVgwrifx_IrKLcZf_IdhkIm34GCrStGMnxHMFlb5YLIh8Ff6aUO5It7STR2MRyuNjg72Omwlr-dGHHOc62a0meQqGdjU85suf2JSRQqrgQx9x5xJPy45p7TnLBo/s640/blogger-image--1372104922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpGeSQvU065rTOSwNihVgwrifx_IrKLcZf_IdhkIm34GCrStGMnxHMFlb5YLIh8Ff6aUO5It7STR2MRyuNjg72Omwlr-dGHHOc62a0meQqGdjU85suf2JSRQqrgQx9x5xJPy45p7TnLBo/s640/blogger-image--1372104922.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We later noticed that Ellert somehow managed to forget his lunch/snack along with a binder he needed for an assignment, so I was selected to run it back over to him at school. I knocked gently on the door, as instructed, and then opened the door and twenty pairs of eyes looked back at me, and I searched for the ones I knew. Ellert was standing by the chalkboard with a few of his classmates doing an assignment of some sort.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As he walked over to retrieve the items, his face said: </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>You're totally embarrassing me by coming into my class!"</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My mind telecommunicated with his, as is our talent, and mine said:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"Oh, be embarrassed, it's your own fault, dude. Don't leave it next time."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next, I am going to discuss garbage cans. I warn you now, so that you can leave while you're still awake.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I walked home, I remembered to take a picture of this right here. Imagine for a moment that this little trash can is the amount of garbage you and your family are expected to generate in a week. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4f_Q-fwyQdiUG79S6SyOodrTPUF4kxgnoCjXBm8ed7aVprDb-A61U8t6DJUR81YItfahNAp8yOph7F7E7WM3ebduIDRZRAigg5Dj0EY7nNDhUW566vbp0zyoi666WhDhOQ2SuC39UCWV/s640/blogger-image--1011333653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4f_Q-fwyQdiUG79S6SyOodrTPUF4kxgnoCjXBm8ed7aVprDb-A61U8t6DJUR81YItfahNAp8yOph7F7E7WM3ebduIDRZRAigg5Dj0EY7nNDhUW566vbp0zyoi666WhDhOQ2SuC39UCWV/s640/blogger-image--1011333653.jpg"></a></div></span><div><br></div>Now, stop imagining (and stop laughing!) cause this is the amount of trash space you get for TWO weeks worth of garbage. My family of ten would generate that much in <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">one DAY, am I right, y'all?</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not only that, before you throw anything away, you sort it- paper, plastic, foil- it all has its own separate bin here the house and at the trash center. And if sorting trash drives you crazy, in a "real" German house, (according to Arnheidur) you would <i>wash off</i> the little foils that go on top of your yogurt until they are clean and you would <i>wash out </i>the bottles before they went in the bin. You'd probably be able to eat of of the throw away stuff here, it's so clean. Let me tell ya, they </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">are tidy and efficient.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aunt Rachel and I bummed around town for a while, stopping here and there. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu04ROvc_bYDh6y3UZx7RyGr1l6N0TUXdiAeUxgrBZ711hPDsMPoyE0CpAdv7VB7rqeAqz0rm0i_J26MBGzv2Y10PWT6eSLi-gtk-fRATlygr5AjX6_vW0vx9wshRrs8fBg2Tfi6dZej6/s640/blogger-image--680575491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu04ROvc_bYDh6y3UZx7RyGr1l6N0TUXdiAeUxgrBZ711hPDsMPoyE0CpAdv7VB7rqeAqz0rm0i_J26MBGzv2Y10PWT6eSLi-gtk-fRATlygr5AjX6_vW0vx9wshRrs8fBg2Tfi6dZej6/s640/blogger-image--680575491.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(typical house from the village)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She got a few gifts for some folks back home at the cooking store, and I perused the cake section. It would seem that the most popular cake pans are the springform kind, they far outweigh the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">round layer cake pans. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHdXZfWw4PQeLsOYgJGoap0ytGMFHXpZeRLu78tQLF6d6R33EAzYyss9RcrNqNttNV0674j6Tf-DT7Ts5emxrTkKHiLJU-AnZEiH-sNjr2Fre-QfYVFlINw2WVr-cxZ6uTBEh5Zx2ysBx/s640/blogger-image--543036948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHdXZfWw4PQeLsOYgJGoap0ytGMFHXpZeRLu78tQLF6d6R33EAzYyss9RcrNqNttNV0674j6Tf-DT7Ts5emxrTkKHiLJU-AnZEiH-sNjr2Fre-QfYVFlINw2WVr-cxZ6uTBEh5Zx2ysBx/s640/blogger-image--543036948.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next, Arnheidur took us on an outing to the chocolate factory. Waldenbuch, Germany, where the Ritter chocolate factory and museum is located, is a mere 10 minute drive down the road. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjkwuPVwq29dqybW2J3woMV5dr2_UDDhrOl0iwRItN15fwPkHXPuYhTmpyfqS7J4xZJEvGmuMnpSAS58BadH_gYN0VHl2Ci1xYPiX70U-IQvPtSF0BzbdWrJivqUqpmYzJdd7iLqHZtdZ/s640/blogger-image--2023293501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjkwuPVwq29dqybW2J3woMV5dr2_UDDhrOl0iwRItN15fwPkHXPuYhTmpyfqS7J4xZJEvGmuMnpSAS58BadH_gYN0VHl2Ci1xYPiX70U-IQvPtSF0BzbdWrJivqUqpmYzJdd7iLqHZtdZ/s640/blogger-image--2023293501.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oITjYZaZYujM9eYdxMAfQVNpY0W2jy6Rp7mrAd5BuAjnaUPps6Lx-s-11UBP0KHiMmR8xOLV-s339ffjkA_KE1vGHIIgGTLXSqKGy9xFwzoho4muJTEYBYVfX6_cIoRup6tTa1cb41Yv/s640/blogger-image-1619009251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oITjYZaZYujM9eYdxMAfQVNpY0W2jy6Rp7mrAd5BuAjnaUPps6Lx-s-11UBP0KHiMmR8xOLV-s339ffjkA_KE1vGHIIgGTLXSqKGy9xFwzoho4muJTEYBYVfX6_cIoRup6tTa1cb41Yv/s640/blogger-image-1619009251.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font><br></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font>Being this close could be sorta dangerous, cause it </font>was chocolate heaven, let me tell you. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdRs0QBSmDeEaMmpgT7-AoGvx23Xk6HuCpezb9RES7n_bTSYtGu2xe3LMjhFsh8ErO9LyBh4GEP79VzXvARSdk0yjrTukbH6GXlKJJjI_vjwexB1_QM-CY2oUpmDcnrw2NQBWoa3rs0-t/s640/blogger-image--1903950689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdRs0QBSmDeEaMmpgT7-AoGvx23Xk6HuCpezb9RES7n_bTSYtGu2xe3LMjhFsh8ErO9LyBh4GEP79VzXvARSdk0yjrTukbH6GXlKJJjI_vjwexB1_QM-CY2oUpmDcnrw2NQBWoa3rs0-t/s640/blogger-image--1903950689.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The museum was informative and the store I walked out with enough chocolate to make customs snd TSA start to wonder if I am a full-blown chocolate smuggler. </div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbA8pB3jZkoQwD3bKfwIdGP_5FKt1dCUEzymhtqBwbBYAM_NuJPFbu35IkBqiorAFvcpZze7kLrMGuoOOH5NFO77_RXMASCjtipYQbpfvoXKZbrwEy_Xag7phyphenhyphenxg1FrqWbCY9pHRglHE9T/s640/blogger-image--1822486736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbA8pB3jZkoQwD3bKfwIdGP_5FKt1dCUEzymhtqBwbBYAM_NuJPFbu35IkBqiorAFvcpZze7kLrMGuoOOH5NFO77_RXMASCjtipYQbpfvoXKZbrwEy_Xag7phyphenhyphenxg1FrqWbCY9pHRglHE9T/s640/blogger-image--1822486736.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We got a little peckish whilst in the store (my phone just tried to autocorrect that into "peculiar," maybe that is a more accurate adjective.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW8an_nR3v8LknHCQgse0hzYDR01sMSGEH9BWvb_0ngKm6G13Qawgny6trDa4tWz7MQs0VhsTwzYWyAa9kS4YqSoxYf1TADeAt3O2YHZZfBo4PS8YK37GD9hRhfk2aAIyzLNMcA1bwOv3/s640/blogger-image--547455514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW8an_nR3v8LknHCQgse0hzYDR01sMSGEH9BWvb_0ngKm6G13Qawgny6trDa4tWz7MQs0VhsTwzYWyAa9kS4YqSoxYf1TADeAt3O2YHZZfBo4PS8YK37GD9hRhfk2aAIyzLNMcA1bwOv3/s640/blogger-image--547455514.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We arrived home and after a brief rest, Aunt Rachel and I set to work cookin'. Yesterday, she had acquired some kielbasa from the English-speaking butcher at the store, so we fixed that with peppers and onions, rice, apples, and a lot of other things. It was very yummy.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrjS9JlyWpNlXLBDqKlJ048n-m0WqS_21UPqdZ8KjrmxS8X2HfY2r4lCdnW_ygOmiYyOlpWm0FwQW4h4MFF7YX-WODyu42SqgRHp9qL4yXr64GFFq8XNvEF52MDmSzsxFDZSsFlpN5gxW/s640/blogger-image--66273615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrjS9JlyWpNlXLBDqKlJ048n-m0WqS_21UPqdZ8KjrmxS8X2HfY2r4lCdnW_ygOmiYyOlpWm0FwQW4h4MFF7YX-WODyu42SqgRHp9qL4yXr64GFFq8XNvEF52MDmSzsxFDZSsFlpN5gxW/s640/blogger-image--66273615.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>"</span><i style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Margaret, Auschwitz time."</i></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was upstairs when I heard the call. We (George, Rachel and I) have been watching a BBC documentary </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">on the history of Auschwitz, since we visited there last week. It is very well done, and I found the eyewitness accounts and stories quite moving. To hear the stories of the survivors in their own words, and to hear the strength and perseverance it took to actually survive, in the midst of those great odds, was extremely inspiring. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The only side effect is the possibility of not-so-great-dreams tonight but hopefully, that will not be the case. I have to get up early for my first solo trip taking Embla to school. I'll need the sleep. ;)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-62489031995434238412015-06-09T10:02:00.001-04:002015-06-09T16:58:10.601-04:00On-Base Fun, Ellert Learns To Speak "Southern", Soccer Practice<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"Hey guys, I'm going go on Base </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">at 9:30</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> if you wanna come."</span><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>Both of us squint at the clock from our beds, which shows we have 45 minutes until that estimated time of departure.</div><div><br></div><div>"Ok, sounds good, that gives me plenty of time."<div>"Oh ok. I better get moving!"</div><div><br></div><div>I'll allow your mind to run wild and let you guess which statement was said by Aunt Rachel and which statement was said by yours truly.</div><div><br></div><div>Our first stop was Patch Barracks, aka "Patch." Arnheidur went to mail packages, and so Rachel and I wandered around and planned to meet her at the commissary.</div><div><br></div><div>We saw a coffee house and started out there.</div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I'd like a hot tea, please."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Barista guy:</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Would you like that in a little girl cup, or a big girl cup?"</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Oh, let's go with the big girl cup."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"What's your name?"</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Margaret."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Marge it is."</span></div></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_5xFQOceYaKi1R0_yQ_6pDaKmIihu2UebL5sIKk-MGqsCoV7HMCftacnvBOvWUpifhUmfVu93DjDKsZR65jqmPCaanFHYQbqoL0IQuUD5NIs7XGc2VrtRv136pxIo3Iv83WslAYzOM0N/s640/blogger-image-1270753026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_5xFQOceYaKi1R0_yQ_6pDaKmIihu2UebL5sIKk-MGqsCoV7HMCftacnvBOvWUpifhUmfVu93DjDKsZR65jqmPCaanFHYQbqoL0IQuUD5NIs7XGc2VrtRv136pxIo3Iv83WslAYzOM0N/s640/blogger-image-1270753026.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Mother, how come he knew your nickname for me?) :)</span></div><div><br></div><div>It's fun to walk around on base and see the military families in and guys wearing different uniforms and such.</div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I also saw some African jungle camo I had never seen before on some army guys visiting from Mozambique. </span>When the <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">soldiers pass each other by on base, they tend to salute </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">each other, provided their hands are not full.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Aunt Rachel offered to buy me a Danish, but I had eaten before we left the house and politely declined.</div><div><br></div><div>She lives vicariously through me as far as gluten goodies go since she has Celiac.</div><div><br></div><div>My tastebuds would be very happy with this arrangement and would say: "All of us are in favor and say, "Aye!" but my waistline and my pancreas say "Nooo."</div><div><br></div><div>"Are you sure you don't want that raspberry Danish?"</div><div>"Oooh why don't you get one of those cake things with whip cream?"</div><div>"Oh gosh, would you look at those cookies!"</div><div>"Want one? I'll buy you one!"</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7YptrBeJkKGP4ktoyCkrbJ7yrmEKavYNFo5AXXpYOT8lVh9C060UtqGLi-wVmlMb_CgcZGk-2ttgEMI_s9KRMbREGHAYhNNiDXYCZSHMCvVdWX3HMOTo4O_elRJR-dPC-vtVpQcRMArr/s640/blogger-image-710767007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7YptrBeJkKGP4ktoyCkrbJ7yrmEKavYNFo5AXXpYOT8lVh9C060UtqGLi-wVmlMb_CgcZGk-2ttgEMI_s9KRMbREGHAYhNNiDXYCZSHMCvVdWX3HMOTo4O_elRJR-dPC-vtVpQcRMArr/s640/blogger-image-710767007.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvga6MHEWrA0j8TYBVDDkQlwWHIMVh9B89qh6vHk53BTPRDHVh29pFGeFyn7XZHCuArJWWmOTI5M54X_Brs6DRjm-e4C8uqtekiVymKkgKGYnYZ08C9T3IIWEhCZUM3UFs6DVTwovXGVz/s640/blogger-image--2073010112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvga6MHEWrA0j8TYBVDDkQlwWHIMVh9B89qh6vHk53BTPRDHVh29pFGeFyn7XZHCuArJWWmOTI5M54X_Brs6DRjm-e4C8uqtekiVymKkgKGYnYZ08C9T3IIWEhCZUM3UFs6DVTwovXGVz/s640/blogger-image--2073010112.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>I feel bad she can't enjoy them like I can, but what can you do. She is always very kind to offer them to me when she can't have them herself. Thankfully, we have found some very good gluten free cookies and such along the way.</div><div><br></div><div>We walked to the commissary and got a few things, and by a few things, I mean lots. It's a great place to shop for Rachel, as they have a fantastic selection of GF supplies.</div><div><br></div><div>After that, Arnheidur had business near the other base in the area, and so dropped us off at the PX there so we could look around while she ran other errands.</div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The kids and most folks refer to this base as "Panzer," but it's technically called: "U.S. Panzer Base Unit/number/something/etc."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You ask: "what is the difference between a PX and commissary?"</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well, I'm glad you asked. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A PX is basically a mall, with lots of shops and a food court, while a commissary (aka commie) is just a grocery store.</span></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And we mozied around the PX together for a while, just to see what we could see.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The super-cute maternity section:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazESUT7oiTgkUOUQmXf4k7VZFw3Nhyv6b7l29UwfDHHzTQRchvw5y04GfoEMUWk5gK6KnA0hcTlHY63c7Fc1_2l_rh2424YrrfM_L6dKbtsVO4uPwrJUnoZRtjLc40X4C9HbfWYMDXSXc/s640/blogger-image--1030936587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazESUT7oiTgkUOUQmXf4k7VZFw3Nhyv6b7l29UwfDHHzTQRchvw5y04GfoEMUWk5gK6KnA0hcTlHY63c7Fc1_2l_rh2424YrrfM_L6dKbtsVO4uPwrJUnoZRtjLc40X4C9HbfWYMDXSXc/s640/blogger-image--1030936587.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div>When I shop, I look around and look around and in general, do not buy anything. I can always talk myself out of it. It is my "way"- unless I have immediate need of something, I don't get it. </div><div><br></div><div>That being said, by chance I came</div><div>upon a unique souvenir which, like my watch, is a functional souvenir, and is something I won't find anywhere else. And it was twenty bucks.</div><div><br></div><div>There is a high school that is attended by most Millitary teenagers in the area. Their team is called the Patch Panthers, and the school colors are black and gold. As a Carolinian, it's unique to find the colors of "my" team, Appstate, along with the mascot of the only Pro team in our state, the Carolina Panthers.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aCyhOW0uyjSC7DB6EzhQe7E9SDeGpdxsUT-kN0XU_bMCw-YDqnADAk7KeB5adzTFw4KrTyR8T2ynKNLyD-60p01bG6-agiq9mQxfCLK2_4qj01Y2NrJZu54ixZlLboM4afC_icsZIfas/s640/blogger-image--1649820274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aCyhOW0uyjSC7DB6EzhQe7E9SDeGpdxsUT-kN0XU_bMCw-YDqnADAk7KeB5adzTFw4KrTyR8T2ynKNLyD-60p01bG6-agiq9mQxfCLK2_4qj01Y2NrJZu54ixZlLboM4afC_icsZIfas/s640/blogger-image--1649820274.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But the back is the best part:</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP7lJHcBo9Sb36HwG0n_mND2Ry_xbWklrfsWAs4YM918iP1L6TYDM_H43rq8dkzhk2CBDeTM-E7h6cLwamGsJuOrgkwVTp91wxZoUruXYTUlEf2vTVP8iXFIBCNf_CqC5xaWHDUx7QdS6/s640/blogger-image-170611999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP7lJHcBo9Sb36HwG0n_mND2Ry_xbWklrfsWAs4YM918iP1L6TYDM_H43rq8dkzhk2CBDeTM-E7h6cLwamGsJuOrgkwVTp91wxZoUruXYTUlEf2vTVP8iXFIBCNf_CqC5xaWHDUx7QdS6/s640/blogger-image-170611999.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We arrived home from our outing to find Ellert back from school.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">As you may or may not know, he speaks English, German, and Icelandic. However, he is currently learning a fourth language, Southern American, with help from the leading experts in the field, Aunt Rachel and I. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Me:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"Whatcha think you're doing there, son?"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Ellert:</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"I'm not your son, why do you call me your "son?"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"Oh that's just the way we talk back home." </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">He has heard all of these from us, lots of "y'all's" and such.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"I'll meet y'all down at the register in a minute."</span></div><div><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"Honey, you can't eat that off the floor!"</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">"Bless his heart, he doesn't know how to park that Ferrari." </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">(Ok, so the circumstance mentioned in the last one was kinda made up.)</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">We must have piqued his curiosity and thus, the lessons began. Under our careful tutelage he should be speakin' like a local Carolinian right well pretty soon. His assignment today was to practice saying "hey y'all" to his classmates. Not sure how that went, but I'm willing to bet that their faces were priceless.</div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Later on, I walked with Ellert to his soccer practice. The coach rolled up at 5 on the dot, and he seemed to be a debonair, even-keeled sort of fellow who lit up with the ever fashionable cigarette as the team warmed up and ran laps. His son, Ellert's friend Colin, played on the team too.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRa8t4ASvNa22_sQLbdIkYjlQchHrEB2E8-O1qPCuy9w8plmFJQB-tuLB7lVipdewA5yCeLnSurRgwXGqvtcqWrWfPGV-epj_llVVoBzsDqsuhCAOKQjJkLeJ8wqjl9p6rsIHj0SUq5mb/s640/blogger-image--2065623548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRa8t4ASvNa22_sQLbdIkYjlQchHrEB2E8-O1qPCuy9w8plmFJQB-tuLB7lVipdewA5yCeLnSurRgwXGqvtcqWrWfPGV-epj_llVVoBzsDqsuhCAOKQjJkLeJ8wqjl9p6rsIHj0SUq5mb/s640/blogger-image--2065623548.jpg"></a></div><div><div><br></div><div>The coach in the other field, <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a hulking large guy with shaved black hair and hot pink shin guards, was in </span>charge of the older boys, ages 10-14. Wheras Ellert's coach was laid back and calm, this man was more of a drill sergeant type. </div><div>Here he is (pink shin guards not visible.)</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCy7WsqVxAsFpB0TELR0BJiA_UJWhOrgGAtRxK1CkveIFWAMmQOmP8-msDf5k6It1uFBu58ZXWcO_3OpBMf5Re15Xdo3QDqEhYyLX7c7oZRxpRAI0-mG1Zn_k4Fn2J1_tDoLui9K2hSgr/s640/blogger-image--1731128787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCy7WsqVxAsFpB0TELR0BJiA_UJWhOrgGAtRxK1CkveIFWAMmQOmP8-msDf5k6It1uFBu58ZXWcO_3OpBMf5Re15Xdo3QDqEhYyLX7c7oZRxpRAI0-mG1Zn_k4Fn2J1_tDoLui9K2hSgr/s640/blogger-image--1731128787.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>His favorite catch phrases:</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"WIEDER SCHNELL!! WIEDER SCHNELL!!"</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"SPIEL! SPIEL!"</span></div><div><br></div><div><div>I made the terrible mistake of leaving the house without a jacket of any kind, and one hour in to a two hour long practice, I was positively freezing in the windy 50 degree weather. My hands were numb. I debated with myself whether or not to just jog back to the house, which was only a block or two away, to fetch my hoodie, but I steeled my resolve and determined to wait the next hour out.</div><div><br></div><div>Just when I thought I couldn't take the cold anymore, a little old lady walked over and said hello. She spoke zero English and my German is spotty at best, but we made do. Being the sweet German Grandma that she was, she said I must be cold and asked if I was. I said yes, very cold, and that my coat was at home. </div><div><br></div><div>She then hurriedly walked off in the direction of her car and then came back....with an extra jacket! And thus, I was warm, thanks to this sweet lady who turned out to be the Grandma of one of the boys on the team, Colin. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stringing the German words that I know together into cohesive sentences has me tongue tied at times, but nevertheless, we managed some conversation.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These boys playing soccer may be eight, nine, ten years old, but they are little men, and they behave as such. If you make a goal during practice, you don't cheer or celebrate, you put your head down because that's the least that you are expected to do. And you do it again, and again, practice and practice. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you don't do well in the practice, you don't get to play in the game on the weekend, no exceptions, so these boys play well and play with excellence.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And if you need to take a leak during practice, you go over to the bank on the side of the field and just take your leak there, and return back to play. This happened several times before and during the game.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After profusely thanking the sweet Grandma for lending me the coat, we walked back home. When we got home we saw Erla cruising on her little balance bike that all German kids learn to ride on. No training wheels here! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pps4dfswL9cUHaS-Hbu8FxSMgm3MTXsBDP79yMUry9kTHsJweS0d0HNmQdiiBaVXXZtUyjMPRw24bTH3_zS46cNBKSTbu9ooaBmcl4Fu8bX7N5WvI0WFERdlGpbUVA6vAfnhQP9qB2zu/s640/blogger-image--1114615222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pps4dfswL9cUHaS-Hbu8FxSMgm3MTXsBDP79yMUry9kTHsJweS0d0HNmQdiiBaVXXZtUyjMPRw24bTH3_zS46cNBKSTbu9ooaBmcl4Fu8bX7N5WvI0WFERdlGpbUVA6vAfnhQP9qB2zu/s640/blogger-image--1114615222.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We had a yummy dinner of take out Doner from down the street, which is shaved kebab lamb meat with tsaziki sauce. It is the unofficial/official national food of Germany, believe it or not. There is a Doner place in every town, and it's the ideal quick and relatively inexpensive meal.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Afterwards, we watched the Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which George and Rachel hadn't seen before. Yes, it is a sad movie, but very touching at the same time. I am currently listening to the audiobook version, which is excellent. </div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065731220086712576.post-1157056105110599272015-06-08T16:52:00.001-04:002015-06-08T17:48:46.670-04:00A Monday in Germany<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aunt Rach and I woke up and didn't do very </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">much at first, which was a nice change of pace after our frantic pace of city hopping we have maintained for the past ten days. </span><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The house was unusually quiet today, due in part to the fact that the kids went back to school today after a two week long break. Erla goes to kindergarten for several hours in the morning, Ellert goes to school for a half day, and Embla goes to school until late afternoon. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lots of kids here walk or bike their way to school, and you can see them pass by in the mornings hear their happy chatter as they come and go. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today was also the very first rainy day we've had here in Germany. There was a thunderstorm last night that woke us up and had us scrambling to close the large bay windows of our room, but it was mostly a grey drizzle as we unpacked and did things around the house.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We also managed some laundry and hung it up on the drying racks Arnheidur has in the computer room. Most German and Europeans in general don't use dryers, before they even moved, this was how she did laundry. I rather like the idea, as the clothes tend to last longer since they are exposed to less heat and this method is not dependant upon the use of electricity.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The time came for the subject of Homework to be tackled. As such, Ellert and I, along with Aunt Rachel's moral support, began to work on it. </span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I assisted as best I could. If you think math can be a pain, try doing it when the instructions are in a different language. Even my young pupil, who has become fluent in German for a year and a half, couldn't decipher some of the words, most of which were certain math terms in German.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUIiMTLCV0NJY-WzeZxavFnyjlfJSFOCQ5CRRUPUc6BTWLC8Jd7dBmbnoJWNqx6wcFw5rkUsfZPalBxVRrJK-uzUUh7o8UYL5EgBFf9IDn5DNq3qR6gj3J1BIZfVkwXHxDzdGzzKcZabc/s640/blogger-image--1201902074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUIiMTLCV0NJY-WzeZxavFnyjlfJSFOCQ5CRRUPUc6BTWLC8Jd7dBmbnoJWNqx6wcFw5rkUsfZPalBxVRrJK-uzUUh7o8UYL5EgBFf9IDn5DNq3qR6gj3J1BIZfVkwXHxDzdGzzKcZabc/s640/blogger-image--1201902074.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOtUR5bpnt86uX0E1cjWB3GkSLUoyiu-n_-nq_IqaG3vc6_jPZzxNjxuEddwrKE2GnNSlYJ-9txcmPStehPcxeFlmd0JxXT_2uxej7y5_gue6X4_wbPg7YFrakuMLUhWHkQDUHEFVChhh/s640/blogger-image--861195784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOtUR5bpnt86uX0E1cjWB3GkSLUoyiu-n_-nq_IqaG3vc6_jPZzxNjxuEddwrKE2GnNSlYJ-9txcmPStehPcxeFlmd0JxXT_2uxej7y5_gue6X4_wbPg7YFrakuMLUhWHkQDUHEFVChhh/s640/blogger-image--861195784.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yeah. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After much toil, we completed a grand total of one and a half pages. A picture was take to commemorate the occasion.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLi27RFhATcgC6-CoHSP8QDEFNJcaqzyb9dQwYup_TbF9ROUedFrQLAVlEJ7iesktTa3gaF5BmG1qWr0gDPTsRluCFzf6D7SNCvymyKFt5gLBOwdpVLIYSMUtofGIi7owGpq8yCgSB_qe/s640/blogger-image-445673943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLi27RFhATcgC6-CoHSP8QDEFNJcaqzyb9dQwYup_TbF9ROUedFrQLAVlEJ7iesktTa3gaF5BmG1qWr0gDPTsRluCFzf6D7SNCvymyKFt5gLBOwdpVLIYSMUtofGIi7owGpq8yCgSB_qe/s640/blogger-image-445673943.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A break was very much in order, according to Ellert, and thus we dismissed for the time being to continue later on. Aunt Rach and I had a snack and some tea while we watched a BBC TV series episode for good measure.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Later on, I heard a excited cry of</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Ma-git! Ma-git!"</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Soon enough, Erla came into view, three snails in tow. "Es ist Schnecke!" (snail in German= Schnecke)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1FXAmxy9DdrJa-AMY5SAOu6PUeL_vreMt6SBaDGElgnQdMyGJ6rJaKQveKUnG3on3olr_uRt3ZOteqWMIfrizfLu30EcvNaePIyBQNLGRfITOmGQxe_WYBzexXyRI7MaiZ8brt7k5Zd/s640/blogger-image-1892087970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1FXAmxy9DdrJa-AMY5SAOu6PUeL_vreMt6SBaDGElgnQdMyGJ6rJaKQveKUnG3on3olr_uRt3ZOteqWMIfrizfLu30EcvNaePIyBQNLGRfITOmGQxe_WYBzexXyRI7MaiZ8brt7k5Zd/s640/blogger-image-1892087970.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They provided much entertainment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD1e1qzq49WLEl7al1ImcLGqprqhninIFUh4Ytigvyd_SrSGVqRlKjHyqRHMEjm4y_9G23J2rx91vejB-Tze_YQI91OZtP7XKBwviqeytBxOAKnBwzY-08Fj-Wg8wsSsHcU4Folmdrjdq/s640/blogger-image--142625200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD1e1qzq49WLEl7al1ImcLGqprqhninIFUh4Ytigvyd_SrSGVqRlKjHyqRHMEjm4y_9G23J2rx91vejB-Tze_YQI91OZtP7XKBwviqeytBxOAKnBwzY-08Fj-Wg8wsSsHcU4Folmdrjdq/s640/blogger-image--142625200.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><span style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYKB0p4NbrakcBS9IzropZ8sgEBZdBaWOrIlEjK1B97GaGHdzGoCit3rVogRP0UE6KsnjVdjr893MZUwlicwuRGIsbNx02BEMt1guQfpuSB-PMpV_LM_pXdtmqZJiuX6iZut-qHfrXdFz/s640/blogger-image--30719652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYKB0p4NbrakcBS9IzropZ8sgEBZdBaWOrIlEjK1B97GaGHdzGoCit3rVogRP0UE6KsnjVdjr893MZUwlicwuRGIsbNx02BEMt1guQfpuSB-PMpV_LM_pXdtmqZJiuX6iZut-qHfrXdFz/s640/blogger-image--30719652.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Went to wash my hands after snail #3 left a sticky trail of slime on my hands, and when I came back (and before I could intervene) there she was, digging snail #1 out of its shell....with a fork, no less. Thankfully this was the only casualty, and the others remained more or less intact, but a good deal harassed.</span></div></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Later in the afternoon, the rain had let up so we made a run to the store. As I have explained before, nearly everything is closed in Germany on Sundays and Mondays, with the exception of non-chain stores, such as the grocery store I mentioned that is just down the street.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FJOvUe0RgEkMm13n2z8lSptkl6Ej_hxI5Z08kYvHfIyOM6u08-AY-8GjLA0LGEu_L7b0rGM7fcDmZkvkmaz6Ny6dsZOm0PPM36GaCGcnkImB3SoBHE4xGri27MFAhf6XIsNeLa8MaNNe/s640/blogger-image--1926726439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FJOvUe0RgEkMm13n2z8lSptkl6Ej_hxI5Z08kYvHfIyOM6u08-AY-8GjLA0LGEu_L7b0rGM7fcDmZkvkmaz6Ny6dsZOm0PPM36GaCGcnkImB3SoBHE4xGri27MFAhf6XIsNeLa8MaNNe/s640/blogger-image--1926726439.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Shopping when hungry is never a very good idea, and as such, we came out with quite the haul.</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dinner was a quite yummy meal of cream-curry chicken, rice, and a German strawberry-lettuce-balsamic salad. Oh, and a little GF pound cake Aunt Rach found at the store.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With berries. And whip cream.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After the dishes were done, I introduced Aunt Rachel to one of my favorite BBC TV series, North and South, and we watched several episodes. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSEMEwLUva9usa0WaMx9_2Aml93ysPAK7_JJayLFACMeoz4j9aNYgA-12PoKaEU__zvoITWlXAZsyWGb_cQTxfpQusZ7IAE3ira2z0Q3hOmS_F2VUrYyjxdBxXD-oFrnHNEdRdQKpvn40/s640/blogger-image--488890477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSEMEwLUva9usa0WaMx9_2Aml93ysPAK7_JJayLFACMeoz4j9aNYgA-12PoKaEU__zvoITWlXAZsyWGb_cQTxfpQusZ7IAE3ira2z0Q3hOmS_F2VUrYyjxdBxXD-oFrnHNEdRdQKpvn40/s640/blogger-image--488890477.jpg"></a></div></div><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A splendid way to end the day and she loved it, of course. ;)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div></div>Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219912069566973399noreply@blogger.com0