This...That...and the Other...

I'm just dropping in to catch up with everyone. I'm still having internet problems and still looking for a new provider. *insert shrieking shrew* I haven't had time to return calls and schedule anything with possible new providers because it's been one of those extra busy weeks. What with everybody working, fewer cars and more
shuttling around town things have been hectic.

So Beanie's without a car. The insurance company decided his car is a total loss. *groan* I doubt the settlement will be enough to get what I would consider a decent and safe car. Beanie saved and bought this last one all on his own. He'll be doing that again but will probably save for a few months to add to the insurance kitty before making another used car purchase. Four people, four divergent schedules and two cars. Should be interesting around here the next couple of months. I'm praying there's no blood shed.

My father-in-law and his wife will be here for the weekend. They are absolutely delightful and we are anxious to see them. Keeping the house clean and the laundry caught up AND trying to decide what to feed them when it's so dang hot outside is another story. If anyone has a relatively easy meal for hot weather that requires little to no actual cooking, please post it or email me the recipe. The last thing I want to do when it's 102 degrees out is turn on the stove or oven.

Between work, helping Beanie with his insurance stuff (being his first accident and all), preparing for this visit and the *expletive deleted* internet problems it's been a bit of a busy week. It also means I haven't had much time to make the rounds or comment. I'm doing my best to keep up with most of your posts, but I'll have to hold off on commenting until things slow down around here.

I'm reading TIED TO THE TRACKS by Rosina Lippi and enjoying it very much. I remember vaguely someone mentioning the book before, but it was Marg's review and link to the excerpt that sold me. Thanks Marg! I didn't catch it the first time through but your follow up in June finally clicked. Seeing as how I'm so darn tired, I haven't had that much time for reading either. But I'm looking forward to things slowing down and returning to a somewhat normal routine next week. I only read 15 books in July. I read 20 in June. As each month in 2007 passes I seem to be buying more books and reading less. A bit out of kilter for me. Although I'm thinking the slow down is just the nature of my life right now so I'm going with it as the reason. It's a lot less stress that way and has the added plus of being something I don't have to worry about.

My friend Steadman lives in Minnesota. When I saw the news yesterday about the bridge I sent off an email to her. Fortunately she and all her family are all fine. Her son and daughter, who both live on their own, travel across that bridge daily. Her daughter made some other plans yesterday or she would have been in the rush hour traffic on her way home with all the other drivers on that bridge. This has been much on my mind. I love the water. I love swimming in it. However, I would not like being trapped in my car under water. I wonder if I could keep my head and be able to get out. There was one gentleman interviewed who said most people panic. He demonstrated for the newscaster what one should do in that circumstance and used an acronym, POGO. Which is basically Pop the window; roll it down if you can, if you can't roll it, break it out; Out of the car; and GO, which is swim away. Could you do it? Could you keep a cool head as you car fills with water?

While making my rounds I found this important link on Giselle's blog today. Take a second and go check it out. It's worth your time, effort and energy. It's about you, me, our sisters, our mothers, our friends. It's about people we know and love like our own fabulous Jenster.

Well, I'm dead tired. I'd better get this posted and drag myself off to bed. I will probably be scarce over the weekend since we'll be busy with our guests. Take it easy out there and stay cool. I leave you with this because it just ain't summer without a trip to the beach!

Deutschland

Achtung! Attention!

So as I mentioned before Steadman is going to Germany soon for business. Most of her time will be spent in Hamburg which is in northern Germany. She asked me to do a post about stuff I remembered about it to give her some tips and an idea of what Germany is like. I lived in Germany for almost two years in the late 70s. I imagine it's changed some since then. Consequently I don't know how much light I can really shed on this subject. However, if the pictures (above) are anything to go by Hamburg is a pretty nice looking city.

The things I remember most? Germany was one of the cleanest places I've ever lived or visited. You'd see people and shop keepers washing down their sidewalks and store fronts every day. It seemed like everyone had lots of flowers too.

Also, the German people were very friendly at least that was my experience. Whether I was trying to find my way around or just asking for a suggestion for a good place to eat, the people were always kind and helpful. Almost every where I went in Germany people spoke English very well. Which begs the question why more Americans don't learn a second language. One friend of mine was fluent reading, writing and speaking German, French and English. With younger university students this wasn't at all unusual.

The pubs were great. Most serve food along with beer, wine and schnapps. Yeah, shots of schnapps and beer...don't do it. Not that I know anything about it first hand, 'cuz I don't. Really, I don't, but I had a boyfriend... Anyway, I don't remember any hard liquor in the pubs. There were some dance clubs I went to (yes, I was young once) and they served drinks, but I was there to dance so I don't know what's a popular mixed drink in Germany. BTW, the dance clubs were loud, bright, noisy, filled with people and a lot of fun. They loved disco in Germany and as far as I know, still do.

One other thing I remember from living in my little attic apartment in Sembach village is that most people shopped for their food daily in small neighborhood shops. This isn't unusual in Europe because when we were in Paris a few years ago people still seemed to do this.

The other thing that pops in my head is the brochen or brötchen. Yum! Crusty roll on the outside and soft bread on the inside. Breaks apart like a dream. I'd eat one for breakfast...just plain with coffee. Also they are so good with bratwurst. Everyone knows what bratwurst is. Cooked on an open grill on a street corner and slapped into a brötchen with some brown mustard, I could swoon thinking about it. There were white and red bratwurst. Spices and meat slightly different. Sometimes you can order a bratwurst in a restaurant with potatoes and sauerkraut. Lots of different kraut and wurst in Germany. I didn't meet any I didn't like.

I liked the beer. That's saying something because I'm not usually a beer drinker. But the German beer I liked. It's not served cold for one thing. Which makes it even more weird because on the rare occasion I do drink beer it's usually a swig of GG's and it is ALWAYS cold. So yeah, odd that I liked the beer.

Oh yeah, there is some great German wine. Some of it is a bit sweet for me, but to this day I love a good Riesling. I toured Alsace-Lorraine which is a part of France now I think but was once part of Germany. Great wines are made there. Now that was a great trip and I learned a lot about wine. Beautiful valley.

Stuff I remember about Germany like fasching which is the German equivalent of our Mardi Gras doesn't really apply for Steadman's trip. Not to mention where I lived, Sembach, is near Frankfurt in the south and not near Hamburg, so I don't even know if they celebrate fasching there. All of which is moot because Lent is over and that ship has sailed, but if you are ever in Germany on Fat Tuesday...well, The Big Easy isn't the only place that knows how to celebrate is all I'm sayin'.

Wow! I guess most of my German memories center around food, drink and making merry. Ummm...do you think that's significant in any way? Did I mention I was young? Could be worse. I could be talking about the totally depressing assortment of grunt jobs I had to support myself. All of which I'm grateful for, sucky as they were, because I got to live in freakin' Germany for crikeys sakes.

So, anybody else out there been to Germany? Better yet is there anyone reading this who lives in Germany or Hamburg specifically and can give Steadman some info? When I looked up places to see in Hamburg it only listed the port and warehouse district. Yeah, that doesn't sound too promising does it? However, I haven't a clue what's near there that might be fun or interesting. I know there's some beautiful green countryside just about every where in Germany so taking a drive is always an option. Just be careful on those speedy autobahns, okay?

So, auf Wiedersehen Steadman! Have a great trip and come home and tell us all about it. Oh, and don't forget the pictures.

Where to begin...

The trip to my sister's was great. I love seeing her kids. They are so entertaining. The 4th BBQ was great. Lots of good food. That's code for I ate too much. Lots of good left overs too though. OTOH, reading is going slow, not because I'm in a funk but because we are just summer time busy. Vacation has been nice and relaxing. GG still makes me laugh and that's good because he equally drives me nuts. Good thing I like him.

It's taken me the better part of a day, off and on, to catch up with everything. As marvey as Google Reader is it doesn't help me read and comment any quicker on all your blogs. I've come to the conclusion that you all are some pretty amazing and wonderful people. Really.

Good news I received that I won a drawing at Marjorie Liu's Web Petals site. New cool stuff is always awesome. So are her books, btw.

Ummm...Steadman called me this afternoon. I have to work on a post for her about Germany. She's going on a business trip to Hambourg, Germany and wants me to dredge up from my memory banks stuff I know about Germany. So hey, you people out there in the world. Any info you can add or help out please make it known in the comments. Steadman and I will both be forever grateful.

The place that didn't hire me for the full time job called and asked if I wanted a part time job. They offered it to me today and I said yes. Sure it's half the hourly pay and half the hours, but it's the place I want to work, so there you have it. Besides they seem fairly certain it will be full time within a year, so who knows. New windows are open and all that. I start next Tuesday.

Zeek, I haven't forgotten about your tag. It's just that getting a "loved one" to list 8 traits or habits turned out to be problematic for the combined grey matter of the men I live with. Oy! You would not believe the conversation that ensued.

Beanie: Trait? What exactly do you mean by a trait?

Me: You're in college. Do you really not know what a trait is?

Beanie: You mean like how you have an eagle eye when it comes to cleaning?

Me: *sigh* Yeah.

Beanie: What? That's not a trait?

Me: Yes, but ...never mind. It's supposed to be in your words, so just never mind.

Beanie: That was in my own words.

Me: I know

GG: Can't you say something nice about your Mother?

Me: Babe...

GG: She likes to read books.

::head desk::

Me: Thanks babe. We'll just do this later.

For Steadman

Here she is Miss K-Rock clutching "Lola" that Aunt Rosie sent her for her second birthday. She's such a ham.

Happy Thanksgiving and some other stuff...

I'm exhausted! Yes, exhausted. I just spent a couple of hours catching up on all my favorite blogs. Almost everyone had posted something since I last looked on Sunday. That'll teach me to be off my blog hopping routine for three days. There are so many things I want to do and get organized online yet. For one thing I haven't tagged all my older posts before beta. *sigh* Someday soon I hope.

This is just a quickie to wish you all a happy and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We seem to all be busy and not much (for the most part) in the blogging or reading mood. My absence now and in the coming weeks will be less about having the blahs and more about just having lots of extra things to do. Also, inconveniently, my arthritis has flared up. Maybe it's stress related because I have so many things I want to do and projects started, maybe it's just the luck of the draw. In any case, I wish it would hurry up and go away because it makes me pretty tired.

Enough with the complaining though because I have a life filled with love and blessings. I often think of my life in review since my mother's death. I do this because I am trying to live my life and make choices so I have no regrets at the end of my life. Sometimes it's scary, but it is also fulfilling.

Well I'm off as our family festivities start today with my niece's 18th birthday party this evening. Two days of family fun!

For those of you who asked, seeing Steadman in Vegas was fabulous. I just adore the minx. We are going to try and get together next month for our birthday weekend too. It's great having a friend who works for an airlines...she can travel free to come see me! Love you Steadman.

I Have This Friend...

I've been thinking about her a lot lately. Which is ironic because I had this post already written and was waiting to publish it when I read this post by Holly. She in turn has a link to another post. We are all thinking about people from our past. People who were, or are, very important to us. Both Holly and Moment happen to be thinking about first loves...for me it is a very dear friend.

She is the very best sort of friend. She and I can email or talk on the phone no matter how long a break we've had and take up where we left off as though the previous conversation or email had just been moments before.

Of course, she isn't perfect. While she faithfully reads this blog every day, and there isn't another living sole close to me who can claim that, she never comments. She emails, she calls, but never posts a comment. (Geez! What a pain in the a$$ you are sometimes!!) Not that commenting on a blog is her worst fault, it's just one I can discuss in a public forum. *G*

As I was saying, I've been thinking about her alot lately. Feeling like I owe her an apology. An apology for all the times I've been in a conversation discussing closest or best friends and made some remark stating that I have had all sorts of friends throughout my life, but I've never have had that one "special" best friend.

Then a couple of days ago I was looking at my blog stats and saw the little flag in Minnesota that tells me each day that my friend has visited my blog. This little red flag that has been there every day when not another person in the world, including my husband, was reading my blog.

Honest to God it hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't believe how completely dumb I'd been. Of course I have that one, true special best friend! She's been there for me for more than 25 years no matter what. When my Mom died, when my brother died...she's been there. How could I be so clueless and unappreciative?

I have many friends that are very dear to me to be sure. Friends I've shared many wonderful times and moments with over the years...and there isn't one I can do without or would trade. But this friend is special to me. You know why? Because with the exception of my sisters and my husband she is the only person I'm completely my down and dirty to the bone self.

I absolutely adore her! I can't imagine my life without her. We've cried together, fought together and we always laugh together. I get her and she gets me. Even the icky parts that most other people don't like about us.

So, this is for you dear Steadman. I love you to bits. Forgive me for not saying your name proudly every time I've been in a conversation about best friends. Can you feel me thinking about you? I think it's time for a visit.

STEADMAN SPEAKS...

This was posted in my comments by the infamous Steadman. I'm sure as time passes you will hear more about our glorius past and many exploits...not to mention present day shenanigans.

Incentive Packages must be the rage. Last night mine was "I've got an offer you just can't refuse.." (yes, offered up by the guy I live with). I should know better..NO, I do know better, what was I thinking!!! A few weeks ago we rcvd. a $$ incentive(gift) from the mother-in-law. Where she says "I want to give you some $$ to make your home life easier." (ya, only if you purchase exactly what I tell you to). I'm thinking housekeeper, chef.. NO, a MONSTER (f'n riding) lawn mower!!!!

This is the machine when brought home, my head hung in complete embarrassment. Now I've had many, I say many other life happenings that I thought were over the top, can't show my face (May incident). Don't ask. This tops them all!!!

Our youngest child unit was there for the MONSTER's homecoming. He thought we'd lost our minds, too old, lazy you name it. Most of all according to him, he's the poor college student and why wasn't he given the $$. True. The MONSTER would come in handy at school. Halloween. Attach a little trailer hire it out for hay rides. Better yet, SOBER MONSTER for hire. OR Winter...slap a plow on the front, drive yourself to class while picking up a few bucks plowing sidewalks! As much as I didn't want to I had to explain how the MONSTER arrived in our driveway.

OH, did I mention, the neighbors (even the ones that don't talk to you cuz you don't want them to but they don't get that last part) had to come over as if we had something FREE to offer them. They wouldn't leave.. This was all so wrong. Which brings me to "I've go an offer you just can't refuse."

My usual after work routine was complete. I bounced upstairs for end of day spousal interaction. Then comes the offer. We can do this then we can do this...Sounds fine. NOW, as I'm putting on my socks and shoes I'm thinking I get to "help" cut grass? I'm confused.

However, I was "in charge"(key) of the normal size push mower. I was also "in charge" of the areas of the yard the MONSTER couldn't manage. As I walked the perimeter of the yard, sweating my ass and anything else that got in the way off. The tree was sweating. Guess who's riding???? No socks, shoes or sweat. Somehow humidity was a non-issue for him. IT'S ONLY 120%! Yep, non-issue... I can't help thinking, this is making my home life easier how???? OH....it wasn't about ME! Wrong, it's always about ME! Just ask the guy I live with. (he is very understanding)

Plus, I GOT to bag what-ever I had trimmed! (what a deal) Yes, that's what I was doing, trimming!!!! Not cutting, TRIMMING!!! What the hell....

The evening wasn't a total confused mess. I did get to take a field trip. First to tour the compost site. The flies are friendly there. Then I got to see and tour the brand new BEST BUY - Motorola Theater Store, THEN to drop off borrowed golf clubs.

I know, I live right.

Steadman

INCENTIVE PACKAGE

Incentive package was interesting, but not interesting (or juicy enough) to stick around for another 30 days to help train replacement...yuck!

Gonna be out of town to visit my brother in northern California. The guy I live with and I are going to be driving up together and leaving two teenaged boy beasts home.

Can't wait to get away from it all for a few days and have a change of scenery and a break from same old, same old.

Steadman...where are you?

If you blog it they will come...

So I'm having one of those great spontaneous telephone convos with a friend of mine who lives far away. You know the kind where you can just take up talking to the person like you saw her yesterday? (Hey Steadman you didn't think it would take me long to land you smack dab in the middle of things did you?)

Well my darling friend had called because I'd emailed her about my blog page and she was letting me know she'd dropped by. I told the little gutter snipe she could've left a comment, but it was so cool that she picked up the phone and called that I didn't give her too bad a time about it.

Anyway we were both laughing and talking about the BREAKFAST BITCHES and their truly outrageous bitchiness. I commented on how I can't believe I stumbled on this whole blogging world and how much I love it because it is a place where you can talk about anything you want...give voice to your opinion without interruption. No guilt! No calories! Oh, and it's way cheaper than therapy! : )

I laugh almost every day at something some wacky someone has written. That is certainly a welcome addition in anyone's world.

So, Steadman...got anything to say?