Sunday, May 25, 2014

So I'm sure there is some new age quote about how "things" don't equal happiness, but in my case, they do. We've been living without our "stuff" for a long time now. Essentially since November. We have it now! Life is complete!

It was delivered just 2 days ago and it's like Christmas. But better. It's like a birthday and anniversary and Valentines Day. Presents everywhere!

They wrapped everything! I mean, everything. Like the plastic cup we use in the bath for the kids. And individual shoes. And also, little army men.

I'm so glad we brought our old disgusting pans across the country.

We came from a really small house so there were a lot of things in storage we didn't get to use in the trailer. So reopening it up was so fun! Wedding pictures, frames I didn't know I had!

It's also pretty great because there are pieces of people I love all over now. Keep in mind, I'm still very much in the process of moving in. But that China hutch Megan passed along to me? I have that! Guess what's inside of it? China that Belle gave me. There's plates from Trish I never gave back. And a typewriter from Grandma and Grandpa Menlove.

David unpacked my dad. Hahaha. It's not funny. But he said it was pretty awkward. He was just unpacking boxes and the item he pulled out seemed heavy. There's a reason why! I meant to give him to Steph and Chelsi. But in the midst of everything, I forgot. I'm kind of glad he's getting to be here in Germany with me. He would have loved it here. Wait! He is loving it here!

I can't wait for everyone to come visit. I'm hoping by the time people want to come here, I'll at least have cleared a space for you/them to sleep. Right now there is a lot of boxes and children and crumbs and food and plastic totes hanging around.

The best thing we brought with us so far is our record player. We have loved having it because for me, having it is like having our parents here. Davids parents love Bread and Neil Diamond and I have the Eagles and Billy Joel to remind me of mine. It's really great. Then we have some Jack Johnson and Michael Jackson to keep it real. Haha.

Anyway, I know in real life "things" don't really mean that much. But right now, they bring me comfort which is something I've been missing a tiny bit. But not now. :-)

Before we got our furniture! 


Thursday, May 15, 2014

Remember how Pennsylvania is SOO humid? Remember how I never once did NOT have frizzy hair? Well it's back and in full force! But this time, Germany style. I feel like I look like this:




Well not the pretty part of that, but the hair part. It's crazy. I need professional hair help!

I'm messaging my sister on Facbook right now and I told her I feel bi-polar. I told her I feel elated to be here and then I think about David going on vacation and I freak out. Then I think about the awesome people I've met and feel happy again and then I think about shopping at German grocery stores and it's instant anxiety. So pretty much thats how it is. Although, I've found most German people speak some English. Especially around here. Someone told me that as long as they are not a grandparent age, they speak English cause they've learned it. That was proven wrong today when we went to OBI to get some paint. Both the paint guy and our check-out lady spoke great English and they were grandparentish age. Well the English wasn't great, but good enough for us to communicate! I'm thankful.

This is an old, unfinished post. The frizzy hair is still there. So is my bi-polar feeling toward Germany. It seriously changes every single moment. Right now I'm okay because we have Hulu Plus and I have a friend coming over. I also have a can of Diet Pepsi sitting next to me. Thus, I am happy.

Do you know about OPSEC? I don't either. But I kind of hate it. Because I'm now terrified to post anything that might remotely get me in trouble from the OPSEC trolls that are out there. I hear the trolls are disguised as army wives.

From Wikipedia (so it's absolutely true)
Operations security (OPSEC) is a term originating in US military jargon, as a process that identifies critical information to determine if friendly actions can be observed by adversary intelligence systems, determines if information obtained by adversaries could be interpreted to be useful to them, and then executes selected measures that eliminate or reduce adversary exploitation of friendly critical information.
Though the above statement is true in its official military format, OPSEC is the process of protecting little pieces of data that could be grouped together to give the bigger picture. OPSEC is the protecting of critical information deemed mission essential from military commanders. Protecting this critical information is through the use of email encryption software, being careful of who may be listening to you (like in a hotel bar), paying close attention to a picture you have taken (back ground), or not talking openly on social media sites about information on the unit's critical information list (military deployments, shortages of equipment or movement of VIPs). 
In more modern usage, the term has come to have a similar meaning including protecting information from unfriendly eyes, including industrial espionage, hackers, or social engineering.
So there you go. Now you know. I'm hoping I'll never be silly enough to post such information, but if I do, I hope you'll me out on it.

Here are some pictures of a place called Mantel Markt. It was a beautiful day. These are unedited pictures.




 I loved how the sun was shining on the houses but the sky was so dark. The little town was glowing.  Can't get enough of these little villages? What's the right term for them? They call them municipalities. But that's a hard word. Communities? Yes. That.

We'll be driving along in this gorgeous farming country and all of a sudden come upon a little community such as this. Then drive through it and that's the end. I like how everything is grouped together. It makes it seem much more organized. And pretty. And that's what's important right?

Those clouds in the picture? Those are the source of my frizzy hair. What's your favorite product for such a problem? 

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