The Sounds of Silence

All I can really say about my embarrassingly long absence (no, I am not proud of this) is that it takes a lot of energy and time to build a new life from scratch.  February brings with it cabin fever and a longing for something new, something a little different to shake things up a bit...make life interesting again.  I'm here to say that I would be delighted beyond belief to have something be old and the same.

Fear not, a respite did arrive in the form of a trip on base to Patch where I ate Taco Bell and bought Cheerios, Log Cabin Syrup, Oscar Meyer Beef Bologna, Crisco, Cars theme Macaroni and Cheese among other delightfully normal things that every grocer in America carries and is beyond the scope of the German palette.  Felt like home for the first time in a long time and I liked it.  A lot.  Best thing?  Made eye contact with a woman I don't even know and she smiled and said Hi.

To cap up quickly, DH is still enjoying work.  Our office / spare room is now set and ready for guests.  I've joined a book club and found a monthly crop at the only scrapbook store in Stuttgart.  DJ is now enrolled in German Kindergarten.  This was our first week so still keeping fingers crossed with this transition.  Spent 8 days in Paris visiting the city and going to Disney and Universal Studios.  Went to Octoberfest and saw a side of Germans I really was doubting existed...the one where they laugh.  Had my mom come visit while my husband was back home working.  Visited Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.  Hosted my husbands parents for Christmas and New Years.  Went to several Christmas Markets.  Found skim milk, Irish Cheddar cheese and taco shells at the local grocery store along with the best bakery and butcher in Feuerbach.  Music Together classes for DJ, which he loves.  Taking German lessons twice a week and making some progress, but so long to go........

So looking forward, we are planning a trip to Tuscany in April.  I'm looking forward to Version Scrap in Paris at the end of March with a fellow scrapper from MI living in Stuttgart...very excited!  DH has cold weather testing in Sweden for two full weeks...please start praying for me now.  I fantasize about jumping on a plane and spending a week in London where people speak English during this time.  Starting up a scrapbooking group with the International Women's Club Stuttgart and some English speaking crops at Scrapbooking Stuttgart.
Here is a congratulations shout out to my friend Nicole who is recently engaged...so happy for her!  :)
Lastly, a pic of DJ "reading" a German Mickey Mouse comic book.

What I love most about Germany:  My IWC friends.  

What I miss most about the USA:  Only 15 minutes in the car to get just about anywhere I need to go daily.

photos:  jj at Ludwigsburg Palace, Germany / Canstatter Wassen Volksfest (Octoberfest Stuttgart - and yes the lead singer is playing an accordion!) / city wall in Rottenberg, Germany