Sunday, September 02, 2007
A sweet disorder-part 2
**Disclaimer-this will be "post madness" as I owe some serious Germany to family and friends in the States-be prepared!**
The movers came, a week ago, Friday.
The night before at 1700 (which is 5pm: you subtract 1200 from the time to get the civilian time)we got an email from the middle school informing "the sponsor"/Team Leader that his/her child had to get their shot record updated before Monday morning OR he/she could not come to school on the first day-Monday.
Within the text of the email there was information about the Immunization Clinic, most importantly, that it would be closing HALF DAY on Friday! We had no idea which of our two "middles" were in question, b/c the email wasn't that specific. Both would have to go, one HATES needles, this could be a problem!
We decided that I would take the kids to the clinic, b/c Team Leader HAD to be here to receive the 9 shipping crates as HE is the Service Member. (I have learned over these 15 years that if someone on the other side asks to speak to the service member, that I'm going to get nothing accomplished...they want him and no one else!)
We woke the kids up at 6:30, and by 7:20 or so, carrying their shot records b/c we weren't going to show up empty armed (hah!) we were on our way to the clinic.
TL had said "It's easy...just follow my directions" I am not the certified Path Finder in this marriage-he is-and his maps aren't exactly like MapQuest. He did give me enough land marks to make the trip all the while praying "There By the Grace of G-d go I ..." I had only been driving for 3 days, and had actually only gone straight to the PX, never into local traffic!
Needless to say, we made it, in one piece by 7:45.
We walked into the clinic-PACKED-got a number, 67, and stood by a wall to wait our turn. We ended up chatting with a family who had received the same email, and were number 59. It turned out that two hundred and ninety-two families had opened up the same message, no one had contacted the clinic, b/c it was a half day and the clinic was understaffed! While we were there, they called down to somewhere asking for more immunizations twice AND had a second staffing arrive to cover the overflow of questioning parents and their comatose middleschoolers.
It was NUTS!
Pres, fell asleep standing up while we waited, we ended up putting him in a chair for safety reasons after he nodded twice. Doll, hung out, but got very tired as we got closer and closer to their turn. By 9:30 we were on our way, with updated shot records in hand. We made it back to the movers...who were local-only one of whom spoke broken English...and TL directing traffic...and Mr. Ben writing down everything that hadn't been inventoried...
It was crazy, and that, was an understatement!
That was the kitchen. Can you see the floor?!
The dining room-I think!
Maybe a bedroom?
I stopped taking pictures after I got the face above...and started taking photos of everything that had been damaged. There was a lot, it was frustrating and because it was such a long day, we're still unpacking.
One box at a time.
We have a "Whoops, You Broke It" list that is now a single space, full page, long.
I promise when the flat is as we want it that I will post "finished" photos for everyone to get an understanding of our new home.
Have to get a fresh cup of coffee-part 3 is next!
umarmen und lieben!
essie
The movers came, a week ago, Friday.
The night before at 1700 (which is 5pm: you subtract 1200 from the time to get the civilian time)we got an email from the middle school informing "the sponsor"/Team Leader that his/her child had to get their shot record updated before Monday morning OR he/she could not come to school on the first day-Monday.
Within the text of the email there was information about the Immunization Clinic, most importantly, that it would be closing HALF DAY on Friday! We had no idea which of our two "middles" were in question, b/c the email wasn't that specific. Both would have to go, one HATES needles, this could be a problem!
We decided that I would take the kids to the clinic, b/c Team Leader HAD to be here to receive the 9 shipping crates as HE is the Service Member. (I have learned over these 15 years that if someone on the other side asks to speak to the service member, that I'm going to get nothing accomplished...they want him and no one else!)
We woke the kids up at 6:30, and by 7:20 or so, carrying their shot records b/c we weren't going to show up empty armed (hah!) we were on our way to the clinic.
TL had said "It's easy...just follow my directions" I am not the certified Path Finder in this marriage-he is-and his maps aren't exactly like MapQuest. He did give me enough land marks to make the trip all the while praying "There By the Grace of G-d go I ..." I had only been driving for 3 days, and had actually only gone straight to the PX, never into local traffic!
Needless to say, we made it, in one piece by 7:45.
We walked into the clinic-PACKED-got a number, 67, and stood by a wall to wait our turn. We ended up chatting with a family who had received the same email, and were number 59. It turned out that two hundred and ninety-two families had opened up the same message, no one had contacted the clinic, b/c it was a half day and the clinic was understaffed! While we were there, they called down to somewhere asking for more immunizations twice AND had a second staffing arrive to cover the overflow of questioning parents and their comatose middleschoolers.
It was NUTS!
Pres, fell asleep standing up while we waited, we ended up putting him in a chair for safety reasons after he nodded twice. Doll, hung out, but got very tired as we got closer and closer to their turn. By 9:30 we were on our way, with updated shot records in hand. We made it back to the movers...who were local-only one of whom spoke broken English...and TL directing traffic...and Mr. Ben writing down everything that hadn't been inventoried...
It was crazy, and that, was an understatement!
That was the kitchen. Can you see the floor?!
The dining room-I think!
Maybe a bedroom?
I stopped taking pictures after I got the face above...and started taking photos of everything that had been damaged. There was a lot, it was frustrating and because it was such a long day, we're still unpacking.
One box at a time.
We have a "Whoops, You Broke It" list that is now a single space, full page, long.
I promise when the flat is as we want it that I will post "finished" photos for everyone to get an understanding of our new home.
Have to get a fresh cup of coffee-part 3 is next!
umarmen und lieben!
essie
Sunday, August 26, 2007
First Day Jitters
is the title of a book I read every year to my class.
It's a great book about a TEACHER who has a case of first day nerves...
This year, I've reserved my nerves for my 3 children, whose first day of school begins in 5 minutes when I painfully begin waking them up!
More to post, I'm certain, later today!
Send happy wishes, good thoughts, and all the positive energy you can, across the pond!
umarmen und lieben
essie
ps-to all my teacher pals who start today, think a little Team Tang, Magic Door, Creative Insubordination, Deer Stuck in the Headlights hugs and love today, from me to you!
xoxoxxo
It's a great book about a TEACHER who has a case of first day nerves...
This year, I've reserved my nerves for my 3 children, whose first day of school begins in 5 minutes when I painfully begin waking them up!
More to post, I'm certain, later today!
Send happy wishes, good thoughts, and all the positive energy you can, across the pond!
umarmen und lieben
essie
ps-to all my teacher pals who start today, think a little Team Tang, Magic Door, Creative Insubordination, Deer Stuck in the Headlights hugs and love today, from me to you!
xoxoxxo
Monday, August 20, 2007
WOOHOO!!!
I passed the German driving test!
As I told my Aunt, it was 100 questions of PURE STRESS, and its done!!
Yay ME!!
TL is happy, because he's tired of driving me around, the kids are happy because we aren't confined to Base.
I'm happy because the darn thing is DONE!!
umarmen und lieben
essie
As I told my Aunt, it was 100 questions of PURE STRESS, and its done!!
Yay ME!!
TL is happy, because he's tired of driving me around, the kids are happy because we aren't confined to Base.
I'm happy because the darn thing is DONE!!
umarmen und lieben
essie
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Life on Post
Little things I've picked up about living on Post include-
*Some parents don't supervise their kids...at all!
*You stand up for the National Anthem at the movie theatre before the movie starts.
*You can walk anywhere you want to go, on Post, that is!
*People can hear you from your second story flat.
*Our "Eis" (ice cream) man is ITALIAN, and is trying to teach me how to order for the kids in German, Spanish, and Italian-the French, I have that down pat!
*You can pay in dollars, but no one wants pennies...
*There is a lot of practical storage in our flat, but, it's also empty right now!
*Some GI's and their families, want this base to look manicured and nice-others-not so much!(See my first comment above!)
The other night TL and I went to see Oceans Thirteen (just now getting here...)a 5 minute walk from our place to the theatre. It was light out when we left. Naturally, it was dark when we got out of the movie. We started our walk home, talking about the movie and the fact we were actually having the FIRST date night of our marriage, when I looked up an saw a fully lit Christmas tree in the window of another soldier's Quarters.
A Christmas tree...in August.
A sign, perhaps, that for this home Christmas would be now instead of December because Mommy or Daddy wouldn't be around then?
Maybe. Probably. It brought tears to my eyes, and made me think of our friends who have been gone for too long, and who are leaving again right now-for too long.
It's not right. Not at all. I don't envy any of them...just pray and hope for their safe return, and hope that this world of ours can settle down enough for us to leave SOMETHING tangible for our children, who will inheirit this madness if it doesn't.
*Some parents don't supervise their kids...at all!
*You stand up for the National Anthem at the movie theatre before the movie starts.
*You can walk anywhere you want to go, on Post, that is!
*People can hear you from your second story flat.
*Our "Eis" (ice cream) man is ITALIAN, and is trying to teach me how to order for the kids in German, Spanish, and Italian-the French, I have that down pat!
*You can pay in dollars, but no one wants pennies...
*There is a lot of practical storage in our flat, but, it's also empty right now!
*Some GI's and their families, want this base to look manicured and nice-others-not so much!(See my first comment above!)
The other night TL and I went to see Oceans Thirteen (just now getting here...)a 5 minute walk from our place to the theatre. It was light out when we left. Naturally, it was dark when we got out of the movie. We started our walk home, talking about the movie and the fact we were actually having the FIRST date night of our marriage, when I looked up an saw a fully lit Christmas tree in the window of another soldier's Quarters.
A Christmas tree...in August.
A sign, perhaps, that for this home Christmas would be now instead of December because Mommy or Daddy wouldn't be around then?
Maybe. Probably. It brought tears to my eyes, and made me think of our friends who have been gone for too long, and who are leaving again right now-for too long.
It's not right. Not at all. I don't envy any of them...just pray and hope for their safe return, and hope that this world of ours can settle down enough for us to leave SOMETHING tangible for our children, who will inheirit this madness if it doesn't.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Had to share this little nugget!
This comes from a fellow "Expat" named J who I met online shamelessly blog lurking while I was getting prepared to move overseas. He is also a teacher, and his blog is fantastic! Lots of great info about Germany, and, when you see the title you'll understand why I was drawn to it!
| What Your Pizza Reveals |
 You eat like a European. A little bit of everything, but too much. You stay svelt through portion control. You consider pizza to be bread... very good bread. You fit in best in the Midwest part of the US. You like food that's traditional and well crafted. You aren't impressed with "gourmet" foods. You are generous, outgoing, and considerate with your choices. You are a flavorful and bold person. You should consider traveling to Spain. The stereotype that best fits you is guy or girl next door. Hey, there's nothing wrong with being average. |
love, love, love these bags!
so...getting used to blogger coming up in german...starting to recognize some words and (while I've probably just memorized the links I hit) I'm feeling like I might be getting some of this!
Here are my lovely, lovely shopping bags:
this is the bag in it's little holder-it's the size of a credit card! This is the pattern love,love,love and this is the shape 
It's about as big as a large plastic bag from Safeway or Giant BUT it is made of this fantastic rip-proof nylon. Because I couldn't resist, I got this too,
It's a bottle bag-holds 9 bottles of whatever you are buying...water...heffeweissen (beer)...wine...you name it! Another great purchase was this bag
This bag actually opens up and hooks onto either side of your shopping cart, you load it up, pay for your things, and load it up again to take your purchases home...fabulous for many other uses as well, but holy mess, is just too cute not to have!
What Im saving up to get is this little baby-trust me, it's going to be worth the $50.00+ I spend, the real thing is amazing!!
TL thinks I'm nuts, maybe I am, but I truly feel that by using these bags I'm making my little contribution to eliminating unnecessary waste!
umarmen und lieben
essie
Here are my lovely, lovely shopping bags:
this is the bag in it's little holder-it's the size of a credit card! This is the pattern love,love,love and this is the shape It's about as big as a large plastic bag from Safeway or Giant BUT it is made of this fantastic rip-proof nylon. Because I couldn't resist, I got this too,
It's a bottle bag-holds 9 bottles of whatever you are buying...water...heffeweissen (beer)...wine...you name it! Another great purchase was this bag
This bag actually opens up and hooks onto either side of your shopping cart, you load it up, pay for your things, and load it up again to take your purchases home...fabulous for many other uses as well, but holy mess, is just too cute not to have!What Im saving up to get is this little baby-trust me, it's going to be worth the $50.00+ I spend, the real thing is amazing!!
TL thinks I'm nuts, maybe I am, but I truly feel that by using these bags I'm making my little contribution to eliminating unnecessary waste!
umarmen und lieben
essie
the winner
is, my beautiful, Jen (with wonderful Kaleb in this photo)who is sending us our crazy vaccum broom!
How excited am I...you all have NO idea!
Now, *e*, if you want to get me a spare plate or two, since you assisted in my original plate selection stress I'll love you forever AND will send you 2 shopping bags (one for you and one extra for the sisser w/Baby!! SOOOOOOO happy about that btw and you better email me or else!)
My cup runneth over today, friends-I woke up to love in emails-doesn't get better than that! More to post later on-it is GORGEOUS outside-and we're going to take advantage of it!
umarmen und lieben
Essie
Friday, August 17, 2007
a sweet disorder
is the title of one of my grandmothers paintings-it's a favorite of mine, and it arrived today, safe and sound!
Our dishes, all of our dishes, they didn't.
That's a problem...seriously.
HOWEVER, we do get to claim all the things that don't make it out of the hammered shut crates, and I am feeling much better about our decision to keep somethings Stateside. It was a hassle for my Mom, who is storing those things for us, but they are safe-that's what matters. So, I say, 'Goodbye' to my red, yellow, blue, and green dishes and 'Hello' to something else.
We're still waiting on our serious stuff to arrive...the 9 crates that I'm convinced will explode in our living room...the total 'YIKES' that will make "here" become "home" for our family. We do still need certain things that now (as hindsight is 20/20) I'm SOO wishing I'd picked up before we left!
Things like this little sucker
Be the first person who says they'll send the "Dirt Devil Vaccum Broom" to me (I'll reimburse you everything, including shipping-OF COURSE!) and you will get a fun, very "Green" european shopping bag with all my hugs and love, your $$ back, and tremendous thanks from all 3 kids whose chore it is to keep our hardwood floors clean!
(I'll get a snap of the bag on this post asap! It's hard to navigate German Google when you don't speak the language, but the bag is WAY cute and very, very smart! I have one and I love it!)
We also need another fabbo Target plate
Pres accidentally snapped one during what we are calling the "Peanut Butter Incident...ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies! I'm doing alright on my dryer sheets, in part because I bought 4 containers before we left and those miraculously made it with today's shipment...no dishes, but plenty of dryer sheets...hmm
Can't seem to get our hands on a basic spring rod either...I know they have to have them in Germany somewhere, I just haven't found that place yet! We have a shower stall that is literally 10 feet high, and while I'm sure there are suitable shower curtains, I don't think they are 10 feet long! (Not sure what the Army was doing the day they made this bathroom...) Hence, the need for a spring rod, to hang a regular shower curtain!
Team Leader DID get me a Euro Coffee Pot today, after ours arrived minus the actual piece you need to brew the coffee-crazy reigns supreme, I guess!
We did have a fantastic afternoon, outside in the park, after we found spots for everything we unpacked. It was sunny, and clear, perfect weather for some skateboarding
and 
swinging. I managed a nice little latte and a trip to the library
(The Bloodstone Papers and Shoe Addicts Anonymous-can't wait!)A walking trip to the commissary (4 blocks away) for some yummy dinner-ness and that's a day in the life!
A sweet disorder, absolutely, yes!
It's all mine!
umarmen und lieben
essie
Our dishes, all of our dishes, they didn't.
That's a problem...seriously.
HOWEVER, we do get to claim all the things that don't make it out of the hammered shut crates, and I am feeling much better about our decision to keep somethings Stateside. It was a hassle for my Mom, who is storing those things for us, but they are safe-that's what matters. So, I say, 'Goodbye' to my red, yellow, blue, and green dishes and 'Hello' to something else.
We're still waiting on our serious stuff to arrive...the 9 crates that I'm convinced will explode in our living room...the total 'YIKES' that will make "here" become "home" for our family. We do still need certain things that now (as hindsight is 20/20) I'm SOO wishing I'd picked up before we left!
Things like this little sucker
Be the first person who says they'll send the "Dirt Devil Vaccum Broom" to me (I'll reimburse you everything, including shipping-OF COURSE!) and you will get a fun, very "Green" european shopping bag with all my hugs and love, your $$ back, and tremendous thanks from all 3 kids whose chore it is to keep our hardwood floors clean!
(I'll get a snap of the bag on this post asap! It's hard to navigate German Google when you don't speak the language, but the bag is WAY cute and very, very smart! I have one and I love it!)
We also need another fabbo Target plate
Pres accidentally snapped one during what we are calling the "Peanut Butter Incident...ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies! I'm doing alright on my dryer sheets, in part because I bought 4 containers before we left and those miraculously made it with today's shipment...no dishes, but plenty of dryer sheets...hmm
Can't seem to get our hands on a basic spring rod either...I know they have to have them in Germany somewhere, I just haven't found that place yet! We have a shower stall that is literally 10 feet high, and while I'm sure there are suitable shower curtains, I don't think they are 10 feet long! (Not sure what the Army was doing the day they made this bathroom...) Hence, the need for a spring rod, to hang a regular shower curtain!
Team Leader DID get me a Euro Coffee Pot today, after ours arrived minus the actual piece you need to brew the coffee-crazy reigns supreme, I guess!
We did have a fantastic afternoon, outside in the park, after we found spots for everything we unpacked. It was sunny, and clear, perfect weather for some skateboarding
and 
swinging. I managed a nice little latte and a trip to the library(The Bloodstone Papers and Shoe Addicts Anonymous-can't wait!)A walking trip to the commissary (4 blocks away) for some yummy dinner-ness and that's a day in the life!
A sweet disorder, absolutely, yes!
It's all mine!
umarmen und lieben
essie
Essie Fun Facts
How to slow your life down in a few steps:
1. Have your husband come home and tell you you are moving to a foreign country.
2. Freak out for a few months.
3. Start the very lengthy moving process.
4. Say goodbye to everything you know...
5. MOVE-just move.
6. Get to said foreign country, and realize that a work week is 35 hours, not 70+ hours, and that having 450+ tv channels really isn't all that it's cracked up to be, 8 is more than enough.
7. Wonder if we will EVER get the kids up before noon-school DOES start in a week!
8. Spend time outside, on walks, WITH your family.
9. Spend time outside, exploring, WITH your family.
10. Spend time outside, appreciating YOUR family.
11. Wonder what all the frantic, hectic, craziness was all about in the first place?
We registered the kids for school yesterday.
Ben will be at Patrick Henry Elementary-literally 2 blocks away from our Quarters. Pres and Dollie will be over at Heidelberg Middle School,
3 blocks away in the opposite direction. Both schools have new principals-we met the new principal at Patrick Henry-WHAT I would give to get a job there! However...it's not looking too good right now...enrollment is down and other schools have been closed in Europe making those downsized teachers the first on the list for openings...frustrating, because (like in NC), I do want to work.
I love teaching. I do.
I also understand about having to "wait my turn."
All I need is my foot in the door, so, while I wait we'll stick to the last 4 steps on my little list and slow down to enjoy our life in Germany!
umarmen und lieben
**new music courtesy of Preston, and when TeamLeader comes back with my camera, more photos!**
1. Have your husband come home and tell you you are moving to a foreign country.
2. Freak out for a few months.
3. Start the very lengthy moving process.
4. Say goodbye to everything you know...
5. MOVE-just move.
6. Get to said foreign country, and realize that a work week is 35 hours, not 70+ hours, and that having 450+ tv channels really isn't all that it's cracked up to be, 8 is more than enough.
7. Wonder if we will EVER get the kids up before noon-school DOES start in a week!
8. Spend time outside, on walks, WITH your family.
9. Spend time outside, exploring, WITH your family.
10. Spend time outside, appreciating YOUR family.
11. Wonder what all the frantic, hectic, craziness was all about in the first place?
We registered the kids for school yesterday.
Ben will be at Patrick Henry Elementary-literally 2 blocks away from our Quarters. Pres and Dollie will be over at Heidelberg Middle School,
3 blocks away in the opposite direction. Both schools have new principals-we met the new principal at Patrick Henry-WHAT I would give to get a job there! However...it's not looking too good right now...enrollment is down and other schools have been closed in Europe making those downsized teachers the first on the list for openings...frustrating, because (like in NC), I do want to work. I love teaching. I do.
I also understand about having to "wait my turn."
All I need is my foot in the door, so, while I wait we'll stick to the last 4 steps on my little list and slow down to enjoy our life in Germany!
umarmen und lieben
**new music courtesy of Preston, and when TeamLeader comes back with my camera, more photos!**
Sunday, August 12, 2007
awake...just barely!
When we arrived on Thursday, we brought some crazy weather, fortunately jetlag kicked in and we missed most of the rain!
Today the sun came out.
We took our first real trip into the town Zentrum (center), a familiar walking shopping district called the Haupstrasse. We ate lunch with some of Team Leaders co-workers, and the kids had the most expensive glass of Coca Cola EVER! The euro, isn't really liking the dollar much these days, so
2,20 E translates into about $5.00 US! and it was just one glass...no refills folks!
**sidebar, Team Leader quickly pointed out to me just how much our lunch cost, and suggested I make getting hired here a REAL priority!**
Regardless, it was a beautiful day for a walk, and the kids seem to be making the transition to living in Germany. Team Leader and I keep looking at each other as if we're in shock...we're actually here, in Europe, mind blowing to say the least!
We're purchasing a "hooptie" (beater car that you buy to save gas and get around in-nothing fancy!) for TL to drive back and forth to work, and for me to learn how to navigate the crazy road rules and teeny tiny parking garages when we go into town. The Expedition will be our traveling car...trips off post, adventures for the family, room to sit without the kids killing one another! Dollie made a joke about her Daddy finally getting a "Golf Cart" as the car is a VW Golf and is the size of a golf cart! (We laughed, he didn't!)
Tomorrow TL picks up our truck, and fingers crossed, we're in Quarters by the end of the day on Tuesday. Our first load of stuff will arrive by Friday, giving us enough time to paint a few bedrooms, buy some new light fixtures (to replace the YIKES fixtures in our 50+ year old flat), buy some nice flowering plants for new window boxes and the outside area in front of our building and generally settle in...enough... before the 9 shipping crates show up and explode in our living room!
**another post on THAT, later**
For now, a snap of most of our family, to prove to our family and friends that we really are alive!
A full family photo will be next-promise!
umarmen und lieben,
Essie
Today the sun came out.
We took our first real trip into the town Zentrum (center), a familiar walking shopping district called the Haupstrasse. We ate lunch with some of Team Leaders co-workers, and the kids had the most expensive glass of Coca Cola EVER! The euro, isn't really liking the dollar much these days, so
2,20 E translates into about $5.00 US! and it was just one glass...no refills folks!
**sidebar, Team Leader quickly pointed out to me just how much our lunch cost, and suggested I make getting hired here a REAL priority!**
Regardless, it was a beautiful day for a walk, and the kids seem to be making the transition to living in Germany. Team Leader and I keep looking at each other as if we're in shock...we're actually here, in Europe, mind blowing to say the least!
We're purchasing a "hooptie" (beater car that you buy to save gas and get around in-nothing fancy!) for TL to drive back and forth to work, and for me to learn how to navigate the crazy road rules and teeny tiny parking garages when we go into town. The Expedition will be our traveling car...trips off post, adventures for the family, room to sit without the kids killing one another! Dollie made a joke about her Daddy finally getting a "Golf Cart" as the car is a VW Golf and is the size of a golf cart! (We laughed, he didn't!)
Tomorrow TL picks up our truck, and fingers crossed, we're in Quarters by the end of the day on Tuesday. Our first load of stuff will arrive by Friday, giving us enough time to paint a few bedrooms, buy some new light fixtures (to replace the YIKES fixtures in our 50+ year old flat), buy some nice flowering plants for new window boxes and the outside area in front of our building and generally settle in...enough... before the 9 shipping crates show up and explode in our living room!
**another post on THAT, later**
For now, a snap of most of our family, to prove to our family and friends that we really are alive!
A full family photo will be next-promise!
umarmen und lieben,
Essie
Monday, August 06, 2007
My World
the countdown has winded down...
we're marking hours now, instead of days, and this will be my last post until we are in Germany.
Germany.
That's where we are going to live.
We won't live here in Virginia, or North Carolina, Or Georgia...
all the other places we called home.
Home, is now, where the Army sends us.
Simon Raven said:
"Life is short, and the world, is wide"
The world is wide, and open, and so much bigger than we know-
I couldn't say goodbye to everyone; simply, it became too hard.
You're all so magnificent, and, part of me in everyway. Saying goodbye was like saying it's over, and I couldn't do that. I want to remember everything the way I left it: smiling, shining, glowing, full of joy-so beautiful.
All of you.
Come to Germany.
Come to visit.
Come to see, that the world is wide.
umarmen und lieben
(hug and love...literally)
essie
we're marking hours now, instead of days, and this will be my last post until we are in Germany.
Germany.
That's where we are going to live.
We won't live here in Virginia, or North Carolina, Or Georgia...
all the other places we called home.
Home, is now, where the Army sends us.
Simon Raven said:
"Life is short, and the world, is wide"
The world is wide, and open, and so much bigger than we know-
I couldn't say goodbye to everyone; simply, it became too hard.
You're all so magnificent, and, part of me in everyway. Saying goodbye was like saying it's over, and I couldn't do that. I want to remember everything the way I left it: smiling, shining, glowing, full of joy-so beautiful.
All of you.
Come to Germany.
Come to visit.
Come to see, that the world is wide.
umarmen und lieben
(hug and love...literally)
essie
Friday, July 27, 2007
Breakfast WITH Champions
I have never had such a special breakfast...lunch...brunch?! Thank you for making my day-every day-so fantastic!
Hugs and Love, Tina and Mary!!!
Essie
Monday, July 23, 2007
Update from the woods
So...I've learned that while the countryside here is amazingly beautiful, I really miss the ease of having a wifi home!!
Talk about being spoiled.
You know you are, spoiled that is, when you have to drive into town to use the library to actually update your blog.
hrmph!
Settling into old family patterns happens when we all get together.
We're all together.
This is a small house when 10 people, 7 dogs, 5 cats, and a bird are the occupants.
wow...
I'm starting to say my "see ya's" and I'm very conflicted...happy and excited for something very new, but painfully aware that life will pass on after we go.
I'll miss moments with special, special, people-yes, my family included-and no matter what fantastic correspondents we all become, we can't stop time.
SO-for today, whether we talk or not,
BIG
BIG
hugs and so much love to all
xoxox
essie
Talk about being spoiled.
You know you are, spoiled that is, when you have to drive into town to use the library to actually update your blog.
hrmph!
Settling into old family patterns happens when we all get together.
We're all together.
This is a small house when 10 people, 7 dogs, 5 cats, and a bird are the occupants.
wow...
I'm starting to say my "see ya's" and I'm very conflicted...happy and excited for something very new, but painfully aware that life will pass on after we go.
I'll miss moments with special, special, people-yes, my family included-and no matter what fantastic correspondents we all become, we can't stop time.
SO-for today, whether we talk or not,
BIG
BIG
hugs and so much love to all
xoxox
essie
Thursday, July 12, 2007
the hard part,
of saying goodbye, begins now...
We had a wonderful week at the beach.
My brother-in-law has always been the one to put a silver lining behind all the clouds in my life as a Harrison. It started the night he married my amazing sister-in-law, and, low!and!behold! he was at it again this morning as he painted a beautiful picture of the adventures ahead...
Stinky part-wow did he make me cry.
I'm a lucky girl, a lot sad today because I hate saying goodbye to them, but a lucky girl none-the-less.
This is for you, Uncle Toddy Woddy Doo Doo!
More pictures to follow...we had a wonderful week at the beach.
We had a wonderful week at the beach.
My brother-in-law has always been the one to put a silver lining behind all the clouds in my life as a Harrison. It started the night he married my amazing sister-in-law, and, low!and!behold! he was at it again this morning as he painted a beautiful picture of the adventures ahead...
Stinky part-wow did he make me cry.
I'm a lucky girl, a lot sad today because I hate saying goodbye to them, but a lucky girl none-the-less.
This is for you, Uncle Toddy Woddy Doo Doo!
More pictures to follow...we had a wonderful week at the beach.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Done
just finished painting the entire downstairs (minus the dining room, which Team Leader insists must stay nacho yellow...)
my hands hurt
i'm covered in speckles
i need to wash the floor
BUT
i'm done!!
yay me!!
my hands hurt
i'm covered in speckles
i need to wash the floor
BUT
i'm done!!
yay me!!
Friday, June 22, 2007
how moving makes you CWAZY...
or maybe this is simply a post for Ohio!
BEHOLD
How I spent some of my day...selecting plastic tableware for the time that we won't have our "life, now in boxes" with us...apparently I need to pack this for us to USE while we are waiting to be moved into permanent housing.
*The dryer sheets aren't for us to eat with, (perhaps napkins-hmm there's a thought!) they are my FAVORITE dryer sheets which I won't be able to get in Europe, because Target hasn't taken over-YET!Take note people, you will be sending them to me!*
The remainder of the day, well let's just say that with Team Leader AND the Littles out of the house, Momma is getting all kinds of mess accomplished!
No mean comments about said choice of plasticwares, this was a stressful decision (as Erika can attest) and I love them.
Hmph!
hugs and love,
essie
BEHOLD
How I spent some of my day...selecting plastic tableware for the time that we won't have our "life, now in boxes" with us...apparently I need to pack this for us to USE while we are waiting to be moved into permanent housing.
*The dryer sheets aren't for us to eat with, (perhaps napkins-hmm there's a thought!) they are my FAVORITE dryer sheets which I won't be able to get in Europe, because Target hasn't taken over-YET!Take note people, you will be sending them to me!*
The remainder of the day, well let's just say that with Team Leader AND the Littles out of the house, Momma is getting all kinds of mess accomplished!
No mean comments about said choice of plasticwares, this was a stressful decision (as Erika can attest) and I love them.
Hmph!
hugs and love,
essie
Monday, June 18, 2007
Isn't she lovely!
Happy Birthday (yesterday) to our brilliant and beautiful ELEVEN year old!
She begins Middle School this Fall...where has the time gone?
Because of the moving craziness, my parents came and got the kids on Friday. The "packing up and moving out" of our life I thought would be too stressful for them (heck, I'm just about lu-lu myself because of it...)
It meant that Doodle spent this 11th birthday there, while we were here.
Team Leader has spent plenty of major days away from us; me, not so much. Actually, me, not at all.
For all of the "noise" our children create in my life, not having them around is really difficult for me, I've lost my purpose. So, instead of waking her up with birthday cake for breakfast, I got to celebrate vicariously with her, over the phone.
Tidbits on the palindrome birthday begin here!
When you turn 11, at Gaia and Grandpa-Dad's house, you get to stay up as LATE as you want.
When you turn 11, at Gaia and Grandpa-Dad's house, you have to protect your pet cockatiel from psycho-kittens who stalk her mercicessly.
When you turn 11, at Gaia and Grandpa-Dad's house, you have to teach your German Shepard the breast-stroke after he falls into the swimming pool!
When you turn 11, at Gaia and Grandpa-Dad's house you will be given a fur stole by your Great Uncle! (Which she very politely opened and then declined because of her political stance on animal cruelty.)
When you turn 11, at Gaia and Grandpa-Dad's house, you will declare your intent to run for President. (Her platform includes rehauling health care for people and pets; addressing the growing problem of eating disorders in our country, and reducing our national dependency on oil-big gas guzzlers are a no-go!)
Isn't she lovely?!
I love this girl!
Happy Birthday Doodle-Bug!
Hugs and Love,
Momma
p.s. I've been TRYING to get a decent video code of "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder to add to this post...not working so much! SO pretend it's playing and sing along as you read!
hugs and love!
p.p.s. I got a video code! whoohoo!!
You may have to scroll down to the bottom of the blog, and hit play, b/c I'm not 100% sure it's looping.
HOWEVER...I get to serenade our daughter with my "I Love You" song...on her 1st full day of being 11 years old!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Realization
Today is June 9, 2007.
We leave in 7 weeks and 6 days.
For Germany.
Overseas.
As in, another language.
Germany.
Ready for Transportation to arrive in 9 days...um no
Ready for Transportation to arrive again in 31 days...no, not so much
Ready for the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER...heck yeah!!
I must be in utter disbelief or utter denial, or maybe
both.
*Did I mention: IT IS SUMMER!!*
School (with kids) is DONE-whew-not a moment too soon.
School (with paperwork) is done on Wednesday-giving me 5 days to wrap up our world.
Not complaining, this could be crazy worse, at least it IS summer!
*Again: IT IS SUMMER!*
Thank goodness...
hugs and love all
essie
We leave in 7 weeks and 6 days.
For Germany.
Overseas.
As in, another language.
Germany.
Ready for Transportation to arrive in 9 days...um no
Ready for Transportation to arrive again in 31 days...no, not so much
Ready for the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER...heck yeah!!
I must be in utter disbelief or utter denial, or maybe
both.
*Did I mention: IT IS SUMMER!!*
School (with kids) is DONE-whew-not a moment too soon.
School (with paperwork) is done on Wednesday-giving me 5 days to wrap up our world.
Not complaining, this could be crazy worse, at least it IS summer!
*Again: IT IS SUMMER!*
Thank goodness...
hugs and love all
essie
Saturday, June 02, 2007
the Earth, my butt, and other big things...
(for watkins: *muwah*)
Let's see, it's June 2nd.
The movers come in 16 days to take my vehicle and all of our BIG furniture.
including Xmas/holiday stuff
including my classroom
including beds, and tables, and sofas
including bikes, and scooters
including the boxes of our life as "The Harrisons."
They came again on July 10th to get everything else.
We don't PCS until August 8th.
We still don't have the kids passports, and regardless, Team Leader has been informed that HE is required overseas by August 20-
period.
Quoting Rahn: "Niiiiice."
so...with that little window of life in our house, have a "shiny, happy Saturday" everyone!Don't you wish you were me!?!
hah!!
hugs and love,
essie
ps (again for watkins)
Who thinks this should be the name of my blog when we go overseas? this is so tongue in cheek, as everyone knows I have no butt! Other choices include but are not limited to: "EssieHosen" and "We'll have a Heidelberger, hold the cheese, please!"
I'm looking for ideas friends, I'd love a "witty little ditty" that people could remember easily, so send in your thoughts!
Let's see, it's June 2nd.
The movers come in 16 days to take my vehicle and all of our BIG furniture.
including Xmas/holiday stuff
including my classroom
including beds, and tables, and sofas
including bikes, and scooters
including the boxes of our life as "The Harrisons."
They came again on July 10th to get everything else.
We don't PCS until August 8th.
We still don't have the kids passports, and regardless, Team Leader has been informed that HE is required overseas by August 20-
period.
Quoting Rahn: "Niiiiice."
so...with that little window of life in our house, have a "shiny, happy Saturday" everyone!Don't you wish you were me!?!
hah!!
hugs and love,
essie
ps (again for watkins)
Who thinks this should be the name of my blog when we go overseas? this is so tongue in cheek, as everyone knows I have no butt! Other choices include but are not limited to: "EssieHosen" and "We'll have a Heidelberger, hold the cheese, please!"
I'm looking for ideas friends, I'd love a "witty little ditty" that people could remember easily, so send in your thoughts!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
tastes like...
conversation in the car between Momma and Mr. Ben after being forced to make his favorite Subway sandwich on "the wrong bread!"
M: "So, do you want to try a bite of your sandwich?"
Mr. B: "I guess..."
insert Mr. Ben unwrapping said sandwich, and taking a bite, here!
M: "Well..."
Mr. B: "Emm, yah, this is great! I thought it was going to taste like GAS!"
*For those who don't know my vernacular, my 7 year old just told me, he was worried his sandwich would taste like ASS!!!
Yes he did!
M: "So, do you want to try a bite of your sandwich?"
Mr. B: "I guess..."
insert Mr. Ben unwrapping said sandwich, and taking a bite, here!
M: "Well..."
Mr. B: "Emm, yah, this is great! I thought it was going to taste like GAS!"
*For those who don't know my vernacular, my 7 year old just told me, he was worried his sandwich would taste like ASS!!!
Yes he did!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
the important thing
hmm...
what?
is it: being able to maintain without killing your spouse as you prepare for an overseas tour of duty?
is it: being able to get the kids dressed, fed, off to school without loosing my job because we are late EVERY day while he watches MTV Classic to wake up?
is it: finding homes for kittens, kittens, kittens-EVERYWHERE?
is it: sneaking venti toffee nut lattes?
is it: making list after list of what needs to be done before the first round of movers comes on JUNE 18th?!!
is it: staring at said list and freaking because "Holy Crap-we have a ton to do?!"
is it: starting with the random part of the list because I'm secretly terrified that we won't be able to get any of it done?
is it: standing my ground when Team Leader name calls and "WHOA!" makes me mad!?!
OR
is it: getting past how mad I am, maybe talking to him today, and reflecting on all the soldiers we've lost this year-every year-since we became a country...
A few years ago, my teammate and I had Team Leader come into her Kindergarten classroom to talk to our kiddos about Memorial Day. He came in uniform and brought plenty of cammo make-up. He also forgot to take out his dummie weapons before he brought in his kit bag and a nasty parent went running to my principal. (He's not always the sharpest pencil in the box, my Team Leader, but hey his job isn't in an elementary school!) Anyhoo...He came, spoke, and covered each of the 40 Kindergartners with cammo paint. It was excellent, and, when the day was done each of those kids could share 4 points about Memorial Day!
Teachable moment success!Those same kids are in 9th grade this year. I wonder if they remember that Memorial Day lesson? With everything going on in the world today, and now as we currently live in a military community, I'm really surprised by what is considered important.
Maybe the important things for me this weekend are:
accepting that Team Leader is capable of being a HORSE'S ASS...
recognizing that I married him knowing some of these flaws were maybe a little more than flaws...
allowing for the possibility that he really has adult onset ADHD and isn't able to think before he speaks...
understanding that I'm not the first military spouse (who has spent her entire marriage pretending she wasn't) who has moved overseas at an inconvenient time...
knowing I am a spazz when pushed into a corner...
walking away from the corner, taking a deep breath, digging into this list, and, remembering to stop and appreciate everything that our servicemen and women have sacrificed for our country and will continue to sacrifice for this country. This isn't about blind support for this war, or, believing we were blindly led into a disaster of a war, this is about remembering that sometimes we loose. We loose and we have to remember WHO is doing the job WE don't want to do.
We have to thank them. We have to remember them. We have to honor them.
If you are reading this, please check my link for "anysoldier" and do something. Make Memorial Day more than a weekend of sales, or vacation, or clean-up, or even fighting with your significant other. Instead, give Memorial Day meaning again, that's the important thing.
hugs and love all,
essie
what?
is it: being able to maintain without killing your spouse as you prepare for an overseas tour of duty?
is it: being able to get the kids dressed, fed, off to school without loosing my job because we are late EVERY day while he watches MTV Classic to wake up?
is it: finding homes for kittens, kittens, kittens-EVERYWHERE?
is it: sneaking venti toffee nut lattes?
is it: making list after list of what needs to be done before the first round of movers comes on JUNE 18th?!!
is it: staring at said list and freaking because "Holy Crap-we have a ton to do?!"
is it: starting with the random part of the list because I'm secretly terrified that we won't be able to get any of it done?
is it: standing my ground when Team Leader name calls and "WHOA!" makes me mad!?!
OR
is it: getting past how mad I am, maybe talking to him today, and reflecting on all the soldiers we've lost this year-every year-since we became a country...
A few years ago, my teammate and I had Team Leader come into her Kindergarten classroom to talk to our kiddos about Memorial Day. He came in uniform and brought plenty of cammo make-up. He also forgot to take out his dummie weapons before he brought in his kit bag and a nasty parent went running to my principal. (He's not always the sharpest pencil in the box, my Team Leader, but hey his job isn't in an elementary school!) Anyhoo...He came, spoke, and covered each of the 40 Kindergartners with cammo paint. It was excellent, and, when the day was done each of those kids could share 4 points about Memorial Day!
Teachable moment success!Those same kids are in 9th grade this year. I wonder if they remember that Memorial Day lesson? With everything going on in the world today, and now as we currently live in a military community, I'm really surprised by what is considered important.
Maybe the important things for me this weekend are:
accepting that Team Leader is capable of being a HORSE'S ASS...
recognizing that I married him knowing some of these flaws were maybe a little more than flaws...
allowing for the possibility that he really has adult onset ADHD and isn't able to think before he speaks...
understanding that I'm not the first military spouse (who has spent her entire marriage pretending she wasn't) who has moved overseas at an inconvenient time...
knowing I am a spazz when pushed into a corner...
walking away from the corner, taking a deep breath, digging into this list, and, remembering to stop and appreciate everything that our servicemen and women have sacrificed for our country and will continue to sacrifice for this country. This isn't about blind support for this war, or, believing we were blindly led into a disaster of a war, this is about remembering that sometimes we loose. We loose and we have to remember WHO is doing the job WE don't want to do.
We have to thank them. We have to remember them. We have to honor them.
If you are reading this, please check my link for "anysoldier" and do something. Make Memorial Day more than a weekend of sales, or vacation, or clean-up, or even fighting with your significant other. Instead, give Memorial Day meaning again, that's the important thing.
hugs and love all,
essie
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
I'd like to be, under the sea, in an Octopuses Classroom with you...
Question: Is it grammatically correct to say "octopuses?"
So today my class really floored me, oh yes they did!
As you read, please be reminded that THESE children could potentially hold the future of North Carolina in their hands...
This week is "EOG testing" week in Cumberland County. EOG (End of Grade) is NC speak for SOL (Standards of Learning), which is VA speak for
"Holy crap, it's standardized testing from hell week!"
Something near and dear to the heart of every teacher who has HAD IT and wants the year to be over NOW! What it means at my school is that our assistants get pulled to "proctor" the test and we are left TOTALLY alone with all these bonkers kiddos for the entire day, all week! It makes for what I'm doing now...drinking...yup, at 4:40 in the afternoon, Malibu and Pineapple, baby!
Tired and crabby, are we in the First Grade wing-we're all done-quitting every hour or so, because saying "I QUIT!" out loud to a sister in arms, well it helps, so it's what we do during weeks like this. Bringing me to this-our final math assessment-we've been baby-stepping our way through it this week, HUGE headache mind you, but we finished it this afternoon.
Or so the kids in my class thought...BECAUSE based on how they answered the test questions on probability, they'll ALL be repeating FIRST GRADE next year!!
(This would be a great time to remember that these kids are the future...um WHAT?!)
One of the 4 questions they incorrectly answered asked this:
" Circle the sentence that is more likely to happen:
1. An octopus will visit our classroom.
2. A chicken will lay an egg."
MY brainiacs (all but 2 actually) circled the FIRST SENTENCE!!!
OH YES THEY DID!!!
Seriously.
They did.
For real.
How many days left?!!
hugs and love!
essie
So today my class really floored me, oh yes they did!
As you read, please be reminded that THESE children could potentially hold the future of North Carolina in their hands...
This week is "EOG testing" week in Cumberland County. EOG (End of Grade) is NC speak for SOL (Standards of Learning), which is VA speak for
"Holy crap, it's standardized testing from hell week!"
Something near and dear to the heart of every teacher who has HAD IT and wants the year to be over NOW! What it means at my school is that our assistants get pulled to "proctor" the test and we are left TOTALLY alone with all these bonkers kiddos for the entire day, all week! It makes for what I'm doing now...drinking...yup, at 4:40 in the afternoon, Malibu and Pineapple, baby!
Tired and crabby, are we in the First Grade wing-we're all done-quitting every hour or so, because saying "I QUIT!" out loud to a sister in arms, well it helps, so it's what we do during weeks like this. Bringing me to this-our final math assessment-we've been baby-stepping our way through it this week, HUGE headache mind you, but we finished it this afternoon.
Or so the kids in my class thought...BECAUSE based on how they answered the test questions on probability, they'll ALL be repeating FIRST GRADE next year!!
(This would be a great time to remember that these kids are the future...um WHAT?!)
One of the 4 questions they incorrectly answered asked this:
" Circle the sentence that is more likely to happen:
1. An octopus will visit our classroom.
2. A chicken will lay an egg."
MY brainiacs (all but 2 actually) circled the FIRST SENTENCE!!!
OH YES THEY DID!!!
Seriously.
They did.
For real.
How many days left?!!
hugs and love!
essie
Sunday, May 13, 2007
For the record...
Because I have a friend here who has the wisdom of, oh the wisdom of many great women before her, and can verbalize so beautifully that which is hidden from plain view-
yes, this has been a hard year
yes, I have questioned SO much while living here
yes, I really can complain like a CHAMP
yes, I am a worry wart
yes, I am a self professed "school snob" who only wants the best of the best for her children
yes, I am blessed
yes, I have been blessed here in Hopeless Mills
yes, I'll leave here with memories and life long friends
No, I never expected that, for the record...
yes, this has been a hard year
yes, I have questioned SO much while living here
yes, I really can complain like a CHAMP
yes, I am a worry wart
yes, I am a self professed "school snob" who only wants the best of the best for her children
yes, I am blessed
yes, I have been blessed here in Hopeless Mills
yes, I'll leave here with memories and life long friends
No, I never expected that, for the record...
The greatest mommy
is MY Mommy!
Someday I'll fit into her fabulous hat!!
Happy Mother's Day Mom
I love you!
Gleefie
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Back on antibiotics
As predicted, I'm back on some major pharmecuticals...can't drink or eat any dairy products for a week-I've never taken anything like this before-and pouring coffee creamer, that was a little bit scary this morning!
Question: is coffee creamer actually creamer, as in dairy, or am I paranoid?
Next question for all my gal pals out there:
HOW do I explain to my beautiful daughter that pre-teen girls are shitty little bitches. That because she likes the Retro 80's look and sometimes paints her nails bright blue, she is not a "Goth..."
HOW do I explain to her that if you are hungry, YOU EAT...
HOW do I get through her dramatic but fabulous head that she is perfect in the eyes of everyone who truly knows her and that smart and pretty DO go together...
HOW do I protect her? Can I? Should I?
Specifically, how do I accomplish this without becoming a screaming banshee, anyone?
Last night my heart broke for her, and of course Team Leader is stuck on the other side of the world (with no uniform mind you) and I HATE being both, because I do REALLY need my man! ("He completes me...")
Teen age girl crap-I went through it, was pretty screwed up as a teen, hated my mom subsequently blaming her for everything wrong in my life instead of listening to her as she tried to be a mom to me...all that teen age crap, I lived it. I just don't want my daughter to-she's too sweet, she's too kind, and clearly she's way too over influenced by these little NC crazies here in Hopeless Mills.
I'm her Mom, and I want her to become the best Doodle-Bug she can be. I can't always like her friends because I see them differently.
I see the potential for lifelong and fairweather friendships. Fairweather friendships are devestating and make you question everything about yourself. She is 10. Our daughter is 10. She's learning this now, at 10. Is that fair?
She asked me last night why my friends were so happy when we were all together. I told her that we were all regular people who have regular feelings; happy, sad, angry, mad...etc...
I really didn't have a great answer for her other than at a point, you cut through the crap with your friends and you simply are happy to know them.
Bad day, glad day, it doesn't matter. You're pals.
Isn't Mother's Day meant to be about the hugs and love and not the WORK behind the job? I'm feeling like I should be fired, because all I want to do is tell these superficial girls
THEY SUCK
and to get the H**L away from my amazing kid-who they don't even deserve to know!
UGH...
*sigh*
what is a Momma meant to do? I'm beginning to agree with *e* who said that every OTHER move was a good one, and that maybe just maybe Germany can't get here soon enough.
It's that or I'm just a spazz who can't take the vulnerability out of my parenting.
Maybe it's both.
Question: is coffee creamer actually creamer, as in dairy, or am I paranoid?
Next question for all my gal pals out there:
HOW do I explain to my beautiful daughter that pre-teen girls are shitty little bitches. That because she likes the Retro 80's look and sometimes paints her nails bright blue, she is not a "Goth..."
HOW do I explain to her that if you are hungry, YOU EAT...
HOW do I get through her dramatic but fabulous head that she is perfect in the eyes of everyone who truly knows her and that smart and pretty DO go together...
HOW do I protect her? Can I? Should I?
Specifically, how do I accomplish this without becoming a screaming banshee, anyone?
Last night my heart broke for her, and of course Team Leader is stuck on the other side of the world (with no uniform mind you) and I HATE being both, because I do REALLY need my man! ("He completes me...")
Teen age girl crap-I went through it, was pretty screwed up as a teen, hated my mom subsequently blaming her for everything wrong in my life instead of listening to her as she tried to be a mom to me...all that teen age crap, I lived it. I just don't want my daughter to-she's too sweet, she's too kind, and clearly she's way too over influenced by these little NC crazies here in Hopeless Mills.
I'm her Mom, and I want her to become the best Doodle-Bug she can be. I can't always like her friends because I see them differently.
I see the potential for lifelong and fairweather friendships. Fairweather friendships are devestating and make you question everything about yourself. She is 10. Our daughter is 10. She's learning this now, at 10. Is that fair?
She asked me last night why my friends were so happy when we were all together. I told her that we were all regular people who have regular feelings; happy, sad, angry, mad...etc...
I really didn't have a great answer for her other than at a point, you cut through the crap with your friends and you simply are happy to know them.
Bad day, glad day, it doesn't matter. You're pals.
Isn't Mother's Day meant to be about the hugs and love and not the WORK behind the job? I'm feeling like I should be fired, because all I want to do is tell these superficial girls
THEY SUCK
and to get the H**L away from my amazing kid-who they don't even deserve to know!
UGH...
*sigh*
what is a Momma meant to do? I'm beginning to agree with *e* who said that every OTHER move was a good one, and that maybe just maybe Germany can't get here soon enough.
It's that or I'm just a spazz who can't take the vulnerability out of my parenting.
Maybe it's both.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Why we hate Delta Airlines...and why I probably need an Anger Management Class!
Before you go ANY further...
YES
the following IS in someone's inbox at Delta's Corporate Headquarters.
Does this confirm my raging bitch-atude?
To Whom it May Concern;
My husband flew on your airline yesterday. His name is-----------. He was flying in civilian clothes at the request of his command because he was flying commercially. His bags containing his complete U.S. Army Special Forces uniform and many other irreplaceable Government Issue items were not at his final destination, Budapest Hungary, when he arrived.
YOUR airline is trying to blame Air France.
I BLAME YOU!
Here is how his day "Flying with Delta" went:
His original ticket number was DL5563 for a flight from Raleigh Durham to JFK
THAT flight was canceled.
He was "re-booked" Raleigh Durham to Cincinnati, flight DL5371, which arrived LATE because your re-fuel-er RAN OUT OF GAS so another agent had to complete the plane re-fueling, thereby making him MISS his connection to Budapest.
He was put on Delta flight 5304 Cincinnati to Dulles International Airport.
There he was put on Air France flight 29 IAD to Charles deGaule, with additional ticket markings DL8331.
Upon arriving in France, he was placed on Maleve Hungarian Airlines (Air France 2894) to Budapest.
Did I mention that he is an Active Duty SOLDIER, who is on an important mission, and YOU LOST HIS UNIFORM!
Instead of accepting responsibility for ANY PART of his ridiculous flying day, you continue to blame him and another airline, as if THAT will replace his lost uniform and mission supplies?!
I am shocked, that given the nature of the danger facing our service members in and out of uniform, that your business practice is so slipshod. I can't believe you can't keep a Government Employee's bags on a PLANE long enough for the service member to HAVE WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO HIS JOB. Instead, a specific uniform is out in the open where anyone could take it and use it illegally. Could you possibly have any idea how dangerous that is?! Do you even care that you may have put my husband at risk? Or risked security somehow?
I have tried calling every number on your website, naturally, you are CLOSED and the contact I've made so far is with a computer generated message. I demand that I hear from someone immediately upon receiving this email. My husband simply cannot go out and spend 100 Euros to "replace his uniform" it's United States GOVERNMENT ISSUE and HE IS IN HUNGARY!!
I can be reached at home or on my mobile
Today is Friday May 11, 2007.
ps-this is what I just got in my in box...from Delta "Customer Care"
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us. We appreciateevery opportunity to listen to our customers and act upon what we hear.Our response to your e-mail may take a little longer than usual due tothe high number of customers who have contacted us recently. In themeantime, thanks for your patience.
AS THIS IS AN AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED MESSAGE, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY.
Ya THINK they might have high volume customer contact since they just filed for
BANKRUPTCY!!!
OMG!
seriously.
YES
the following IS in someone's inbox at Delta's Corporate Headquarters.
Does this confirm my raging bitch-atude?
To Whom it May Concern;
My husband flew on your airline yesterday. His name is-----------. He was flying in civilian clothes at the request of his command because he was flying commercially. His bags containing his complete U.S. Army Special Forces uniform and many other irreplaceable Government Issue items were not at his final destination, Budapest Hungary, when he arrived.
YOUR airline is trying to blame Air France.
I BLAME YOU!
Here is how his day "Flying with Delta" went:
His original ticket number was DL5563 for a flight from Raleigh Durham to JFK
THAT flight was canceled.
He was "re-booked" Raleigh Durham to Cincinnati, flight DL5371, which arrived LATE because your re-fuel-er RAN OUT OF GAS so another agent had to complete the plane re-fueling, thereby making him MISS his connection to Budapest.
He was put on Delta flight 5304 Cincinnati to Dulles International Airport.
There he was put on Air France flight 29 IAD to Charles deGaule, with additional ticket markings DL8331.
Upon arriving in France, he was placed on Maleve Hungarian Airlines (Air France 2894) to Budapest.
Did I mention that he is an Active Duty SOLDIER, who is on an important mission, and YOU LOST HIS UNIFORM!
Instead of accepting responsibility for ANY PART of his ridiculous flying day, you continue to blame him and another airline, as if THAT will replace his lost uniform and mission supplies?!
I am shocked, that given the nature of the danger facing our service members in and out of uniform, that your business practice is so slipshod. I can't believe you can't keep a Government Employee's bags on a PLANE long enough for the service member to HAVE WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO HIS JOB. Instead, a specific uniform is out in the open where anyone could take it and use it illegally. Could you possibly have any idea how dangerous that is?! Do you even care that you may have put my husband at risk? Or risked security somehow?
I have tried calling every number on your website, naturally, you are CLOSED and the contact I've made so far is with a computer generated message. I demand that I hear from someone immediately upon receiving this email. My husband simply cannot go out and spend 100 Euros to "replace his uniform" it's United States GOVERNMENT ISSUE and HE IS IN HUNGARY!!
I can be reached at home or on my mobile
Today is Friday May 11, 2007.
ps-this is what I just got in my in box...from Delta "Customer Care"
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with us. We appreciateevery opportunity to listen to our customers and act upon what we hear.Our response to your e-mail may take a little longer than usual due tothe high number of customers who have contacted us recently. In themeantime, thanks for your patience.
AS THIS IS AN AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED MESSAGE, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY.
Ya THINK they might have high volume customer contact since they just filed for
BANKRUPTCY!!!
OMG!
seriously.
Teacher Appreciation Week...um, I don't think so...SERIOUSLY!
So, right now my teammates are in Scholastic Book Heaven...
running around like Crack Heads...
grabbing each other to pull someone from their own little slice of happy into another little slice of happy somewhere in this incredible book warehouse!
I AM SOO JEALOUS!
and I miss them, my First Grade Family, they all rock...
Rock, rock, rock!
I hope they have a blast, find oodles and oodles of magnificent books, and find themselves the victims of a Literacy Hangover when they get back in Carter's Van!!
ILY ladies, ILY!
Me, I'm not there.
I'm in Hopeless Mills, waiting to go back to the Doctor tonight...
policing the Rotters, because last night Mr. Ben was locked out of the house by his ever-loving big sister!
(Don'tcha just LOVE those siblings relationships)
Ranting on further-
Last week I went back to work after missing a week of school after practically dying from being sick. Parents who send their ever lovin' children to school when THEY are SICK-
THEY SUCK!
And I happen to have every parent EVER who does just that...even the ones who stay at home...they send their sicko kids into school because
G-d forbid
any of these braniacs miss ONE day of school!!
ONE.
There's no policy about fever-free here, just recommendations
There's no policy about public puking here-just recommendations
There isn't a full time nurse at our school because...well I don't know, but I'm sure it has to do with money and our lack of it here in Lala Land-whoops I mean CCS.
SERIOUSLY!!
I woke up yesterday and felt like all the scary bronchial stuff was coming back.
I panicked-natch, when it doubt, that's what I do best-and started trying to get an appointment.
I'm not used to the military system. This is the first time I've not carried civilian insurance since I began teaching.
It's Crazy. And I've lived on that river "Denial" for a very very long time now.
There's a lot I really don't get, and,
WHOA NELLY
aren't we getting ready to leave the States
and live on Base
and be all that we can be?!!
Can I do that?
I don't know.
Okay focus Esther-back to Teacher Appreciation Week-
We had one, if you can call it that, LAWD knows I'm not trying to be a bitch but really
is this place for real?
I got KICKED by student for TAW
I got PUNCHED by a different student for TAW
I got SICK AGAIN by yet another student for TAW
That's what I got, for my 15th Teacher Appreciation Week, bruises and antibiotics.
Can I remind you that these children are FIRST GRADERS...
This is the future of our country folks...if we don't do something, one day we will look back and say:
"Holy Crap, George Bush was actually LITERATE compared to what we have in office now!"
Seriously.
If you have a teacher to thank, do it.
Do it for me.
I'm not a personal horn tooter, but if I didn't have those gems of teammates to get me through this year and the 19 days we have left, I'd be a sorry angry be-atch right now!
Oh yes I would!
Seriously!
Hugs and Love folks; I'm off to the doc!!
essie
ps-HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
running around like Crack Heads...
grabbing each other to pull someone from their own little slice of happy into another little slice of happy somewhere in this incredible book warehouse!
I AM SOO JEALOUS!
and I miss them, my First Grade Family, they all rock...
Rock, rock, rock!
I hope they have a blast, find oodles and oodles of magnificent books, and find themselves the victims of a Literacy Hangover when they get back in Carter's Van!!
ILY ladies, ILY!
Me, I'm not there.
I'm in Hopeless Mills, waiting to go back to the Doctor tonight...
policing the Rotters, because last night Mr. Ben was locked out of the house by his ever-loving big sister!
(Don'tcha just LOVE those siblings relationships)
Ranting on further-
Last week I went back to work after missing a week of school after practically dying from being sick. Parents who send their ever lovin' children to school when THEY are SICK-
THEY SUCK!
And I happen to have every parent EVER who does just that...even the ones who stay at home...they send their sicko kids into school because
G-d forbid
any of these braniacs miss ONE day of school!!
ONE.
There's no policy about fever-free here, just recommendations
There's no policy about public puking here-just recommendations
There isn't a full time nurse at our school because...well I don't know, but I'm sure it has to do with money and our lack of it here in Lala Land-whoops I mean CCS.
SERIOUSLY!!
I woke up yesterday and felt like all the scary bronchial stuff was coming back.
I panicked-natch, when it doubt, that's what I do best-and started trying to get an appointment.
I'm not used to the military system. This is the first time I've not carried civilian insurance since I began teaching.
It's Crazy. And I've lived on that river "Denial" for a very very long time now.
There's a lot I really don't get, and,
WHOA NELLY
aren't we getting ready to leave the States
and live on Base
and be all that we can be?!!
Can I do that?
I don't know.
Okay focus Esther-back to Teacher Appreciation Week-
We had one, if you can call it that, LAWD knows I'm not trying to be a bitch but really
is this place for real?
I got KICKED by student for TAW
I got PUNCHED by a different student for TAW
I got SICK AGAIN by yet another student for TAW
That's what I got, for my 15th Teacher Appreciation Week, bruises and antibiotics.
Can I remind you that these children are FIRST GRADERS...
This is the future of our country folks...if we don't do something, one day we will look back and say:
"Holy Crap, George Bush was actually LITERATE compared to what we have in office now!"
Seriously.
If you have a teacher to thank, do it.
Do it for me.
I'm not a personal horn tooter, but if I didn't have those gems of teammates to get me through this year and the 19 days we have left, I'd be a sorry angry be-atch right now!
Oh yes I would!
Seriously!
Hugs and Love folks; I'm off to the doc!!
essie
ps-HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
My trailer park...
is full!
After a long day talking about all things "next year" I looked around Room 8 and thought:
"no matter what, this HAS been a great year!"
Michelle Vaughn, Carter, Watkins, Mulvey, Leah Skarie-
this is for
YOU!!
HOLY MESS!!
xoxoxox
essie
After a long day talking about all things "next year" I looked around Room 8 and thought:
"no matter what, this HAS been a great year!"
Michelle Vaughn, Carter, Watkins, Mulvey, Leah Skarie-
this is for
YOU!!
HOLY MESS!!
xoxoxox
essie
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Just a thought, for my Buzz Girls
Driving back from Spring Break, Team Leader and I were listening to the radio; Pink's new song "Just you and your hand tonight" was heavy on the rotation, fine with us, because we both like Pink.
Anyhoo Team Leader looked at me, at one specific point, and had this to say:
TL: This song is hysterical
me: you think
TL: Yes, I think! I'm also wondering how many new BUZZ GIRLS there are just dancing away in their cars and being total brats at clubs...I WONDER!
(And he shot me a very knowing look above his sunglasses.)
I answered by turning up the radio. (HAH)
Secretly, I hope there is a select group of Radford-Techies who are tormenting those college boys, (who really all made us miserable anyway,) as we speak. If there isn't well, then they are truly missing out on the friendships of a lifetime!
(Only because I am really loving the Curious George-ness of my current song, it's staying for a while, then Pink will be next!)
xoxox
essie
Anyhoo Team Leader looked at me, at one specific point, and had this to say:
TL: This song is hysterical
me: you think
TL: Yes, I think! I'm also wondering how many new BUZZ GIRLS there are just dancing away in their cars and being total brats at clubs...I WONDER!
(And he shot me a very knowing look above his sunglasses.)
I answered by turning up the radio. (HAH)
Secretly, I hope there is a select group of Radford-Techies who are tormenting those college boys, (who really all made us miserable anyway,) as we speak. If there isn't well, then they are truly missing out on the friendships of a lifetime!
(Only because I am really loving the Curious George-ness of my current song, it's staying for a while, then Pink will be next!)
xoxox
essie
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
For Gab...more rainbows!
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too slow...
You'll cry because time is passing too fast.
So,
take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because:
every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life is empty, look around, you'll see that it really is full.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
ps-thank you Shelby!
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too slow...
You'll cry because time is passing too fast.
So,
take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because:
every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life is empty, look around, you'll see that it really is full.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
ps-thank you Shelby!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
"I no do that"
This is for La, but it applies to all of us...
the ones with
the ones waiting
the ones wanting
the ones.
THIS
becomes your next "to do" list:
sing
smile at strangers
keep learning
notice kindness
eat ice cream
hope
count your blessings
laugh
love
love some more
Just like Hallmark says, it IS the "real to do list"
and who would...should... know how to describe the love between a mother and a child better than Hallmark.
Seriously.
Hugs and Love, La...I get it.
essie
the ones with
the ones waiting
the ones wanting
the ones.
THIS
becomes your next "to do" list:
sing
smile at strangers
keep learning
notice kindness
eat ice cream
hope
count your blessings
laugh
love
love some more
Just like Hallmark says, it IS the "real to do list"
and who would...should... know how to describe the love between a mother and a child better than Hallmark.
Seriously.
Hugs and Love, La...I get it.
essie
Monday, April 16, 2007
Perspective
Putting everything in perspective was the announcement made by my principal that something bad had happened at Tech today...
talk about an understatement.
I've spoken with friends and their families who have children at Tech.
Thankfully their children are safe.
For what it's worth, however you find peace, share those thoughts with the family that is Virginia Tech. Blacksburg is a small enough community for people who don't have children there to feel the gut wrenching pain shared by those who do...
Hug your kids tonight.
talk about an understatement.
I've spoken with friends and their families who have children at Tech.
Thankfully their children are safe.
For what it's worth, however you find peace, share those thoughts with the family that is Virginia Tech. Blacksburg is a small enough community for people who don't have children there to feel the gut wrenching pain shared by those who do...
Hug your kids tonight.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
"I'm proud of you...I remember..."
my dear friend Leah sent this to me.
you might think it's beautiful.
you might think it's propaganda.
i think it's something everyone should watch.
because, soldiers are people, just like you and me.
their job description happens to be different than yours or mine.
(unless of course, you reading this, you are a soldier! then you get it already.)
Regardless-
they're simply doing a job.
It's a job no one WANTS to have, but
EXPECTS someone to do.
Day in...Day out.
Pretty thankless if you ask me.
Pretty amazing if you ask me.
you all know how opposed to our global situation i am, and continue to be.
i'll oppose this war and say so for the rest of my life.
this IS our generation's Vietnam.
you don't have to agree with me.
or agree with my politics.
BUT
we should be able to agree on this:
the men and women who have been sent overseas deserve all the support we can give them.
period.
so, please do what you can.
visit my link to anysoldier.com
take a walk and appreciate the freedom you have to do so.
go to church and pray.
go to a quiet spot and watch a sunset-whatever you do to appreciate the beauty of a day,
and then,
call your local national guard to see about penpals.
do what you can and remember that soldiers are people.
http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1
*hopefully this link works...YouTube was being stinky, and blogger...well enough said!*
you might think it's beautiful.
you might think it's propaganda.
i think it's something everyone should watch.
because, soldiers are people, just like you and me.
their job description happens to be different than yours or mine.
(unless of course, you reading this, you are a soldier! then you get it already.)
Regardless-
they're simply doing a job.
It's a job no one WANTS to have, but
EXPECTS someone to do.
Day in...Day out.
Pretty thankless if you ask me.
Pretty amazing if you ask me.
you all know how opposed to our global situation i am, and continue to be.
i'll oppose this war and say so for the rest of my life.
this IS our generation's Vietnam.
you don't have to agree with me.
or agree with my politics.
BUT
we should be able to agree on this:
the men and women who have been sent overseas deserve all the support we can give them.
period.
so, please do what you can.
visit my link to anysoldier.com
take a walk and appreciate the freedom you have to do so.
go to church and pray.
go to a quiet spot and watch a sunset-whatever you do to appreciate the beauty of a day,
and then,
call your local national guard to see about penpals.
do what you can and remember that soldiers are people.
http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1
*hopefully this link works...YouTube was being stinky, and blogger...well enough said!*
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Story at 39
I have gone to the gym.
As a 39 year old.
And I've been tanning.
As a 39 year old.
I've been happy, sad, grumpy, lonely, scared, hungry, SO SO tired, amused, flabbergasted, amazed, thankful, surprised, and grateful.
As a 39 year old.
Today I came home to a big box and a little box.
Yesterday I came home to a small bag.
Day before yesterday it was a large bag.
And the emails, the blogness-WOW!
Inside each piece of mail there was something that defined a relationship in my life. Random connections from people who get the bits and pieces of the very complicated me...thank you seems small when I realise (yes, the British spelling of realize) that the gifts of my life are you.
This week I've heard from people I LOVE-wow do I love them!
And they're all so different.
And I'm SO SO lucky.
Because they love me back-we don't have to talk everyday, or see each other all the time, but when we link up it is a 100% happy-fest. And not one day has passed.
That's the beauty of my story at 39; for each relationship every time we talk or get together, I'm as old as I was the day we met!
In the end, most importantly, I'm just a lucky 39 year old girl, surrounded by the best of the best of humanity. Birthday presents don't get better than that.
That's my story.
hugs and love to my amazing family and wonderful friends
xox
essie
p.s. (thank you watkins, ps will always mean something else for me now!)
Honey, find us something on the economy, please please PLEASE!!
l.a.s.n.
bbkf
As a 39 year old.
And I've been tanning.
As a 39 year old.
I've been happy, sad, grumpy, lonely, scared, hungry, SO SO tired, amused, flabbergasted, amazed, thankful, surprised, and grateful.
As a 39 year old.
Today I came home to a big box and a little box.
Yesterday I came home to a small bag.
Day before yesterday it was a large bag.
And the emails, the blogness-WOW!
Inside each piece of mail there was something that defined a relationship in my life. Random connections from people who get the bits and pieces of the very complicated me...thank you seems small when I realise (yes, the British spelling of realize) that the gifts of my life are you.
This week I've heard from people I LOVE-wow do I love them!
And they're all so different.
And I'm SO SO lucky.
Because they love me back-we don't have to talk everyday, or see each other all the time, but when we link up it is a 100% happy-fest. And not one day has passed.
That's the beauty of my story at 39; for each relationship every time we talk or get together, I'm as old as I was the day we met!
In the end, most importantly, I'm just a lucky 39 year old girl, surrounded by the best of the best of humanity. Birthday presents don't get better than that.
That's my story.
hugs and love to my amazing family and wonderful friends
xox
essie
p.s. (thank you watkins, ps will always mean something else for me now!)
Honey, find us something on the economy, please please PLEASE!!
l.a.s.n.
bbkf
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Danke, Danke, Danke Prickril Family!
Wow! This blog thing really rocks!
Last night I gave everyone the link to a fabulous blog, misspelled the blog, so here it is again: www.prickrilgermany.blogspot.com
(remember blogger isn't letting me link it for some reason so just go there!)
I woke up this morning to a comment reply from Mr. Prickril-woohoo-and he's in Heidelberg!! It's official friends, you turn 39 and you become a cyber DORK!! Making me think that this year before 40 might be great...hmm...
I'm off to look at his fantastic snaps of the Neckar river, the Heidelberg Schloss (castle), and the Hofstrosse! SO, have a hugs and love kind of day, and start planning your trips overseas to see us!!!
xoxox
essie
ps-Happy birthday to me-
Last night I gave everyone the link to a fabulous blog, misspelled the blog, so here it is again: www.prickrilgermany.blogspot.com
(remember blogger isn't letting me link it for some reason so just go there!)
I woke up this morning to a comment reply from Mr. Prickril-woohoo-and he's in Heidelberg!! It's official friends, you turn 39 and you become a cyber DORK!! Making me think that this year before 40 might be great...hmm...
I'm off to look at his fantastic snaps of the Neckar river, the Heidelberg Schloss (castle), and the Hofstrosse! SO, have a hugs and love kind of day, and start planning your trips overseas to see us!!!
xoxox
essie
ps-Happy birthday to me-
Monday, April 09, 2007
Me again!
SO...I've been lurking online and found a fabulous blog of a family in HEIDELBERG! The mom finds the super spots to hit, and the dad is the recorder-extraordinare!
I'm linking it to this post, as it is CHOCK FULL of amazing snaps of our future home...
YIKES
We're really moving aren't we?!!
www.pickrilgermany.blogspot.com
**blogger isn't letting me link it, so just go there!
I'm linking it to this post, as it is CHOCK FULL of amazing snaps of our future home...
YIKES
We're really moving aren't we?!!
www.pickrilgermany.blogspot.com
**blogger isn't letting me link it, so just go there!
Rotters!
Yesterday was something.
Team Leader left on Saturday morning for his next big trip to Germany; leaving me with our 3 Rotters (unsupported mind you!) for the remainder of April.
What is a "Rotter?" you ask...simple really.
British slang for someone rotten.
British slang I grew up with curtesy of "Oor Wullie" and "The Broons" comic books tha my Scottish Grammie would send us, along with mounds of candy, which my brothers and I still prefer over the American counterparts.
Back to yesterday. We began our morning with a visit from the Easter Frog (more on that later), baskets were full, spirits were WHOA high thanks greatly to our pals at Hershey and Mars, and Mr. Ben was thoroughly enjoying a remote controlled farting machine which was part of his Easter Booty, much to the dismay of others.
Around 10am I realised we were having our Passover Seder with one of Tony's Golden Knights team members and I was still in my pj's. The manic house cleaning began shortly thereafter. Around 1:30 Mr. Paul called. At 2:00 he showed up. We were expecting him at 4...Thank goodness I'd put the chicken in early!
A Seder, traditionally, is a very long meal. Most children really don't look forward to the Seder because there is so much praying and blessing going on that eating really doesn't come in as a priority. Passover is afterall a holiday where we recognize our release from Bondage. We pray for our ancestors, we pray for the release of others still in Bondage, we pray and thank G-d for his blessing as a people.
In our family, I spare the kids the hours and let them eat first and then we begin. We end our Seder by saying "Next Year in Israel." Yes, it's a long dinner, but it is only once a year and it is beautiful. It reconnects me to my heritage, and is very important to me.
Yesterday my 3 were so naughty at the table it was legendary, and I quietly asked them to leave. By then I was whispering "Next year BYMYSELF!" I was so embarrassed. Friends came to say hello, the kids stayed upstairs. Friends left and the kids stayed upstairs. I cleaned up, and pulled out work I had avoided all break (still avoiding btw, as I'm doing this instead!) I watched The Sopranos for Team Leader, and went upstairs to get in bed. They were settled down. Pres must have really figured out my level of frustration...whatever...they were quiet and I was tired.
Woke up this morning DREADING the fact that I go back to work today-UGH.
Came downstairs.
Hanging over the passthrough to the dining room was a HUGE sign from the kids:
(It says "Happy Birthday Mom"
We love you!)
and the tv was frozen on the frame in the movie "Love Actually" (my favorite movie) where one character is holding a cue card up that says:
"To Me You Are Perfect"
I was flabbergasted! For starters, the 15th anniversary of my 24th bday is tomorrow, BUT, my 3 NEVER do stuff like this...usually it's all about them
Of course my camera is broken, so a picture will have to wait.
However...it was a beautiful way to wake up...and rotters they are, but they are mine-ours really...Somehow they figured out how to release me from my personal bondage, and that is the best early bday gift I've ever received.
Thanks kids-Momma gets it!
I love you too!
Team Leader left on Saturday morning for his next big trip to Germany; leaving me with our 3 Rotters (unsupported mind you!) for the remainder of April.
What is a "Rotter?" you ask...simple really.
British slang for someone rotten.
British slang I grew up with curtesy of "Oor Wullie" and "The Broons" comic books tha my Scottish Grammie would send us, along with mounds of candy, which my brothers and I still prefer over the American counterparts.
Back to yesterday. We began our morning with a visit from the Easter Frog (more on that later), baskets were full, spirits were WHOA high thanks greatly to our pals at Hershey and Mars, and Mr. Ben was thoroughly enjoying a remote controlled farting machine which was part of his Easter Booty, much to the dismay of others.
Around 10am I realised we were having our Passover Seder with one of Tony's Golden Knights team members and I was still in my pj's. The manic house cleaning began shortly thereafter. Around 1:30 Mr. Paul called. At 2:00 he showed up. We were expecting him at 4...Thank goodness I'd put the chicken in early!
A Seder, traditionally, is a very long meal. Most children really don't look forward to the Seder because there is so much praying and blessing going on that eating really doesn't come in as a priority. Passover is afterall a holiday where we recognize our release from Bondage. We pray for our ancestors, we pray for the release of others still in Bondage, we pray and thank G-d for his blessing as a people.
In our family, I spare the kids the hours and let them eat first and then we begin. We end our Seder by saying "Next Year in Israel." Yes, it's a long dinner, but it is only once a year and it is beautiful. It reconnects me to my heritage, and is very important to me.
Yesterday my 3 were so naughty at the table it was legendary, and I quietly asked them to leave. By then I was whispering "Next year BYMYSELF!" I was so embarrassed. Friends came to say hello, the kids stayed upstairs. Friends left and the kids stayed upstairs. I cleaned up, and pulled out work I had avoided all break (still avoiding btw, as I'm doing this instead!) I watched The Sopranos for Team Leader, and went upstairs to get in bed. They were settled down. Pres must have really figured out my level of frustration...whatever...they were quiet and I was tired.
Woke up this morning DREADING the fact that I go back to work today-UGH.
Came downstairs.
Hanging over the passthrough to the dining room was a HUGE sign from the kids:
(It says "Happy
We love you!)
and the tv was frozen on the frame in the movie "Love Actually" (my favorite movie) where one character is holding a cue card up that says:
"To Me You Are Perfect"
I was flabbergasted! For starters, the 15th anniversary of my 24th bday is tomorrow, BUT, my 3 NEVER do stuff like this...usually it's all about them
Of course my camera is broken, so a picture will have to wait.
However...it was a beautiful way to wake up...and rotters they are, but they are mine-ours really...Somehow they figured out how to release me from my personal bondage, and that is the best early bday gift I've ever received.
Thanks kids-Momma gets it!
I love you too!
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