S.D. part 3

Had to take a break from life in house and explore yesterday...WHAT a great day!
We ended up in Ladenburg
Ladenburg is what anyone would imagine a German hamlet to be...historic houses built in the 1400's, bright colored hanging baskets, cobblestone roads...lovely and quaint.

As we walked through the town Zentrum (center) I kept wishing my parents were there, exploring with us, watching the kids discover the old and the new-I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

We ate lunch in a local restaurant, back in the biergarten which reminded me of a courtyard in Verona Italy back in the days of Romeo and Juliet> A circular courtyard with trees growing through the floors and small stairwells leading to upper balconies; balconies housing interior rooms with windows opening out for the occupants to view all of the activities downsatirs-
To top it off, we had an extremely understanding (and appreciative) waitress who indulged our (mine and Team Leader) desire to speak German as we ordered and made our way through our meal! We ordered pizzas for Team Leader,the boys, and our friend Tommy, schnitzel for DoodleBug, and spaghetti arribiatta (a spicy bolonesge) for me. With salat, and grosse colas, we stuffed ourselves, as the mid-day meal is the largest meal of the day locally.

Even the kids gave speaking German a shot, with Mr. Ben ending his meal by ordering

a vanille eis mit sahne!
(Mom-that was 100% all for you!)

We went to 2 other eis stores, for soft serve and italian gelatto eis...YUM!

After walking a gabillion miles (or so it seemed) we justified all the eis eating and made our way home down the B3. The B3 took us through the back part of Heidelberg and we ended up driving over the Old Bridge back into Heidelberg's Zentrum and then home.

What a great day-WHAT a great day!
umarmen und lieben,
essie

Intermission

Really quick, some pictures of rolling clouds

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

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

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

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.

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.

What Does Your Pizza Say About You?

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

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

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

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!**

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

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

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

Pink, Green, Purple, and Gold...

really do go together!
We love you guys!!

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

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.

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!!

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

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!

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

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!