Today

The highlight of my day was lunch: Spaghetti Bolognese and salad. YUMMM!! It is really funny that the day was really long and boring and then lunch (30 minute break; haven't been on time in awhile) was way too fast. I sat with Aldo, he is an English teacher but gave it up to work in plastic production. He actually speaks four languages: Italian, French, English and German (in that order). He is neat and older than my parents, but really laid back (this is a typical Italian).

The weather is terrible. Been snowin since sometime in the night. Here are pictures, where you can only see snow falling:





I know it is dark...at 5 pm!!!! Craziness! That isn't dirt on the camera lens, that is the snow. It has been really cold, but add the snow, and YUCK!!! I am still just a kid from the desert!

Now I am going to make (read: heat up) refried beans and tortillas for dinner. This is also a favorite meal of mine. AND super expensive since I moved here. I really enjoy it! After dinner, Husband is working, so I will start baking cakes for Friday's blood donation. Forget about cookies and punch, here in Germany, after you give blood, you get a full meal (with dessert!!) I am making 2 cakes and my variation of my mom's potato salad. Ever since I am here, I really like potato salad...especially Husband's Oma's...it is so good, it cannot be fully appreciated unless you have eaten it.

It is kinda weird that all I have thinking or blogging about it food. Or is it not?

Oh, pictures of the American and German Christmas trees to come. American tree is already here. I will try to talk Husband into getting big tree next week. :)

Afraid

Directions
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it makes you look.
4. Title this email what the answer to your last question is.
5. Good luck and have fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Not Ready to Make Nice (Dixie Chicks)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Scar Tissue (RHCP)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Glow (Nelly Furtado)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Promiscuous (Nelly Furtado)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Say It Right (Nelly Furtado...what is up with all the N.Furtado songs???)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Homecoming (Kanye West)

WHAT DO YOU OFTEN THINK ABOUT?
Californication (RHCP)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
London Bridge (Fergie)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Here I Come (Fergie)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Let Me Talk to You Prelude / My Love (Clean Version) Justin Timberlake

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Mercy (Duffy)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Crash Into Me (Dave Matthews Band)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Showtime (Nelly Furtado)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Everyday (Dave Matthews Band)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
No Hay Igual (Nelly Furtado)

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NAME THIS POST?
Afraid (Nelly Furtado)

First snow of 2008

Hi, here I am!!!

First a few pictures:

Fall in Loerrach!

So, here is an update from my week. (I had vacation):

Visited with my psychologist on Monday. He is cool. He told me that I needed to go back on (and stay on) the medicine. He said I didn't do anything wrong, it was all the stress from work getting to me. My body isn't able to fight off the stress without help. I will call him again next week. I started taking medicine again on Mon. He said I would be feeling myself again in 2 weeks. I know Th. is glad to hear that too.
Dr. S. also told me that there are people that have diabetes and arthritis that MUST take medicine everyday of their life, in order to function. The only thing is, its my brain that doesn't process the stress without the help. He told me not to be too disappointed for too long. And I am really not. Now I know. I need the medicine.

AND I also found out that I eat horribly. We met with the nutritionist last week and I mostly only eat sugar. So, we are changing that now too. (I couldn't spell nutritionist...had to look it up on www.dictionary.com...hehe)

Oh, IT SNOWED IN LOERRACH WHILE WE WEREN'T HERE!!! I wanted OUT of Bischofsgruen because they predicted snow from Wed on. In Frankfurt, where I was visiting E., it was just cold and rainy. But apparently it was super cold here! All my plants were still outside on the balcony. I brought them in when I got home.

I really do not like Deutsche Bahn (train service) today. I tried buying a ticket to get from E's apartment into Frankfurt, to get the train to Basel. The machines do not accept 20 or 50 Euro bills. Guess what I had...so I get on the train and hope that no one is controlling for tickets..........................you already know what happened. I get in the last wagen on the train and there isn't one train person, not two but 3 (!!!) fuckers waiting to control if everyone in the wagen had a ticket. So, instead of paying 3,60 for a 25 minute trip into Frankfurt, I paid 40!!!! I really don't like them today. I tried to explain that I was from out-of-town. I had no idea that the machines don't accept 20 or 50 Euro bills, but they were such Asses! WITH A CAPITAL 'A'.grr
Then when I finally got to Frankfurt, I stopped being so mad when I saw Starbucks!!! :) :) A grande vinalla Latte makes everything better. :)

That is about everything going on with me. Th. is getting home sometime tomorrow from Belgium. He has been in 4 countries this week: Germany, Holland, Belgium and (tomorrow he will being driving home thru) France. I was in the normal 2 countries for me: Germany and Switzerland. :) :) :)

catching up

Hi all,

Ok, just want to update on a couple of things:

First: Work

(We have a name for the co-worker that I have so many problems with: Noodle-head. She will be referred to, from now on, with this name. :)

So. It was only us this week at work. Noodle-head early shift, me late shift (Early shift: 6:30 - 3:30 and Late shift 1:00pm until 10). Mondays are bad days at work. We have to process all the production that went on through the weekend. Production even ran yesterday, a national holiday (with no celebrating...more on that later). So that means, on Monday Oct. 6th, I am actually processing 3 days of production. Ugh. But do-able. Thank God its me working and not Noodle-head. I came into work last Monday to chaos. I couldn't walk to my desk because of all the plastic boxes in the way. Noodle-head doesn't know how to clean up after herself. There were 5 EMPTY boxes placed here and there that she had not taken back downstairs. The plastic trash (after we have proofed the parts, some cannot go back onto the palettes. So we have trash) was over-flowing. And who cleaned up? Yahoo! You are so freaking smart: Amber! I also found out that she had 4 boxes of number signs that she had not brought back into the production hall. Who did that? Me, of course. So I spent my first 2 hours at work cleaning up after her. I asked her later how it went (overall, what happened...problems, annoyances, etc.). She replied: 'Stressful'.
DUH!!
So, I told her it was time for her to go home. That is late shift's job: to ask early shift how it was, then ok, I am taking over production, you start getting ready to go home. Her reply: "I would like to work more this week so I can go home earlier next week." WHAT!!?? I was speechless.

Here is the deal: her husband works at the company too, only on the metal side in Loerrach (we work plastic side in Weil). She wants to work longer (doing nothing) so she doesn't have to work as long next week, so she can see her husband. WTF!!??? They are now on opposite shifts for the next few weeks because we switched from working every-other-week shift change to 2 weeks early shifts and one week late shift.

I had a talk with her on Wednesday. I told her she needs to go home when she is supposed to, because there isn't enough for us both to do. I told her that if there is still product to be processed that she can give it to me and I will finish it. NOW I need to have another talk with her because, she is not doing the paperwork. She has time to do the paperwork, then she should give the finished paperwork to me and then asks me put them on the palettes. Jeez!! This kid is killing me!

Second: National Holiday (Oct.3) German Unification Day (when the Berlin Wall came down).
There are no fireworks, no parades, no celebration. It is just a day off from work. Then, everything is running again on Saturday. There were all kinds of politicians on the TV talking about it. There was one HUGE concert in Berlin, in front of the Brandenburger Tor:


THIRDLY: October 3 is K.B's Birthday!!!
HAPPY HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY K.B.!!!!!

I don't think there is a fourth. When there is, I will type again!
later gaters!

Crazy 8's

I was tagged by M.C. So here goes:

8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. My Name is Earl
3. Germany's Next Top Model with Heidi Klum
4. Desperate Housewives
5. Cartoons (Flintstones, Jetsons...I finally found the cartoon channel in English!!)
6. NCIS
7. House-Lifting (only with the S.C. crew)
8. Designing Blind

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. El Camino (Socorro NM)
2. El Sombrero (Socorro NM)
3. Chili's
4. Joey's (Organic Pizza place here in Loerrach)
5. Mykonos (Greek in Loerrach)
6. Tchopon (Afghani in Loerrach)
7. Burger King
8. Pizza Hut

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. No work (Oct. 3: the Day of German Unification)
2. went to the gym
3. cooked
4. cleaned
5. washed/folded laundry
6. unloaded/reloaded dishwasher
7. Shower
8. watched TV with Thomas

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1. H. and M.'s wedding next week
2. Eating dinner with H and M tonight
3. Tuesday (because that means Monday is over)
4. M.H.'s 30th birthday party
5. My co-worker I.B. coming back from vacation
6. starting quilts for the L. Family
7. celebrating with R and K, when the FINALLY find out whether it is a boy or girl!
8. going to the gym next week (at least twice!)


8 Things on My Wish List:
1. losing weight
2. cruise/cool summer vacation
3. building a house
4. babies (some time...in the future)
5. living in the States (??)
6. A President-Elect that will change the negative image of America (here where I live, America is a joke because of our current President. I hope the candidate that wins TRIES to work for better relations with foreign governments.)
7. My accent to go away when I speak German.
8. having my family visit me here.

:)

What to Expect in Germany

So, I composed the following list after 1 year of living in Germany. I just found it again and thought I would pass it along.

Hope you all enjoy!

What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Germany.

So, your planning on traveling to Germany sometime soon?

Just some little facts that I didn’t know when I first came.

FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE I CAN OFFER: “When in Germany, do as the Germans do.”

If everyone is putting on their jackets to go walking, put your jacket on too. If everyone at the table is using a fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand, THAT IS NORMAL!!!

Most of the time, you need to pay for the toilet. Whether there is an actual money taker on the door or a plate outside of the door, you are expected to add between 0,20 and 0,50 Euro.

When walking on the sidewalk, there is an area specifically for bicycles. (Normally, I find myself always walking in this area.) Usually there is a painted bike on the path to show the difference, but if there isn’t, the path is closest to the actual road where the cars drive. Most bicyclers also have a small bell. If you hear the small bell, just look behind you to see which side the biker is coming on and step out of the way.

When you see this letter ‘ß’, don’t be afraid, it is just a fancy writing for double ‘s’. For example: Berliner Straße is exactly the same as Berliner Strasse.

I have noticed, throughout Germany, that the police are not as respected here as they are in the U.S. I only say this because I was taught that when approached by the police to be polite, courteous, and respectful. However, in Germany, I have seen police being treated very badly (cursing at them and rude name calling). Just F.Y.I.

When on a train and/or bus, just keep to yourself. Germans don’t usually create small talk between themselves. They keep to themselves. If you have any questions, ask the porter in the train or the driver of the bus. However, it is very likely they do not speak English.

Usually, beer is cheaper than water. It is just the way it is. Beer is also sold everywhere a coke is in the States. My first experience with this was really funny. Seeing a beer in the hand of a friend at the movie theater, I asked him where he got it. He said he bought it at the ticket counter.

On the subject of beer, 16 year olds can drink beer here. So if you are at a bar and see underaged kids, its ok.

And all water that you order has bubbles in it. So, if you do not want to make a major intestinal problem, it is better to stick to the water that you normally drink (tap water is called ‘tafelwasser’).

The best soft drink to go with are the classics: Coke and/or Pepsi. All the other variations (Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper) taste quite different from State-side. However, a drink that I found that is quite good is a Spitzi. It is half coke and half orange drink (think the off brand of grape or orange soda at your local grocer). It tastes quite good, but in the States, it doesn’t taste as good that Germany (Go figure, huh?)

Germans really like "Fresh Air". They want to be breathing fresh air all the time. In the dead of winter (with 2.5 feet of snow on the ground), they will bundle up and go walking for an hour. Really weird. I even have a friend my age, who tells me she needed fresh air, so she went for a 1.5 hour walk. I understand going walking when it is a nice day, but I really don’t understand is walking in the snow.

I will think about what needs to be added to this list. Now I have 3 years of experience here. I will continue to muse on this subject. I will get back to y'all when I have something good.

:)

Diffucult 2 weeks

**Background info**
I work 2 shifts. I work one week early shift (6:30 am until 3:30 pm) and one week late shift (1 pm until I am finished (between 8 and 9 most days)). I have been working this shift since May or June. No problems for me. I just do the work and try to have some fun.
**End of Background info**

Ever had a problem with a co-worker? Yes? What kind of a problem? Bad smells, bad attitude?

What about an EGO problem? My co-worker is 24 and has only been with us since 2nd or 3rd week of June. Then I had my surgery. So I didn't know this girl at all. I know she had her apprenticeship in our company and learned something completely different than Quality Control.

My new co-worker and I got along fine for the first two or three weeks. Then she was trying to move and work at the same time. Stressful, I understand. But, when you come to work, please work and not talk to your mom, husband, whomever, when you are at work.

How exactly do you ask your co-worker to concentrate when she is at work and stop making private phone calls??

I didn't know how to ask/tell her this in German. I was afraid to use the wrong words, or tone and end up with a pissed off 24-year-old co-worker. So, I went to my boss, who is an excellent English speaker and asked his advice. He said he would talk to her. So, he did.

After this little talk with Boss-Man, she completely STOPPED talking to me. For the last 2 WEEKS. Boss talked to her on Wednesday. I drove home on the Friday of that week in tears. I stopped sleeping, eating, everything. I was so stressed out. I told Thomas I didn't want to go back to work on Monday (cause right now, we are working together. Her husband also works in the company and they want to be in the same shift). That is the first time in a year that I had uttered those words.

I LOVE MY JOB. I LOVE THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD NEVER, EVER UTTER THESE WORDS.

On Tuesday, I think I had a panic attack. My head was hurting so bad that I thought was a) throwing up or b) passing out. Shaking hands, hard to breath. So I went home, crying again. I woke up at 6 am on Wednesday morning crying. Thomas told me to talk to her and get everything resolved.

Did you know that I HATE confrontation? No, really. I hate rocking the boat. That is the lead-up to this email:
'Mrs. Wedehase,
I request a meeting with you and Mrs. G. in my office at 130 this afternoon.
Thank you,
Mr. Boss-Man.'

FAN-FREEEEEAAAAKING-TASTIC.

*as an extra bonus...Mr. Department Head himself was also sitting in the office* DAMN-IT.

So, my Boss acted Mediator because the Dep't head wasn't really up to speed everything. I had my say, she had hers and then Dep't head (very loosely translated into English):
"Ladies, work together. I know you can. Let us go forward and try to forget. However, I know with women, they have memories like elephants. You remember EVERYTHING. Please find a way to talk each other. I don't want to have this discussion every 3 months with you."

So, I was pissed cause she totally went from one extreme to the other. Total pals, getting along find, then she receives criticism from Boss-Man and she stops talking to me completely.
She was pissed cause I didn't go directly to her to say: 'pay attention when you are at work'. She did see my point, where I had no idea HOW to talk to her when she says nothing.

So, things are better now. Next week we have early shift together, then we only work every third week together. THANK GOD. I need my space.

To blog or not to blog...

So, why do I blog when no one looks at it? I read M. Cooper's blog everyday. I check to see if anyone else has blogged.

Having 1 or 2 kids is no excuse. M. Cooper posts almost everyday and has a kid.

Why do I try SO HARD to stay in contact with a family that never comments back?

You can look at the twins' family blog. I have read every post. I read every of my cousins' and their families. If you have MySpace, you can visit my page (amberobunny) and see that more college friends stay in touch with me, rather than my family. (I must say, I have the most contact with R. and K. Owings on this blog...and K. is 'new' in the family).

Yes, I chose to move to Germany. I also chose to stay in touch with those people that stay in touch with me.

So, now it is your turn. DO YOU WANT CONTACT OR NOT??

Yes or No?

I am just sick of wasting my time thinking about what to write when there is no one to write to.

Despite that I live anywhere from 7 to 9 hours ahead of the US, I still call my mom every week (or she calls me). I call Grandma Polly every 3 to 4 weeks.

I have lived here in Germany for 3 years. I have visited the US 4 times in those 3 years. And how many times has ANYONE in the family come to visit me, at my home? 0, absolutely no one.

D. Petree was in Stuttgart and we visited with him for a few hours. That is it. (He married into the family, just in case you forgot and K. Owings too.) The only people that have contact with me have married into the family.

I also understand that it is expensive to travel. However, 2 of the 4 trips to the US was paid for by my husband. I was not allowed to work. He paid for 1 trip to the US before our wedding, then we went together later that year.

When there is something that you want to buy, most of the time you have to save money, when you really want it.

We live in a world that moves quickly, I understand. We make time for the important things in life, which are the people. NOT THE MONEY, NOT THE MATERIAL.

Pretty sad for a family who's religion is built on the foundation that there is no stronger love than the family.

fun times at work

So, I have just completed my 2nd week back at work . Very happy to be back in a schedule! Early shift this week was crazy. It has been 6 weeks since I worked early shift. 5:30 came way too early!! :)

Oh, the doc released me to go back to the gym and ride my bike. And he said I didn't have to go back for 6 weeks (unless there is a problem). HURRAH!!!

Wow, I also got my paycheck after being sick for 4 weeks. The same money. THAT IS AMAZING. If this had happened in the States, I'm not really sure if I would still have a job. I am very lucky to still have my job. I am getting better too. My physical therapist told me it would take between 8 and 12 weeks before I am wiggling my wrist around like normal again!! :)

Hello to the Petree family!! I found your blog and it looks sooo good! Hugs all around!

it has been a long 4 weeks

so, I fell on the stairs at work on July 4th. 

Then I had a cast for a week (not allowed to work). The cast didn't help, so I had surgery on July 28th. 

Today all the stitches are out and no more cast!!! Woo-hoo!

HOPEFULLY, this will be the last week I have to stay home. Next Monday, off to work!!! :)

ok, still trying to work out how I add pictures for this thing. As soon as I have that worked out, I will post post-op pictures.

not such a great week.

Well, i would like to say that all is good with me, but it isn't. I have always had a problem with my left wrist. Well on the 4th of July, i fell on the stairs at work. i went to my Doctor again last Friday (July 11) and she sent me to a Surgeon. The Surgeon told me I have a cyst and put me in a cast (and wrote me 'sick'). So no work. And now I know why. My wrist hurts like hell and it is super hard even to type. I go back to the Surgeon on Monday then he decides for another week with a cast or surgery. I am all ready betting on surgery. Then it is over. But I am a little bit scared because it is my first 'real' surgery. I have only had surgery in my mouth.

THEN, i locked us out of our apartment last night and we had to wait for 2.5 hours until the locksmith got here. THEN it cost 214 Euros (about $300). DAMMIT!!! it is so not my week.

Back in the saddle

Gearing up for a trip to the States. No, I am not excited YET!!! I (ok, we) have so much to do before we leave. Thomas has a huge week at work. We are a person short at my work...STRESS, STRESS, STRESS.

In the end, I get to see almost all of my sisters. Cort is too pregnant to fly. I will definitely miss seeing her, Matt and Kyle, but her health and that of the baby are way too important. Oh yeah, our German friends Marei and Heiko welcomed a baby girl last Sunday. Laura Hannah arrived healthy and whole on the 18th. I get to see my Grandma and I REALLY excited to see her. I am seeing lots of pictures on my cousin's blogs and I can't wait to hug her. I am excited to visit New Mexico again...GREEN CHILE ALARM!!! I really cannot put into words how much I miss New Mexican cuisine. I have yet to find a resturant that comes even CLOSE to refried beans and tortillas and guacamole and the goodness of melty cheese on top of everything!!!

We are visiting the in-laws this weekend and we have finally purchased wedding presents for the happy couple. It was hard to explain to my Mother-in-law what she should wear to the wedding...she has never had the pleasure of West Texas at 6 pm...I hope I have communicated how hot it really will be...
Other than that, we are getting into travelling mode. I am making sure that we have only what we don't want anymore to pack. Then we can give it to Goodwill after we are finished buying new stuff in the States. Woot!! Euro is better than the dollar. Never thought that I would say that!!!
:)

I am asked at least 3 to 4 times a week, 'Who do I think is better: Obama or Hillary?'

I think it is a funny question to ask because it really doesn't matter what I think. Only the delegates. I try to explain to my German co-workers, but they don't understand (or I don't explain it that well). Yes, I plan on voting. Even if I live in Germany. However, I would like to see a little more talking about what is going to be done to improve the negative image of America rather than hear about 'he said, she said'. I think Obama has done a good job of that. Granted, I only hear what comes on the news, and it seems to be un-biased. I feel that when I am watching the news in America, I only get one side of the story. Here is different. Every aspect is talked about (almost to death sometimes) and that is something that I really like. 

...who do I vote for? That is a good question that will be answered when the candidates are set. Let the Dems fight among one another. The Reps are on the other side getting ready for the attack. 

Well, whacha going to do?

I have finally read my first book in German. It was a story about an 18 year old Marine and 12 year old Iraqi girl that their lives were changed on April 7 2003.  He died and she lost a leg and her sister. 

Now I am reading German as much as possible because it really IS helping my German-speaking skills. It was super hard to change over to reading German because I love reading so much. Reading for me is just relaxing. I resisted the change to German because I was afraid to lose that relaxing feeling. I started with the book about the American and Iraqi (Andy und Marwa: Zwei Kinder und der Kreig--Andy and Marwa: 2 Kids and the War). 

I have moved on to Harry Potter book 7 in German. It is a little weird: they had to change Hermione's name to Hermine.  I didn't notice this until a good 3/4 thru the book. I pride myself on being observant. Guess I am slipping.