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.