Dinks have left the building...or at least the blog

We are still DINKS but are no longer in Deutschsland, so with my move to the states comes my move to a new blog. Follow my new adventures here: http://simpledowntownliving.blogspot.com/

Tschuss!

Closing Time

One of my the signature college songs was, "Closing Time" by Semisonic. That song popped into my head as I pondered how to write this entry.

Today, after a ridiculous goose chase called outprocessing, and a number of farewell dinners and hugs from colleagues, we are ready to go. It has been a learning experience. I've made good friends.

"Open all the doors and let you out into the world"

A Wild Ride

Kelly: The last month has been a blur. My grandfather died. Matt spent the last month working in the States while I've been here in Germany. I was offered a job with the Army Public Health Command. I submitted my resignation to my current position with 30 days notice, and it took 10 days to figure out that yes, indeed, I did sign a one-year contract. HR was fighting it because most "normal" contracts require two years of service. I was a wreck. I couldn't imagine staying for another year without Matt and with two caustic co-workers. So when it ws finally confirmed that I could leave without penalty, I had to scramble to get the movers lined up. Unfortunately, I had to wait for offiical orders before I could schedule anything and of course, HR was unresponsive. Thanks to the efforts of an amazing executive assistant, I was able to get my orders and schedule everything. Thanks also to the support of an amazing friend who I will miss dearly. Still, I was holding my breath. Life here feels so uncontrollable. I feel as if logic and order don't always prevail. Rules change. People change. Ugh. With this as the background, I was trying to organize our goods for the first packing and moving that took place last Friday. To top that off, I got food poisoning last weekend and had upset stomach for 5 days before relenting and visiting the doctor. I am usually anti-conventional medicine, but thank goodness for antibiotics! I'm finally feeling better. I have been surprised by the response to my resignation. One "colleague" took over several of my duties already, slamming my work to my boss. Another "colleague" stuck her name on my door. Remember...I'm not leaving for three more weeks. Meanwhile, a stoic Major cried when she found out and other colleagues were similarly dismayed. How interesting. This work experience has been such an education.

That was going on on this side of the ocean, and Matt was dealing with his own set of issues. His boss is on leave, so he is covering for her while trying to do his job which he hadn't fully grasped yet and hadn't caught up on the work that was there prior to taking the position. So, work is busy. He's sleeping on the floor at a friend's house 1 hour from work. He's also trying to buy a house in Frederick. He sifted through/discovered information on general contracting, permitting, sub-contracting, historic preservation, city laws, city taxes, mortgages, construction loans, and more. Finally, his number crunching concluded that it was feasible. He worked with a contractor to get the numbers down, thanks to my parents volunteering to paint and help out :) We're still submitting all of the numbers to the bank, but it appears that all will go through by the end of the month. So, Matt's next challenge was finding a place for us to live. After seeing many scary, small, cold, dark, and moldy apartments, our realtor found us a sublet...furnished...over a tattoo parlor! Done!

We are so excited. So so so excited. Matt arrived back in Germany yesterday. We'll spend the remaineder of our time here closing accounts, organizing, cleaning, running around among bases to outprocess before hopping our plane to return home at the end of the month. Hello, Frederick!

Loving London

Kelly: London is a comfortable Paris.
Paris is massive. London is massive.
Paris is fashionable. London is fashionable.
Paris has amazing food. London has amazing food.
Paris has amazing history and architecture. London has amazing history and architecture.
Despite the similarities, London seems much more doable. Perhaps the reason is that the language barrier doesn't exist. Although, some of the words like, "bobbies" and "aubergine" could be another language! We found Londoners to be very welcoming and willing to take time to explain directions or to check on food ingredients.

We stayed with a lovely English woman who had lived in England all of her life, spending most of her time in London, summering in Somerset and France. How amazing does that sound! She lived in an adorable, historic rowhome near Holland Park. Matt and I quickly came to feel at home in this residential neighborhood just west of Notting Hill. We ate so well, which was a joy for me given that I'd been struggling with the newly diagnosed food allergies. Matt found cider and became inspired to brew his own when we return to the states. We walked about 14 miles the first day and didn't even scratch the surface. So, with Rick Steves' blessing and the encouragement of our proper English hostess, we bit the bullet and hopped on the hop-on, hop-off bus. It served the purpose of moving us from one tourist destination to another. We detoured and spent a few hours at the Tate Modern where Matt awoke, both literally with the help of a stellar latte and figuratively with the lofty space inspiring new creative ideas for living.

And now, we are back in cloudy, cold Germany. If you couldn't tell, I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow....

Fresh Mountain Air

Kelly: I'm spending a few days in Garmisch, Germany at the foot of the Alps, for a Resiliency Training. I won't bore you with the details of the training, but attending has made me realize that I certainly have the skills required to pursue CEU/CME workshops on self-care! Nuf said. The weather has been rainy and cold...not so much fun, except that cold and rain at sea level means a view of snow-covered peaks from my balcony. I've met some cool people and have seen several people get hooked on yoga after one session!

The part of this trip that has been the most difficult for me is certainly the food, or lack thereof. The nice young man in the lunch buffet line (the only restaurant available to us at the conference center is the buffet, unless I want to eat pub food, which won't happen) assured me that yesterday's vegetable soup was gluten free. The knots in my stomach at 2:00 PM told me otherwise. Ugh. I found a health food store where I was able to stock up on some fruit and gluten-free snacks such as rice cakes, pretzels, and dried coconut. However, I don't like consuming so much processed crap and my body feels sluggish and tired after doing so. I'm already ready to return to fresh veggies and simple fish. Simple. I'm also looking forward to seeing my honey who will be home shortly before I return, assuming traffic isn't a nightmare tomorrow.

I'm going to tuck myself in for my last night of sleeping at the foot of the Alps breathing pristine, mountain air :)

What to eat

Kelly: I've been having GI issues (we'll leave it at that just in case anyone is eating while reading this blog) on and off for a while now and other seemingly random nagging health issues. I found a doctor who had treated random symptoms and visited him while I was home. He confirmed that as I had thought but had been dismissed by conventional medicine that my thyroid wasn't functioning up to speed. But because the one test that conventional docs run didn't showed up just within the "normal" range, I was fine. Nevermind, that my symptoms were a mirror image of the textbook definition of hypothroidism. Okay, done with the mini-rant. In addition, the proactive doc mentioned that I might be allergic to foods and that the food allergy was driving the thyroid issue. So, I had more blood drawn and received the results of the tests Monday night. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that the tests indicated I was allergic to almonds, dairy, milk, eggs, and beef. WHAT??? What will I eat. Hmmm. I had just swallowed my dessert of organic raw cheese and almonds. Not good. "What about gluten?" I had asked. Gluten didn't show up on the test. To mourn my loss of ice cream (thank God I got my fill of gelato in Italy!), I tested my gluten allergy by eating a couple of handfulls of Matt's organic granola. Within 30 minutes and three trips to the bathroom, I had my answer. Yep, still allergic to gluten. So, with tears rolling down my rashy face, I called my mom to tell her that I couldn't eat anything. She went in to mom fix-it mode and started brainstorming how I could survive. After we hung up and I started researching a little more (shocker, I know...me, reasearch), I pulled myself together and looked at this newfound knowledge as an opportunity to be healthier. I have repeated that little mantra several times this week and it will likely become etched in my neurons as I navigte through our processed food world. With that, I'm off to the farmers' market and then yoga. To health!

Lazy Sunday

Kelly: When the weekend rolls around, if I'm not on call which forces me to stay at home, and Matt isn't leaving to return to the states, and the weather has not unpredictably dropped autobahn-closing levels of ice and/or snow, then we are TRAVELING. This weekend was an exception to that. I went to the Farmers' market with a good friend yesterday, did lots of chores around the house (Yes, I truly appreciate all that Matthew does when he is here) and cooked. Today, after a nice long walk and the dreaded Sunday morning Commissary trip, I have really done...nothing. I made a delightful breakfast, drank tea, gardened a bit outside, planned for our London trip, cooked the kale from the farmers' market, read nutrition research online, and chatted on the phone. A delightfully relaxing day. I feel rested. The sad part is that that rested feeling doesn't usually last longer than 45 minutes once Monday morning rolls around. This week, I'm going to try not to let the usual chaos of work and last minute "emergencies" flip me into stress mode. That will be a challenge, given that the first three days of the week are going to be a whirlwind of meetings, patients, and after-work commitments.

Matt is doing well in the States. He's a social butterfly when I'm not there. I guess we both rely/enjoy one another as our primary social outlet when we are together. Healthy, yes, but it would probably benefit us to also spread our butterfly wings while in one another's company. Life lessons. Keep learning.

The Emerald Isle

Kelly: I'm not a big fan of emeralds. I, however, have become a fan of Ireland. We spent last weekend traversing the country of Ireland from the Dublin airport to foggy, misty Dingle to sophisticated Kinsale and the amazing B&B in Killbrittain and back to explore the approachable city of Dublin. It was a whirlwind of a trip. I tasted amazing Sea Bass, drank great wine, spent time with a good friend (in addition to my hubby), had long breakfasts of strong coffee, free range eggs, fresh fruit, and delightful grilled tomatoes. The people were welcoming but not intrusive. Overall, a great trip. I am continually amazed by the education I receive while traveling!

The Waiting Game

Kelly: So, Matt and I had a fabulous weekend in Maryland. It was jam packed with have-to-dos (doctor's appointments, meetings, etc.) and want-to-dos (house hunting, good food, long walks). Now, I'm back in Germany, and reality has slapped me in the face pushing aside the light-hearted, creative spirit that embodied me. Reality came in the form of negative co-workers, long workdays, a cat-hair laden house (good thing she's ridiculously cute), and being on-call this weekend. There has to be a way to hold on to that feeling. If anyone out there has suggestions, please let me know. I had started yoga again, but I haven't had the time or energy for that since returning, even though I found Tara Stiles and her anytime, anywhere, anybody approach to yoga really resonantes with me. Goals...I'll keep moving toward them.

We're waiting. Waiting for the contractor to tell us what it will cost to turn the studs, plywood floors, and exposed brick walls of an early 1900s rowhome into a simple, modern oasis. If the number is right, we move forward. If the number is too high, it is back to the drawing board. I've been trying not to get too excited, but I haven't been able to help myself from stealing peeks at modern design online. In the process, I stumbled upon a mid-century, Charles Goodman-designed neighborhood in Silver Spring...who knew???? The contractor is supposed to have an estimate for us tomorrow.

Stateside

Kelly: I spent an amazing weekend in Austin, TX with a great friend. I swam in Barton Springs pool which was on my life list of things to do. It was amazing...cool and refreshing for two very sweaty pals :) We ate amazing food at Whole Foods, shopped but didn't buy at Anthropologie, drank Konbucha, walked along the lake, and had great conversation. A simultaneously relaxing and energizing weekend. Oh, and I wore dangley earrings (gasp!). Thanks for sharing the weekend with me, MA!

The parental visit

Kelly: Wow, what a whirlwind of a visit. Mom and Dad arrived on a rainy, cold Thursday. We took the train to a cool, cloudy Paris, explored the streets, climbed the Eiffel Tower, and ate really great Parisian food and wine. Quote of the trip was from Dad, "My self esteem goes up when I stop reading!" in response to his difficulty reading French words and our subsequent hysterically laughter...the kind where you get the ugly face because you can barely breathe because you are laughing so hard!

Then back home long enough to wash our clothes before venturing off through Switzerland and Lake Como. Switerland was breathtakingly beautiful, and Lake Como was top notch. Mom loved loved loved both the gelato and the views in the Lake Como area. We stayed at a slightly out-of-the-way small hotel with a great buffet breakfast and even better views of the wind-surfers who filled our end of the lake from 6-8 am and provided us with "interesting" views during breakfast...let's just say that mom and I enjoyed the views more than the boys :) Then, it was off to Rome but when we found Lucca and Tuscancy, our plans took a detour. The Tourist Information office booked us a night at an agriturismo (working Italian farm that hosts guests) and we drank wine from the barrel, picnicked by the pool on top of the hill overlooking vineyards, and slept in rustic but comfortable and quiet rooms. Ahhh....so relaxing. We jumped back in the car the next morning and headed to an Italian Riviera town called Sestri Levante. We walked on the pebbly beach, stuck our feet in the water, and climbed out on some massive rocks. Dad almost lost his shoe to the Med, but luckily rescued it no thanks to Mom and me laughing hysterically up the beach. We dined at a cute outdoor cafe where Dad learned that he liked Italian beer, that antipasta salad doesn't mean that you get lettuce, and that pizza comes at the very very end of the meal. We packed back in to the car and headed north. Our goal (okay, my goal) was to make it into southern Germany where our dollar went farther than in Switzerland to the south. Switzerland was breath-taking and Samantha's "time-saving" detour showed us the neat-as-a-pin Swiss villages filled with modern architecture at the foot of the most rugged and beautiful mountains I have yet to see. We took Rick Steve's advice yet again and headed for a Gasthaus (German Inn) in the reportedly charming town of Staufen in the black forest. Given Samantha's route through tiny towns in Switzerland, I didn't doubt her accuracy as we navigated swtichbacks and hair-pin turns through the black forest, until we arrived at the inn in Staufen only to find the owner smiling and telling us he had no rooms and that we were really looking for a different in with the same name in a town named Staufen, 70 km from our current location. So, at 8:00 PM, we drove on though more of the black forest to arrive at the second Staufen. Even though darkness was setting in, we were utterly delighted with the story-book flavor of the sweet town and even more so the kindness of the host who graciously kept the kitchen open well past closing to make sure we had plenty to eat. Our rooms were traditional and comfortable, and the breakfast buffet was the best I've ever had...coffee (free refills much to Dad's delight), eggs, yogurt, fresh berries, breads, jams, tomatoes, and more. After breakfast we waddled to the cobblestone streets for some shopping. Dad discovered a sports store and found a new love named Jack Wolfskin...don't be alarmed, Mr. Wolfskin is a very famous German outdoor store. Mom and I delighted in a super-cute thrift store where she got a fab pair of red leather sandals and I scored a black German bag. We met up with the boys who had joined in their own favorite activity...cafe sitting and coffee drinking. We reluctantly packed the car and headed to Baden Baden. Although it wasn't what I had pictured, we still enjoyed our time there and had a lovely lunch outdoors in the perfect weather. The traffic on the way home was not-so-perfect. Many hours and detours later, we arrived back in rainy Ramstein. We recovered the next day with a trip to the farmer's market and then more shopping in Ktown. Mom found great gifts for my sisters and Matt found a 700 euro bag, which he did not buy but dreamed about the rest of the day. We spent the remainder of the weekend working on the lawn (Mom and Dad doing most of the work), playing beanbags and cards.

It was an awesome trip filled with great food, laughter, and memories that will last our lifetime. I love you Mom and Dad!

Flood

Kelly: Last night, my capris weren't a fashion statement, they were a necessity. I awoke to the sound of hail pelleting the windows. I ran to the window to see hail moving horizontally, carried by the vicious winds and torrential rains. I checked the attic to ensure no leaks: all good, or so I thought. I went to the main level to check on Miles, and I heard water running...that's odd. Then as I looked down the basement stairs, my heart stopped and quickened at the same time...water was flooding under the door. Approximately two inches covered the floor. I called our landlord who said he couldn't get out of his house but would call the fire company. I rescued Mialley's floating litter box from the freezing swirling water...two and a half inches. The rain let up. Three inches. The first fireman arrived, slipped on the stairs, confirmed my basement was flooding, and called for a back-up truck with a pump. The truck arrived an hour and an inch of water later. The two young Germans hauled the pump into the house and down to the basement. Through gestures and broken English, I supplied them with the brooms they desired and they went to work. An hour or so later, my basement was less flooded. They left stating that the did all that they could. I called my landlord again who said that he'd come over the next day. 2:30 AM. 5:30 Alarm...not happening...6:15--wet nose on my forearm...thank goodness for my furry, four-legged alarm clock and her grumbling belly. I scrambled...sort of...out of bed, to the shower, and out the door in less than 30 minutes including packing my lunch. Coffee. Black. Strong. My fellow co-workers did not receive the deluge and resulting mess that I did, so they were somewhat numb and removed from my story. When I arrived home, my dear landlord had not only pumped the remaining water out but had also cleaned the nasty sediment, leaves, and God knows what that had washed in. I called him immediately with many thanks.

I didn't react as I would have in the past. I stayed relatively calm and level headed. Maybe the yoga of the past and meditation of the present are paying off!

My honey arrives tomorrow. After my day at work, I want nothing more than to spend a slow weekend hearing the details of his adventures over a nice cup of tea. Simple. Love.

Choices

Kelly: Lately I've been thinking a lot about choices. We are all a product of our choices.
A co-worker and friend is trying to decide which of two great jobs to take (not a bad problem to have), but I can see how much she is struggling and weighing all of the ramifications that one choice would bring. Each choice that she had made in her life up to this point has enabled her to have the choices that she is facing presented to her. Free will/ the ability to choose is an amazing gift and responsibility.

Matt is facing a choice of jobs. One option is with his company (secure) but pending a contract award (unsecure). The second option is with a small business without a big reputation (unsecure) but the offer is on the table (secure). His ability to be in this position is due to the many choices he has made in his life.

For both my friend and for Matt, the weight of this decision feels enormous; however, six months to a year from now, this likely won't be seen as a "cruicial" decision, merely one of those decisions in the past allowing for another decision to be made in the present.

Bon chance!

A love affair...and my husband knows about it

Kelly: This weekend we took a roadtrip to France. We drove to Lyon, which was actually quite charming. Lyon is a restaurant mecca. We enjoyed tasty food at one of the many cafes. We dined on the cobblestoned street, watching the business people and tourists mix as they shopped for a restaurant. We stayed in a woman's flat on the fifth floor....good thing I've converted to an ultra-light packer! We rose early the next morning, and it took both of us to figure out how to use the Nescafe coffee maker. After a quick espresso, we headed south. Unfortunately, we weren't going to make it to the Arles Saturday market by closing time, so instead we stopped in Avingon (not impressed) and then on to Aix-on-Provence (impressed). Aix (as the locals refer to it) is a charming cosmopolitan town replete with art and money...how could that be a bad thing? We then made our way to our home base for the night...Arles. We had gathered picnic fare in Aix and after checking in to our tiny but modern room, we picnicked by a Roman arena. Crazy. Then we strolled the streets for a gelato shop, stumbled across a local music fest complete with sod (in the middle of the city), and then made our way home...tipsy on wine and exhausted from a day on the road. Arles was an interesting mix of working class meets cutey shops meets tons of history. It falls into the category of "nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there" which falls in sharp contrast to our destination the next morning...Cassis, which fills the category "nice place to visit, don't want to leave, and how can I possibly live here?" It was a clean as a whistle glamorous fishing village nestled between some amazing glacier-formed cliffs. The Mediterrnaean was amazing...blue/green/clear all at the same time. I'm not a big beachy person, but I loved this beach. Cool breezes, no tourists plastered to cigarette butt covered sand...just white sand and small pebbles in a rugged but calm setting. Did I say I liked this place yet? Alas, we had more to see. We decided to forego the 2+ hour ride to Nice given that we really wouldn't have time to explore it well and still return home. So, we had to "settle" for wine-tasting in Provence. Bummer (dripping in sarcasm). We ended up in Gigondas...a delightful spec of a town with cute cafes and charming flower-box laden homes stacked on the hillside. We were disappointed to learn that the recommended cafe was closed for a party and the other alternatives had only daily menus that contained glutenous fare. But, all was not lost, as we left with two amazing bottles of wine (one of which is from Chateau du Montmirail and has caused me to believe there truly is a difference between 2 euro Aldi wine and this amazing grape blend). So, onward we venture, Samantha (our GPS) sent us the "short" way to the highway...one way streets, cow paths, and...lavendar fields...not quite in bloom (I will return one day to see that). After Sam finally led us to the highway, we stopped at a rest stop for lunch. You might be thinking "ugh...gross"...not so in France. I had a beautiful salad with local basil-infused olive oil. Matt had a chef's salad with the best smoked bacon he had ever tasted....at least the hefty tolls we were paying to drive on the roads were funding amazing food. As we neared Germany, the temperature dropped and the clouds rolled in...too predictable. The at-times torrential rainfall gave way to the most beautiful full rainbow we had ever seen. We returned tired and happy...eager to live in Europe but not Germany!

Last Weekend's Rhine Cruise

Kelly: Glorious weather! This weekend we took part in a Rhine River Cruise as part of resiliency building activity. Matt and I aren’t big fans of the organized group tours; however, this one was enjoyable. Our down-home, Southern-accented, perky tour guide managed to keep everyone happy while pointing out sights from the rock where the legend of Lora lye began to noting passing Ferraris. We visited a castle perched high above the Rhine. Our tour boat was late, but the ride was lovely and very sunny. We were late arriving at the restaurant (3:00 PM) where Matt ate Schnitzel for the first, and possibly last, time. My vegetarian meal was veggie schnitzel but it was covered in bread crumbs, so instead, I ate a delightful salad. We were starving by that time, so we would’ve eaten anything! Then we went to a wine tasting. The jovial alcoholic directing our group of 40+ was definitely entertaining, and the wine was decent, too. We stopped for a quick shopping adventure in lovely Rudesheim before returning home. All in all, a great day.
I was on call Sunday, and I really should have learned my lesson by now. I received a call the night before stating that I had to be there at 1:00. I called just prior to my departure and the flight time had been moved, but I hadn’t been notified. So, I did some chores around the house. We were in Madrid last weekend, and then I rolled right into a super busy week, so I was glad to have a little downtime. I’m feeling rather frazzled because I haven’t attended to the little things that just seem to be adding up. I ended up staying at work until 8:00ish, watered a co-workers plants, and then returned home just in time to get ready for the week. Still frazzled. Despite that, I truly enjoy having houseguests; however, I do feel sad when I think that after 7 months in Europe, our first houseguest was Matt’s intern who I’ve only met once.
Still frazzled, I resolved to accomplish some major organizational tasks. So, last night I cleaned my closets but only found three pairs of shoes with which to part. Nevertheless, I feel inner calm knowing that my T-shirts are folded. Yes, mom, I had to tackle the closet organization without you. This is usually a task for which I have zero patience and that is when I call in SuperMom to the rescue. While folding my shirts with Gap clerk-like precision, I received a call from the hospital stating that a flight was arriving at 4:12, and that I should arrive at 4:45...audible groan. So, I hopped in bed by 9:00, despite it still being very light. Matt drove me to the hospital at 4:30. After waiting for the patients and waiting for the patients and more waiting, I received a call at 0630 stating that they were just going to eat breakfast and would arrive by 0730, when the other clinic staff take over....seriously?

Oh well. Lesson learned.

Madrid Standard Time

Kelly: We arrived back from Madrid at about 1:oo AM this morning. It would've been worse if we hadn't experienced Madrid Standard Time (MST). MST meant leaving for drinks at 9:00 PM, finding a restaurant maybe by 10-10:30...putting food in my mouth by 11:30, 12:00 and returning to our hotel by 1:00AM. So, you can see why this morning's early arrival wasn't too unsettling. What is more unsettling is that it it now 10:18, and I am not sleepy, despite the fact that I have to work tomorrow and have to sound perky for a radio interview.

Madrid was interesting. It was great to see friends from home. It made me miss being able to see them without three months of coordination and a hit to my bank account. It also made me appreciate being able to hop on a plane in the afternoon and be in Madrid by evening. Madrid was messy. Graffiti, trash, dirt, no sense of order (i.e., waiting in lines was futile). The people were not that friendly. In Germany, there isn't much customer service. Germans don't go out of their way to smile or be polite or make smalltalk. My experience of customer service in Madrid was that they went out of their way to be rude....eye rolls when we struggled with the language, ignoring us when we tried to ask for reservations, etc. The food (excepting the Sangria) was underwhelming which could explain why Matt and I both ate a house tonight.

Okay, time for bed. This girl won't have a chance for siesta tomorrow!

Madrid...Really

Kelly: Matt and I are going to Madrid Friday. We are meeting our friends there for a fun-filled weekend. For some reason, it doesn't seem real. Maybe we are getting used to traveling or maybe this week has been a chaotic mess. OR maybe it is because I haven't packed anything and know nothing about Spain or Madrid in particular. Oh well. We are both ready for a break. Matt's job prospects have been questionable at best, but he just found out that his old organization or unit or whatever they call it has been dissolved into nothing, and it appears that he wouldn't have a job when he went back. As it stands now, he's not sure how much longer he will have the little bit of work that he currently has. So, I guess all of the stress related to that is the reason for needing a break! Neither of us has been sleeping much, either. Everything has seemed difficult this week...even the little things. I feel like staying in bed all day...when has that ever happened?

We did have an intersting experience today....I wanted to buy Matt a watch for his birthday, and I wanted to get him a European-made watch (when in Rome...). So, we went to our local (2 seconds down the street) watch shop (yes, they really do exist), and he picked out the one that he liked. The couple who owns the shop started chatting with us. The husband in particular was so so friendly. It really made me feel happy to be a temporary resident of his country. Interesting how my views on living in Europe seem to change with the breeze (a cold breeze...the weather has been unforgiving).

Moday Blahs

Kelly: Ugh. Today was a struggle. I think I got up on the wrong side of the bed. The little things were difficult. The difficult things were more difficult, and I have no motivation to prepare myself for tomorrow. Ugh. The rain and cold weather didn't help. I thought that spring was here. I was singing the praises of bikerides, beanbags, and outdoor eating. Now it is back to sweaters, umbrellas, and a hot beverage glued to my hand. I'm trying to find the good in this, and I think that perhaps I needed a reminder of the contrast...I realize how good the good is when I've dipped a toe back into the blah.

A Wash

Kelly: This weekend was a bit of a wash, metaphorically and physically. I was supposed to be in Garmisch for training this weekend, with a side trip to Munich on the way home with Matt. The training was cancelled for a myriad of questionable reasons, so we were left with a free weekend. We decided to Volksmarch on Saturday in France, because everything in Germany was closed due to the May 1st holiday. So, we packed our backpack and headed west. The skies grew darker and darker, but we pressed on, knowing that the German weather is as fickle and changeable as a moody sister (not that mine are moody :)) When the rain was coming down so hard that we could no longer see the road, we knew that there would be no Volksmarching for us. So, we listened to a series of British-accented "Recalculating...recalculating" as our GPS set a course for Cora...a French department store with a knock-your-socks-off selection of cheese, great bread, and hard cider. We arrived at 11:00 to find a completely empty parking lot. Apparently, Germany isn't the only country who celebrates May 1 by closing down all shopping centers. Frustrated and caffeine-less, we returned home. Mialley barely opened her eyes as we trudged through the door and unpacked. We spent the day completing chores and looking at real estate...the latter more fun than the former. A friend had suggested the movie "Date Night." Matt and I hadn't been to a movie since we lived in the states, so we thought we'd try seeing a movie in the German theaters. The theater, which was less than 10 minutes from our house, was modern and clean, and served alcohol (of course). The movie was cute...a cross between Mr. and Mrs. Smith and American Pie. I finished the second book my Jeanette Wells...staying up way too late.

We went to the commissary early today to avoid the lines and hoards of screaming children. We left just as the masses began to flock in. As we were leaving, we spotted a Starbuck's to-go cup...Matt was convinced it was a mirage. We set out to investigate and stumbled on a coffee shop on base that was open on Sunday and sold Starbuck's to-go coffee. My hubby was a happy camper, which might have been why he volunteered to cook brunch :) Soon after, we left for our local pre-Volksmarch walk. The club leaders of the Ramstein Roadrunners (our local Volksmarching club) take this really seriously. They returned to Europe for the sole purpose of running this club! We ventured out with about a dozen others on the 6K trail to ensure that the markings were sufficient for next weekend's big event. The rains let up just as we left for the walk. We were surprised to see the inter-connecting trails in our own neighborhood! I can't wait to try them at our own (slightly faster) pace. I love being more active as the weather has improved. We returned home and made gluten-free chocolate chip cookies as the rain fell in quater-sized drops.

This week is going to be a busy one! Work picked up a lot last week, and I have articles to write and notes to finish. I have to give an evening training Tuesday. Matt will get our volunteer assignments at the Roadrunners club meeting Tuesday. Matt is going to help a friend assemble furniture one night this week. I have a TDY to a local base about one hour away on Friday...and hopefully some walks and bike rides in between!

Beanbags

Kelly: What an inagural spring weekend! Our first bikerides and our first game of beanbags. Matt won...many thanks to more of my bags being in than his, but I'm not bitter. We have lots of spring and summer beanbag playing nights ahead!

Spring!

Kelly: I think that spring has decided to creep into our sleepy German town...hopefully, to stay. A crisp frost coated the purple flowers that laid near the soil in the roadside gardens this morning. The refreshingly crisp air slowly warmed, and by mid-bikeride in mid-afternoon, we were definitely warm! We did plenty of Sunday walking last weekend in Paris (sigh), and given that we got the bikes ready for riding yesterday, we decided to take them out for a spin. We started out meandering through our neighborhood and joined one of the many bike/pedestrian trails in the region. Like many of our experiences in Germany, our expectations were violated when the trail ended without warning, leaving us to navigate the gauntlet of parked cars, street traffic, mopeds, pedestrians, and other bikers on the small town streets. It is easy to spot the American bike riders...we have our spiffy bikes with brand names blazen on the sides, and we wear protective helmets. The Germans ride older-style bikes in impeccable condition adorned with baskets, and they are dressed in casual clothing without helmets. We moved through the neighoboring town and decided to ride to our Austrailian/Surgeon friends' home in the adjacent town. We rang the doorbell and were surprised to be greeted by an older gentleman and a "good-day mate." The Aussie's parents were visiting and had not been able to get a flight back due to the volcanic ash in the air. The surgeon was at work, as usual. So, we hydrated and chatted about their recent trip to the South of France. Our trip back was not as smooth. The Aussie guided us through a pasture on to a nice, paved path. Our uphill ride was complicated by Matt's out of control allergies and frequent "snot breaks" as I endearingly named them. The day was truly splendid...one of those rare crisp but warm first days of spring when everyone is out and about. I convinced Matt to check out a nearby lake. It was sized closer to a pond, but was replete with a gastutte (beer hourse), a playground, and a few trails. We circled the pond...er, I mean lake and sat on wooden steps opposite a small railed dock area. As we chatted and enjoyed the sun on our faces, we notice that the group of children on the other side had multipled. We assumed that their parents were at the nearby garden cafe area, keeping as eye on them. The latter assumption was challenged as we watched the youngsters strip and frolick in the shallow water. This didn't alarm the parents. Cultural differences in personal responsibility or lousy parenting...we weren't sure. As more children disrobed, the growing group slowing migrated out the of the railed, enclosed water area to the open beach. Finally, a father came down from the beer garden, talked briefly to the group, laughed with them, and returned. We weren't sure what to make of it. We left soon thereafter. Another interesting cultural experience.

Runaway Blog

Kelly: Over the past month, every time I tried to log into my blog, random websites would flash on the screen. I'm hopeful that the nice people at Google have fixed it and I can continue to write about our experiences here...let's find out if this will work...

Volksmarching!

Kelly: Matt and I participated in our first Volksmarch last weekend. We boarded a bus with 30 other members of the local Volksmarch Club and arrived 2 hours later in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We had an amazingly sunny day. The Start Hall was filled with walkers of all levels and sizes from many countries. We had a little trouble finding the first Kontroll Center where we got our ticket stamped, but we weren't alone...plenty of veteran Volksmarchers also had difficulties. We completed a 6K outside the city. We had hoped for the 11K but because it took us about 3K to find the first stop, we got a late start and were ready for lunch at the end of the 6K. The city was a charming mideval walled city. We ate at an authentic German restaurant off the beaten path. The grandmotherish server knew little English. Fortunately, the chef was younger and knew English well enough for me to ask if the baked fish contained gluten. It didn't, and it was tastey! Matt had baked chicken with a delish salad. We explored shops, walked up on the ramparts, which was a really cool experience, and then stopped for coffee and tea at a modern, hip coffee shop before boarding the bus for the ride home. The DODs teachers in front of us were very chatty on the way home. Matt can tell you all about Mille's cat!

We'll laugh about this...someday

Kelly: Here are the highlights (!) and low-lights (-) from our trip to the states
1. My luggage was lost on the way to San Antonio (-)
2. Matt's flight left Frankfurt on time (!)
3. Matt got stranded in Charlotte, NC on his way to BWI (-)
4. Matt made it in to BWI on the following day (!)
5. Matt had to wait at the airport for several hours while his parents dug out their driveway because they didn't think he would get in (-)
6. Matt's meetings went really well (!)
7. Matt picked me up at the airport and we ate at Edo (!)
8. We scored a kitchen table at Volt and had an incredible lunch (!)
9. We had a great time with my family and my adorable niece (who looked like a cutie patootie in the sweater that I gave her) (!)
10. We found out that my sister sold her house (!)
11. I had great conversations with both of my sisters (!) which made me miss being away from them (-)
12. My parents FINALLY cashed in their Christmas gift from years' past and purchased beautiful new flooring to cover their retro linoleum (!)
13. Our niece had a stomach virus (-)
14. We visited our old neighbors on the way back to Matt's parents (!)
15. I got sick during the 10 minutes we spent with our neighbors (-)
16. My adorable niece passed her virus to EVERY member of the family (-) How could someone so cute spread such a horrid virus???
17. I continued to get sick so we had to stop at a hotel for the night (-)
18. I was sick for 8 hours and Matt was sick for about 5 (-)
19. We still felt like death the next day and had to spend another night at the hotel to avoid passing the virus to Matt's parents (-)
20. We were stable enough to fly back on schedule (!)
21. We didn't get to spend any time with Matt's parents (-)
22. Matt and I had to take different flights back to Frankfurt (-)
23. Neither mine or Matt's video player or light worked on our respective flights (-)
24. Matt was very grumpy and yelled at me when he first saw me at the Frankfurt airport (-)
25. I had to go directly to work from the airport for two hellish days (-)
26. Our kitty was healthy and happy to see us (!)

What a trip!

We are happier to be back than we thought we would be. We realized many things on our trip and perhaps have a healthier outlook now.

All American

Kelly: I have managed to cram many "American" experiences into my short stay in TX.
1. I shopped at an overpriced, gourmet, American grocery store
2. I spent way too much time (but not money thanks to the limits on what will fit in m suitcase) in Target, Ross, and World Market (ironic)
3. I shopped at an outlet mall
4. I saw many many obese individuals, most with fast food in their hands
5. I ate at a chain restaurant (not my choice)
6. I've driven by miles of strip malls
7. I've channel surfed for at least 30 minutes without actually watching anything

That sums it up...thankfully, I have a few more days in my beloved US of A, so more to come :)

To the States

Kelly: After a 23 hour trip with confusing ticketing, poor airport signage, and lost luggage, I made it to Texas. I've visited San Antonio for work twice, so I know enough about it to know that I wanted to spend my one free, sleep-deprived day outside of an Antonio. I drove to Austin and did my favorite Austin activities--visiting Barton Springs Pool, walking on the Zilker Park Trail, watching the rowers on Town Lake, eating at the ginormous Whole Foods, and strolling by cute shops. Traveling to new places is exciting because of the novelty and the challenge. Traveling to a favorite destination is equally exciting because of the familiarity and the chance to re-experience a loved activity with new life experiences, making the once familiar, slightly different. During the walk today, I encountered bleached blond soccer moms who came to the trail to escape thier children but could do nothing but talk about them; harmonica playing men perched on the hills cheering the runners on, new couples who strode together carried by thier fresh love, dogs who are as fit as their owners, and dogs who did not seem to agree with their master's new year's fitness resolution. It was a great day!

Therapeutic Laughter and Home

Kelly: What a week...much of the week was spent trying to ensure the safety of my high-risk patient...multiple appointments with me and coordination of care with other docs. It is the first time I have had the main responsibility for such a high-risk person. So, today, after a provider told me she was very worried and asked if I could see him, he came to my office. What was the intervention: laughter. I didn't intend for it to be that way, but he smiled, and that was my in...I poked fun at him, he poked back, and we kept going and laughing and smiling. Treatment there is very serious and very heavy and this was an instance where a simple "normal"
interaction did more than all the CBT I could therapize :)

We invited our new cat-sitter over for dinner last night. I loved her, and I knew Matt would, too. We chatted and feasted on salmon, beans, rice, and lots of cheap red wine which could explain my reluctancy to get out of bed this morning. What is the reason we need a cat sitter? I am going home. Home is a tricky location. Our German house doesn't feel like home yet. Maryland, in general feels like home, but I won't be returning to our townhome. I'll be visiting family in PA, which will always be home...like the comfortable sweater that never goes out of style. So, after a week in Texas, I'll be stopping in MD before heading to PA...I am so excited!

We've been trying to get reservations at Volt with no luck and finally realized that we'll be in MD over Valentine's Weekend, hence not a reservation to be found...bummer. The good news is that we just made friends with a woman who is tight with the famed Top Chef/owner at Volt. Super!

So, I'm off to pack my bags (very lightly because my thrift shopping obsession has not been exercised for 4 months and I plan to come back with many bargain finds). I've really been admiring vintage blouses lately. With any luck, I'll find one in Austin, or just some cowboy boots. Enough procrastinating...

The contrast

Kelly: Yesterday, I was on call, and I got called a lot! I was a bit grumpy about it at first, given that my Saturday was spent entirely at the hospital, but then I realized that the people whom I see are serving our country. They are in harm's way on a daily basis, and the least I can do is give my Saturday to try to help them. So, the contrast to the fast-paced Saturday is compared to today's slow morning. Matt and I lingered over breakfast, drank tea, and looked at real estate...a perfect way to spend the morning. We were looking at homes in Frederick and Matt found an article about the real estate market there in the USA Today...We will have a place there, someday.

We received more snow here last night. I don't know where the forecasted 10 inches went??? We got about 3 inches of snow on top of slush. I happily shoveled the snow this morning...M and I really have switched roles! The neighbors spent about 3 hours shoveling their sidewalk, driveway, and the road in front of their house. I spent my after-shoveling time making gluten-free chocolate muffins in honor of Ava's 1st birthday. Matt surprised me with ice cream, and we had our our celebration. It wasn't the same as being home with family, but she was certainly close to our hearts. Happy Birthday, sweet niece!

My face is still peeling...I had an allergic reaction to something. I've looked like a chemical peel gone bad for about a week now. Matt continues to tell me that it looks better, but I'm not so sure.

Thwarted Weekend Plans

Kelly: Matt and I had planned to explore a new town/city this Saturday after my "short" 7:30 AM call. When I got home much much later than expected at 3:00, stores were closed and darkness was preparing to descend. Bummer. We spent the evening talking to family and watching Rick Steves Europe DVDs...love them and an early night to bed. The DVDs focused on France. The south of France looks amazing...the food, the landscape, the history. It just movedto the top of the travel list...come on spring!!!

We woke to light tapping noises to find sleet hitting our window...no morning walk for me. The sleet changed to light snow which is still falling as I write this. Today we were considering visiting a local town for a red wine walk...even it I were a little tipsy, the cold would still feel cold! So, we'll spend the day grocery shopping at the Commissary, cooking, listening to our favorite radio shows (a health show for me and a political show for Matt) and travel planning.

This week was weird. It was a short week in theory but a bit stressful and long in reality. I presented my program to two tough groups at the hospital, was recruited to move to another program in the hospital only to find out that the recruiter and my supervisor HATE one another...not a good scene. A kind co-worker pulled me aside and warned me that the nice recruiter was more of a snake-oil salesman. And I had to go in at 6:00 for a mandatory unpaid briefing. The politics are ridiculous! Matt and the male part of our sole couple-friendship went to a battlefield in France. I think he had a really good time. I'm so glad that he is pursuing the things that he enjoys, despite the lack of steady work, which I know is constantly on his mind.

I'm trying to be more positive and focus on the present, which reminds me what an education this adventure is.

A weekend in France

Kelly: I love France. There is a palpable difference in the vibe between Germany and France, even though we were no more than 50 miles from the German border. France feels friendlier and more approachable...evidenced from facial expressions to architecture. I loved the "common" stores such as the Cora, which is the French equivalent of a Super Walmart, complete with wine bar and patisserie at the entrance. See, how could you not love France??? And, Monoprix, the smart and chic department store selling everything from fabric softener to bamboo bowls.

We spent the night at Hotel Gutenberg in Strasbourg, France. It was a charming old hotel in the center of town...translation...amazing location with no parking and tiny accomodations for our budget-conscious rate. We had a nice time strolling around the city with intermittent stops back at the teeny, tiny but warm room so that I could regain feeling in my limbs. We ate dinner at a local place...I had salmon...Matt had beef stew (after they sold out of his first choice roasted chicken). Both meals were good. We went to bed early, only to awaken to the sounds of shouting drunk men, reminding us that we were a stone's throw from the vibrant university scene. We woke this morning and Matt decided that my idea of spending 3.5 hours at the spa wasn't such a good idea after he learned that he'd have to be naked for the whole time amongst other naked folks...not to say that I am comfortable with the idea either, but I think it is a once in a lifetime experience. So, I'll be going back...alone. Instead of sitting in a sauna, we sat in the Corolla on the freeways and backroad in France exploring Nancy (an industrial, shabby city) and Metz (a gem with parks and trees). Unfortunately, as in Germany, everything was closed on Sunday, so we will return to explore the shops and cafes.

We went for a walk when we returned, enjoying the sliver of sunlight that poked through the clouds just before the sun set at an astonishingly late 5:05 PM...it is headed in the right direction!

Differential Diagnosis

Kelly: I'm not too keen on giving my clients a diagnosis. In private praces, yes, I understand that they need a dx to get reimbursement from insurance and am happy to do that. In the system under which I currently operate, a dx is a necessity for acquisition of resources and a guide for treatment programs, but people are not mere dx, and I become rather irritated when people are treated as diagnosis (e.g., Hey bring the TBI back and take the PTSD to his next appointment). Okay, I'm off my soap-box.

Often times, two diagnoses could apply to the client. In that case, you have to ask questions to assess a "differential diagnosis." Let's flip this on me with " sprinkle of humor. I was ready to diagnosis myself with "adjustment reaction" when I read about the cultural adjustment cycle, and now, it is time for the differential diagnosis. The cultural adjustment cycle begins with enchantment (I was in awe of everything), then disenchantment (bitter about everything being closed on Sundays and evenings), then retreat (my current state), then integration. So, am I experiencing adjustment disorder or disenchantment...In an effort to reach the integration phase, I'm going to go for a walk, while there is still a sliver of daylight (at 4:45pm)!

Snowflakes and darkness and coldness, oh my!

Kelly: The aforementioned snowflakes, darkness, and coldness have collectively been my archnemesis since arriving in Germany. Alone, each has its place; I enjoy the snow (when it doesn't prevent me from traveling); I enjoy the darkness when I am sleeping and star-gazing; I even enjoy the cold when I'm curled up next to the fireplace with my purring cat and warm-blooded husband. HOWEVER, when all three descend upon me...it is too much to take!

Warning: What follows is a bit of a rant...hopefully a cathartic one.

I leave for work in the dark and return 10 hours later in the dark. The cold has been bone-chilling and unrelenting even for the warm-blooded husband. I enjoy the snow that we've received...the most I've seen since the blizzard in Owings Mills but when the roads are not cleared or treated, we are stuck in our house. My normal cold-weather, snowy, darktime hobbies have been exhausted...I can't bear to make one more batch of lentil soup, drink one more mug of tea, play one more game of Yahtzee, or have one more online store write to tell me that they won't ship my carefully-purchased items to an APO address. This is not why I moved to Germany. Could someone have warned me about this? "It will be better in the spring," my coworkers tell me. Do they know that spring in Germany is still 3 months away? Ugh. When I try to look at the situation positively or therapeutically, I can see that I am lucky to have this job and this experience. Lucky that friends and family have been supportive and have sent packages and cards. Lucky that my husband is turning out to be the metrosexual version of Martha Stewart, and lucky that my cat is happy here. Doctors are the worst patients and therapists are the worst clients, so unfortunately, I'm not buying my happy reframes. On the upside, the griping does make good fodder for blogging....now I'm off to shovel, which I actually enjoy...go figure.

Paralyzed by Possibilities

Kelly: It is no secret that I am not the most decisive person. It is easy to see the genetic link...no offense mom and sister(s) :) Now that I'm in the middle of Europe, I'm like a kid in a candy store...so many destinations...how do I choose...where do I begin? When I realized that I have a three-day weekend in January, Matt and I decided we'd better start planning a trip, but where? I want to maximize every moment and use all of the time...Matt is more rational and has concerns about the weather and logistics. I'm thinking maybe Berlin. Matt was thinking more local like Rothenburg and Strasbourg. After 30 minutes of increasingly frustrating travel talk, we called it a day.