According to (whose) plan

Day 40
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
My dear friend Eva was all alone this week because her husband was out of town for work. We decided to have dinner and watch a chickflick tonight at her place once she got off work. We were planning on watching "Eat, Pray, Love" which I had been dying to see since it first came out.

I had a few errands to run during the day and my husband and I both needed to stop by the immunization clinic and get some shots. His were for work and mine were for the Red Cross so I could volunteer at the Physical Therapy Clinic on Patch Barracks. I actually didn't think I would need any shots because I had to update my shot record in order to move here last September. I asked the nurse if she could print something out for me to take to the Red Cross stating that my immunization record was up to date. After about two minutes she returned with a list of six shots that I needed...I was shocked, and not too happy. I hate needles, dislike shots, and as far as I was concerned, I shouldn't have to go through all this pain just so I could volunteer.

After we went over the shots she thought I needed, we were able to remove two from the list. One because I had already been exposed to chicken pox as a kid, and two because she misread my shot record. Then she told me I could have two shots in one needle for Hepatitis, and the PPD I had to come back for on Friday. I ened up getting a shot in each arm (hepatitis & meningitis) and was out the door after two hours...not exactly what I thought I would be doing this afternoon. I took Matt back to his office and I went home to ride my bike and complain to myself about how much my left arm hurt from the Meningococcal vaccine.

When I finished my workout I checked my Facebook page and noticed I had an invite to go watch a movie on base from my friend Kate. She and another girl were going to see "Burlesque" at 1800. I really wanted to go see this movie so I emailed Eva to see if she wanted to change our plans and join Kate and her friend Alexandria instead. Eva agreed and everybody met up at the movie theater around 1745.

When my husband got off work he met up with his friend Gio who also happens to be Kate's fiance, and the two of them worked on their cars for a few hours. By the time our movie was over the guys were at O'Donovan's, our local Irish Pub enjoying a couple of beers so Kate and I met up with them and hung out for an hour or so.

I think it's awesome that today was such a great day even though almost nothing went according to plan. Sometimes you just have to "roll with the punches."


Many people die with their music still in them.  Why is this so?  Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live.  Before they know it, time runs out.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

A Day in Reflection

Day 39
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Today I spent hours catching up on publishing my Blog postings to the internet. I write them first in a word document each day, they look like journal entries with bits and pieces of notes for when I want to add pictures or insert a website. I can't believe 39 days have already flown by this year. That's 39 days I haven't let slip through the cracks, 39 glorious days that I chose to seize, and share with you, my readers.

I had plenty of time to reflect on all the positive things I had experienced over the past five weeks and I felt very blessed for the opportunity to go to graduate school, spread my positive energy, and just be a wife for a while. I've never been able to focus on "me" like I have since we moved to Germany and I can't say I hate it! I really like to cook, clean, fold laundry, and volunteer my time; it's been so helpful to be able to work on becoming a better person by living each day to the fullest. I feel more in tune with my body, heart, mind, and most importantly, my soul.

Under the Tuscan sun

I see God in everything these days. It's as if a light has been turned on around all the things that have always been there for me to see but I never really looked at them long enough to "get it." This makes me think of a quote from Buddha, "Be a light unto yourself." In so many words, Buddha is telling us that we have to wake ourselves up, no one can do this for us.

Rome, at the Colosseum

As a Christian, I understand that God has a hand in everything but he can only lead us so far, we have to open our hearts and our minds to all the beauty around us or we will miss it. God was telling me to open my eyes (so I believe) and see what he has put in front of me to enjoy.

Siena, Italy

What have you done this year to seize the day? Maybe it's been a simple moment you shared with a stranger in line at the grocery store. Carpe Diem Moments can be simple, and short lived, but they are memorable and worth writing down. If you have one, or two, or three, please type them in the comment section of any one of my posts.

Thank you for reading, and remember to "Be a light unto yourself."


I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung.  ~Tagore

Dreams of Tuscany

Day 38
Monday, February 07, 2011

We didn't get to sleep until after 0200 in the morning so we slept in until around 1000. Most of the service members, to include my husband, had the day off because the Super Bowl didn't begin until Midnight here. I woke up feeling so stiff and my back really hurt. I think it was because I was on my feet for so long, I did a lot of bending, reaching, and lifting and I'm paying for it now. 

Me in Tuscany

After I took a long hot shower and did some stretching, we decided to drive to Breuningerland and buy Matt some cigars. While we were there we stopped by the grocery store and I checked out the wine selection. I found a bottle of red wine from one of the towns we visited while we were in Italy last December. The town of Montepulciano, where scenes from the film "New Moon" were shot, is a beautiful town in Tuscany, Italy and is known mainly for their outstanding wines. Our favorite was the "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano" which can run about $20-$30 a bottle. The wine I found wasn't Vino Nobile, but it was from Montepulciano so we picked up two bottles for 10 Euro and headed home.

Montepulciano

When we got home, I sliced up some apples and baked some Brie in the oven to enjoy with some pretzels and our wine while we watched several episodes of the television show, Community and just spent the rest of the day hanging out together.

I wish I could stand on a busy corner, hat in hand, and beg people to throw me all their wasted hours.  ~Bernard Berenson

Super Bowl Sunday with Wounded Warriors

Day 37
Sunday, February 06, 2011
I've never been a Professional Football fan (Ohio State Buckeyes all the way!) but I have always been a Super Bowl Sunday fan-for the commercials! I have also been a long time supporter of the Wounded Warriors. When the opportunity presented itself to serve them again, I jumped on it with purpose and pride. The Stuttgart Marine Corps Spouses piled into two vans at exactly 1300 hours and began our two hour drive to Landstuhl with plenty of baked goods and our Public Affairs Marine (my husband) to shoot photos of  the Super Bowl dinner for the wounded Marines at the USO.

We served pizza, dessert, and beverages for hours while the USO guests talked, watch the Pre Game, and claimed their seats for the night. I helped serve a few guys on crunches and one with his arm in a cast. My main job was "Beverage Wench"...I gave myself the title! We had a blast watching our service men and women enjoy a little piece of home in the comfort of the Landstuhl USO (go here to see the article my husband wrote). At exactly 2100 hours (Marines are always on time, and spouses are no exception to this rule) we began our drive back home to Stuttgart.

What a rewarding experience to serve those who have given so much for their country and our freedoms. I feel like this is the least I can do to help and I look forward to working with the USO and Wounded Warriors in the future.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.  ~Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

No frills Saturday, my kind of day

Day 36

Saturday, February 05, 2011

It was another chilly morning in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. We awoke around 0830 to enjoyed some hot coffee until it was time for me to leave for Yoga (I see a trend here). I've been taking yoga classes to help with my back for the past couple of weeks and in the beginning it really stretched my back out, and relieved the tension in my hips. Then I found out that the instructor was only a substitute. When the regular lady returned from vacation on Wednesday, she kicked my butt! I was still feeling it this morning and I really hope her class gets easier for me because I'm no longer feeling the relief I need out of yoga (my doctor suggested it). On the plus side, I am feeling the burn in my arms, back, and shoulders where I could use the toning. 

Today was my job interview with CYS and I think it went pretty well. The man who interviewed me was very "by the book;" he asked all the classic interview questions which made me feel confident because I've interviewed plenty of people myself to know what an employer looks for. I really hope I get this job, the hours are perfect for me; I would work from 1030-1800 Mon-Fri so I could go to the gym before work. I would get to work in a Customer Service environment as the Admin Assistant which is right up my alley. The pay is not even comparable to what I was making back in the states, but neither are any of the other jobs I've looked at where they want you to arrive at 0dark30, or work weekends and holidays. At least with this job I will be indoors, with lots of windows, I would have my own desk and comfy chair, and I would get to do my favorite thing...smile! Permission to mock me, granted. Life is too short to hate your job...

After my job interview, I felt pretty good, the sun was out, and I couldn't wait to get home and kiss my husband (this feeling rushes over me often!). I stopped by the Shoppette and rented Death Race 2, and Frenemy, so we could have a movie night at home with just the two of us. 

*Beware of language in the first trailer

We cannot waste time.  We can only waste ourselves.  ~George M. Adams

Frohe 70. Geburtstag USO

Day 35
Friday, February 04, 2011

Today was the USO's 70th Birthday, and I Volunteered to greet guests, serve birthday cake, and get people to sign up for the raffle at the Panzer Kaserne USO in Stuttgart. I brought my Red Velvet Cupcakes and showed up around 1130 to volunteer.

I even got to wear a "USO Volunteer Name Tag" with my name on it, which made me feel official! As people walked into the common area I greeted them with a "Happy Birthday" and asked them if they would like some cake and wanted to enter the raffle. The Stuttgart USO was raffling off at $70 gift certificate to purchase merchandise sold at the USO. I love the shopping baskets and "Germany" hats and scarves they sell there.

By the time I got off around 1600, it was time to pick up Matt from work. I was pretty hungry from skipping lunch and serving cake all afternoon so we went home, changed clothes, and then headed to one of our favorite restaurants in Böblingen, the Hendlhouse (Yes, my husband and I are mentioned in this article!) to eat Mega Burgers with Pommes for dinner.

No, this isn't the actual Mega Burger...I think the Hendlhouse burger is made of soy and beef, it's not very fatty looking or tasting and it's served with cucumbers and a special sauce. The fries (Pommes) that come with it are also a lot less greasy than American fries and come with Mayo and/or Ketchup as do all fries here in Germany. Mayo is the sauce of choice among the Germans, I just can't bring myself to enjoy it, never have liked mayo.


You may delay, but time will not.  ~Benjamin Franklin

Cupcakes & Lasagna, count me in!

Day 34
Thursday, February 03, 2011 
Today I woke up and felt a little stiff from yoga the day before so I decided to skip the gym and enjoy some “me time” at home. I baked two dozen red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for the USO's 70th birthday party on Friday. 

While my cupcakes were cooling, I started on the homemade lasagna that I was making for dinner tonight. We were having our friend Mike over for a home cooked meal. We first met Mike at the hotel we lived in when we first moved here. He is also a Marine but he is here unaccompanied and he still lives in the hotel after all this time. 

Fresh Garlic

Ground Bison

Fresh bread & Chianti

Half way through the layering process

After dinner

The lasagna takes about an hour in the oven so I decided to make some German coffee and catch up via Skype with one of my very best friends, Kristin who lives in Virginia. 

Coffee, cream, pumpkin spice

Today was so productive, and I feel like I really took advantage of every moment. These are the days I cherish.

You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted.  ~Ruth E. Renkl