Today I finished putting our coats away and finalized the last of the cleaning.
We had to do a few last minute purchases: Marktkauf for plugs for the outlets (the ones from IKEA didn't work), coffee filters, and one last check for stove light. We also got a few puzzles for my grandson.
We had to exchange dollars for Euro at the base and decided to pick up the mail. Hooray...my Christmas movies and the preliminary episodes of NCIS on JAG came in. When we get home tonight...we'll watch some TV and then go to bed.
I'm so excited for them to be coming that I don't even know if I will be able to sleep!
Friday 11/20/09
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Day 241: Final building project
Today is a cleaning day and I'm also doing our laundry. I'm finally making up the guest bed in anticipation of my children's visit on Saturday.
The wardrobe took a bit longer than we anticipated. Poor Ted was tired from working all day but it cannot be helped. When we finally got the project done, he didn't like where the unit was placed so we moved it over to the other wall. I'm not too crazy about it either. Perhaps at a later date, I will move it into the guest bedroom even though our coats are in there. I'm just not sure right now.
Thursday 11/19/09
The wardrobe took a bit longer than we anticipated. Poor Ted was tired from working all day but it cannot be helped. When we finally got the project done, he didn't like where the unit was placed so we moved it over to the other wall. I'm not too crazy about it either. Perhaps at a later date, I will move it into the guest bedroom even though our coats are in there. I'm just not sure right now.
Thursday 11/19/09
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Day 240: Wardrobe is now done!
I decided that since this wardrobe was used and was sitting in a large warehouse, who knew how long it had been since it was cleaned. So out came my mother's staple...Murphy's Oil Soap and each door, wall and ceiling got scrubbed down. It was filthy. I'm so glad I did that.
Now to put the last of the hardware on the shelves (the rod holders) and the pins that hold the shelves. These darn shelves are 3/4 inch particle board with laminate on two sides and the front. They are extraordinarily heavy!!! I managed to get them all in with the help of my trusty little plastic step ladder I keep in the kitchen.
Now the fun part: putting away our clothes and cleaning up the bedroom once and for all!!
Ted gets two of the three sections because he goes to work everyday. I'll take the mirrored section because most of my clothes are in the chest of drawers. After all of the "stuff" was put away, the room looked terrific. I need to wash the mirror and bring in the pong chair that used to be in the living room but now is sitting in the office.
I still have to take stuff down to storage and boxes to the trash but that's later.
I also want to get the final building project (the hallway wardrobe) prepped for tonight so we can get that done too. It doesn't look like there's too many pieces. The hardest part is taking off the plastic wrap. I installed the hinges and the door handles. All that's left are the screws to hold the back in and the metal pins that hold the one shelf. Woo Hoo!! We'll be done in no time, tonight!!
Tomorrow is the final cleaning and getting the guest bed made. I can't wait to have it all done so that 1) I can enjoy my family and 2) I have everything done so all I have to do is concentrate on my TESOL, company work and blogging!!
Wednesday 11/18/09
Now to put the last of the hardware on the shelves (the rod holders) and the pins that hold the shelves. These darn shelves are 3/4 inch particle board with laminate on two sides and the front. They are extraordinarily heavy!!! I managed to get them all in with the help of my trusty little plastic step ladder I keep in the kitchen.
Now the fun part: putting away our clothes and cleaning up the bedroom once and for all!!
Ted gets two of the three sections because he goes to work everyday. I'll take the mirrored section because most of my clothes are in the chest of drawers. After all of the "stuff" was put away, the room looked terrific. I need to wash the mirror and bring in the pong chair that used to be in the living room but now is sitting in the office.
I still have to take stuff down to storage and boxes to the trash but that's later.
I also want to get the final building project (the hallway wardrobe) prepped for tonight so we can get that done too. It doesn't look like there's too many pieces. The hardest part is taking off the plastic wrap. I installed the hinges and the door handles. All that's left are the screws to hold the back in and the metal pins that hold the one shelf. Woo Hoo!! We'll be done in no time, tonight!!
Tomorrow is the final cleaning and getting the guest bed made. I can't wait to have it all done so that 1) I can enjoy my family and 2) I have everything done so all I have to do is concentrate on my TESOL, company work and blogging!!
Wednesday 11/18/09
Day 239: Building project #3
Ted took a personal day today so we could finish putting together the bedroom wardrobe. It has been an experience. One I would not want to repeat again for awhile! We proved we could get at least the two inside walls and the three backs installed yesterday. Now all we have to do is put up the sides, the tops, the doors, the molding and the rod and shelves. And we have to figure out what hardware goes where. It's definitely a challenge to our minds! Thankfully, the Lord has answered our prayers once again and He's helped us when our puny minds couldn't grasp how the wardrobe was put together. I neglected to take a photo of the darn thing when we bought it because I thought it was coming in three pieces. Silly me!
Since our aero bed is too small for the bed frame that came with the bed, we are buying two new mattresses for our guests. This means we have to go get the Euros, stop at Panzer to get VAT forms and then go get the matresses. But we want to at least get a good portion of the wardrobe completed and possibly do the hall wardrobe tonight when we return from shopping.
To start the day with enough energy, I made us our standard Juice Plus+ shake which will hold us until either a late lunch or early dinner.
Well, the two sides went in quickly and we tightened them down. Then we put the tops in. Two of the three tops went in quickly as well, the third we had trouble with. It took a bit of time to do that. After completing that, we started with the doors. We decided, because of the weight of these doors, that we would prop them up on books to line them up so we cold screw in the hinges. The first one took a bit of time but then we realized we could put the screws in and hook the hinges on the screws and then tighten them down. We were able to install four doors in an hour. The challenge will be the doors with the mirrors. They are so delicate and we don't want to break them. We managed to get them in too. I wanted to put the molding up too, but it turns out a piece needed to be glued so we decided to glue the piece and let it set while we did our errands. By this time it was noon and we needed to get going or we would be late in getting everything we needed from the base and from IKEA.
We stopped at Kelly to pick up the cash. Ted said LIDL had mattresses for a really good price so we decided to check them out. Well...the sale doesn't start until Thursday and we just couldn't take the chance that they would be out and we would be out mattresses at such a late date. Off to Panzer we go to get the VAT form and then on to IKEA for the mattresses. It turns out the mattresses were on sale and they are rolled up so we could easily fit two into the car. We also bought some fitted sheets, some felt furniture squares and some electrical plate covers so that the baby would not be tempted to play with the electrical outlets.
By this time it was almost four in the afternoon and Ted wanted to try out Le Rose restaurant at Patch base. He also wanted to check out the thrift store and the theater. I needed to use the rest room and Le Rose didn't open until 5pm so we were able to use the facilities in the conference room area at Patch.
We were second in line when the doors of the restaurant opened. One thing I miss about the U.S. is that you don't have to wait until a certain hour to have a meal. Here, they open at 5 or 6pm and close at 10. If you haven't eaten by 10, you are out of luck or it's fast food for you. (Yes, they have McDonalds and Burger King here....sad, but true).
We had our dinner and got home around 7pm. By the time we hauled up the mattresses and released them from their plastic confinements, it was 7:30. We decided to rest for half an hour (and read email) and then we would tackle the last of the big wardrobe project...the molding. When we finally figured out how the molding was isntalled and where the screws went, we realized the outside tops were not on the right sides. UGH!! So we had to remove both of them and switch them. We were concerned because the doors had already been installed and this would make the unit very, very shaky. It took a little bit of time to get them installed again before we could even think about the molding.
The one piece of molding is very long and very heavy. To get it on the top of the unit, took both of us to do. Once we got it up there, Ted screwed the screws in, while I positioned the molding. The first piece went in fine. Now the corners. Unfortunately, it was hard to see and the screws that needed to be screwed in were above our heads. We both tried and finally we were able to get the first one in. The second one went in a LOT easier. By this time it was after 10 and we both were exhausted and needed a rest.
We decided to treat ourselves to Cherry Quark (sort of like Yogurt only better) and an episode of NCIS.
Tomorrow I will finish putting the shelves in and putting our "stuff" away. I can't wait to have one room completely done!!!
Tuesday 11/17/09
Since our aero bed is too small for the bed frame that came with the bed, we are buying two new mattresses for our guests. This means we have to go get the Euros, stop at Panzer to get VAT forms and then go get the matresses. But we want to at least get a good portion of the wardrobe completed and possibly do the hall wardrobe tonight when we return from shopping.
To start the day with enough energy, I made us our standard Juice Plus+ shake which will hold us until either a late lunch or early dinner.
Well, the two sides went in quickly and we tightened them down. Then we put the tops in. Two of the three tops went in quickly as well, the third we had trouble with. It took a bit of time to do that. After completing that, we started with the doors. We decided, because of the weight of these doors, that we would prop them up on books to line them up so we cold screw in the hinges. The first one took a bit of time but then we realized we could put the screws in and hook the hinges on the screws and then tighten them down. We were able to install four doors in an hour. The challenge will be the doors with the mirrors. They are so delicate and we don't want to break them. We managed to get them in too. I wanted to put the molding up too, but it turns out a piece needed to be glued so we decided to glue the piece and let it set while we did our errands. By this time it was noon and we needed to get going or we would be late in getting everything we needed from the base and from IKEA.
We stopped at Kelly to pick up the cash. Ted said LIDL had mattresses for a really good price so we decided to check them out. Well...the sale doesn't start until Thursday and we just couldn't take the chance that they would be out and we would be out mattresses at such a late date. Off to Panzer we go to get the VAT form and then on to IKEA for the mattresses. It turns out the mattresses were on sale and they are rolled up so we could easily fit two into the car. We also bought some fitted sheets, some felt furniture squares and some electrical plate covers so that the baby would not be tempted to play with the electrical outlets.
By this time it was almost four in the afternoon and Ted wanted to try out Le Rose restaurant at Patch base. He also wanted to check out the thrift store and the theater. I needed to use the rest room and Le Rose didn't open until 5pm so we were able to use the facilities in the conference room area at Patch.
We were second in line when the doors of the restaurant opened. One thing I miss about the U.S. is that you don't have to wait until a certain hour to have a meal. Here, they open at 5 or 6pm and close at 10. If you haven't eaten by 10, you are out of luck or it's fast food for you. (Yes, they have McDonalds and Burger King here....sad, but true).
We had our dinner and got home around 7pm. By the time we hauled up the mattresses and released them from their plastic confinements, it was 7:30. We decided to rest for half an hour (and read email) and then we would tackle the last of the big wardrobe project...the molding. When we finally figured out how the molding was isntalled and where the screws went, we realized the outside tops were not on the right sides. UGH!! So we had to remove both of them and switch them. We were concerned because the doors had already been installed and this would make the unit very, very shaky. It took a little bit of time to get them installed again before we could even think about the molding.
The one piece of molding is very long and very heavy. To get it on the top of the unit, took both of us to do. Once we got it up there, Ted screwed the screws in, while I positioned the molding. The first piece went in fine. Now the corners. Unfortunately, it was hard to see and the screws that needed to be screwed in were above our heads. We both tried and finally we were able to get the first one in. The second one went in a LOT easier. By this time it was after 10 and we both were exhausted and needed a rest.
We decided to treat ourselves to Cherry Quark (sort of like Yogurt only better) and an episode of NCIS.
Tomorrow I will finish putting the shelves in and putting our "stuff" away. I can't wait to have one room completely done!!!
Tuesday 11/17/09
Monday, November 16, 2009
Day 238: Cleaning and organizing
I woke up with Ted and fixed him his healthy Juice Plus+ shake (for me too). And realized that we COULD put it together by ourselves. Ted had said yesterday to put the inside walls up first but I wanted to start it from the outside. It turns out, if we put the inside wall up first and add the back, it will be stable enough to stand by itself until we get the top on and build out. He plans ot take a day off of work to help me and go to IKEA to get mattresses and VAT forms.
We still have one more project after this and that's the hallway wardrobe. This has been a marathon building frenzy and we will both be pretty much exhausted by the time the kids get here.
I'm reorganizing the kitchen today. Some of the cleaning had been done last night before I went to bed. But I have to fold cleaning rags and find a place for them and cleaning supplies along with washing and putting away the new dishes I bought a few weeks ago at Ramstein AFB. I'm looking forward to FINALLY having a totally organized kitchen.
I also have to finish wash the linens and do regular laundry and company work today. So I'd better get household work done before the west coast gets up!
Monday 11/16/09
We still have one more project after this and that's the hallway wardrobe. This has been a marathon building frenzy and we will both be pretty much exhausted by the time the kids get here.
I'm reorganizing the kitchen today. Some of the cleaning had been done last night before I went to bed. But I have to fold cleaning rags and find a place for them and cleaning supplies along with washing and putting away the new dishes I bought a few weeks ago at Ramstein AFB. I'm looking forward to FINALLY having a totally organized kitchen.
I also have to finish wash the linens and do regular laundry and company work today. So I'd better get household work done before the west coast gets up!
Monday 11/16/09
Day 237: Building project #2
We got up early and went to church. The message was EXACTLY what we needed to hear today. Two of the building projects did not come with directions as they are used pieces of furniture (a wardrobe and bed). I wasn't too worried about the bed except the hardware for both pieces were combined in one package so I was a bit nervous about that and of course the wardrobe was BOTH of our worries. The gist of the message was to ask God for wisdom in ALL things...if that wasn't appropriate for today, I don't know WHAT is!!!
We stopped for lunch and then to the base commissary to pick up some goodies for my grandson when they come to visit next weekend. I also picked up coffee for my son-in-law who is a big coffee drinker. Since I didn't know what to get, I got a few varieties. It surprised me that I was able to get Starbucks. When we went to the check out, the person at the register asked for our coffee ration card. Ration card? I didn't even know we had one!!! Thank goodness Ted had just cleaned out his wallet and found the card. We don't drink coffee or alcohol so we have never used that card since we've been here!! Go figure.
When we got home, we were going to tackle the wardrobe, but lo an behold, a few of the pieces needed to be glued. Thank goodness for Gorilla glue. But what we didn't anticipate was that this glue would increase in volume four fold. So there was this Styrofoam type "glue" attached to the wood pieces.
While the glue was setting we put together the bed. It was easier than we thought...Ted figured out part of it and I figured out the other part. We make a great working team. At one point he apologized to me because he thought I was pulling the headboard and I wasn't but I wasn't about to argue with him. He figured out that that headboard had a life of its own.
We also figured out that the air bed was not big enough for the bed frame so we'll have to bite the bullet and buy mattresses. Something I didn't want to do but must. By the time we had completed this project and went back to the wardrobe, Ted was hungry so we went over to Mamma Maria's for Pizza.
When we returned we were both dismayed to realize that we couldn't put it together just the two of us. I was mad at myself and Ted watched a movie.
Sunday 11/15/09
We stopped for lunch and then to the base commissary to pick up some goodies for my grandson when they come to visit next weekend. I also picked up coffee for my son-in-law who is a big coffee drinker. Since I didn't know what to get, I got a few varieties. It surprised me that I was able to get Starbucks. When we went to the check out, the person at the register asked for our coffee ration card. Ration card? I didn't even know we had one!!! Thank goodness Ted had just cleaned out his wallet and found the card. We don't drink coffee or alcohol so we have never used that card since we've been here!! Go figure.
When we got home, we were going to tackle the wardrobe, but lo an behold, a few of the pieces needed to be glued. Thank goodness for Gorilla glue. But what we didn't anticipate was that this glue would increase in volume four fold. So there was this Styrofoam type "glue" attached to the wood pieces.
While the glue was setting we put together the bed. It was easier than we thought...Ted figured out part of it and I figured out the other part. We make a great working team. At one point he apologized to me because he thought I was pulling the headboard and I wasn't but I wasn't about to argue with him. He figured out that that headboard had a life of its own.
We also figured out that the air bed was not big enough for the bed frame so we'll have to bite the bullet and buy mattresses. Something I didn't want to do but must. By the time we had completed this project and went back to the wardrobe, Ted was hungry so we went over to Mamma Maria's for Pizza.
When we returned we were both dismayed to realize that we couldn't put it together just the two of us. I was mad at myself and Ted watched a movie.
Sunday 11/15/09
Day 236: Building project #1
Today is my dear brother's birthday. I let Ted sleep in a bit this morning and sent my brother an ecard birthday greeting from Ted and I. And I did the company invoice that my boss wanted.
I'm ready now to start on the building project: a storage unit for the living room. I need it for our CD's, serving platters, DVDs and books.
We started out fairly well but when we went to put in the drawers we realized the side pieces were not in the correct place...they were reversed and upside down. So we took apart the top and the back and reversed the two sides. By the time we got done with the project, six hours had passed and we were hungry.
Since I had no intention of cooking AND building furniture, it was off to find something to eat. When we returned we were both too tired to tackle anything else...let alone the other three building projects.
Saturday 11/14/09
I'm ready now to start on the building project: a storage unit for the living room. I need it for our CD's, serving platters, DVDs and books.
We started out fairly well but when we went to put in the drawers we realized the side pieces were not in the correct place...they were reversed and upside down. So we took apart the top and the back and reversed the two sides. By the time we got done with the project, six hours had passed and we were hungry.
Since I had no intention of cooking AND building furniture, it was off to find something to eat. When we returned we were both too tired to tackle anything else...let alone the other three building projects.
Saturday 11/14/09
Day 235: A little shopping
Today was a cold, dreary & rainy day.
We took the blown up TV to be pitched and went to MarktKauf to get oven hood lights. We bought a coffee pot and then went to dinner and shared "Kase Spaetzel" (cheese spaetzel). We stopped at Netto to get Quark Yogurt for dessert.
When we got home we installed the lights in the hood. We found out that the lights do not work.
Friday 11/13/09
We took the blown up TV to be pitched and went to MarktKauf to get oven hood lights. We bought a coffee pot and then went to dinner and shared "Kase Spaetzel" (cheese spaetzel). We stopped at Netto to get Quark Yogurt for dessert.
When we got home we installed the lights in the hood. We found out that the lights do not work.
Friday 11/13/09
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Day 234: Doctor overpaid
Today I figured out that I overpaid my doctor. Now I can go get some much needed acupuncture done. My back has been giving me fits and I really need to find a chiropractor too. That's next week's agenda. Right now I have to clear out any remaining "stuff" in the guest room and scrub down the floors.
I'm doing the linens today and they are taking forever!!!
Thursday 11/12/09
I'm doing the linens today and they are taking forever!!!
Thursday 11/12/09
Day 233: Veteran's Day
Somehow I lost a day this week!! I think I lost Tuesday because I thought today was Tuesday and I would have more time to work on getting the house in order before our furniture delivery on Friday. The only thing I got accomplished today was cleaning the kitchen and finishing last week's laundry. Now I have to tackle the linens for the guest room!!
Today was Veteran's day so the bases were pretty much closed but Ted still had work to do. Unfortunately, the eating establishments were also closed because of the holiday. So Ted invited me to go to lunch at Mamma Maria's...and we did!!
Later on in the day my daughter called to discuss their upcoming trip and to let me hear the baby (less than two years old) say his numbers!!! I was enthralled. I sure wish I could see him in person. Then I remembered Skype. She has an account and so do I. I called her back and asked if when Ted got home she could put him on Skype to say his numbers. She said he was going down for his nap at noon and would have lunch at 2 and then we could do it. Ted got home and I made "Roteswurst" (German Red Sausage) and roasted vegetables. Neither one of us cares for the white sausage that the Germans are so fond of!!
It was fairly late when we finished talking to the baby & my daughter so we just relaxed until it was time to go to bed.
Unfortunately...and this happens every once in awhile...I could not sleep. I didn't want to toss & turn and wake Ted up so I quietly got up and went into the living room to see if I could tire myself out by balancing my checkbook. By the time I got to bed and finally fell asleep it was well after 3am.
I'm going to be a wreck tomorrow...that's for sure.
Wednesday 11/11/09
Wednesday 11/11/09
Today was Veteran's day so the bases were pretty much closed but Ted still had work to do. Unfortunately, the eating establishments were also closed because of the holiday. So Ted invited me to go to lunch at Mamma Maria's...and we did!!
Later on in the day my daughter called to discuss their upcoming trip and to let me hear the baby (less than two years old) say his numbers!!! I was enthralled. I sure wish I could see him in person. Then I remembered Skype. She has an account and so do I. I called her back and asked if when Ted got home she could put him on Skype to say his numbers. She said he was going down for his nap at noon and would have lunch at 2 and then we could do it. Ted got home and I made "Roteswurst" (German Red Sausage) and roasted vegetables. Neither one of us cares for the white sausage that the Germans are so fond of!!
It was fairly late when we finished talking to the baby & my daughter so we just relaxed until it was time to go to bed.
Unfortunately...and this happens every once in awhile...I could not sleep. I didn't want to toss & turn and wake Ted up so I quietly got up and went into the living room to see if I could tire myself out by balancing my checkbook. By the time I got to bed and finally fell asleep it was well after 3am.
I'm going to be a wreck tomorrow...that's for sure.
Wednesday 11/11/09
Wednesday 11/11/09
Day 232: Long day for Ted
I did more laundry today and took more stuff down to the basement storage. I made Ted some fish and potatoes for dinner tonight but it was late when he got home from work. It was almost 9pm. It makes for a very short evening.
Tuesday 11/10/09
Tuesday 11/10/09
Day 231: Laundry day
I spent the entire day doing laundry, taking stuff down to the basement storage and cleaning since I didn't do anything over the weekend. It takes forever to do laundry these days but the alternative of going on base to do laundry is worse! So I am NOT going to complain.
I made meatball soup with orzo for dinner tonight because it was cold, overcast and rainy. Today was definitely a REALLY good soup day!!
Monday 11/09/09
I made meatball soup with orzo for dinner tonight because it was cold, overcast and rainy. Today was definitely a REALLY good soup day!!
Monday 11/09/09
Day 230: Day of rest
We got up early and I fixed Ted his favorite breakfast and we got ready for church. It doesn't start until 11:30 so it's going to be a bit late when we get home today.
The church was nice and the message was one that Ted and I needed to hear...however, it was confirmation that we are to remain at the church on base. We love our new Pastor (chaplain as they are called in the miliary). He's from Puerto Rico and he is an on-fire for the Lord, no-nonsense man of God. We love it!!
We went grocery shopping after church and then went home.
We really needed a day of rest.
Sunday 11/08/09
The church was nice and the message was one that Ted and I needed to hear...however, it was confirmation that we are to remain at the church on base. We love our new Pastor (chaplain as they are called in the miliary). He's from Puerto Rico and he is an on-fire for the Lord, no-nonsense man of God. We love it!!
We went grocery shopping after church and then went home.
We really needed a day of rest.
Sunday 11/08/09
Day 229: BIG Shopping day!
Today is a BIG shopping day for us. First we have to get the money to buy the furniture we are missing from the German Red Cross. So it's off to Panzer to get Euros. The dollar is getting weaker here so our dollars are not stretching as far as we'd like.
Then it's on to the German Red Cross. It turns out we can use our VAT form but we won't get the full 19% rebate, we'll only get 7%. I say 7% is better than nothing at all.
We found a wardrobe for our room but it turns out (and I didn't know this) that it comes with the bed and nightstands!!! How cool is that?? I wished we would have known that, we would never have bought our bed from IKEA. Anyways, we bought the wardrobe and bed (although it's a set, we're splitting it up because we need the wardrobe and the chest of drawers that match our bed. It will look a little bizarre but we know it's temporary. And now we have a bed for the kids when they visit in two weeks. They won't have to sleep on an expandable platform!!
We also found a grey leather love seat that is quite comfortable if not a little worn. We also bought two cabinets for the living room to house our videos, CDs and some kitchen stuff that I don't have room for in the kitchen. In addition, we bought a hall closet. Two pieces actually come unnassembled (along with the bed) and we'll have to assemble them next weekend.
They were not going to deliver the furniture until 11/18 which would have been 2 days before the kids arrive. I said they HAD to do better than that!! So the delivery is scheduled for Friday, 11/13/09. That will give me enough time to get the bed made up and "stuff" shifted around and put away. Some of the items have been sitting on the floor in our bedroom since we moved in!! I'm tired of looking at it. Not having closets is a REAL drag!!!
We went back to Panzer because Ted needed to buy another pocket knife for work because he left the other one somewhere and didn't remember where! Oh well! I told him he has to put a chain on it and put it on his belt!
We also went looking for the International Baptist church because we wanted to be sure we knew where we were going tomorrow when we visit the church.
We decided to have dinner at Amalfi. OF course, it's always good there. We went home and just relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Saturday 11/07/09
Saturday 11/07/09
Then it's on to the German Red Cross. It turns out we can use our VAT form but we won't get the full 19% rebate, we'll only get 7%. I say 7% is better than nothing at all.
We found a wardrobe for our room but it turns out (and I didn't know this) that it comes with the bed and nightstands!!! How cool is that?? I wished we would have known that, we would never have bought our bed from IKEA. Anyways, we bought the wardrobe and bed (although it's a set, we're splitting it up because we need the wardrobe and the chest of drawers that match our bed. It will look a little bizarre but we know it's temporary. And now we have a bed for the kids when they visit in two weeks. They won't have to sleep on an expandable platform!!
We also found a grey leather love seat that is quite comfortable if not a little worn. We also bought two cabinets for the living room to house our videos, CDs and some kitchen stuff that I don't have room for in the kitchen. In addition, we bought a hall closet. Two pieces actually come unnassembled (along with the bed) and we'll have to assemble them next weekend.
They were not going to deliver the furniture until 11/18 which would have been 2 days before the kids arrive. I said they HAD to do better than that!! So the delivery is scheduled for Friday, 11/13/09. That will give me enough time to get the bed made up and "stuff" shifted around and put away. Some of the items have been sitting on the floor in our bedroom since we moved in!! I'm tired of looking at it. Not having closets is a REAL drag!!!
We went back to Panzer because Ted needed to buy another pocket knife for work because he left the other one somewhere and didn't remember where! Oh well! I told him he has to put a chain on it and put it on his belt!
We also went looking for the International Baptist church because we wanted to be sure we knew where we were going tomorrow when we visit the church.
We decided to have dinner at Amalfi. OF course, it's always good there. We went home and just relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Saturday 11/07/09
Saturday 11/07/09
Day 228: Watching US TV Online
I did laundry and we stayed home and watched a downloaded episode(from Itunes) of season 7 of NCIS. How cool is that? We download it on the day it airs in the U.S. and then we watch it on Friday night. It feels good to have just a little taste of home!!
Planning our day tomorrow. It will be a HUGE shopping day!
Friday 11/06/09
Planning our day tomorrow. It will be a HUGE shopping day!
Friday 11/06/09
Day 227: Music at Mamma Maria's
We went to Mamma Maria's to have dinner and listen to music. I got up and sang "I can see clearly now" but I was a little upset because Gerry the lead singer told me he had the words and he didn't. UGH! So I was struggling with the words. We sang along with other songs and finished up the night with a duet to Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable".
We sat with another family. Benito was the father and he lives on the Amalfi coast with his Ukrainian wife. He speaks Italian and German. His wife only speaks Italian. His daughter, who is German born and raised (from a previous relationship), speaks Italian, English and German. Her husband (Paul) is from South Africa and he speaks German and English. It was quite an unusual evening to say the least! I didn't get the daughter's name. She was sitting next to Ted and I was sitting next to Benito and across from his wife. We were invited to their church on Sunday. The international Baptist church in Stuttgart right near Patch Barracks.
An Italian guy sent over glasses of champagne and then came and sat with us. It turns out he's working here in Germany temporarily and feels like Mamma Maria's is like family. We feel that way too!
All in all, it was a terrific evening with loads of interesting conversation.
Thursday 11/05/09
We sat with another family. Benito was the father and he lives on the Amalfi coast with his Ukrainian wife. He speaks Italian and German. His wife only speaks Italian. His daughter, who is German born and raised (from a previous relationship), speaks Italian, English and German. Her husband (Paul) is from South Africa and he speaks German and English. It was quite an unusual evening to say the least! I didn't get the daughter's name. She was sitting next to Ted and I was sitting next to Benito and across from his wife. We were invited to their church on Sunday. The international Baptist church in Stuttgart right near Patch Barracks.
An Italian guy sent over glasses of champagne and then came and sat with us. It turns out he's working here in Germany temporarily and feels like Mamma Maria's is like family. We feel that way too!
All in all, it was a terrific evening with loads of interesting conversation.
Thursday 11/05/09
Day 225: Slow Tuesday
Today I did more company work and continued to clean the office.
Tuesday 11/03/09
Tuesday 11/03/09
Day 224: Slow Monday
Today was a slow day. I cleaned the office and did some company work.
Monday 11/02/09
Monday 11/02/09
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Day 223: Quiet Sunday
Today is Sunday and we went to church. We listened to a great sermon from Chaplain Santiago about the Body of Christ and how we ALL have talents and gifts to give the community of believers. We had communion and there was water baptism today.
We signed up for Sunday School that starts next week. We think it's a beginner's class and if it is, we will graciously back out. If it isn't, great!!
We went to the BX/PX again because Ted had to fill his fuel card and check on a refund on our Terrabyte drive (it goes on sale on 11/6.
We bought a few toys for our grandson to play with when he's here at the end of the month (Of course, Grandpa is going ot have fun playing with them too!!!) The old lincoln logs and a great truck.
We decided to have lunch at the BX so we could go for a drive after lunch.
It was SUCH a glorious and beautiful day that we went for a ride in the ocuntryside (you don't have to go very far to get to the countryside here). There were TONS of people parking their cars and going for walks through the meadows fields and trees. At first I thought it was some sort of party or October fest but it wasn't.
We then went home and checked email and did a few things around the house. It's amazing. It was dark at 5pm and it feels like 9pm!!!
We had dinner of leftovers from Friday night. More reading and playing on the net, then to bed.
Sunday 11/01/09
We signed up for Sunday School that starts next week. We think it's a beginner's class and if it is, we will graciously back out. If it isn't, great!!
We went to the BX/PX again because Ted had to fill his fuel card and check on a refund on our Terrabyte drive (it goes on sale on 11/6.
We bought a few toys for our grandson to play with when he's here at the end of the month (Of course, Grandpa is going ot have fun playing with them too!!!) The old lincoln logs and a great truck.
We decided to have lunch at the BX so we could go for a drive after lunch.
It was SUCH a glorious and beautiful day that we went for a ride in the ocuntryside (you don't have to go very far to get to the countryside here). There were TONS of people parking their cars and going for walks through the meadows fields and trees. At first I thought it was some sort of party or October fest but it wasn't.
We then went home and checked email and did a few things around the house. It's amazing. It was dark at 5pm and it feels like 9pm!!!
We had dinner of leftovers from Friday night. More reading and playing on the net, then to bed.
Sunday 11/01/09
Day 222: Errands around town
We went to the bank to figure out some charges to our checking account. We finally got that hair appointment and I got my hair cut. The stylist said I didn't have an appointment when I obviously scheduled the appointment on Thursday. I even spelled my name. The person who took my name didn't understand either my spelling or my speech (I didn't know my voice and dialect was so bad!!!) She put me down as Carolyn!!!
We went to the BX / PX to get a few things including fabric softener.
We decided to go to Patch to have lunch and check out the thrift store, which was, of course, closed. UGH!!! They are open so few hours on the weekends and there's no way I'll get there during the week. Oh well...some other time!
We went to an electronics store Ted was really hot about. We looked at televisions,
compared the washer and dryers to what we bought (and convinced ourselves we made a good deal). I found these "dryer balls" that are supposed to soften your clothes and use 25% less energy because they assist in drying your clothes faster. I'm going to try them to see how they work. Anything that saves energy in a place where the energy is so expensive is worth it.
We went to OBI to buy the new fawcett and to return drapery hooks that did not work. They had Christmas decorations out and beautiful pine arrangements.
I finally managed to get a shot of the straw man outside the base.
The above three photos are of the pine and fall arrangements at OBI. I want to go back and get one.
I also saw a six drawer wood console that would work perfectly in the office. It was relatively in-expensive so we bought it.
Ted fell in love with this Christmas Menora. It was so unusual that I said go ahead and get it. (I'm saving my purchases for the Christmas markets in late November and December)
We spoke to the guy downstairs who left his keys in his door from yesterday afternoon. (we were worried something was wrong so we had the caretaker check on him.) He would have been robbed or worse...killed if that were to have happened in certain neighborhoods in the U.S.
We brought up our packages but the console was too heavy so we got the folding hand truck (which I absolutely LOVE and has paid for itself, over and over and over again) to bring up the console and the fawcett; both of which were heavy.
We watched a downloaded movie from I-tunes "The Day After Tomorrow" with Dennis Quaid. One of my favorite movies.
Ted wanted to go see the big Halloween party going on at the SI (a hotel/condo near the base) but he didn't want to go at 8:30. He said it was too early. And I was done for the day. He had left the car in the guest parking and he went to go move it to the garage after the movie.
When he didn't return as quickly as I thought he should have, I realized that he must have gone to check out the party. he finally came home and told me the party had already dispersed (it was only 10:30 or so). Now THAT wouldn't happen in the U.S.
Saturday 10/31/09
We went to the BX / PX to get a few things including fabric softener.
We decided to go to Patch to have lunch and check out the thrift store, which was, of course, closed. UGH!!! They are open so few hours on the weekends and there's no way I'll get there during the week. Oh well...some other time!
We went to an electronics store Ted was really hot about. We looked at televisions,
compared the washer and dryers to what we bought (and convinced ourselves we made a good deal). I found these "dryer balls" that are supposed to soften your clothes and use 25% less energy because they assist in drying your clothes faster. I'm going to try them to see how they work. Anything that saves energy in a place where the energy is so expensive is worth it.
We went to OBI to buy the new fawcett and to return drapery hooks that did not work. They had Christmas decorations out and beautiful pine arrangements.
I finally managed to get a shot of the straw man outside the base.
The above three photos are of the pine and fall arrangements at OBI. I want to go back and get one.
I also saw a six drawer wood console that would work perfectly in the office. It was relatively in-expensive so we bought it.
Ted fell in love with this Christmas Menora. It was so unusual that I said go ahead and get it. (I'm saving my purchases for the Christmas markets in late November and December)
We spoke to the guy downstairs who left his keys in his door from yesterday afternoon. (we were worried something was wrong so we had the caretaker check on him.) He would have been robbed or worse...killed if that were to have happened in certain neighborhoods in the U.S.
We brought up our packages but the console was too heavy so we got the folding hand truck (which I absolutely LOVE and has paid for itself, over and over and over again) to bring up the console and the fawcett; both of which were heavy.
We watched a downloaded movie from I-tunes "The Day After Tomorrow" with Dennis Quaid. One of my favorite movies.
Ted wanted to go see the big Halloween party going on at the SI (a hotel/condo near the base) but he didn't want to go at 8:30. He said it was too early. And I was done for the day. He had left the car in the guest parking and he went to go move it to the garage after the movie.
When he didn't return as quickly as I thought he should have, I realized that he must have gone to check out the party. he finally came home and told me the party had already dispersed (it was only 10:30 or so). Now THAT wouldn't happen in the U.S.
Saturday 10/31/09
Day 221: Auto insurance
Ted worked from home today because his company is refurbishing his section's offices and he has no place to work. We went to pay our auto insurance because it was due. They told us they could not accept payments online but they would gladly access our checking account once a month to take out the payment AND happily charge us a service fee of $2 a month. I said, "no way....we'll pay quarterly, thank you and save ourselves $2 a month."
We went to dinner at the first place we ate when we moved to Germany. It is under new management and is now called "La Fortuna". It was a pretty good meal.
We went home and downloaded "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock. We watched the movie and then I read some more.
Friday 10/30/09
We went to dinner at the first place we ate when we moved to Germany. It is under new management and is now called "La Fortuna". It was a pretty good meal.
We went home and downloaded "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock. We watched the movie and then I read some more.
Friday 10/30/09
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