Day 2: All over town and car is limping!

Today didn't start out as early as we had hoped. Our alarm did not go off as it should have so it wasn't until 8:30am when we left the apartment. We wanted to be at the first stop before 8:00 but it just didn't happen. Ted actually has a project slated for tomorrow so we had to finish everything on the check list!

First stop was Panzer Base (named after Germany's Panzer tank). My husband signed us in (after going through the gate, we had to park the car, and go to the security building - more like a two-man shack - just to get clearance to go in.) It was snowing to beat the band!! Large fluffy flakes that stick to your eyelids, hair and clothing...and it was cold! Luckily they have a large tube that shoots hot air onto people waiting in line.

When our name was called to process my CAC card, we were told we needed our marriage certificate and I needed two forms of identification, my SS card and my CA driver's license. I had my driver's license but not the marriage certificate or the SS card. (Luckily for us, I had the foresight to bring important documents on the plane with us!)

So back we went to our apartment to get the proper documents. On the way back to Panzer, the car lost power...we could still drive it but driving it on the AutoBahn was tricky. When we finally arrived at Panzer, we were able to get me my CAC card. While I was being "processed", my husband was on the phone with the rental agency.

Luckily they speak English but they did not know where Panzer was. Luckily there was a nice lady who spoke German who gave them directions and told us to wait at the gate. So off we went to sit outside the gate and wait for them to pickup the car. Now there was another dilemma...they were going to pick up the car but we would be stranded!! So on the phone again, talking to the rental place about bringing us another car to replace the one that they were picking up. What a drama!!! So we sat in the car and waited and watched the snow fall. There were a few more calls to the rental agency while we waited. Finally, Volkswagen came with a brand new car for us. It's an EOS. We wanted to try it out to see if it made the short list of cars that we were interested in purchasing when the time comes.

We also needed to get me a SOFA document, which basically says that I'm affiliated with the armed forces and gives us special privileges (don't ask what they are because I do not know). Luckily the office that does this is at the Panzer Base so back into base we go....with the same model car but a different color. The security guard (who is German) said, "This is another car?" He was quite observant. I would have thought that with so many people going in and out of that base that he would have forgotten, but he didn't!!

OK...so now it's about 1:30pm and we are hungry so we stop at the BX/PX for a bite to eat and then on to the department store to get cleaning and laundry supplies.

In addition, we both have to pass German driving tests. And there are classes we must take to just take the exam! He has a booklet but I didn't have one. I wondered if I needed one so since we were still at Panzer (and that's where the driving tests are done), we thought we'd check. Lo and behold, yes I would need the book. Remember Ted did ALL of these things yesterday with his sponsor for himself!! And now he's taking me through the process again! Now I have to study the book because we have THREE days of classes in order to pass this exam. UGH!

Next stop: Kelly Barracks. Thank GOODNESS for GPS...we would never have known how to navigate the various highways and "strasse" (streets). At Kelly we needed to check out our new permanent mailing address. We have a box and will be happy to share that address if anyone would like it. Just send me a private email and I'll forward it to you. Of course the box is near the floor so we were practically on our hands and knees trying to figure out the combination which is very different from high school lockers ;) We wanted to open a bank account too but of course, they are only open Mon-Wed-Fri. Gee, I'm sure other bankers would love to have those hours!! So scratch that off the list...for now. It is now, 3:45pm and the mail lady said there was branch on Patch but she said they were only open until 4:30 so we'd have to rush. Back in the car we go....to yet another Base...Patch Barracks.

By the way, all day long the weather alternated between cloudy and snowy sleet to sunshine with patches of blue skies. Very weird weather. And I had on a new pair of shoes that I thought were very comfortable when I tried them on but of course after all of the walking, in and out of cars and buildings, the feet were sore by 4pm. We get there at 4:25 and by a stroke of luck, the credit union was open until 5pm!! So we were able to get our bank account set up and ready to go.

Patch is the base that has the largest grocery story (Commissary) and because we don't want to eat late in the evening, we decided to get enough food until the weekend, when we will go again. Of course by this time, the feet were burning, burning, burning. I whipped through my grocery list like a crazed woman!! Now all of it and the other things we bought at the BX/PX had to be toted up the winding steps to our apartment and put away. Oh Joy!

After changing my shoes to something a little more comfortable, we toted those bags upstairs and put everything away. My husband was surprised I found spots to put everything! To say we are falling asleep at the keyboard is an under statement!!

So it's off to la-la land for me. Until next time...