I feel like I've abandoned my little place here! I will sum up the last 4 days...
Friday night, we left for the Geilenkirchen, home to a portion of the World's Biggest Gang. We made the 3 hour trip in 2.5 hours, mainly because I drove like a bat out of H-E-Double Hockey Sticks most of the way. We arrived just in time for the almost weekly dinner gathering of the gang members. After dinner, one of the members found out that bright and early Saturday morning, I would be driving 1.5 hours to the soon-to-be World's Second Busiest Air Base for class, and offered 'easier, quicker directions'. My interest was piqued when she said 'easier' (because the 'Spaghetti Junction' in Atlanta has NOTHING on the 'Suicide Merge' between Germany and Belgium), and she drew me a map of the new and improved drive. Saturday morning, I rose BRIGHT and early (said bye to P~sniff-sniff), with plenty of time to get to class on time, but it just didn't happen that way! The directions that were given to me was missing a turn, or three. My 1.5 hour trip turned into a 3 hour ride. I even did something that I've NEVER done... I arrived late for class!
Class was....imagine washing your car, then sitting in a chair watching it dry when the humidity is 60% and it's 70 degrees out. That which I have described is far more interesting than my class was...both days. We were in a computer lab, and the instructor, who happens to be about 96.89765 years old started the slide presentation and read. every. word. on.every slide. During class, so I wouldn't fall asleep, I surfed, read a few blogs (check your stats, I was there for a long time)~I wasn't able to comment (the computers were supposed to be off). After class, I went to the hotel on base for the night, where P called me and asked if she could bring a baby deer home. First the girl kitty, now a baby deer~this is NOT the humane society!
Sunday, I went to class and was bored all over again, for the next 9 hours. After class, my friend made the 1.5 hour drive in 1.5 hours and returned P to me. After dinner, we were on the road again, headed home. Once we reached home, P informed me that once again, she wasn't going to 'make it' if she didn't have blueberry pancakes for dinner. After the pancake dinner, it was bed time for all in this casa.
Monday...nothing exciting at the place that pays me. I just picked cotton, as I always do. I was to pick up the new Hoop d'Ville, but NO, the paperwork is held up at customs. I think I should apologize to the Customs Crew for talking trash about them and their dogs when I travel and when my mail is late. Maybe they are bloggers and have read about how I feel about them and they are holding my car hostage.
Tuesday...still no new car, but I did 'visit' it today to check something out. I had to see if it had a locking gas cap. NOPE! I ordered one, and I will pick it up tomorrow (the gas cap). I had class tonight. I will admit that this term is the EASIEST term I've had since I returned to school in 2003. I plan to CLEP a class this term, if only I would stop procrastinating, and just do it.
Louis is still Louis. The tub hasn't talked any more, an P has fallen in love with the Benji movies.
That's the update! Gotta pick cotton in the in the morning, so I'm off to bed.
Posted by Margaret
10:15 PM
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I know all of you are concerned about P and her precious Louis/Chico/Crazy Dog/Chico vom Talhof/Salami Thief. The news is...they are friends again. While P was playing with him on Thursday morning, I 'reminded' her that they were no longer friends:
Me: Hey, why are you playing with Louis. I thought you were not friends anymore. *yes, I call him Louis, too (another battle lost)*
P: We are friends again because he said sorry for eating my salami.
Me: I didn't hear him say anything.
P: You didn't hear him because he was talking to me.
Me: Oh...
P: I heard the bathtub say some bad words. Do you want to know what it said?
Me: NO!!!
P: Can I have a girl kitty?
Me: No, you can not have a kitten right now.
*About 5 minutes later, P comes to me holding The Dog with all the Aliases*
P: Me and Louis need to tell you something.
Me: What is it? *half paying attention*
P: Louis and me are sad with you because you won't let us have a girl kitten.
Me: Ok...
Once again, the battle lines have been drawn, and I'm out numbered. This is precisely why I don't want any more kids...I KNOW they'll be 'plottin' on me!
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At what age does a child learn to add? One night after her bath last week, P announced to me that could do 2 plus 3. I asked her to show me, and she did, using her fingers. I asked her where she learned, and of course, she said 'I don't know'. I 'quizzed her with a few problems, and she got them right. I have NO idea where she learned.
I'm glad she didn't say Louis taught her.
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Right after work, we are leaving to go to the home of the World's Biggest Gang. I will stay for the night, and get up WAY before sunrise to drive another 1.5 hours to class a the Soon to be World's Second Biggest Air Base. I will stay there Saturday night, because class also meets Sunday morning. While I'm in class playing SIMS and watching DVDs learning stuff, P will be cruising the Rhein River, hanging out at IKEA, and missing me (yeah, right!) .
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I have yet another question for you folks out there in blog land...Savings' Bonds...to buy or not to buy?
I have been buying Savings' Bonds for P since she was a year old (2 $100 bonds a month). I plan to use the bonds to assist in funding her college education. I also donate fundage every month to her 529 Account (College Savings Plan). Her 529 account is doing pretty good, but the bonds are slow going. Should I continue to invest in the bonds? I'm think I will stop the bonds and put the funds into her 529. What do you think?
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Have a great weekend, and do something nice for someone!
Posted by Margaret
3:01 PM
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This evening, P made yet another announcement concerning Louis/Chico/Crazy Dog/Chico vom Talhof. Ready for the announcement?? The announcement is, and I quote:Me (P) and Louis are no longer friends!!
Got that?? No longer friends!! She is now on my 'team'. Want to know why they are no longer friends??Because he stole her piece of salami. Not jus any old piece, but the last slice in the entire house.
What had happened was...after picking P up from the babysitter's after my class, we came home, and she was starving (her words). Since she 'wasn't going to make it all night with no food' (her words again) she asked for a piece of salami (she has a slight addiction to Edel salami). I put a slice on a plate for her in the kitchen. Instead of waiting until she finished putting on her pajamas, she took the plate in the room where she was getting dressed. While she was busy putting on her bottoms, Louis, being the Crazy Dog he is, jumped on the couch, and ate the entire slice (like the alligator did the duckling in the movie Madagascar). Needless to say, she was NOT happy. P cried like she never cried before. When she found out there was no more, she cried even harder.
In the midst of her crying, she informed me that they were no longer friends, she wanted Louis to go to another house, and she wants a 'girl kitty'. I think she really scared Louis. When the shrieks of torcher began, he ran into his house which is in the hallway, where he's been for the last 45 minutes.
What lesson did we learn tonight?P really wants a girl kitty.
At least that's what I learned! (and it AIN'T gonna happen!)
P is REALLY serious. She went bed without telling Louis/Chico/Crazy Dog/Chico vom Talhof good night.
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I found this over at Busymom 's, and thought that I'd better get in line.
Just think, if 3,288 people perish, there will be a Broke Single Parent, with a daughter who declared that she's a Princess, and a dog named Louis in charge!!!
My first order of business...make it against the law to have less than 4 slices of Edel salami in your house at any given time.
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One of my classes started tonight. 2 words...Easy. A.
'Nuff said.
Due to the fact that I want to finish by December, I am forced to take a DE class with another university. Why, why, why is said university charging $70 for an e-book? We won't get the entire book at the beginning of class. It will be 'rationed' to us (much like the gas here) one chapter per week. I'm glad Uncle LeRoy's brother, Uncle Victor is picking up the tab for this class!
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I need a tad of advice from you blog readers...
Here is the hyperdermic situation...I am You are taking a class, and I you realize that there will be 4 term papers due during the class term. I You also notice that I've you've already done 3 of the 4 term papers topics for another class, and received A's on them all. Is it wrong to turn in those papers the second time (different instructor)? Of course I you would make a few changes to the paper before I you submit them for grade #2.
Is this wrong? Is this plagerism?
Posted by Margaret
10:13 AM
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***Public Service Announcement: If you notice an invasion of teenie, tiny bugs flying around in the kitchen, CHECK THE POTATOES THAT YOU FORGOT YOU BOUGHT, they might be a the condo where the teenie tiny bugs live.***
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The Gigolo called me bright and early Saturday morning to inform me that the Boob forgot to have me sign a document on Friday. Not to worry, it still looks like Monday is the delivery date of the new Hoop d'Ville.
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School for me starts this week. I am taking 2 classes, on in the evenings at the World's Busiest Airbase, and the other at the soon to be World's Second Busiest Airbase, which is about 1.5 hours away. The plan is to drive to my friend's house in Geilenkirchen Friday night with P, and get up Satruday morning and drive back 1.5 hours to class. I'll stay in the hotel on base Saturday night. On Sunday, the GK Crew, along with P, will meet me once class is over. Although I'll be in class trying to stay awake, P will be off on a cruise, and shopping with my friends. How dare she have fun while I'm being tortured! Hopefully P's regular babysitter will return and I will have to do this only 1 of the 4 weekends of class.
Eight weeks and the term will be over. I'm looking forward to it already.
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Sunday afternoon, P changed Crazy Dog's name. She informed me that his name is no longer Chico (Chico vom Talhof), but Louis. Please don't ask why. I don't know. She even had a 'birthday party' for him (his birthday is 19 Oct.) complete with banners she made. She told me that if I REALLY loved Crazy Dog, I would call him Louis, too. She was serious!
It's now Monday evening, and she's still calling him Louis. Maybe she shouldn't be an only child. Just kidding!!
Posted by Margaret
9:03 PM
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At the Place That Sells Cars (and Won't Negotiate) on base, I have been dealing with 2 salesmen, much like the Good Cop/Bad Cop scenario. There is Bob the Boob (Bad Cop) and Jeremy the Gigolo (Good Cop).
Monday, the Boob traveled to another base near the Airport to drive the car back here instead of loading it on the train, which would have taken almost 2 days. I took P to see it after Day Care, and she was a tad upset that it wasn't red~I refuse to own a red car~but she was overall happy.
The Boob calculated one of the discounts using the total price of the vehicle, when he should have deducted the overseas shipping amount first. The Gigolo was forced to play the Good Cop and clean up the $196 mess (the discount was too much) the Head Office wanted the entire vehicle refinanced to account for the 'missing' $196. Wednesday, I offered to buy them lunch if they just let me give them the $196, so I wouldn't have to wait an additional 5 days since the contract needed to be resubmitted. The initial response was that they couldn't take the money from me, but it had to be refinanced.
Thursday, the Credit Union said they wouldn't waste the manpower just to refinance $196, so I was able to give the Boob the funds to cover HIS mistake. The Gigolo submitted all the documentation, and now I'm just waiting for the final contract from the Head Office and the funds to change hands between the Powers That Be.
I will get the keys about a week, once the contract is complete, and the Credit Union legally has me in it's Grips of Debt. This means we should be in the new Hoop d'Ville between next Friday and Monday~just in time for a road trip over Labor Day weekend.
Hmmm...where should we go?? Any suggestions?
Posted by Margaret
10:06 PM
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Technically, I am the proud owner of a 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport. I say technically, because everything is signed and approved. The only thing left to do is hand over the down payment (read: dip into the shopping while in the States fund), and it's mine!! They will pick it up near Frankfurt Wednesday morning, and I can get it in the afternoon.
It's like this one, only it's light khaki. 
I also need to sell Bruce (read: add to the shopping while in the States fund), the BMW (Break My Wallet), because I'll be John Brown (don't ask) if I pay insurance for 2 cars when I can drive only 1 at a time. Maybe I'll go to the World's Busiest Military Hospital and see if any of the reservists that are here working need a vehicle so they'll stop walking in the street, blocking traffic. Or maybe I'll go to the World's Busiest Airbase to see if any of the Slick Sleeves (Newbies) are tired of riding the shuttle bus and want to buy it.
When I pick it up the new Hoop d' Ville on Wednesday, I'll take pictures before I drop it off in the 'hood' to have a few 'modifications' done to it.
Posted by Margaret
10:00 PM
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In one year, we'll be packing it up and moving back to the States. I don't know where we'll go, but if I wait and let Uncle LeRoy find me a new place to pick cotton, there is NO DOUBT that we'll end up in Political Land, or very close to it. When I check Uncle LeRoys job listings, Political Land has over 50 job openings for my cotton picking abilities. Honestly, I don't care where we move, as long as P can go to school.
I can always hunt for a new cotton field myself, but I just don't feel like dealing with the hassle of phone interviews and updating my resume. Plus, there is the little issue with experience vs. education. I have 4 years experience doing what I do now (from entry level to where I am now), but my degree is in a discipline where I have no experience. I would LOVE to find a plantation where I could use my degree, since Uncle LeRoy's brother, Uncle Victor, will have paid almost $20K for my education by the time I finish (5 classes to go!!!!!!).
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Our plans for the Thanksgiving holiday are already set. We will be in the States for 2 weeks. We will visit my sister, Time Tard, in VA (she lives in Alexandria), and go to NC to visit my other sister (Nurse Ratchette) and hang out with The Few, The Proud. I already know that after 3 days I'll be ready to return to Germany, and TT will want to throw P out of her place, because P will be jet lagged, sleeping at 1400 (2pm for you civilians) and waking up at 2000 (10pm for you civilians), ready to start her day.
My round trip ticket was less than $400, P's ticket was less than $275, and taxes and fees for both tickets is $230. That's the most I've EVER paid for a ticket to the US. Hopefully this is the last time I fund a flight across the pond from my own pocket (I AM a broke single parent. Honest.). If it wasn't for the fact that we haven't been to the states in over a year, I'd spend the fundage on a trip to Norway. Or Ireland.
Plus, I think I owe it to P for her to see her families (we'll see a lot of Crazy Crew I and Crazy Crew II live in MD, ), I'll make her sign a waiver so she won't blame me for the 'damage' it might cause.
Posted by Margaret
8:54 PM
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Other than spending my work hours driving around my new co-cotton picker, nothing much is going on. I am attempting to help her find a house, which is REALLY trying my nerves. There are tons of places being built, but most have been 'called' by potential renters...even those that are only 50% built! Other than paying a real estate agent one month's rent to find a place, the selection is slim in the price range she's looking for, which would be a NICE size house anywhere in the states.
I did get one thing accomplished today, I found her a nice furnished apartment, so she can get out of the cramped hotel room. The apartment is fully furnished, 2 bedroom, free wireless, nice size balcony, in a nice quiet village. The apartment is 8 euro cheaper a day than the hotel.
So, tomorrow, we'll be trolling around the area looking for a house that hasn't been 'reserved' by another homeless American.
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Note to self: Verify the renter's insurance is paid up before P takes her golf clubs in the yard and attempts to hit the ball. I might not be so lucky the second time.
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I think I have narrowed my new car selection down to just two:
The Jeep Liberty:
or
PT Cruiser Convertible:
I'm not sure about the colors yet, as most are available. Maybe I'll decide right before we get on the plane to the states for Turkey Day, so I won't be able to change my mind.
What do you think, or should I look for something else?
Posted by Margaret
8:39 PM
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Bright and early this morning I had to make the 1 hour drive to Frankfurt to pick up my new victim co-cotton picker. After 26+ years of living in the 49th state, she thought it was time for a change, and decided to come to Germany. If the first impression is a lasting impression, who better to pick her up from the airport than moi? I spent most of the day showing her around the Largest American Community Outside the US. Although she was jet lagged, she held up until P and I dropped her at her hotel at about 1600 (4pm for you civilians). I'm sure that as soon as we left her, she crashed.
So, all week, I'll be playing chauffer, which I don't mind because the more I chauffer, the less cotton I'll have to pick.
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P and I went to the bookstore on base, and she was looking at the books about animals:
P: Mommy, look, a book about porkchops.
Me: A book about what? Let me see it.
Nosey Shopping Guy: Ma'am, I think she means porcupines.
Me: *looking at the book, then at Nosey Shopping Guy* This isn't a book about porkchops or porcupines, it's about armadillos.
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I registered for class today. I'll be taking 2 classes, one in the evenings 2 nights a week at the World's Busiest Airbase, and the other on weekends, at the Baby Busy Airbase, about 1.5 hours away, which means I'll be staying overnight. I hope P will survive without me on those weekends
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I think I'm going to buy a new car. I stopped by the Folks That Won't Bargain With You that sells cars on the World's Busiest Airbase just to ask about the car, and in about 10 minutes they rambled off $4,906 in rebates and incentives (they will even give me $500 off because I'm in school) for a $24K car. With my downpayment, and what I would get for Bruce, my payments would be around $300/month. Although there is nothing wrong with my beloved Bruce, it has European specifications, which means that if I ship it to the US, it would cost about $7K to convert it to US specs. If I buy a car here, and have it in my possession for at least 6 months before I ship it, I pay no sales taxes on it. Since I am about 1 year from leaving, now is a great time for me to buy. Why not buy, you ask? Because I am DEBT FREE!! Other than my month to month living expenses, I HAVE NO BILLS! I cringe at the thought of getting in debt again, even if it is for a car. My original idea was to pay cash for a car, which I could do in the spring/fall 2006, but I won't own it for 6 months before I leave, so I'd have to pay the taxes on it once it touches US soil.
To buy or not to buy, that is the question...
Posted by Margaret
7:29 PM
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While standing in line to pay for gas on the World's Busiest Airbase, P noticed a display of car air fresheners for sale (to set the scene, the store was quite crowded, as it was payday for Uncle LeRoy's crew):
P: Mommy, what's that? *Pointing to the air fresheners*
Me: Those are air fresheners for the car.
P: What are they for?
Me: They make the car smell good.
P: Can you buy one for the car?
Me: No, we don't need one, the car smells fine.
P: No it doesn't, it's stinky in the back, because I keep farting back there.
It seemed that the moment P said the word 'farting' the store was totally quiet, so her statement was heard by all, and of course they started laughing. I'm hoping they were laughing with me and not at me.
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You know that I'm anxious to finish school when I went to register for class on Monday, and was told by the staff that registration doesn't start for another week.
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There is a very good chance that P and I will travel to the US for Turkey Day. Where are we going, you ask? The choices are St. Louis, Indianapolis, Alexandria, VA, Jacksonville, NC, Atlanta, GA or Dallas, TX. It's been 17 months since we've been on that side of the pond, and I think it's about time for a short (after 3 days, i'm ready to come back to Germany) visit.
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No plans this weekend, except that the Uncle LeRoy's Gang from Geilenkirchen might come down. I'll know in the morning if they decided to come down, because when I wake up there will be folks sleeping on my couch.
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I hope everyone has a great weekend! Be safe, and don't talk to strangers!!!
Posted by Margaret
8:51 PM
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About my Stats class: I got a C.It's good that I don't have to take it again, and in the Master's program I plan to start once I get my Bachelor's, does not require Master's level Stats...WONDERFUL!!!!! I was tagged by Aziza with the following: Ten Years Ago - I was living at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver, in AIT (Advanced Individual Training), in the Army~beginning my 'career' with Uncle LeRoy. Five Thinigs I Would Do With $1,000,000,000 - Five Locations I Would Like To Run Away To - Five Bad Habits -
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Five Years Ago - I was 3 months pregnant with P, living here, in Germany.
One Year Ago - I was making the final arrangements for our trip to London to see the BEST musical in the world, The Lion King.
Yesterday - I picked cotton at the place that pays me.
Today - I'm picking cotton at the place that pays me. Later I will pick up P from daycare and Crazy Dog from the groomer, then home for dinner, baths and bed.
Tomorrow -I'll be picking cotton at the place that pays me, pick up P and her friend J from daycare, and make homemade pizzas for dinner.
Five Snacks I Enjoy - Cheez-Its, Twizzlers, animal crackers, fresh fruit, cheese
Five Bands I know All The Words (err... most words) To Their Music -
Five Things I Like Doing -
Five TV Shows I Like -
Five Famous People I Would Like To Meet -
Five Biggest Joys At This Moment -
Five Favorite Toys -
I'm not going to tag anyone with this, I don't want them to stress over the answers as much as I did.
Posted by Margaret
3:15 PM
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Our weekend trip to the Geilenkirchen was short, but nice (even though we didn't go to Amsterdam). The drive is EXACTLY 3 hours, from door to door. We left the World's Busiest Airbase at 1830 (6:30pm for you civilians), an arrived at A's house at 2130 (9:30 pm for you civilians).
The drive to Geilenkirchen went as follows:
All the above 'international' driving is on the SAME highway. Each country has it's own name for the same highway, which can be rather confusing.
The Uncle LeRoy's members of the World's Biggest Gang that live in Geilenkirchen are a pretty tight group. They practically live, work and shop together. Everyday. All the kids go to school together in Germany, or the to the International School in The Netherlands.
Saturday, we went to dinner at one of the game member's house. On the way to the house, we passed a yard with about 25 deer. Once we made it to the house with the dinner, we walked back to the deer house which was 3 doors up the street, and P made some new friends:
P said it was a boy deer because it had bones on his head. There were 7 fawns all less than 2 weeks old in the yard, also.
The clear heel phenomen has spread to the Netherlands (it's WRONG to wear clear heels on a Sunday):
I passed this car while driving though Belgium on the way home on Sunday (Yes, there are 2 complete motorcycles in the back):
There was a slight altercation during the drive home on Sunday:
Finally headed in the right direction of home (we were only 3 exits away from Luxemburg):
P doing what she does best (watching a DVD and eating) while riding:
When he wasn't sleeping, Crazy Dog watched a little tv, too:
Although we spent over 6 hours on the autobahn and drove through 4 countries, the weekend was worth it. A few of Uncle LeRoy's folks from the World's Biggest Gang are using the excuse of school supply and school clothes shopping to visit us next weekend.
I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend!
Posted by Margaret
10:00 PM
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