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Monday, May 29, 2006
Distraction

How does one distract a 5 year old while you attempt to get rid of all her toys clean her room to get ready for the movers that will be arriving in the VERY near future?

Give her the job of separating all the cash you've collected over the last year. This job kept her busy for almost 3 hours:


After taking her share off the top, I was left with over $200 that will go towards P's college fund.


Posted by Margaret      4:51 PM      |

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The Loot!!!!

As the winner of the the 'contest' to guess my new place to pick cotton, Megan has won all this loot (yes, the Brazil chair is yours, too):

Click picture to enlarge.
Inventory of the loot:
I will mail it all tomorrow, so you should get 2 packages by the end of next week.
**************************************************

To the two consolation prize winners (you know who you are), I am looking for the PERFECT David Hasselhoff CD for you (there are SO many to choose from).

I'm off to create a box for the chair that would survive customs.


Posted by Margaret      8:46 PM      |

Monday, May 22, 2006
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

The winner of the 'Guess the New Place that will Pay Me' contest is...

Megan!!!!!!

She was the first person to email me with the name of the correct base, city, and state. She even named the county (for extra credit, I guess). Megan, your gear will be in the mail before the week is out.

The name of the new place where I will pick cotton is....

Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina (Cumberland County)

Crazy Crew I still hasn't figured it out, and I don't think they will. I blame the Hazelwood Public School System.

As soon as a few secret squirrel issues get worked out, we'll be on our way. Hopefully we'll be there in the early July, because P was accepted at the school that I applied for, and their school year starts in mid July.

Now, another 'issue'...do I rent or buy a house? I really don't plan to stay there more than 3 years, and I'm not exactly sure as to what to do.

Do I buy or rent?


Posted by Margaret      10:55 PM      |

Sunday, May 21, 2006
More Clues

Here are more clues as to the location of our new home:
If you know the name of the city, state, and Uncle LeRoy's property that will be our home for at least the next 3 years (hopefully), email me.

The first one to email me with the correct answers will receive a nice little package from me.


Posted by Margaret      11:33 PM      |

Thursday, May 18, 2006
After almost 7 Years, The End is Near

It seems that my fluff n' stuff resume has worked it's magic.

Last Thursday about 1700 (5pm for you civilians), I received a phone call from the Finder of All Jobs telling me that she found me a new place accross the pond to pick cotton. She tld me that the position is EXACTLY what I wanted, so I verbally accepted the position. Friday morning when I arrived at the place that pays me, I promptly hunted down the Finder of All Jobs and formally accepted (in writing) the offer. The deal is done...we will be back in the US before the end of the summer!!!

My main concern with moving back across the pond is to find a school for P. Since I know a few folks at the new place that will pay me, I called them to find out about places of confinement schools for her. I talked to P's friend J's mom (did you follow that?), and she told me that the school J goes to is technically in session all year (basically 9 weeks on and 3 weeks off, with summer break about 5 weeks). She LOVES it!! I contacted the registration office and sent them and application for P to attend.

I've told Crazy Crew I (mi familia) that we are moving back across the pond, but I haven't told them the location of the casa nueva. Why, you ask? Because I am holding a contest of sorts, and I think that you fine readers should also have an opportunity to win a motherload of World Cup 2006, German treats and souvenirs. So, here's the deal...only 2 readers of this here spot know the location (and are therefore disqualified...I'll send you both consolation prizes)...I'll give 3-5 clues a week the first person to email me the correct city, state, and name of Uncle LeRoy's property where I will pick cotton will win the plethora (my new favorite word) of prizes.

So far, the hints are:
Email me if you know the answer.

I'm actually excited about moving, but not about packing all that I've accumulated (I moved here in 1999 with 3 bags of clothes and a snowboard) and shipping the New No Name Car. Anyone want to come over for a visit and help?
**************************************************

Vee, you asked about Nuttella. A World Cup 2006 soccer ball shaped container of chocolately hazel nutty goodness is in the mail, on the way to Code. Hopefully he'll share with you.


Posted by Margaret      9:41 PM      |

Sunday, May 14, 2006
A Plethora of Pictures

In an effort to make it to Keukenhof (home of the Tulips) in the Netherlands before the park closed for the year, I decided this was the weekend to make the trip.

When we travel to that part of the country, we always stop at a McDonalds in Maastrich, Holland for a bite to eat, but this is the first time that I've noticed this:


Yep, you can get a Happy Meal AND your car washed in the same place!!

Saturday morning, we followed the bus full of gang members to Keukenhof. The bus traveled 100 km/hr MAX, so I was forced to travel the slowest I've ever had to travel on the autobahn (not to include being in a stau). Here is the proof:



While I was crawling down the autobahn, and counting the white lines between the lanes, P was content in the back seat watching a DVD:


A few pictures from the garden:

P and her favorite flowers, the yellow tulips:


This is one of 5 GIGANTE flower arrangements at one of the stores in the park:


These are my favorite flowers:


This picture shows how serious bike riding is in the Netherlands:


On the way home, this restaurant/truckstop is right on the autobahn. I am curious as to what a woopy snack is, but not enough to stop and find out:


I've esperienced the 'optional' pay toiletten (bathroom) here in Germany. At these bathrooms, there is a table in front of the entrance and you just drop some change and go in. You don't have to pay anything, but if you don't the attendant gives you the 'you-didn't-pay-to-use-the-toiletten' eye.

In the train stations in Paris, there are pay bathrooms, where you put the money in the slot, and the door opens for you.

Today is the first time that I've experienced the 'pay now, get a refund later' toiletten. You pay 50 euro cent to use the bathroom and get a ticket, then when you buy something in the store, you use the ticket for a 50 euro cent discount. Click on the picture to get the directions as to how to have a successful toiletten now/discount later experience:


In case you are wondering, kids get in free, if they can walk under this cutout:


Last but not least...in honor of the World Cup, and for the love of Nutella, I present to you, the soccer ball shaped container of Nutella (if you have not had the Nutella experience, you NEED to experience it!):


Posted by Margaret      8:24 PM      |

Sunday, May 07, 2006
Afternoon Adventure

Since today was such a nice day, P and I went for a 2 hour bike ride this afternoon. This trail is about 30 km long:



How do I teach P to ride a 2-wheel bike without:
  • her getting hurt?
  • me having a heart attack?
I gave an honest effort after our bike ride, but I almost had 29733 heart attacks, so I quit. I wish there was a fahrradschule (bike school) where I could send her that would teach her how to ride (think of it as outsourcing), because I'll admit that I'm not up for the task.

Speaking of fahrrads...MTV Europe has a show named Pimp My Fahrrad, like Pimp My Ride, only with bikes. Check it out here.

*************************************

This is the view on the way back to the house. In the distance, over the hill sits the World's Busiest Air Base, and on a clear night I can see the lights from the runway from my bed room window:


Posted by Margaret      8:51 PM      |

Thursday, May 04, 2006
Flowers in the Outfield

P had a T-ball game tonight.

During the game, while she was in right field, she took the time to decorate her hat with the flowers she picked:


View from the back:


Talent. Pure talent.

That is all.


Posted by Margaret      10:40 PM      |

Wednesday, May 03, 2006
...And the List Grows

One day last week when I picked P up from the Place That I Pay So She Can Play All Day, the teacher informed me that P had called one of the other kids in the class a bad name. I turned and asked P what she had called the girl, and she told me that she called her an asshole (the teacher said P heard another child say it on the playground). I told her that that was a bad word, and she shouldn't be calling names.

When we got in the car, P started the conversation again:

P: I thought you said ass is a bad word.
Me: It is a bad word, and you shouldn't say it.
P: I didn't say it, I said asshole.
Me: Any word with ass in it is a bad word, and please don't say it again.
P: If I can't say it, how am I supposed to eat at school?
sidenote: At the PTIPSSCPAD, they have family style dining, with 5-7 kids sitting at the table.
Me: What does that have to do with you eating?
P: I know that pass is just ass with a p in the front, and if I can't say it, how am supposed to ask my friends to pass me some food when I eat at school?
Me: Use sign language, you know the sign.

That was the best that I could come up with while sitting in traffic, trying to leave the World's Busiest Air Base. Another word to add to the list of 'bad' words that P shouldn't say. Yes, there is a list.
****************************************************

I've finally received P's new passport (the old one expired on 6 April). Now that she is a legal tourist again, next weekend we will be off on our annual pilgrimage to Keukenhof to see the flowers and hang out in the Netherlands. Hopefully we'll 'get lost' and end up in Amsterdam.

Let me know if you want a postcard. It's never too early to start the list.

Speaking of passports...why did P's passport cost me $82 to renew, and it is only good for 5 years, but an adult's passport is valid for 10 years cost only $67? No one has an answer (not even the State Dept). I think it's another one of life's great mysteries (much like the walking on the moon thing and that at every birthday, Big Bird turns 6 years old).


Posted by Margaret      9:29 PM      |



Name: Margaret
Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany by way of St. Louis, MO

100 Things About Me...



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MARCH 05
PARIS, FRANCE

APRIL 05
KEUKENHOF, HOLLAND

MAY 05
SALOU & BARCELONA, SPAIN
LEGOLAND, GERMANY
STUTTGART ZOO, GERMANY

JUNE 05
DISNEYLAND PARIS, FRANCE
CHARACTERS AT DISNEYLAND PARIS, FRANCE

JULY 05
SANTORINI, GREECE
CRETE, GREECE

APRIL 06
HEIDELBERG CASTLE




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