And I don't feel right when your gone away..

Howdy!

First off, I would like to apologize for it not being so long in between posts. I have by no means any less news or stories to share with both the families and our friends, it's just hard because I now have limited access to the internet. Ever since we moved into our apartment, we lost the WIFI signals that we were getting from the hotels and now we are using John's prepaid internet stick. Or, I make the hike up to the posts library to use their WIFI.

Mind you, the internet issue was already supposed to be fixed by now. John and myself got set up with Deutsche Telekom for internet and phone. The phone is a really good deal, because we can make unlimited amounts of calls to American landlines. Just..we can't accept calls from cell phones or make calls to cell phones because the cost is pretty expensive. Our install date was August 25th, and well..they didn't show. They are now supposed to come out the 31st to do the install, considering some equipment didn't get delivered how it was supposed to. Since both John and myself primary mode of communication to the states is by internet, this is going to be huge for us. Plus, he is excited about playing Halo 3 on XBox Live, and Star Wars Galaxies without the lag that comes from the internet stick.

There hasn't been too much going on here however. John had a nice, long 5 day weekend due to having CQ last Thursday. So, we played video games and hung out around the house watching TV and enjoying each others company. We went to Hanau, Germany and walked around for a bit. Hanau is right around where the Brothers Grimm were given birth to.

John actually baked his first cake the other night. I do have a picture, and I will be posting it (probabely to his embarrassment).

The sunsets have been so gorgeous here lately. It's pretty hard to resist taking pictures of them (I do not have that strong of a will. Lol!). So I have a bunch of sunsets on my camera. I think in part it is due to a lot of the late day storms we have been having lately. It will rain a bit late in the day, and then stop right before dusk. However, today is beautiful, cool, and not a cloud in the sky. The cool/cold mornings are back in season, with it burning off during midday. Fall is arriving like a thief in the night. As I wake up in the morning, slowly I see more and more colors other then green appearing on top of the trees that are outside of our window. It has become cool enough to close the window some nights now. John is in heaven, whereas I am the one curled up underneath the blankets cursing the weather change. I am a North Texan. There is no such thing as 4 seasons to us. It's a myth told to us by northerns. Lol.

We both can't help it. We are looking forward to going back to the states. I am not relishing the thought of a full winter in Germany, and John is obviously sick of this country. We love and miss everyone though, and are looking forward to December and being able to see everyone during his leave.

Until next time.

I wanted you to know, that I love the way you laugh..

I can't say how nice it is to finally have our own place. Even if it takes 3 steep flights of stairs to reach. Once I can finally get my computer fully working, I will download the pictures I took of the view we have. We are at the very top, towering above many other buildings and able to see a birds eye view of Baumholder and Wetzle, the second part of the military post.

It was a very unproductive weekend, and it was even harder for John to want to get out of bed at 5 am for PT then most Monday mornings. He came home from supposedly a trip to the CMR with Guitar Hero and 2 guitars in hand Friday and we played all Friday afternoon, all of Saturday, and most of Sunday. We have a certain riveraly between us, which is odd considering that I am the competitive one whilest he could care a less.

Which is why him playing basketball probabely didn't work out so well Deb.

As far as the dancing is concerned, I am the one with the ability to do most folk dancing, two step, and now swing. John...can swing, and only if that is if I beg him to do it.

We called our families last Monday, I hope that you guys enjoyed hearing from us as much as we enjoyed hearing from you.

You'd like to think that you were invincable yeah...

Ola from the Rhine land!

Just when I thought things had finally settled down for awhile, my normal turned upside down for the second time this week.

Monday when I had checked into that new hotel for us, and moved John's and my stuff over to it I had made the comment to the owner (who was very nice and helpful by the way!) that we had started to look for an apartment but didn't really know what we were doing. Peter, the owner said that he would help. Thursday, he came up to our room and told me that he had found a cheap apartment for us through a friend of his, and what time would we like to set up an appointment with her.

So all things said and done, we moved into our new furnished studio apartment last night before a mandatory fun event and are now in the middle of unpacking. We need to go grocery shopping today seeing has half of our food got crushed in the move and do laundry today. As well as clean and finish unpacking. However, John is sick so I don't know how far we will get on any of those tasks today.

The apartment has the basics. Couch, tables, a lamp, mismatched dishes/pots/pans/utensils. It has a microwave and a TV..and a way for us to hook up internet. It is actually really reasonable a month and is paid on a month to month basis. Which is great, considering we are leaving in December.

Last night, the Family Readiness Group (FRG) held a Hawaiin themed party as a welcome home/have a fun block leave type of thing. It was mandatory fun time, so John and I made an appearance. Of course that not being his scene, he made sure enough NCO's saw him before we left so that there was no question of him having been there.

Thursday, John was awarded the Army Achievement Award/medal during final formation for his outstanding dedication to duty, professionalism, and selflessness during his assignment to 2-6.

Also, Thursday John and I attended our second swing dance class. John has actually become quite good at it, although he says he hates it. He looks great while doing it, although he is convinced that he looks like a retard/gay while doing it.

So much has happened this week, it is hard to keep track of it all. It feels nice to wake up in my own apartment again. We had frozen pizza last night...using an oven was exciting! It's not much, but it is home to us. Anywhere is home to me, as long as I have John right beside me.

Just when i'd thought i'd reached the bottom..

Hola!

Things are starting to look up towards the bright side of things over here acrossed the Atlantic Ocean. Thursday John managed to pass his German drivers license test, and we went and bought a car that same day. Bertha is a '89 red Ford Sunny, and looks like she has seen way, way better days. However, she drives great and was able to surive a trip on the Autobahn.

Saturday we traveled to Trier, Germany which is the oldest city in German. It used to be one of the capitals of the Roman Empire. We were able to find the Pink Palace, and the Imperial Baths. We took LOTS of pictures, and I will be posting them soonish. Trier is gorgeous but huge! It sits on the banks of the Mosuel River, and has several different parts of the city. We came back and proceeded to watch Star Wars after our adventures.

We had been meaning to try to find a cheaper hotel for some time, but everywhere else was booked until yesterday. So yesterday morning while John was at work I moved us from one hotel to the next. I have gorgeous flowers on my windowsill now..and its cheaper by half. We also made the investments in a hot plate like stove top, some pots/pans, and a mini fridge. With a stop at the local commissary and finally lugging everything up a steep set of stairs..we were in business. Burgers for dinner, and bacon and eggs for breakfast.

I am slowly adjusting to this normal. Now that we are in a cheaper room, and cooking our meals things just got infinitely easier.

We are planning on doing a little bit more exploring this weekend. I am opting for the castles and sights around Landstul and Kaiserslaturn, while John wants to go back around to his previous post. So we shall see. I would rather stay close this weekend, but who knows.

I had the weirdest moment with my friend Mandy the other day. We were filling out forms, and when it got to residental address we looked at each other and laughed. I am not so sure where to declare my residency anymore. Texas? Germany? The hotel? I am a US citizen..but where exactly do I declare where I live?

I chose Texas, cause I will always be a Texan girl at heart.

The homesickness is starting to fade away. I no longer get tears after I speak with friends or family back in my Lone Star state. It has become easier. I have come to accept this..the hotels, the cooking in the rooms, walking everywhere, hurried conversations at weird hours to fit the time differences, as my normal. I need some sense of normalcy or else I will go insane.

We have had more cooler days then not lately. I think the weather is slowly starting to turn. My first sight of real snow will be coming here in the next few months. Thank god John will not have to go to the month or so long field training come November-December.