Albert&Amie

Mein Armes Auto - My Poor Car

2010-02-07T03:14:00.002-07:00

To continue the adventure...

We drove to Heilbronn to get a part for the Porsche on Friday night. It's about a half-an-hour away. Sad thing was, when we got there and looked at the distributor cap, it looked the same as the one we had only cleaner. So we were 98% sure it wouldn't fix the car. We went to Ikea. Put it on the car. No luck.

So we shopped for a few other things we needed, and we filled up the van we had driven so we didn't have to come back to Ikea more than once. On the up side, we have furniture now! On the down side, we called a tow truck. But it gets worse from there.

The car was in the parking garage, and tow trucks don't fit in parking garages. So with me steering, and making car noises, and Albert pushing we rolled through the garage. Thank God their exit is a big curly cue thing that I could just coast down. We got down to the outdoor parking lot and a nice German guy thought he could help us. I tried to explain that we knew what was wrong, but he didn't speak a lick of English and I don't speak car in German. He checked it out, asked if we had called for a tow, and we said thanks very much.

The tow truck got the car and followed us home. But our street is tiny. So they stopped at the beginning and took the car off. Another plus, it was cheap! Even cheaper than getting a locksmith to let us into our apartment. But then we had to push the car down our road. Which is ok, except it dips down and then has a slight incline for like 100 feet before our garage. Our neighbors have a driveway that is up, ours is down. Gotta keep looking at the positive here. We finally got it up to the garage and in, it's a tad crooked but that's ok.

Then, our poor muscles had to deal with a little more because we needed to unload the furniture. But we have furniture now! And I can unpack our suitcases!

We were sorely wishing for a hot tub that night. But the car is home and everything is settled. And I have furniture!

Adventures in Deutschland

2010-02-05T04:16:00.000-07:00

I'm going to have to write a book about our disastrous adventures here in Germany. Last night, we went shopping at Ikea. We had a lot of stuff and piled it all into our Porsche. Then, Albert turned the key, the car started, and died. We ended up closing Ikea, so there was no one around, and even if there was they couldn't help. The rotor cap is broken, the engine wasn't getting any spark.

Luckily, there was a cart man nearby and I asked him in German if we could leave our broken car there overnight. He said it should be fine, but I needed to go speak with security. Another stroke of luck, a security guard happened to be walking by. He didn't speak English either so I asked again in German if it was ok to leave the car, we would come back in the morning. He said it was fine. I thought I had stretched my German enough for one night, but it doesn't stop there.

Thanks to my friend for checking on the internet where the nearest train was, we walked to the S-Bahn and were two minutes late for the train. We had to wait a half-an-hour for the next one on a very cold night. The only trains that go directly to our apartment are U-Bahns, so we took the S-Bahn to a main train station, Bahnhof. But, our luck had ended there. The U-Bahns and buses were on strike yesterday. No U-Bahns to ride home and it was way too far to walk. There's a hotel nearby with a taxi line, we caught a taxi.

I have really been wanting to practice my German, so I had a conversation with the driver. I asked him if he had made a lot of money that day because of the strike. He said he had only had time all day for one cigarette. But then he said, "Geld ist nicht alles im Leben." "Money isn't everything in life." I agreed.

We finally reached the apartment two hours after leaving Ikea. It was quite the adventure. And I'm so excited that I was able to carry on a small conversation.

Albert is working on finding parts and going back to the car today. Hopefully it's just the spark and not something else, and hopefully we don't have to have it towed.

Update

2010-01-26T15:38:00.002-07:00

Just a quick update. Albert and I are settling in well. We're low on furniture, but we have the basics and are comfortable. Nana is sending magazines, Mom McCracken is sending snacks, and Mom Cribley is sending movies...so I think we're all set!

I am starting the last part of my A-level German courses on Monday. I don't have a test until half-way through the B level, and it's only required if I want to work here. But I think I'll take it. Whether or not I work here it will be nice to have a certificate that says I speak German. Let me tell you, it is a very difficult language.

We're hoping to go snowboarding in the Alps sometime soon here. I'll make sure and take pictures. Can't wait to compare them to Colorado mountains!!!

Paint

2010-01-07T04:48:00.004-07:00

I'm really having trouble deciding what color to paint my accent wall in our new living room. The couch we want is a dark grey, so I'm thinking of going with a red or blue. Sadly, I didn't take these beautiful rose pictures. But now I'm considering buying roses just to take pictures! Ok, back on track. Here are close to the color choices.

And here is the wall. Don't pay attention to the curtains, the previous tenant left those here, and I can keep them or move them to a different room. There is a lot of light in this room. The floors are a light wood (linoleum). And the wall I'm talking about is on the far right next to the windows. It goes up into the gallery area. Our couch would go against that wall. I'm really taking into consideration the feel of each color.

Blue is a cool color and will make the room feel bigger, even though it already is. It will also have a calming effect. When you see blue, what do you think of? I think of clouds.

Red is a warm color and will make the room feel closer. It makes your blood pressure go up. What do you think of when you see red? Besides red being my favorite color, I think of hot. (I know you can't really think of hot but that's where my mind goes.)

Please let me know what you think! I'm really torn between the two because I've done red a lot, but I like it so much.

Great Weekend

2009-12-06T11:16:00.002-07:00

Remind me next weekend that acting my age is very tiring.

On Friday night we went to an Irish bar with some friends. When that was ready to close down at two am we went to a dance club. We only spent about a half hour there and then headed home. I'm not that into drinking, and neither is Albert. We don't particularly enjoy getting smashed. He had a few, and I was the designated driver. It was all just fun. And man was it fun.

Then on Saturday night we met up with some other friends at a Mexican restaurant, yes in Germany. The food was very good. And we talked so long that it was 12:15 by the time we looked at our watches.

So I only got about five hours of sleep on Friday night, and luckily we got to sleep in this Sunday so I got some more sleep. But we changed the oil in the Porsche and put some new floor mats in. We felt productive, and when we came home I went to bed to read. Well, that lasted about ten minutes, and I was out. So now I've been sleeping for the past four hours, and I think I could sleep for ten more.

Time to eat dinner and go back to bed. Gotta get up and start the week tomorrow!

I finished!

2009-11-29T10:40:00.001-07:00

I got to 50,000 words tonight on my very first novel. I think ever since I was about eight years old I've wanted to write a book, and this is the first time I've been so close. Now I get to spend the next few weeks looking back through it and deleting, adding, and editing. Don't know where I'll go from there. I will definitely give it some time off so I can have a fresh mind next time I look at it, but we'll just have to wait and see what my next steps are. I want to scream from some place very high (quote of Luigi from the Cars movie).

Lay it out there...

2009-11-25T05:23:00.001-07:00

Here comes one of my very rare 'lay it all out there' blog posts. I don't like airing out the dirty laundry, and I suppose this isn't really any big secret or anything, but I usually also don't blog or talk about my feelings a lot.

But I have to say...

I'm exhausted.

- I have Deutschkurs (German course) every day from 8-12. Which is getting increasingly more overwhelming. I'm trying to switch schools for one that is a little bit closer. That's taking a lot of time that I don't have.

- I've been trying to finish this NaNoWriMo novel, and it's getting really hard. If I don't finish it, by the 30th, I will be so mad at myself. It may get to the point where I won't want to touch this book again because I'll blame the book. And I'll be in a slight depression for the next three months. I have to write just over 15,000 words by Monday, ugh.

- Albert is sick, so now I have to worry about him and worry about catching his cold. I really need to go to the store, especially so I can get some soup for dinner tonight.

- The laundry is really lacking. I have piles of clean clothes and piles of dirty clothes all over our bedroom. Those of you who have seen my apartment before know I usually do that anyways, but since we've been in Germany I have kept up on putting the clothes away, until now. It's frustrating to look at it.

- I'm really trying to keep up on making new things for the shop and researching the Deutsche Post system. I finally figured out how many stamps it takes to send to the U.S., but I still don't know how to buy those stamps and put the letters in a postbox instead of taking my letters to the post. And I have a new calendar that I will be listing today.

- The Porsche is registered, but its oil is really bad so we have to change it this weekend. Plus it needs gas now, and that's dang expensive here.

There's more to the list, but it makes me tired to think about it all. So I'll leave you with this little glimpse into my days right now.

On a happy note, I found the brand new Harry Potter DVD for only 9 Euros (that's like 13 Dollars)!!! Yay for movies.

Random note...

2009-11-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh!

2009-11-11T12:56:00.001-07:00

Today turned into a little bit of a hectic mess. I went to register for German classes, expecting to start on November 30th. But the teacher asked me what I knew and asked if I wanted to start tomorrow since I'm at the level of the current class. I've only missed the first chapter, and I already know everything in it. So, I spent the afternoon hunting for the book. I didn't find it at the first two stores, ugh. So Albert and I went to Konigstrasse to the big buchhaus and found it. Now I have to spend tonight going through the first chapter.

Ironically, after being bored for my first few weeks here, I have again loaded my schedule beyond anything relaxing. I will have German classes from 8 in the morning to noon everyday. I'm still working on my novel for NaNoWriMo. I'm still working for a publisher. And I'm planning on opening my etsy shop this weekend. How do I manage to do that? The dinners might lack a little something these coming weeks, and Albert will just have to forgive me.

Our apartment!

2009-11-05T02:46:00.003-07:00

We actually hit a lucky streak and found the best apartment on the first try. It's 100 square meters (about 1,000 square feet). Probably too big for us, it has three bedrooms, but very affordable for its size. I'm in love with it. It has a loft, a balcony, and for Albert's pleasure a garage. He can walk or bike to work because it's only about a kilometer away.

We don't have any furniture yet, not even a mattress, and the essentials are definitely lacking. We didn't ship anything over with us except silverware, a tea pot, and some pictures. But hey, I get to spend my time perusing IKEA!!!

Let's see, in the first picture...Kuche=Kitchen, Eltern and Kind=Bedroom, Balkon=Balcony, WC and Bad=Water Closet and Bathroom, Essen=Dining, Wohnen=Living.

The second picture is the loft and has a gallery and bedroom. The stairs up to the loft are those cool spirally kind.

We're on the top floor (the third) and are the only door up there, so it's like a private entrance. There are only four apartments in the building. It's on a very quiet street and very close to a train station.

I'll post more pictures when we get in there. We move in January 1st.

Reading in Germany

2009-10-28T10:21:00.000-06:00

I know you'll all look at that title and say, "You're doing what in Germany!" But the fact is. I'm not a tourist here, I live here now. Plus Albert is at work all day. So I'm doing what I would be doing in Colorado. I'm cooking, cleaning, taking photos, and reading. But so far it's been an odd experience. I didn't think it would be any different than doing it in the states. But with this book it's been shocking. I've read a lot of World War II books in my time. Ranging topics from an American pilot crashing in France, to a holocaust survivor, to a woman who was a Nazi guard. This one, well let's just say it hit me hard.

It's about a little girl in Nazi Germany who is illiterate. The narrator, Death. That alone is one for the record books, and he really makes you kind of pity Death. Death has a horrible job, and that's all it is. But Death is fascinated by humans and their stories. This is the first Holocaust story I've read that doesn't feel like a Holocaust story. We go through the years of the war with this girl, but we see her struggles. Her foster father teaches her to read. She makes friends. They hide a Jew in their basement for a while. They sit through air raids with her reading aloud to calm everyone. She steals books.

It's depicted from the German side. Of course it never condones what Hitler did, in fact her foster family goes against him. But it's not overtly Holocaust. It really focuses on Leisel and her daily life. It is written really well, and truly sucks you in.

The weirdest thing for me...reading a Holocaust book in Germany. I've never been to this country before. And I never thought this would effect me. But as I read through this book I started to think, "That happened here. I'm on that ground." It was very unsettling.

And yet, I went for a walk this afternoon through the farm fields. The countryside is absolutely gorgeous (pictures coming soon). I grew up in a country that hadn't seen war in a very long time. I grew up in a state that has never seen war, maybe a few skirmishes but nothing to the scale of World War II. This is a whole new experience for me, and even though it scares me a little bit, I'm going to embrace it.

First Day in Germany

2009-10-22T11:57:00.000-06:00

We flew in yesterday morning. The flight was good. I don't think anyone enjoys flights, but it was ok. We had an extra seat so that helped. Amazingly I didn't need to take a motion-sickness pill or a sleeping pill. Albert barely slept, but he slept hard last night.

We moved directly into our interim apartment. It is very nice. Wide open and very modern. We have a deck and backyard; and wood floors; and cute little radiators in every room.

For some reason I had to get sick. My throat is killing me.

I walked through our little town today and found the market. Everything is in German, and I had a little bit of culture shock. Their trash system is crazy. They have a bin for paper; a bin for organic material; a bin for metals, plastics, and synthetic material; and a bin for other trash. And if you get it wrong, you get fined. Sounds fun, right? I'm a little frustrated, but attempting to be open-minded about it all.

We went to Stuttgart proper last night and found the big street that is their mall. It's kind of like the 16th street mall in Denver. Konigstrasse is the name of the street, King Street.

The cheapest food is Italian. We're very close to the border and a lot of people here speak Italian and German.

Can't wait to see what the next few days, and especially the weekend, bring.

Finally

2009-10-14T09:33:00.001-06:00

We leave on Tuesday for Germany. Finally. It seems like it has been forever even though it has only been a few months since the interview. I'm definitely not looking forward to the flight, thank God for sleeping pills. We head to Atlanta and then straight to Stuttgart. It's nine hours over the Atlantic. Ugh. Right now we are just preparing everything including cell phones, our bird, and extra baggage. It looks like Delta only allows one bag, even overseas. How am I supposed to fit my entire life into one bag? We each have two...that'll be quite an overcharge. Oh well. Soon we'll be in Germany getting settled into our new life. I can not wait.

Exploring our new city. Finding an apartment. Buying a car. Fixing up the apartment. And really getting into the new job. It's going to be such an adventure and I thank God every day that He gave us the opportunity. Even just these few weeks in D.C. have brought my husband and I closer. I am so excited!

Updates

2009-09-17T08:50:00.001-06:00

Last night Albert and I went to the drag races. He has a 69 coupe Mustang that we have overhauled and put a fancy 427 engine in. Right now it can run 12 second 1/4 miles. That's pretty fast, especially considering with the last engine it only ran 14.5 seconds. I've raced it a few times before, but not since this big engine and fast setup. He let me drive last night. I ran a 13.29 and wish the track had stayed open later so I could have run it faster! He's entering a race on Saturday and then the poor car is getting shoved into a little garage to gather dust for 18 months (and we are headed to D.C.!).

Deutschland

2009-09-05T20:54:00.002-06:00

Hallo. Ich hei(s)e Amie. Ich komme aus Colorado. Ich wohne jetzt Stuttgart.

Hello. I am called Amie. I come from Colorado. I now live in Stuttgart.

Things are kind of up in the air. Life is still crazy, and I don't know when it's calming down. Bank accounts, car insurance, traveling with our bird...ahhhh! We should be flying out to Washington D.C. next weekend, but that's not for sure.

I'm looking forward to riding bikes in the German countryside. Hopefully we will have the chance to go to Paris for our second anniversary. I'm very good at picking up languages, but I've never been able to become fluent. German beer (bier) is supposed to be really good. Horses in Germany probably look the same but they have the premier dressage horses. I just can't wait.

Sad thing is, we had a going away party last night and it made me realize how much I really like the people we know. That sounds kinda rude considering, but it just made me nostalgic. I hope we can get to know some people in Germany quickly so we won't feel so alone. And most of our family and friends are planning trips so I'll be busy hosting.

It's going to be great.

What she learns

2009-08-12T18:59:00.002-06:00

The Squeaker has learned to point. Now whatever she wants is just a point away. I think she got my camera wet in this picture too. Oh how I love her.

Job

2009-08-11T19:56:00.002-06:00

Here's a fun possibility. We might me moving to the country that has this flag for Albert's job. Woo hoo!

Cheyenne

2009-08-04T16:58:00.003-06:00

Albert is headed to Cheyenne this Thursday to interview at Echo Star. We shall see. Perhaps soon I will be getting bills with a Cheyenne address attached. Yay!

Time

2009-07-20T19:40:00.002-06:00

So many ideas, so little time. Albert says I'm a workaholic, which is probably true. But when I have a job that I make money at, and then I have a job I love, and then I have a job a make money at, and another job I love, what can I say? Some day my life will slow down...but hey, I'm 22. Why should I slow down now?

Yes, I'd love to sit in the mornings with coffee and a book, but who has time for that? And I'd love to spend my days doing what I love, and then having the time to cook dinner for my husband. That will come. It takes patience and the right circumstance. I can wait for that day.

2009-06-26T00:05:00.002-06:00

A slide show of my beautiful niece Samantha. The music is by Jim Brickman.

Oh My Goodness!

2009-06-24T19:59:00.006-06:00

This comic explains Albert exactly. We have had this exact conversation. Check it out and laugh your heart out!

http://xkcd.com/69/

Upgrade Stang Step 1

2009-06-16T21:06:00.007-06:00

Put a hole in the trunk for less weight (and room for a new fuel cell).

Take the engine out of the bay for less weight (and to replace with a 427).

And put a driver seat in the trunk so the weight's in the back (or put an Albert to work so he loses weight and can race faster).

An Ode to Lefties (continued)

2009-06-15T20:43:00.003-06:00

I forgot about these, until Mom reminded me. So here are the better photos to represent lefties and their left-handedness...

Fishies!

2009-06-14T11:27:00.001-06:00

Check out my new fish gadget on the right. Isn't it so cute and dorky!?! Great way to waste my whole afternoon, just click on the water to feed them.

An Ode to Lefties

2009-06-06T16:00:00.004-06:00

(who are not necessarily leftists)
Me
My husband
My 2 best friends from high school
My sister-in-law
My brother-in-law
My brother-in-law
My aunt-in-law
Many, many waiters and waitresses that I see writing down my order
More of my classmates than I remember
Many apologies to those I have forgotten

Money Money Money

2009-05-30T13:02:00.005-06:00

Amie and Albert's Wish List...

(don't buy from this, we have expensive taste)

Money Money Money click on this link!

Click on the pictures for more info!
(And seriously, don't buy these! Don't let your kids grow up to be photographers or car racers either!)

2009-05-28T21:29:00.000-06:00

Hormones

Get up early

Dog bite

Site

Knees

Confusion

I believe her

I believe him

A’s in Guyana, who can I talk to?

K’s in Miami, who can I talk to?

But I know that things can get out of hand

I know that things can lead places they were never intended

What do I do?

Am I supposed to talk to her?

He saw her

Hormones, it’s all the god damn hormones

Confusion

Pain

Hurt

Tears

A Sweet Note

2009-05-27T12:00:00.001-06:00

A note from a friend, a friend who is AMAZING at poetry. Just a short stanza that made me tear.

i miss you.
and great red wine.
and those little dove chocolates we used to have a case of.
and the good old days
and ....
mostly i just miss you.

Graduation

2009-05-19T18:00:00.007-06:00

Albert is a graduate. It's official. School is over. Ahhh.

My A1c

2009-05-09T10:43:00.002-06:00

I went to my doctor yesterday and tested my A1c, which is my average blood sugar over the past few months, basically. It really is how much sugar is stuck to my blood, which happens when I have high blood sugars.

I'm down to a 7.9, which is the best I've been in 7 years. And it has come down from a 9.1 in the past three months. Woo hoo!

My nurse was very, very excited. As am I. I hope I can keep this consistent and even down a little more. I have to say that hard work does pay off.

Also, don't remember if I blogged this or not, but I'm off the coumadin. Just on baby aspirin for another six months and then hoepfully nothing! Life is absolutely exciting right now.

And the last bit of news, if you look just to the right on the blog you'll see the countdown to Albert's graduation. I started it at the beginning of this school year. Do you notice? We're in the single digits!!! He graduates on May 16 with a BS in Electrical Engineering and two minors in computer science and math. Again, woo hoo!

Hair Stylist

2009-04-22T20:40:00.004-06:00

Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Am I not just the best hair-cutter in the world! Isn't this awesome! Yea, that's what I thought. I rock, thank you very much. (Sorry, I'm in a weird mood, but HA HA HA HA HA!) You gotta have fun in life sometimes!

I'm Tired, What's New?

2009-04-14T19:06:00.002-06:00

Been doing A LOT lately. But I took this afternoon to sit and watch a movie and read my book. Now I can't get back into doing anything. That is precisely why I don't stop! Here goes the night of no work, oh well, it can't hurt that bad!

Sleep

2009-04-06T22:02:00.002-06:00

This hyperness about my business has to slow down...I need sleep! But I can't seem to pull myself away and head to bed. Not last night, not Saturday night, and again tonight! Ahhh!

I AM Alive

2009-04-04T17:35:00.005-06:00

Well, it is time to start the business. I think I am as ready as can be. So let me explain it to you and then direct you to my shop and new blog!

I am using my photography to make a card and stationery business. I will be hosting on etsy.com and will attempt to sell in the Castle Rock area to smaller boutique stores. Please check me out at www.iamalive.etsy.com. I will be posting this weekend!!! I'm starting a business blog too, www.iamalivephotos.blogspot.com.

I believe that a picture is worth a thousand words, but combine one with a hand-written letter and you've achieved the most essential need for humanity: communication.

The Squeaker

2009-03-30T21:27:00.005-06:00

Took some pictures of Sam yesterday. I'm actually putting them up on here before Kelli gets to see them! But I'm making her a DVD as I type. So here are a few. Such personality! And what hair!

Dinner Guests

2009-03-28T19:43:00.004-06:00

We had some dinner guests stop by tonight for a little salad. That's all they wanted though, just greens. And they tracked mud all over my carpet. A little rude if you ask me. They stink too, kind of like a mix of the woods and nasty, unwashed, gamey fur. The once nice thing they did is not overstay their welcome. Here and gone in only a few minutes!

Snow!

2009-03-27T18:18:00.002-06:00

Apparently I lied when I said there wouldn't be anymore snow. It snowed all day yesterday and here's a picture of the mountainous drift in front of our door.

It makes me sad that today, the day after the storm, is completely beautiful and the roads are totally melted. We had planned on going snowboarding and fresh powder sounds wonderful, but because the highways got closed yesterday we figured I-70 would be hell. I hate missing out on such a good boarding day but traffic sucks too much.

The Rock

2009-03-27T18:14:00.002-06:00

We went climbing on Castle Rock on Monday with Kathy and Bryan. It was rather chilly but turned out to be a nice walk. I think Buddy liked it but he had trouble with the steps, poor old dog.

Snow, or not

2009-03-21T13:50:00.004-06:00

We went boarding yesterday with the Squeaker and Kelli and AJ. It's not really snowboarding anymore, more like slushboarding. And there's dirt on the peaks. :'( It was fun nonetheless. We're going again next Friday and hopefully it snows before then. And Twilight comes out today!!! Woo hoo!!!

Ponies and sunshine

2009-03-15T16:44:00.004-06:00

Took the...

out to watch the...

in the afternoon sun.

Time

2009-03-08T21:27:00.002-06:00

Isn't it absolutely wonderful to just have some time? Time with my husband, time to relax, time to take walks and watch movies. Ahhh, time. And now the sun goes down later! It meant one less hour of sleep, but it also means longer days. And speaking of sleep, I'm going to go catch up on it now.

The Zoo

2009-03-01T22:03:00.005-07:00

We went to the Denver Zoo today with my parents and the Gurleys. It was tons of fun; my feet hurt. I got to take some pictures of the new two week old baby giraffe. He's adorable. With those huge eyes! My stupid camera was a butthead and I only got a few good ones, but hey at least I got some!

Here's one of my favs...
My old photography teacher would kill me for cutting off his nose. But it's my style. And it will be one of my photo cards, so if anyone wants that on a postcard or greeting card, let me know!

Well, ta-ta for now.

Snowboarding

2009-02-20T17:48:00.003-07:00

Oh my gosh! What a blast! It was frickin awesome, a little cold, but awesome nonetheless.

Quick

2009-02-18T09:25:00.001-07:00

I have to leave for work, yes work! I'm back to full time work. My neurologist's office called and said my blood tests were normal. I'm not exactly sure what that means just yet, except that I don't have to be on coumadin forever. So that's good news. I am so beyond busy right now trying to keep up with a full job now and the other stuff I was doing when there wasn't much work! So off to work I go, hi ho.

Innocence

2009-01-25T11:53:00.002-07:00

It's funny to think that school actually ruined me. I"m beginning to realize that I need to take a step back when it comes to my photos and don't expect perfection every time. I need to insert a little innocence and just snap away with my camera. And maybe I'll get a few awesome shots, and maybe I won't. But it's ok to have crappy shots, as long as the intent is there. So here's to looking at the world like a child would and just swallowing it all in.

Different

2009-01-22T16:00:00.003-07:00

Something's not right
My aura's a different color
It doesn't feel good
But it doesn't feel bad.

I can't decide if
I should freak out
Or if I should
Just relax into the newness.

Is there something wrong
With me or with my head
Do I have a physical issue
Or am I just imagining things?

Breck

2009-01-20T18:09:00.004-07:00

Breck was a total blast. Sam was sick, but she did well. I love that baby! We went snowshoeing, ice skating, and then I watched Sam while they went boarding. I was sad, but it was still so much fun.

101 in 1001

2009-01-20T17:20:00.070-07:00

Just wanted to try this out. Lists are the only way I get things done, and I thought this was an awesome idea. Check out the idea here. The idea is that I have 101 goals to complete in 1001 days. Red is done and orange is in process and yellow is my fail color. Began on 1/20/2009. Finish on 10/18/2011? And here it is...

101 Things in 1001 Days

1. Finish this list 1/20/2009

Home
2. Buy a house (it's an apartment but a house in the German sense)
3. Decorate the house
4. Plant a garden (in pots, but hey it was a garden!)
5. Start herbs 4/7/2009
6. Build a snowboard hanging swing
7. Keep the house picked up for 2 months
8. Have the dishes washed after dinner every day for 2 weeks
9. Organize the back room 1/19/2009
10. Organize the “stuff” closet 1/19/2009

Money
11. Have $5,000 in bank by December (had it, and spent it)
12. Put $10 in savings for every completed task
13. Have a “non-spending” month each year 2/2009 5/2010
14. Pay off credit card debt and then only use a credit card when necessary

Artsy
15. Take 100 photos in 100 days, one a day (6/25/2009)
16. Finish the first scrapbook 7/21/2010
17. Buy a new video camera 1/21/2009 11/15/2010
18. Buy a new camera 6/16/2009
19. Buy a new fancy lens
20. Learn to play 5 songs on the guitar well (this is changing to violin since that's what I'm learning now)
21. Draw with my charcoal

Health
22. Test 4 times a day for a month 7/14/2009
23. Take a dance class
24. Work out twice a week for a month
25. Play tennis every weekend for two months
26. Snowboard 10 times in one season
27. Drink 5 glasses of water each day for a week
28. Take 50 leisurely walks
29. Go snowboarding in Alaska (Or perhaps Germany?)
30. Go surfing in California

Friends/Others
31. Freerice.com – 13100
32. Have a girls’ weekend 5/3/2010
33. Visit Angie in Guyana (or the Ukraine?)
34. Write to Angie
35. Take photos at Bri’s baby’s birth 6/9/2009
36. Take photos of Samantha at 6 months 3/29/2009
37. Take photos of Samantha at 9 months 6/22/2009
38. Take photos of Samantha at 1 year 9/19/2009
39. Make freezer food with Mom and Kelli
40. Learn a language with Christie (although we are on different continents)
41. Write my dad a note listing the top 50 reasons why he means the world to me 2/18/2010
42. Write my mom a note listing the top 50 reasons why she means the world to me 2/18/2010
43. Write my sister a note listing the top 50 reasons why she means the world to me 2/18/2010
44. Buy gifts for others on etsy

Learning
45. Learn a language
46. Read 100 books (119/100)
47. Read 20 non-fiction books (16/20)
48. Read Beowulf
49. Read 10 classic novels
50. Learn about Buddhism
51. Learn about Henry the VIII 2/20/2009
52. Finish all of Jane Austen’s novels (6/7)
53. Watch all of the BBC Jane Austen movies
54. Learn to become a better photographer
55. Learn the publishing world
56. Understand Photoshop better 2/6/2009

Family
57. Travel to 3 countries I haven’t been to (Germany, Switzerland, Austria)
58. Trade something on Freecycle.com (just gave things away instead)
59. Go backpacking
60. Climb 5 14ers
61. Adopt a pet
62. Take a completely impulsive, spur of the moment road trip 7/25/2009
63. Watch 5 sunrises together
64. Test drive fancy cars
65. Go to a Yankees game
66. Camp in the front yard
67. Go to Alaska
68. Work on the Mustang with Albert 5 times 6/16/2009
69. Have a meaningful date once a month for 6 months
70. Climb Devil’s Head
71. Climb the Rock 3/23/2009
72. Go stargazing with hot chocolate
73. Read 3 books with Albert (8/3) 3/25/2009
74. Write Albert a note listing the top 50 reasons why he means the world to me
75. Read Just Do It by Douglas Brown
76. And…Just Do It!
77. Go ice skating
78. Play hockey
79. Visit Paris
80. Write 5 letters to Albert (1/5)
81. Go to Niagara Falls
82. Play Scrabble 20 times (and some in German!)

Personal
83. Have a one sentence journal everyday for the duration of the challenge
84. Get published
85. Start a business 4/4/2009
86. Help Kelli with the non-profit
87. Step out of my comfort zone
88. Read the Bible
89. Find my niche
90. Write 5 short stories in 2 months 6/22/2010
91. Dye my hair again 2/24/2009
92. Take 10 bubble baths
93. Work on Papa’s book
94. Have a spa day
95. Write some letters of advice to my future kids
96. Stop swearing
97. Create my etsy shop 4/4/2009
98. Buy something on etsy for myself at least twice a year
99. Finish setting up my goodreads.com profile
100. Update the blog every week for 2 months 3/20/2009
101. Be content with life

Breck

2009-01-16T10:18:00.002-07:00

Well, we're headed to Breckenridge today to hang out with A.J., Kelli, and Sam. Again, no snowboarding, bla. But ice skating! And my favorite town in the world. So it should be fun. Hopefully I can get some cool photos of snowboarders or something along those lines. And just have a whole weekend with my niece. Have a great three day weekend all! We'll be in the mountains.

Boarding

2009-01-08T12:00:00.003-07:00

I'm sad. I want to go snowboarding. I'm not sure if I should because of my coumadin. Albert went with his family today, and I'm so so sad.

Doesn't it look fun? :(

Thankful

2009-01-05T18:41:00.002-07:00

I'm thankful that gas prices are high (or were) because that means I have a car and transportation. I'm thankful that there are so many recipes on the internet because that means I have food on my table and so does most of the country. I'm thankful that we have a president to complain about because it means that we are not a monarchy or dictatorship or anything else.

So I advise everyone to look at what they complain about and turn it positive. Be thankful for the things you have because those tend to be the things we complain about. Find that log in your own eye before pulling the splinter out of your brother's.

NY

2008-12-21T11:24:00.004-07:00

What a huge city!
Albert couldn't believe how the lights of Manhattan went forever. And he thought the statue was smaller than they make it look in the movies, I agree. We had so much fun getting sore feet walking around. FAO Schwarz, man I could live in that toy store! And the Empire State Building was insanely expensive but totally worth it (especially since we went on a snowy weekday night and there was nobody there!). We rode a horse carriage in Central Park and had a fancy dinner on the night of our anniversary. It was wonderful, and I so want to live there if only for a little while.

Menu Plan Monday

2008-12-21T11:21:00.002-07:00

So here it is for this week.

Monday - Dinner at Kelli's house

Tuesday - honey mustard chicken and rice

Wednesday - ?

Thursday - Spaghetti

Friday - Chicken enchiladas

NY!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

We're headed to NY tomorrow. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Menu Plans

2008-12-08T14:50:00.003-07:00

I feel like a Mom, which I am not yet! But my sister's getting into this so I will too.

Monday - Penne and chicken and asparagus
Tuesday - Chicken and potato casserole

And the rest of the week we aren't eating at home! Then next week we are off to New York. So I won't be cooking. But I figured I'd start out with this.

My Niece

2008-12-06T22:35:00.002-07:00

I took some photos of my beautiful niece yesterday morning. She is changing so much. Very alert, and absolutely enthralled with the sound of the shutter. I will love documenting her growth, as she is already so much bigger after only a few months! I look forward to my own little one someday, but I'm thoroughly enjoying this Squeaker.

Pleasant

2008-11-29T20:53:00.003-07:00

I realized today how pleasant it is to hear positive thoughts. Like when you're expecting a nasty retort from someone and they come out with something really sweet. It totally changes your mood and your outlook on everything. It's like euphoria in a moment. I'm not even sure how to explain it best. Because it's better than sex (hee hee), and that's hard to compete with. It's like God has given you a kiss on the cheek with someone's words. It's absolutely wonderful, and I just have to say that it's wonderful to hear positive thoughts from everyone around.

Have a pleasant week with plenty of positive thoughts everyone!

Troubles

2008-11-10T12:27:00.002-07:00

I have been having some trouble dealing with my life. I hate airing my dirty laundry but I need some advice from friends and family. I have this need to do something, to matter in this world. And I have plenty of ideas I'm just afraid of failure, and certain things hinder me, like the fact that I may not have enough resources to help me achieve my goals. I would love to finish a book and be able to publish it, but I don't have the contacts to get it published. And I would love to use this site I found, etsy.com, and put my photography out there so I can start making something of myself and share my dreams with the world. But I'm so worried it won't work.

I know, I know. Most of you are saying, just stop worrying! But what I need is some solid advice on how to get started. How do I begin a big project? What are the steps you all take?

Lots and Lots

2008-11-02T12:39:00.006-07:00

First off, It's officially fall, but where is the chilly weather! I hate this heat, it's just like summer, what's up with that?

And Albee took me to Melting Pot for my birthday. Their chocolate is divine! Although my dad's chocolate fondue definitely competes well.

And then the family went to Mt. Fuji for hibachi, sake, and AJ and my birthdays. Notice here that they are bottle feeding the Squeaker with sake. She cried when they took it away, she's hooked on rice wine! Lol.

2008-10-19T21:47:00.004-06:00

22

2008-10-15T19:28:00.002-06:00

I'm turning 22 at the end of the month and it kind of scares me. I know everyone older than me is gonna say, "What's the big deal?" But the fact is, I don't want to grow up. For my entire adolescent existence my goal has been age 21. And now that is over. So what do I do when I turn 22? Am I suddenly an adult? Do I have to get rid of my immaturity? Does it mean I can never act like a dork again? It's scary, and I don't want to do it. So I'll say it right now, don't wish me happy birthday because I refuse for it to happen. The date after October 29, 2008 will always be October 29, 2008. The world will stop on that day and never move forward. We'll all be stuck at the age we are and be happy with it. So there!

Squeaker

2008-09-25T20:50:00.003-06:00

I have been thinking about it for months now. I liked the idea of having a nickname for my niece, but I just couldn't think of one. Something that was between she and I and something she can always be called by me. And I decided that I would wait and let it just happen. Well, I've found one. Tonight she was very adamant about eating. But since she's only two days old she can't really cry yet. But she tries her little heart out, and all that comes out of her mouth is a squeak. We all were saying she sounds like a squeaky toy of Sadie's (the dogs). So there it is Squeaker. The story of how you got your nickname from me.

Sam!

2008-09-23T21:09:00.005-06:00

Here she is! Isn't the little button just beautiful? Mom didn't want me to make the face, but oh well. I'm so happy for you guys AJ and Kelli! Don't worry, you'll be sick of me soon cuz I am obsessed already!

What life is about

2008-09-16T21:46:00.002-06:00

You tell me:

Is it about the people we love,
the things we do,
or who we are.

OR

Is it about the things we do that create who we are and affect the people we love.

You tell me.

Hospital - Home!

2008-09-12T21:40:00.001-06:00

I'm officially home! They sent me home around noon today. I'm exhausted. I think three days of stressing is plenty, thank God.

Hospital Day 3

2008-09-12T10:19:00.002-06:00

I'm bored out of my mind. Just sitting here. I feel great, in fact I felt great the first day. Which is probably the most annoying part of this, except that I'm somewhat glad I feel good and I'm not sick. The nurses are awesomely nice. I haven't seen the doctor yet this morning, but I've had coffee and I want to run a marathon! Hopefully I get to go home soon. We're getting hints that I might go home today, but of course I haven't seen the doctor yet. So, I'll let you all know!

Hospital

2008-09-11T10:29:00.003-06:00

So, here I am, in the hospital. I had a migraine for four days this past weekend and thought that was pretty odd. So I went to a doctor and he gave me migraine medicine. And my headache was gone the next day! But I couldn't use my right side very well. The doctor sent me in for an MRI and after that Mom and I went to have lunch with Albert. The doctor called Dad and sent us to the hospital. They had found a blood clot in my brain. It's in the interior part in a vein, so it wouldn't cause a stroke right away. They're thinking that maybe my birth control caused it. Bla. So now I'm hooked up to tons of wires and looking for greener pastures. And sitting here for maybe five days. I'm getting anti-coagulants and I will continue to take oral ones for maybe a year.

I shouldn't live in a bubble, but I will bruise easily. I shouldn't ride horses and I can't work with my Dad. So I'll be answering phones at the clinic, or doing some mundane job that isn't any fun. But hey, my headache is gone!

His Wisdom is Gone

2008-08-26T18:15:00.002-06:00

Albee had his four wisdom teeth taken out today. He's hungry and surviving on mush. He got sick of holding his ice packs because he wanted to play video games so I contrived a way to tie them to his head. He looks like the little boy with the tooth ache. And he was very pissed that I took this picture.

The Zoo

2008-08-26T18:04:00.010-06:00

We went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo this past weekend with the Gurley's, Cribley's, and O'Brien's. It was fun, albeit a bit exhausting. We saw plenty of wildlife in the cages, and plenty of screaming children running rampant (mostly all but the Gurley kids).

Breck and the 17th

2008-08-17T16:56:00.004-06:00

We went to Breckenridge this weekend. It rained the whole time. But it was nice to get away and relax for a while. We visited Sapphire Point on our way back down the mountain. It was beautiful and cold. Then as we got in our car and drove away we both realized it was the 17th. Exactly 8 months since we got married there. What a coincidence.

My lovely horse

2008-08-07T14:49:00.003-06:00

So, it was all my fault. But my horse jumped on me. My sweet baby girl Nitro got scared and reared up and jumped on the back of my calves. So here is the horse...

And here are the bruises...(which actually look worse a few days later)

And then I rode her at an all day show the day after! We did really well, but it hurt like...

Just to show you

2008-08-07T14:44:00.002-06:00

I tend to have people ask what I do for my dad at work. Well, I am his assistant. So basically I make sure he doesn't get hurt while he is working on the horse. I also draw up shots and run the invoices for the clients. But mostly I hold the horse and protect the vet. Here is a picture of a horse that got stuck in a fence one night. He had to cut out her muscle because it was literally hanging by a thread. I wasn't there for the original emergency, but I helped hold up the flap of skin so he could bandage it the second time. It was a bit gross. This picture was taken a few days after the accident. The cradle is so she won't lick the wound.

14ers

2008-07-28T16:26:00.004-06:00

Albert and I hiked a fourteener yesterday. We summited Gray's Peak, the one on the left. It's 14,270 feet high. It was hard! But I feel so completely accomplished. I made it to the top! It took 3 hours and 40 minutes to get up, and an hour and a half to get down. The group we went with was paced about the same as us, it was nice. Albert would probably say he could have gone harder, I'm just happy that I finished the whole thing! And I still want to do more, that's the crazy part.

Car

2008-07-22T18:08:00.003-06:00

We bought a car. It's used but basically new. It's a Mazda Tribute with 14,000 miles on it. Yay! And it's orange!!! That bronze orange of course, but still orange. Albert's been hogging it. I think I've driven it twice in the past week that we've had it. And now my poor Kia gets neglected. But it's exciting that we bought a car. Next a house? I suppose we'll see.

What I say to you...

2008-06-30T21:16:00.003-06:00

I worship God when I kneel to dig in my garden.
I praise him when I bend down to pick up a child.
I show my love to YHVH when I cook dinner for my husband and clean my house for friends to come over.
My life is my gift to Him and that is what I say to you.
I do not need a building, or a symbol.
I do not need someone to tell me how to love Him.
I have Him, and that is all I need.

The Past

2008-06-16T20:10:00.002-06:00

I watched a movie tonight called Come See the Paradise. It mostly made me think of what I've always wanted. And this is going to sound a bit odd. But I've always wanted there to be a virtual world where people could go and live through history. I hope that in the afterlife we get to sit and listen to all the people who have gone before us. Hear all their stories. And since there is no time in heaven, it will last forever. I have a passion for listening to people and understanding their stories. I love to watch people walk down the sidewalk and attempt to guess how there life has played out. I do hope that someday this can happen. For now I must talk to everyone I know and watch movies like this one.

Red, Red Roses

2008-06-07T20:53:00.001-06:00

My hubby brought me flowers!

Seriously!

2008-05-26T16:20:00.001-06:00

Ok, this time I really need anyone who reads this to give me some recommendations. I can't find anything to read! I need something good. Anything at all! Please let me know what you have loved and I will devour it. I need some reading material, or I will die.

Roles in Life

2008-05-07T09:30:00.003-06:00

This keyboard is scewed up sowe'e goin to see how many keysit missesas I typ.

Evryoe has t fnd their pace in ife And the fact is I can't ype this whole tihng an ake aysense without th keyboard makig evyne gocrazy. I even replacdthe batteries. Ha ha, this isrquie funny. I'm not doing i on purpose. I wear. So let me knwif you can red ad understandth log. Cuz I'm gonna give up now,,,,,, hee hee

Psycadelic...

Isn't this awesome?

2008-05-03T10:49:00.001-06:00

The Moment

2008-04-26T08:44:00.002-06:00

Isn't it funny how life can be so simple at times? Simple and not fun. Simple and difficult. Simple and strange? I would love to have everything happen right now. I want to travel, I want to own a house, I want to have babies and watch them grow. I want, I want, I want. And yet, God teaches us patience by denying those silly things.I also want to spend more time with my family, and my husband. I want a chance to slow down and watch the sunrise with a cup of tea in my hands. It feels like everything is falling into place, but I can't understand this restlessness I feel. This rambling makes no sense, but it helps me clear my head. I wish I could write beautiful poetry to get my point across. I wish I was capable of being patient. I wish I would stop wishing for things and live in the moment.

Chillin on a Saturday

2008-04-20T07:49:00.002-06:00

Moe decided to watch Albee play World of Warcraft on the computer. I'm not sure Albert was too thrilled but at least I got to take a cool picture.

Camping...at home

2008-04-20T07:44:00.003-06:00

Everyone came over last Sunday to roast marshmallows over our new fire pit and eat smores! It was still a bit cold, but a nice night to be out. The smores were delicious, even Sadie thought so. Thanks for coming over everyone, it was fun.

2008-04-12T19:45:00.005-06:00

Tara and Dane came over to play with us last night. Dane loves Moe. And Tara is obsessed with my Breyers! At least they are getting use. They loved being dressed up in their "horsey clothes." Thanks for coming over guys, it was lots of fun! Your pictures are covering the fridge.

It is finished

2008-04-12T19:35:00.003-06:00

Lots and lots of rocks! And the monster is finally finished. My back hurts. But it's so awesome! We have a fire pit and plants. It was fun, I can't wait for the next home project. That's the most fun part of life, that word right there..."home."

Talk about fast...

2008-04-01T16:29:00.005-06:00

Test and tune. Heck yes. First day of drag racing this summer. This started the avalanche and everybody is so excited.

Patio!

2008-03-29T20:06:00.004-06:00

So, we've begun the patio! It's quite the project but very fun. We'll probably have mostly slate and one big chunk of gravel. We already have a grill, a table and chairs(thanks mom and dad!), and plants. So bring on the summer and the parties.

Food

2008-03-25T15:29:00.002-06:00

I know, I'm a dork for taking pictures of food. But isn't it pretty? And it proves I can cook! (sort of) lol. Anyways, if anybody wants the recipe it's my moms and I'm glad to give it. It's macaroni salad, yummy! Ok, my nerdy post is now over with.

Cryptic

2008-03-15T09:50:00.002-06:00

So I know I'm being cryptic and confusing when I write posts that don't exactly explain themselves. I guess the problem I have is laying my dirty laundry out for everyone to see. There are times I write posts and I don't post them, just because I need to write to clear my head. So bear with me when there is a post that makes no sense at all.

Life is going good right now. The usual problems arise but everything runs smoothly. I'm working full time at the clinic now and it's nice to have a solid schedule. Albert is sick of school, but what's new about that? I feel so sorry for him, and yet so excited that I don't have homework or classes. We figured out why we don't like school and other people could live in school. We work our butts off and don't really get much satisfaction out of that. Besides the fact that school takes up enough time without working really hard at it. So, thank God we have weekends, and Albert still has spring break. I think that's about all that's going on right now. We still haven't gotten the bird. But when I do I'll post some pictures.

Confusion

2008-03-09T17:13:00.002-06:00

Life can be one big mess sometimes. Confusion is something that God does not like, but I can't seem to get out of it. I think one way, and then my train of thought takes another path. Then I can't seem to figure out where I started or how to fix the initial situation I was attempting to remedy. It just seems that there are times I need to just get away from the issue and completely start over. But I wonder, is that ok? Is it all right to leave things as they are and just move on? What if I feel the problem is too big to leave behind? Then everything starts all over again because I'm analyzing it in the same way I was before. I turn in circles and it doesn't help my emotions or my attitude. I just need an answer, or some way to correct myself and the way I treat life. I don't know. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Books

2008-02-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I have an addiction I'm looking for recommendations. Anyone have any good books I should read? Please tell me the titles (and authors if possible). I'm ready to devour most anything you can give me!

Daily Life

2008-02-25T16:48:00.003-07:00

So, everyone is back. The vacuum is working. But our bird still can't come home because he is not weaned yet. Hopefully next week! I don't have much to talk about. Albert thinks I should get pills for my addiction to reading. I read two books over the weekend and continue to devour. And I'm not talking little books. I can't get enough of the written word. So I need pills for reading and Albert needs intervention for his obsession with his car. And the poor guy never gets time to work on it with school and work. Anyways, life continues as it has for a while. A bit spaztic and very fun.

Bla

2008-02-21T11:35:00.002-07:00

So we can't get any type of antenna high speed internet. We live in a hole. Bla. And now I'm cleaning the house and the stupid vacuum isn't working. The day is beautiful and I get to spend most of it with Albee because he's off from work. Hopefully it will only get better from here. And we are the only ones NOT on vacation. Kelli and AJ are in Costa Rica. Mom and Dad are in Cozumel. Very exotic places! And we're stuck with all the animals. But they've been good so far. Sadie's very depressed and won't leave me alone. I have no idea what she'll do when the baby comes around. She is so spoiled! Lol. Anyways, I gotta finish cleaning!

The Wedding!

2008-02-18T11:19:00.001-07:00

I know, I know. It's two months late. But here are the photos! At least some of them. Hope you enjoy.