New blog posted:

On My Herwig Happenings Blog

Yep - I am a sucker when it comes to pressure... I started a Blog.

I am currently trying to update on our many trips we have taken since December.

Visit me there:

www.herwighappenings.blogspot.com

I still have my Iraq website up.  It is in dire need of updating, which I will make a priority once I get home.

www.emailsfromirag.org

I will probably not be doing any blogs on here any more...

OK - I hate to admit it, but I had never in my life played raquetball until today.  Chris plays - he enjoys it, and has asked me to play several times - but when he does, the only thing I can think of is how he nails his brothers Steve and Jon with the ball on the occassions that they play.  Not to mention, I don't really like to sweat - it is so unladylike.  Well, the other day, I went to the gym.... no not to work out... but to pay for a massage - lol.  While there, we checked out the equipment at the gym and discovered they had a raquetball court.  I suggested we come play sometime.  Well, yesterday I suggested again that we play and suggested we play Monday morning.  Well, I had totally forgotten about the suggestion until my sweet husband reminded me.  I was not particularly thrilled with going and sweating - but there was nothing else to do - so I went.  I was totally disgusted when I learened that you had to wear the protective eyewear and that they were not sanitized after each use - ugh.  Luckily, we had a pair of Wiley X glasses that we had from our time in Iraq. 

WOW.  I had no idea that chasing that little blue ball around would be so exhausting!  And scary too!  I was scared of that little ball!  I would shriek anytime I thought it might nail me.  And yes - I did sweat   The raquetball court smelled like a highschool gym.  I would have had more fun if I had not gotten a glimce at some soldier looking in the court and chuckling at me as I shrieked and dodged a ball headed towards my face.  Yeah - I suck at raquet ball.  I just can not overcome that fear of getting hit by that ball.  The funny thing is that I never got hit by the ball a single time, I did however clip Chris' ear with it though - lol.  I did actually enjoy it - so much so that tomorrow morning we are going back again to play.  This time, I will wear shorts and a tshirt instead of sweats.  Geesh - who knew I would get so hot.  And I will definately not wear pink - the pink shirt I wore really clashed with my red face.  I figure if I play everyday until I come home that I may be good enough that I won't get laughed at.

.... messing up the scenery and cracking up my mind..... Remember that song?  Ok, so I took the liberty to change the lyrics a bit - but you may remember the song.....

I just love the signs in Europe.  Chris laughs at me because I will make him take the next exit on the Autobahn and turn around so I can drive  by a funny sign twice.  OK - so you may not think they are funny.... but my immaturity gets the best of me.  It got me to thinking... do people in Europe laugh at our signs in the US?  I do know that "stuffed" has a different meaning in Britain (its quite naughty) and wonder if people look at a menu and crack up about the stuffed chicken or stuffed pork.  Do they whip out their camera to take a picture to share with their friends?  And "willy".... I remember the billboards for the Movie "Free Willy"... in Brittain, a "willy" is part of a man's anatomy.  Did they laugh at the billboards for that movie and maybe take pictures to share with their friends?  The whole language barrier thing can be a pain in the backside, but it can also be quite entertaining on a road trip.  I thought I would share a few of the signs that have given me a little chuckle while on road trips here....

Yep - I am bummed.... This weekend we were supposed to have gone to Venice for Fasching (which is like Mardi Gras).  They cancelled the trip because there were not enough people scheduled to go.  I found out on Wednesday so I started franticly searching and planning for another trip to replace it.  I thought about going ahead and going to Venice - but the drive was too long and flights were too expensive.  I thought about going to Luxembourg and Belgium... I thought of going to Austria... I thought of going back to Switzerland... I thought of going snowboarding...  And then.... I started feeling even more bummed because I was just getting sick of traveling all the time.  I know I know - poor me... sounds ridiculous huh?  But I SO wish I could spend the weekend curled up on the couch watching Netflix, or maybe going out to our land and spending the day by the pond, or just playing with my dog.... I miss home.  I miss my dog.  I miss the states...  Being away makes you apreciate our wonderful country.  Being on base here, I am also reminded how much I love our country.  When they lower the flag every evening it is amazing to see people stop whatever they are doing and stand reverantly while the flag is lowered.  It gives me time to stop and reflect on our wonderful freedoms back in the states.  It makes me think of all the brave men and women who make those freedoms possible.  It makes me think of all the friends I made while in Iraq.  It makes me think of those who did not return home.  It makes me want to come home....

I love Germany!  Seriously, I really do... Despite the fact that my German really sucks (though I am trying really hard to get better) and despite that I have YET to figure out the voice mail on my cell phone here (because it is all in German) not to mention, I have a hard time just figuring out what numbers to dial on the phone to make it work here.... and despite the fact that the food makes me ill and nauseated .....and the fact that I am really just guessing and pointing at an item on the menu because I don't know enough German to order properly... despite the fact that I miss my family - especially my beautiful nieces and adorable nephews... despite that I miss my friends and especially my puppy dog.... I still love Germany.  I love the snow, and the beautiful buildings and places.  I love that I can visit other countries.  I like that I can experience different cultures... but most of all..... I love the freaking Exit signs!  They just make me laugh.....

I really HATE those automated answering systems!  I want to talk to a REAL person when I call on the phone.  I have always hated that I have to push 1 for English and then procede with the time consuming automated systems.... Well, for the past couple of weeks I have REALLY WISHED I could push 1 for English!  Do you have any idea how hard it is to do the most simple thing - like setting up your cell phone service, making a reservation, even checking your voice mail  in another language.  A language that you only know a few simple words and phrases of?  Well, lately I have really wished I COULD press one for English.  In Germany, I do not have that luxury :(

OK ~~~~

I am having a hard time deciding on where to spend New Years Eve.....

Should I choose Paris..... Prague..... or Amsterdam???