Home is where the internet is...

The hard lesson I learned today, when a guy comes to your door saying he wants to mount a new modem to your wall don't answer the door. He said the internet will be down only a half an hour, but I became suspicious of this statement when he asks "Do you use the wireless?"
I was sitting nicely on the couch crocheting a hat from a pattern I was reading off the internet, watching a show that was streaming through my Apple TV, when the door bell rang. Turns out none of this is possible with no internet. Thanks to Phillips and an over zealous husband I can not even turn on the lights in the living room without the internet!

Fulda Gap...

On the way up (over? I really need a refresher on my geography) to Berlin we stopped in Fulda, Germany. Before we left the house Sam told me that this was a place he was excited to visit, I politely asked why. This turned out to be a small mistake. Sam started by telling me about cold war strategy how there were only a few places soviet forces could come through to invade West Germany and the most likely of these places was in Fulda through the Fulda Gap. This is when I made my really big mistake I encouraged Sam by asking him questions and acting interested, because up until  this point this sounded like a place I was interested in too. Encouraged Sam then read me information he researched online for the next half an hour! Turns out I should have listened more closely then maybe when we arrived in Fulda, Germany I would not have been so disappointed that the was no actual gap!

Adventure is Out There...



The Dome



With our spirit of adventure firmly back in place and no sign of warm weather approaching Sam planned us a spring break trip. This trip, for lack of a better term, was a farce the destination, which Sam saw on an American TV Channel, was a spring break impersonator. Tropical Islands is a huge dome that was built for air ships,  more commonly known as blimps, the structure sat empty for years  before someone turned the inside into a tropical island complete with sand, lagoons, tropical plants and birds. Tropical Islands boast 13 restaurants and lounges, a camp site, hotel rooms, a few carnival rides, temperatures in the 80s, and Germany's tallest water slide.  How Tropical Islands, which is located just south of Berlin, differs from the traditional spring break location should be obvious, you are indoors. Although the dome has a partial glass roof which lets in enough sun to sustain the large selection of tropical plants, there is no sunbathing.  Laura does not mind the lack of sun, she is too distracted by the water-slides, whirlpools and water falls to notice that sunscreen does not have to be applied regularly. My favorite time in the dome or in the Islands is near sundown, the light are on in and around the pool the employees are cleaning up and you can actually trick yourself into believing you are outside somewhere warm and exotic. 

Sam trying to catch some rays

Sam and Laura in the "rainforest" with a tropical bird 

Sam and Laura in front of a few slides.

Sam and Laura in front of one of the pools.

A quick catch up...



We ended the last year relieved and thankful. Sam had fully recovered from his surgery and was well on his way to being his old self after chemo. All of his tests were coming back with reassuring results and he had even started slowly getting back to the gym. We were all ready to put this behind us and continue our adventures in Europe, unfortunately by this time we had another obstacle to overcome. The weather, everything in Germany was literally frozen.



This is 9:45 am ouside tempature 10, that's fahrenheit!

 Earlier in December Sam went on a TDY, military speak for business trip, to Garmisch, a small German ski town in the Alps on the Austrian border. Laura and I, well mostly just me, felt we could not pass up the opportunity to check this town out although school was in full swing I decided we would make it a long weekend. I planned on picking Laura up from school around lunch time on Friday thus ensuring not only that she would have the chance to take her spelling test but also that we would not be driving late into the night. But of course the weather was uncooperative all those weeks we sat home sequestered from germs we received nothing but a dusting of snow, now on the day I have a 5 hour drive into the mountain planned a full fledge blizzard rages outside, emails come in from the school suggesting you pick up your kid early due to deteriorating conditions. Our departure was pushed off a day, when we finally arrived Saturday afternoon it was to snow piled up on the side of the road higher than the car. We had a short but great weekend sledding" just past the old Nazi hospital. “While it was great to go away for the weekend and there are still so many interesting places we want to visit, I did not want to be sightseeing in this weather. We planned a ski trip back to Garmisch in February but decided to put off any sightseeing trips till warmer weather has arrived here in Europe. Unfortunately it is now April and we are still anxiously awaiting that warmer weather.  This combined with Sam’s work schedule have made for a slow couple of months, not that you will hear any complaints about that.



These are the gates to the old Nazi hospital, I was expecting something alittle more dark.



Laura Sledding!



2013 Friend or Foe?

 

I am not superstitious but 2013 just did to sound like a great number maybe it has something to do with the 13.  Although I had my doubts everyone on facebook has expressed what a great year 2013 will be in their Happy New Years posts, therefore I felt reassured. On the first day of 2013 my microwave broke, still 364 days to go. I might be to scared to leave the house! Maybe we should have just skipped over the 13th year like we skip over the 13th floor in buildings.

UPDATE: I woke up on day 2 of 2013 with a big pimple on my face. Yes I guess even at 30 ear infections and pimples are still comman in my life!

Good-bye October...

This week we can finally say goodbye to the month of October. Nothing personal the colorful leaves were beautiful and the costumes and candy were fun, but it’s been a hard month so adios!


In October I learned the definition of words I’ve never wanted to hear. Urologist, Malignant, seminoma and oncology seem to now be common place in my vocabulary. I listen and acquired more information than any woman ever needs about testicles. I waited in the hospital while my scared husband was cut into. That October night I watched helplessly as my strong handsome husband teared up in physical pain. Together we finished out October waiting, waiting to see what happens next.

Hello November…

Venice Italy, What I know...



Venice, Italy



This weekend we went to Venice, while I acknowledge that Venice is a beautiful city perfect for pictures, I have quite a few gripes. Most of my issues deal with the cleanliness of the city. The logistics of a city with canals instead of streets might be enough for most people to overlook the trash and scum, sorry I give no allowances. The Italians are not known for their cleanliness and a city with no grass full Narrow streets packed with tons of smoking tourist could only be made worse with dogs. Yes I know that lots of people are dog lovers the Europeans most of all but when walking down a concrete "street" barley wide enough for two people to pass, the last thing I want is a dog urinating on the side wall, which really just means on your feet. I know that even in areas with plenty of grass dog owners are required to carry those little bags with them, but let's face the truth not everyone uses them, now let's go back to a city of concrete with narrow passage ways. You use your imagination.

A few shots of the narrow streets

All that being said we did take some great pictures and see some fun things. But even after a short trip in Europe it makes me realize I might not say it enough but I am very happy that we fly a red, white and blue flag outside our house!



Sam on the water fromt



Canal and boats

Us on one of the many bridges

Canal

Canals

Tower in St. Marco's Square

View from the top of the tower in St. Marco's Square



A Chagall at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection



Another beautiful canal

These are pictures taken in the jewish ghetto, in the 1500s Jews were forced to live in this square they could go out during the day but at dusk they had to be inside the gates that were locked and gaurded by Christian gaurds. At one time there was over 5,000 people living in this confined area, therefore they had to start building up. You can see that in this area are some of the tallest buildings in Venice, if you look closely you can see that the windows are smaller on some floors the ceilings on some of these stories were very low, again to fit more living space for people. As I am sure you can guess the Jewish ghetto area was used again during the 20th century. One of these pictures shows some barb wire still in place and by just coincidence some Italian army members. The book said there are only about 35 Jewish people living here today, very sad.

Peppers at the market

One of many churches although most are not still open.

Canal

Laura in Venice, Italy

Sam outside of Harry's bar Ernest Hemingway was a regular here.

St. Marco's Square at night

Gondula

Venice, Italy

Laura in St. Marco's Square

Canal and boat

Venice, Italy September 2012