Not much happenin

So last couple of day's I've not been online- IM STILL ALIVE! Sheesh you people and your worrying! Ok well not much has happened. Wednesday night Matt and I tried out a bible study class and really enjoyed it. It meets every week and starts out with a themed pot luck dinner (this time it was Asian- I brought the egg rolls!) and fellowship then the bible study. They were on chapter 3 of 2nd Thessalonians and seeing as how Matt and I have never been the bible study type we were a little lost but enjoyed the talk and the people ALOT so I think we'll be regulars. I guess when they finish Thessalonians they're going to break into 2 groups (not sure if they meant to houses or into a mens/womens group...I'll find out later). Also planning on going to the PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel- its not just for protestants!) starting with a bbq next week!

Today I went to an FRG training class on how to be the treasurer and the Point of Contact (POC). Class was pretty common sense but got to see Mary and Allison - two other girls about my age without children! But they are officers wives so OMG not "supposed" to fraternize haha jk its not really like that. Especially in a battalion as small as ours! In fact I love the commander's wife- totally approachable, and she has 4 of the coolest kids!

Anywho tomorrow I'm babysitting for Jen in the morning then we're working on our resumes and hopefully after that the husbands will be released early (they're supposed to be out by 12pm on Fridays..that's happened once). Nothin planned for this weekend...wish we could bbq but since the stupid moving company STILL hasn't picked up our boxes...*sigh* they come Tuesday supposedly (I will be confirming this on Monday)!

Have a great weekend all! Missin every one of you!

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An Amazing Weekend

So as far as birthdays go this was great!! My birthday week started Wednesday when Matt surprised me with dinner reservations at a nice mexican restaurant! It wasn't bad but not home ;-)

Thursday I had a little melt down realizing student teaching questions STILL hasn't been answered and job prospects on this post are nil. So I'm going to put in my application at the school for several different positions just so they're on file in case something comes open. Same with the subbing deal. I'm also applying at the school in Bamberg (45mins away) just to maximize my prospects. If nothing happens then Matt and I are discussing my coming back to TX to student teach in the fall just so I can get that actual diploma! Adri's even offered her extra bedroom ;-)

Friday we left for our marriage retreat at Edel Weiss. That was the most beautiful place I've seen yet! Saturday and Sunday mornings we spent in the conference room watching a video series of the funniest pastor EVER Mark Gungor in "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" (www.laughyourway.com) it is so awesome!! Matt and I and the entire room couldn't stop laughing. We both learned alot as well. The afternoons and evenings were free time and there was so much stuff to do in Garmish that we will be going back there in the winter!!

I'll update more in detail tomorrow... nighty night!

*August 25*

Sunday was my big double deuce birthday and my awesome husband had gotten me an hour long swedish body massage the day before which was AMAZING! I've never had a massage before but I am officially a spa girl now. On my birthday my husband sang me happy birthday in the morning and presented me with part of my present- the Hannah Montana Movie! Love it! (He even watched it with me)... The Barreto's also remembered I am trying to collect the classic Disney movies on DVD and got me the platinum edition of Sleeping Beauty! Matt also got me the softest black fleece EVER! Today my other present from Matt arrived and he got me the Coach purse I've been wanting!! Only they sent the wrong color (white instead of brown) so he's going to get it exchanged for me. Isn't he the best (those registries really work hehehe)? I also got Adri's box today also and she got me a khaki Coach wristlet, LL Bean WARM pjs, and plus she sent me one of her purses I love! I've got a great BFF.

Today I had a dentist appointment and they told me I have great teeth and no cavities but unfortunately the xray machine was broken so they don't know how my wisdom teeth are but he can tell they're at least partially impacted. Eek! Another unfortunately is that they don't do oral surgery on post so I'll have to go to a German dentist if I need the wisdom teeth cut out. Bah!! I go back Monday for a cleaning (another weird thing is they don't do more than one thing at each appointment).

Oh oh!! Biggest news of all!!!!!! Matt enrolled in a college class and changed his major! He is now working towards his Associates in Automotive Maintenance. He figured it goes with his MOS so it will really help with his career and promotion points. He is now taking AC/Heating class and its a hands on class where they work on their own cars in the auto skills center. It actually started this past weekend but the college said he could still enroll and be fine so he will be starting Saturday-Monday from 6pm-10pm (but they supposedly they never stay the full time). He's so nervous and excited so be supportive!!

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Frustrated!

Well I called the principal today and spoke to the secretary. I said that I was Keeley Barr and I had emailed the principal back in June about student teaching and I would like to follow up on that. The secretary said "Oh ok great! One second and I will get her." Then after a minute or so- "Oh Im sorry can I take a message? She's stepped out." Oh please lady! I've worked in offices long enough to know that excuse! BAH! She'd better call me tomorrow or I'm going to take Grandaddy's advice and just keep going up there every single day and leaving messages. If I don't get a response by Thursday then Tuesday of next week when we're back from the resort I am going to apply to substitute or be a teacher's aide.... Not fun.

I miss my husband =-(

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Updates

Well the apartment is finally finished! FINALLY! We had a little delay because of Ikea but now it is allll done and it feels goooood! What happened with Ikea is we went last Saturday to buy a computer desk, scrapbooking desk, and a bookshelf. I had so many boxes of office supplies and books but no where to put them so I waited to unpack them until we had the furniture. Anywho neither Matt nor I had ever bought anything from Ikea so we did not know how to write down the little numbers on the displays or about finding the small things you want (ex: photo box) in the downstairs warehouse area (we took the display haha). But after figuring it out then figuring out how to find the furniture boxes in the warehouse we were all set.- and to those of you who are saying "Come on guys it's not rocket science" remember we are in Germany so its not like we can read any of the signs! Ikea is particularly annoying to buy from because it doesn't take American credit cards so you have to bring cash (or use the ATM there) and you have to pay full price at the check out THEN go to customer service to have your VAT form (tax free form. German tax is 19%!!) to get reimbursed. Well we get home with our tons and tons of boxes- that was fun carrying down our narrow staircase- and then we had to put it all together. The 2 desks and filing cabinet and computer chair took 5 hours. Then we started in on the bookshelf, which came in 3 boxes thats how big it is, only to find out one of the boxes was the wrong color. By this time it was 8pm (Ikea JUST closed- but its also 30 minutes away) and it was Saturday so like everything else in this country it was closed the next day. So Monday after Matt got off work we had to borrow Barreto's station wagon AGAIN to load up the wrong box and go back to Ikea just to be told that they didn't have the right box in the right color. Well I had a few words with them and got us gift cards in exchange for gas money and free breakfast coupons but still it was annoying. So they made us take the box back with us and said come back the next morning. That night we figured out that my seats lay down in the back of my car so thankfully we didnt have to borrow Barreto's car a third time. Tuesday Jen and the baby went with me to exchange it for the right box- got 2 free coffees for waiting hehe- and that night we put it together.

Wednesday I skipped German class and the gym and finished the whole apartment...well except the bathroom but not much to do in there. It has felt 90% better just having a HOME again. German class and the gym have been going well. The week's worth of lessons helped me Monday when I was having to explain to the Ikea customer service rep. who spoke no english that it was the wrong color and such lol.

Nothing eventful Thursday or Friday.

Today we ran to the library and commissary when dum dum dum DUUMMMM my wonderful husband backed my car into a concrete pole. So now my beautiful 2008 kia which only had 2 dings from driving now has a scraped bumper. Thankfully its not dented but its still going to be a pain in our ass to sand it out and repaint it. Lets just say words were coming out of my mouth that should NEVER have come out in public. Thank god I'm not a teacher yet hahaha. So I forbid him to drive my car ever again and drove us home. Ironically we had just pulled out the cash from the ATM to buy Matt's car. Barreto came over and checked out the engine and such for us (he's a certified mechanic and used to work for Ford- convenient!) while Jen and I hung out with the baby and had some wine. Btw 2 good German wines are: Mueller Thurgaud and Reisling- Spaetler. So now Matt is a proud owner of a Ford Probe which used to street race so its all done up. Just have to buy a radio for it because the owner took it out.

So thats my fun eventful life this week. There's other things going on but that doesn't need mentioning on here. Miss you guys!

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New Schedule and Birthday

So today was my first month of an actual "schedule." Starting today I will take Matt to work every Mon, Wed, and Fri then go to the gym where I'll work out for an hour and a half or more then shower and change to go to my Beginners German class or an hour and a half. Today's workout was good: 30 mins on the treadmill doing hills, then arm workout, another 15 mins running on elipitical, and lastly abs and stretching. German class was pretty boring today because thanks to my german CDs I already knew everything (except it was helpful to "read" it).
Ich heisse... My name is
Wie heissen du?...what is your name?
Ich komme aus... I am from

On top of learning the numbers 1-100 and the alphabet. Something I never knew was that each country has its own names for the countries of the world...I always thought everyone called the countries the same. Silly American idea.
Germany= Deutschland
Schwiez= Switzerland
Oesterriech= Austria (and whenever you see Oe, Ae, or Ue its really the first vowel with two dots over it- the Umlaute)
Italian= Italy
Danemark= Denmark

Ok enough of that. So everyone keeps asking what I want for my birthday...you KNOW I hate that question!!! I've never liked telling people what I want (Adri always gives lists...I tried that once and just felt like I was being greedy!) So instead I'll tell you things I like:

Scrapbooking
Reading
Amazon
Old Navy
Gap
Photography
New York and Co.
Starbucks (the actual ground coffee- there's not a Starbucks shop in Schweinfurt- I know, crazy right?!)
Rachael Ray stuff
"Classroom" things (for when I'm a teacher...one day...) AIMS.edu, eaieducation.com, scholastic, etc.
Itunes
Texas things (the dark reds and blues)
Shoes (8 and half)

Ok enough enough lol. Tomorrow I plan on doing my Pilate's at home (I bought the Ballys kit) and finishing the house. I have a huge stack of boxes in the corner that is office stuff, books (mainly), and picture frame stuff but I have nowhere to put all of it. This weekend we need to go to Ikea and get a computer desk, scrapbook desk, and bookshelves (most excited about that! I've always wanted bookshelves...wow I really AM a nerd)!

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Differences

So this is going to be an ongoing post as I discover new/different things that sometimes frustrate me!

1. Prices and selection at the commissary (I miss Brookshires and Walmart!!)
2. Ditto about the PX
3. No texting (its like 19cents a text! Cheaper to call!)
4. ELECTRICITY! Last night my favorite fan finally burned out on me from being plugged into a convertor every night....grrr! Why can't the whole world be on 110voltage??
5. Narrow streets
6. SMALL fridges/freezers!!
7. laundry takes about 4 1/2 hours AT LEAST to do one load (2hr was 2 1/2 hr dry- if not longer)--and Ive yet to see a laundry mat so I can wash all my blankets!
8. the size of my bedroom and all the furniture in it!!
9. being the only couple here without a kid!
10. no cable
11. No job...and hearing that the people you started the education program with are getting their first jobs...and your class is about to start student teaching yet you STILL don't know what you will be doing because the ARMY screws up EVERYTHING! ugh...
12. the water- its so hard it makes your skin dry and I think its the cause to my unusual breakouts (I normally have great skin- not to brag or anything)
13. Everything is closed Sundays (except stuff on post- big whoop)
14. When you buy furniture you have to put it together only it doesn't come with directions...yeah- that's interesting...
15. Here's a GOOD difference: the VIEWS...I can even explain the beauty of this place...

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