Parking, Underwear, and Christmas Markets

The first few weeks in Germany were filled with insane briefings.  Long, long, classes with randomly scattered pertinent information.   But, amidst this indescribable information rush, where was the stuff we really needed?  Just one tiny, hypothetical example:

Let's just say...hypothetically of course,  you go to a mall and park in the garage.  You're given a ticket upon entering.  Easy enough.  Skip ahead to leaving the garage.  You're at the exit, ready to pay..insert ticket and the machine just spits it out.  Meanwhile, still hypothetically speaking of course, there are cars lining up behind you waiting to insert their tickets.  I imagine if this happened to someone there would be extreme frustration at this point because you can't drive forward through the metal lever and you can't back up because there are 6 cars behind you...  What happens next?  If I had to guess I would say the wife would get out of the car and use hand signals to not so proficiently convey we are not going through this gate so the cars behind should all move.  So, what happened here?  Well, you don't pay at the gate.  You find a randomly placed and when I say placed, I actually mean hidden kiosk located in the dark garage.  You pay before you leave. What?!  How would you ever know this?!?  This is a common way for parking garages and other paid parking.  This could, hypothetically, ruin an entire day.
THIS is the stuff we need to know people!  Ok, so it wasn't hypothetical.  This happened to us.  It's been a month and I am just now composed enough to speak out.

Did you know that underwear is sold here just like a sweater or a pair or socks?  Table of watches followed by a sausage hut, a table of kids' toys and then...underwear.  Just lots of underwear for sale and people there browsing for their next potential undergarment.  It really is just another piece of clothing but could you imagine being at your local county fair and in between the elephant ear stand and the lemonade hut there is a Maidenform table?  It's a mild oddity I thought you guys would find interesting!

I visited two small Christmas Markets last weekend.  Most of the large ones do not begin until this weekend or next but I needed to make sure our Christmas was sent back to the States in time so I went to pick up a few things.  I particularly enjoyed the smaller, hometown market.  I love that that everything is pretty much homemade.  Soaps, wooden carvings, jewelry, scarves, baby things, cards, paintings, etc..  It's a different way to shop and I found it relaxing and lovely.

The larger markets I understand have live music, shows, lots of mulled wine and tons of vendors.  I can't wait!!  I have seen the pictures of these markets covered in snow and lit up with Christmas lights and it is absolutely magical.  Most towns and cities have their own Markets and there are many throughout Europe!  I have been researching to narrow down the ones I'd like to visit.  So far, I pick all of them.

I really want to take more pictures of things but I am also very self conscious about being so obvious when photoing things that are totally normal here!  Sometimes I just want to shout a disclaimer to the crowd that "Hey, I'm new here and you guys have some super cool stuff so I need to act like a tourist and snap pictures of everything... including your underwear tables!"  I can't say that in German so for now, I occasionally sneak a few pictures here and there.

At one of the indoor Christmas Markets

I found this particularly cool.  Vats of balsamics and oils- Different flavors and delicious!!!

 They offer tasting cups and fill your bottle and seal it right there!   

Local artist at one of the markets.  I loved this.  It really reminds me of Sarah M. and Hartley.

A field around our town

On this day I went for a wonderful walk with my new neighborhood friend and her sweet dog, Macy

And another..

A little stream in our town.  I love seeing the ducks!  

I have more I'll post later!  Mike's laptop battery is kaput and we are heading out in search of a new one today!  

Poop-tastic Stressors

Ohhh where to begin...  It's been a challenging few weeks.  It's been three months and we still have not been able to register Mike's car.  The Xenon headlight went out during shipment.  Without going into mega-boring detail, Germany has very strict vehicle laws- There is an inspection you must pass before you can receive your permanent plates and the car failed--months ago.  Violations are cause for arrest.    It's not like the States where you might receive a ticket or a condescending glance followed by a gentle nudge towards a repair shop.   There have been issues with finding this part and then actually getting it here and then, it wasn't the problem so we are waiting on our newest solution which we hope will solve the mystery of the failed Xenon headlight:  You know, the headlight that claims will "outlive your car".   What a crock. Black Magic is three years old.  Yes, Mike names all of his cars.  We were granted our final extension and have until December 16th to solve this or we will be forced to render the car inoperable and park it on base until it's repaired.

 And there's our baby, Dempsey-doodle.  He had what we thought might be a seizure (mild) about a month after we moved into the house and last week, he had a frightening episode on the side of the road during a walk.  He went down; eyes glazed, limbs tensed and he peed on himself.  Absolutely horrible.  Much worse than the first time!  This time it was very apparent these episodes were in fact, seizures.  Fortunately, Mike was with us on this walk so I was able to take Ali home while Mike stayed with him until he recovered and they wobbled home.   Dempsey has been officially diagnosed epileptic and is now on medication.  We have a wonderful English speaking vet office in our little town.  Finding a vet I like is not an easy task because it's never just about the vet. It's also about the staff, the knowledge, their compassion, and their procedures.   In Abilene, I went through four vets before I found Key City.  Love Dr. Matthews! (Yep, that's a proud plug)  I am relieved to find this great vet. We both are.  Bonus?  I walked there the other day.

Both of these situations have been huge, ongoing stressors lately.  I think we have Dempsey under control...Black Magic? Are you next?  Sure would be nice to get you legal ...

Mike's Birthday

Mike's birthday fell on a Tuesday and it just so happened to be the day he was leaving for Slovakia.. He spent his birthday on the train, then on a plane and then in a rental car for three hours driving in the middle of nowhere.  Yes, you smell guilt.  I felt bad.  Not that it was my fault or anyone else's but, I still felt terrible.  Many of you recall my birthday fell hmm....six days before we left Abilene.  In fact, lots of you attended my Justin Beiber Birthday Bash which rolled into an epic Gerney Going Away party that night that was an out of this world,  pimp-tastic time!  (Thanks again friends!)  After that showing, I felt particularly crappy about Mike's Birthday situation so I invited a few new friends over for an impromptu Saturday evening birthday.  Mike explicitly asked for no gifts but these awesome people brought bottles of everything to celebrate.  Our bare bar is no longer bare.  I made a scary looking and probably not good peanut butter cake.  No, I didn't try it and I purposefully didn't watch people as they ate it so they could throw it away and not hurt my feelings.  Fortunately, all the other food turned out great!  In true Carolyn-fashion, it was cheese themed.  Nothing new there.  Somehow we accidentally deleted all the pictures from this evening...  Oops.

Except this one from my phone....

My New Norm

How is it possible I, of sound mind but no job, few friends, and a member of almost nothing, could be so busy this week?  Or was I?  It’s interesting how quickly we can adapt to our new norm.  I know what busy is and this week wasn’t it but, it sure felt that way!  Mentally draining is perhaps a better description...  And I’d prefer not to recap.

Mike was in Bratislava, Slovakia this week for work.  It was a short trip with minimal time for play but he did snap a few pictures for me!  This was Old Town and appeared to be a beautifully restored little place.

I was so impressed last week with my pumpkin bread I decided to make it again but, this time for a few of my sweet German neighbors.  My German is poor, but on demand, it's even worse than poor.   Ten minutes after stumbling through a conversation,  I can often mentally construct a decent response.  But, never on cue.  So, on pumpkin bread delivery day I really thought about what I would say and I repeated it a dozen times to Ali and Dempsey until I was confident I could speak in complete sentences--probably grammatically incorrect but I'm over that.  

"I have warm pumpkin bread with sweet cheese on top for you and your family."

"Ich hat varm kürbus brotchen mit suß kase für sie und sie familia."

I know what you're thinking:  Sweet cheese on top?   Well, a. I couldn't remember how to say cream and I don't know how to say frosting  ....and b. I haven't seen cream cheese in a local grocery store so I'm not sure they would've known what it was anyway.  Delivery was successful to all but one neighbor who was on holiday.  I ate theirs.  

Meine kürbis brotchen!

And one of my going away gifts! Thanks T!

I have decided to join the German American Women's Club which partners with the military community.  I love our military family but I feel it's important to step outside outside those borders and develop local friendships as well.  .....and especially here because for once, we are the foreigners.  The GAWC is a mix of social functions and civic responsibility.  I like.  Their annual fundraiser, the Pfennig Bazaar, was this weekend.  Gently used items are donated year round for this event.  Clothes, household items, toys--everything!  I wasn't sure what to expect but, wow.  Huge.  And, packed!  It's essentially a massive flea market and located in what I would call a Civic Center.  I giggled when I saw a wine bar was there and open for business!  Seriously, you cannot go anywhere that doesn't serve carbs and wine.  

Are you wondering if I worked this event?  I did.  One.. tiny... little... shift.  I practiced self control. 

There is just something about a sign-up sheet that excites me.  I always feel the need to put my name on all of them.  An associated visual:   So, there's me.  And then there is a big, goofy grin.  And then there's the excited hand raising with simultaneous hopping coupled with fist pumping.  All while shrieking "Pick ME!  OooOOoo Pick Me!"  This is a dangerous, dangerous practice.  I often wonder if I will ever learn my lesson.  Fortunately, a dear friend gave me a little reminder to carry.  She probably doesn't even know this was a great going away gift.  Jennifer, it was.  Thank you. 

 I'll give again.  I'll be a do-er again.  Just not right now.  

  

A difficult day for many...

I awoke to learn of Kris Ross' passing.  My heart is heavy for her family and an entire community that stood up and supported one very amazing woman.

Relay for Life, April 2011

 Survivors' Lap

Moving in...The charm and the challenges!

I like closets, Yes I do!  I like closets, How 'bout you!!??  Truthfully, I didn't know how much I liked closets until this last week when our household goods arrived...  We don't have a bedroom with a closet.  Period.  I realize this sounds borderline whining but I am simply sharing the challenges. (Also, I might be whining)  Don't worry, I have it all figured out!  I moved many boxes of clothes upstairs in the attic.  These were the,  "I never really wear them anyway but like to look at them sometimes because maybe..." clothes. We have two shranks in the bedroom with clothes..  There is another shrank and dresser in the 3rd bedroom.  My craft room doubles also doubles as a.....wait for it... closet.  I was frustrated at first and really not interested in sharing my space but after a day or so I've realized seeing my clothes in smaller groups in random various locations throughout the house has made seeing my clothes much easier.  The small groups are less to process when searching for an outfit and I think I will be making better choices as a result.         It's true.  I can sell anything.  Even to myself.

The truth is, I love this house and I love it even more after this weekend.  It finally feels like home.  We bought a used love seat this weekend for the dogs' window.  It is their favorite place to be especially when we are not home!  It overlooks a street and here, people are always out walking, riding bicycles, walking their dogs ...and there is also a family that walks their horse.  Every day.  I love hearing the clip clop of the hooves and the church bells in the background.  

It was amazing how the dogs' demeanor completely changed when our things arrived.  Instantly, I could sense they were more comfortable.  I found them in our bed at random times during the day and it was as if a calm had come over them..  Dempsey even found his toy box before I did!  He came running up with one of his old toys--thrilled!  They make me giggle.

It's ironic we had this amazing kitchen before but I rarely had time to bake or cook and now, I have this smaller, challenging kitchen yet I have been cooking more than ever.  I even made Paula Deen's pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting this week. Bam!  (Thank you Kerry D.)  It's all about perspective!  I think this more relaxed version of living is exactly what I needed for a few years and I fully intend on taking advantage of  job-less-ness ...even if only temporary.   It's not so bad you know. :)  At least, for now....

Sooo... what have we been doing?

Flammende Sterne:  International Fauerwerksfestival
Did you guess fireworks?  Yes, yes!  This is an annual festival where three countries are chosen to compete with a musical fireworks display.  2011:  Greece, China and the U.S.A. !  America's display was created and executed by Disney's pyrotechnics guy!  Not that I would've ever guessed ....but it does make perfect sense!  We only went one evening ...for the U.S.A. show which I later found out, placed last!  But trust me, it was an amazing show!  ...Set to classic rock and even began with a Cirque-type fire show.

These fests are similar to our fairs...only different. Often they last several weeks!  They have a broader range of vendors and place a much larger emphasis on alcohol--But, not in a weird "Let's get trashed at a family event!" way.  The Germans really seem to understand moderation in a way we just do not. (Most of them)  I was most impressed with the punch bowl tent (Mojitos and other fruity concoctions) and the cappuccino stand.  Genius I tell ya!  

Since this was our first festival, we opted to keep our beer steins and forfeit our mug deposits.  Those mugs now have a permanent home in our small kitchen.  

The Stuttgart Wine Village- One of the largest annual wine festivals in Germany with more than a million visitors!  Part of the downtown area is transformed into beautifully decorated wine "huts" where they serve full meals and of course, wine!  Small bands walk the streets stopping at random areas and play live music.   I specifically remember hearing Louie Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".  Have a visual yet?  It is truly a charming, picturesque festival!

Cannstatter Vollksfest-  Considered the second largest beer festival with Munich's Oktoberfest being first of course!  An estimated five million people flood Volksfest during its three weeks.  Insane!  This is a county fair on mega-steroids.  There are carnival rides, games, vendors and of course the....drum roll.....Beer Tents.  I capitalize because it's deserved...  I had a vision of "Oktoberfest" and boy was I wrong! These "tents" are massive structures with tented tops so yeah, I guess they're tents but they are unfathomably huge,  housing about 5000 people in each!  Volksfest features eight tents.  Each are sponsored by a different beer and offer a different atmosphere.  In ours, the Grandl's Hofbrau tent, a concert stage was situated front and center with an awesome band that played everything from their traditional songs to our classics like "Sweet Caroline" and "Sweet Home Alabama".  We heard the Black Eyed Peas, Metallica, Rhianna-anything you could imagine!  Evening tables are reserved well in advance as by the time we had realized this, it was too late.  But of course, people's plans change and those tickets will randomly be for sale but finding them is the trick.  We had already decided to just experience the tents during the day which is not the same but it didn't require reservations.  But, on a Friday afternoon I happened to be in the right place at the right time and scored these two awesome tickets from someone who knew someone who was unfortunately sick with the flu.  Our table was up front next to the band!  We couldn't have scored better tickets!  Thank you Beth and Kathy!!  We wouldn't have truly experienced Volksfest in 2011 without you two ladies!  I was less thankful the next morning.  :D  It was a spectacular night!  We danced on the tables, sloshed our beers, sang and met many amazingly friendly Germans that evening!  

Well of course I went shopping for a traditional dirndl!  

And yes, Mike is the proud owner of matching lederhosen.

  Keep going.  You'll find it.

Downtown Stuttgart on Konigstrasse is a beautiful, upscale shopping adventure all its own. Everything from Rolex to Louis Vuitton to Escada! Of course I have minimal interest in those things but hey, it's still cool and a beautiful walk down the streets.  There are more reasonable shopping options as well as lots of eateries, bakeries and ice cream shops. I purchased my dirndl downtown!

The Schlossplatz

As with many downtown areas, there are a number of interesting displays.  These are sand people.  There wasn't a description posted so that's all I have...

They also have a large flea market which I assume is seasonal since it's outside and an enormous specialty food market.  The food market is ....magical.  I often over use the word "magical" but I just can't stop...   So many things are magical to me!  Better than mundane. :)  

Soooo this market....   Fresh fresh fresh!  Sausages, cheeses, vegetables, breads, more sausages and cheeses, baklava (Hooray for homemade baklava!), a zillion other pastries and quiche and handmade stuffed tortellini and salads and pesto and and and and and....Ahhh, I could go on for days... But, I won't.  

This depicts about 1/3 of the market.  On the top floor are lovely stores and a very nice restaurant.  As you can see, I am in a kitchen shop.. Very Williams-Sonoma-esque