birthday flowers and candle

So on my birthday. I’ve painted my toes red, put on mascara because at this age, I’ll admit, I need the extra help *wink*.

Then I’ve set my sights to send out more job applications even though getting a letter or email with the word leider has gotten old rather quickly, still the ever-thinking Alex is urging me on. He’s a hero to me.

In the worst case I’ve applied to new schools since distance learning is proving to be a leap too great for me to bound. Although, I’ve been deemed too old to be a student, so there’s a need to update my health insurance. I suppose this is the age when you are required by society to squeeze a bun out of the oven so better to tax now than at the time it happens.

And it is still a waiting game for the future of my European driver’s license, we’re holding bedtime lessons on the physics of a manual transmission car.

My knee aches less and less after 3 months since my ACL repair, but still lets me know when I do too much. The scar is healing nicely as is the bone beneath, which is now tender to a strong touch.

I’ve been pulled in so many directions, that it feels like I only give 20 percent to anything I attempt and it’s no wonder the goal(s) lie(s) on the horizon. A birthday comes around again and you think, “Gee, where has the time gone?” It is easy to get discouraged. Disappointed.

So things haven’t turned out as planned. Still there is always time for optimism no matter where it comes from. I got a phone call from a friend and she wished me a happy birthday. The next thing I know after explaining that the priorities of the world are all a muck, that good friend sets up a little, last-minute, evening get-together at a café for cake and wine. Now the world is just perfect. It can’t get any hard than it already is. I just won’t allow it.

Here’s looking forward to my first year in my thirties.

play

Still I had been feeling a bit down last Thursday and Friday. Stuck indoors and fighting this Bewerben book is just no fun. But Friday night, we celebrated Fabian’s birthday at Lake Hofstätter. Mandy set up a wonderful little party and her chili was out of this world.

At the party, I attempted to play this game called “Funky Monkey”. I don’t know why it’s named after a Beastie Boy’s song. I chalk it up to Germans who know too much junk English. The game basically consists of scribbling down names of famous people on scrap paper and throwing them into a bowl. Two teams compete in 3 rounds using the bowl of names three times. Each team member has a two minute turn to act while the other teammates guess. First round is to get through as many names by any means without saying the name. Second round is pantomiming. Third round is you say only one word.

My first German charades game and I did okay except for naming/describing famous German people. Hey slack was given, but what a loser that I couldn’t even describe famous people from my so-called culture. Tell me, why are there Germans who know about Macho Man Randy Savage? It’s disturbing. I had no clue what my teammate was talking about until he said ‘Snap into a Slim Jim!’.

What an evening and shared a new twist to an old habit of mine since I’ve been in Germany. Expat life is a continuous game of charades – either the culture is a riddle and foreigners are the ones having to guess the meaning or we’re the ones relying on physical gesture rather than verbal language to convey our message. We like games. We thrive on games.

The rest of the weekend there was no ‘game on’ rather dedicated to vegging out. Literally. We ate so many vegetables. I made vegetable soup and a veggie casserole. Had Alex not convinced me about ordering a pizza, I would have made something with Fennel, spinach, or red cabbage. Thanks to the Ökokiste, I’ve got to be more creative with preparing veggies. Other than that ordeal, Alex read his new Philip Kurr book on the balcony and I warmed my bare feet in the warmth of the sun. One of my favorite past times. And no I’m not ashamed to show my feet! We watched “the Wire” – our latest series addiction and an episode of Weeds. I’m devastated that U-turn is I love that character.

We look forward to seeing Marko aka Blackforest this week. Maybe he’ll deliver a Kuckucks clock. I don’t look forward to getting blood drawn tomorrow. Such is live.

It’s my b-day as of two minutes ago…although technically it starts in 6 hours because of time zones…but then really technically it starts in 18 hours and 40 some minutes because I was born at 1:46 in the afternoon. I’m probably making this more complicated than it needs to be, right?

This birthday, my last year of my twenties, will be spent looow-key. So much excitement this past month has left my introverted-self particularly imbalanced. I’ve been studying straight for the past couple of days to get the rust out between my ears. I think I understand black body radiation. Now I’ve just got to explain it in German!

Site updates are in: I’ve loaded the last of the pics from the Provence. I know, I know that was last September’s news but if you want a summer recap, look at some pics of Gordes and Roussillon.

Finally, I’ve added pictures from the Ginnie Springs campout/reunion. They are mostly people photos, take a look here.

Read about my b-day…

All 29 years sitting on our new couch behind my boutiqueSo for my b-day I woke up at 8:00 am to Eva’s SMS message for a happy b-day. Took a shower, picked up some money and waited for delivery men to bring our new couch and mirror. Throughout the day, I received happy birthday wishes from Tierry, Max, Alex’s parents, & Martin. I wished a happy birthday to Tina because it was her b-day too. Alex arrived at the apartment with bags under both arms. He brought chocolate from Belgium (courtesy from Tierry), a custom-made boutique, and beautiful glass vase with a candle. We finally decided to dine at La Bouille, (I was in an indecisive mood). And enjoyed the evening together, getting lost (again) on the way to the restaurant. A lovely evening.

Happy Easter to everyone. I finally understand the meaning behind, “April showers bring May flowers.” It has rained everyday for the past week. Four days ago, it snowed again. I am ready to wear skirts again, shave my legs, what gives? This the longest winter I hope to every experience: from first week of November to second week of April, ugh. However, the sun is shining here in Iserlohn and I hope it lasts for a little while. Ironically, it rains more so in Iserlohn than any other place in Germany.

Happy Birthday to Alex. Alex woke up super early on his birthday, couldn’t sleep. Is that as sign? In my family we have a tradition of playing, Beatles, “Birthday” really loud to wake the neighbors and the birthday person, only Alex beat me to it.
Alex’s brother, Martin cooked, a really nice cake and arranged tea candles for him for the big 3-0. We ate out at the local Lacubana restaurant and used up the restaurants entire supply of mint for Mohito cocktails. We are visiting Alex’s other brother, Roland, Tina and the new baby, Friedrich Simon. Later we will be participating in a traditional Easter Bonfire. I love fire. A busy weekend after all.