One from the HUGE list

When we first arrived, actually before we even left for Germany, I had planned to write almost everyday on my blog about all the wonderful new things about Germany. I was so excited and just knew that everyday would be FILLED with new and interesting things to write about. What I hadn't planned on was the overwhelming about of new things that there are to write about. So where to start with this gigantic mental list of things I know everyone wants to know about...

So here is my plan, I will write about all these things that are so different here in Germany - some useful, some not - some huge differences, some not - some interesting and frankly some that just aren't. Why would I want to include the things that aren't interesting, big, or useful? - Because everyone keeps asking me how I like it here and this will give everyone an insider view of what life is like for us here.

To start with one from the HUGE list....

Now I have to start by telling you that this is not going to be pretty, it did involve some crying...ok, ok...a lot of crying are you happy now that I confessed? lol Seriously, there is a HUGE shortage, actually its not a shortage at all -  its a TOTAL LACK of craft stores in Germany! Nothing that would ever be mistaken for Michael's, Joann's, or Hobby Lobby. Yes, that's right...there are no craft store in Germany. I mean seriously, does no one in Germany MAKE anything?

Now, let me say this there are several stores that I have heard of that sell sewing/quilting/yarn for knitting type supplies. It seems that the only "craft" that Germans do is well knit. That's fine and all and honestly a skill that I do not but wish I did have. But it does me no good really that these are the only supplies that are available locally.

The base has an "Art's and Crafts Center" that has, and I say this very generously, a small amount of crafting supplies. I am grateful for the attempt at craft supplies but it's just really not adequate at all.

So now I am left to say thank GOD (I mean this seriously I do thank the Lord) for the internet...even if a Democrat claims that he "invented" in...and not the group of scientists that actually did (whatever...). Anyway, I seriously would die if it weren't for the internet while we are in Germany. Luckily I can order supplies from many sites online, no thanks at all to Target who wont ship MOST of their items to an APO...whatever, again. I do have very good luck in ordering supplies online, with a little planning ahead of course!

Thoughts about 2009 and the dreaded NYR for 2010

This past year has been full of "adventure" for lack of a better word. Actually, now that I think about it I can think of a better word...its a 4 letter word too, WORK. Moving regardless of how close or how far is a lot of work and no matter how prepared you think you are - you never really are. All of the planning and preparation is worthless in the end because there is always something (or in my case everything) that can and most surely will go wrong!

So this year I am making a New Year's Resolution.... see my post on Happy Girl to see what it is!

Homeless Anxiety

Today we cleared the housing office on base and now we are officially homeless and are currently staying in the TLF (Temporary Lodging Facility) on base.  Our dogs are living at the kennel this week and our cats are going to be staying with my parents until they come to visit us in a few months. We are a family separated and divided up temporarily.  During all this planning, packing, donating, and being prepared to move I was diligent in my efforts to not face the reality of being homeless, separated from my furry children, taking my older daughter from her friends, and moving from all our family. While I knew that all those things would happen I had plenty to do to keep me busy and not thinking about it in terms of reality.


My husband has been nice enough to point out to us lately, this is the last time we'll (fill in the blank) every time we do something for the last time. This morning I was nice enough to point out to him that while it doesn't really matter to him if we leave Tucson and this base because he is not from here it is very hard for those of us in this family that have lived here most or all our lives. He was then nice enough to remind me when we left our home for the last time, that it was indeed the last time we would be there. I guess my comments to him didn't make the impact that I had hoped it would. Perhaps some of that has to do with the fact that I myself was avoiding the reality on an emotional level. Either way I am now faced with it head on and I want to embrace the move but the next 4 days that I have left in my "hometown" are going to be full of lasts and that is going to be the hardest part.

While I am confident that Germany will be full of very nice people and that we will make new friends, none of those people will be able to replace the ones we are being separated from. The people we know the best and love the most. The places that we love to go, restaurants that we love to eat at and the comfort of familiarity in your surroundings. I know that we are very luck in this age of technology that I will be able to keep in touch with the people we care about the most with the internet, webcams, instant messaging, cell phones, and email. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook on this move and I was REALLY excited to find a Subway restaurant on Google Earth the other day. Now if they just had a Starbucks this move would be so much easier.