30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 20

HaPPy HaLLoWeeN!!!
It's surely obvious what I will be thankful for today! I love holidays. I like to send out holiday cards. I love decorating. I enjoy the traditional holiday foods and treats. Halloween is no different.
I got my Halloween "costume" for $10 on clearance. It's that bright orange shirt.
I asked my German neighbor earlier this week if we should expect trick-or-treaters here in Germany. She told me that it is not custom in most of Germany, but around here, where there are so many Americans, it is more common. She said they don't really come in our neighborhood. Well, I was a little put out by that. I love to hand out candy. I love to see the kids in costumes.
So, I called my friend, April, who has two children. I asked her if I could see her little munchkins in their costumes. She obliged and drove to our house this evening on their way to base for trick-or-treating. I love the costumes! I love the sweet little baby in his monkey outfit and his brother as a ninja.
I bought a small bag of Snickers just in case anyone came by. Eureka! The first pair of German children came by proclaiming their desire for sweets in German. The evening has been filled with more German kids ringing the bell and saying, "Süßes oder Saures." I love it!
Today I'm thankful for Halloween and the fun it brings (and the socks I get to wear!).

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 19

Please note: I don't intend to have a political discussion, but just want to express my experiences.
I have been without health insurance a few times in my life. It's terrible. I've become very ill during these times. I was too sick to work, too old to be on my parents' plan, and single. And the only thing I could do was pray that somehow some charity would pick up the $100,000+ tab for my hospitalizations, tests, and medications.
I've had to forgo treatment because I didn't have insurance; thus, becoming very sick. It is a conundrum.
Even when I was young enough to be on my parents' plan, the co-pays for each doctor visit, each medication refill, each test, ER visit, hospitalization, etc. were a hit on the budget. I don't know how much my parents paid out-of-pocket for me, but I imagine it's in the thousands of dollars. I still feel guilty about it, but I try to put it in perspective: if one of my nieces or nephews needed such medical attention, there would be no question that I would do all I could to pay for it.
I applied for Medicaid a couple of times. It is routine to deny a person the first time out no matter what. It's terrible. I could barely walk.
Recently, I had to go off base to see a doctor. I've known for a couple of years that my thyroid has been underactive, but doctors have been hesitant to diagnose me because it's been borderline. Because I work in the medical field, I always follow my labs and have seen the trend. Finally, once I saw a German doctor, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It may sound a little funny, but I'm so thankful for the diagnosis! I was given a common thyroid medicine to treat it. And it is AMAZING the difference I feel! It's not really anything I can explain except for how tremendously normal I feel. My body feels like it's in balance.
I had to fill this prescription at an off base pharmacy. I was afraid at first because I didn't know how much it was going to cost. Because I've been without insurance before, I understand how incredibly expensive medications can be. I knew I would be able to claim it and get a refund from my health insurance, but I still had to pay out-of-pocket first. Total cost for 100 tablets: €13. That's about $19. I was very surprised. Even so, if I'd been a German citizen, it would have been free.
So, although our healthcare system is crumbling, I'm very thankful I have health insurance. I'm thankful for my medicines that keep me healthy. My hope is that there will be a smart healthcare reform where everyone can benefit, because everyone deserves an equal opportunity to live a happy, healthy life.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 18

Jer is awesome! He works out in the mornings twice/week and every day after work. He sometimes goes on the weekend too. Up until last week he has had a workout buddy--someone to motivate and push him. I'd been doing my own workouts at home, but decided I would start going with Jer at least three times/week. This has worked out really well because now I have motivation to really push myself.
Each time I go to the gym, I run on the treadmill on a slight incline for 30 minutes straight. The speed stays constant except for the times I push it to go a little faster. I never put it back down. Also, we sometimes lift weights after we finish cardio.
I'm thankful for Jer, of course! But today I'm thankful for one of the things Jer is to me: my support and encouragement as we become healthier, more active people. He's been a great motivator to get me out the door.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 17

Yesterday the piano tuner came. He came when we first moved to Germany. He came to our old house we lived in for 2 months (at the time we didn't know we'd be moving). When he tuned our piano, a couple of the old hammers broke inside. He was going to have to come back with the parts to fix it. He was also going to fix my broken music stand and the the top of the piano that wouldn't stay on. I've wanted to play many times, but I just can't play a piano where two of the keys don't work. It was too frustrating. My poor piano!
(You can see which two keys are broken if you look closely at the picture. Also, don't mind me playing in my work-out clothes!).
Since then, we moved to the house we are in now. After a few scheduling problems, he was finally able to come back yesterday.
I'm so excited! He tuned my piano again (it needed it after moving--again). He fixed all the things he said he was going to fix and it looks really good. Now I just need to do a little restoration work to the wood. I'm doubly excited because it's growing closer to my favorite piano-playing season: Christmas. I love to play the piano, and I especially love to play Christmas music!
Yesterday I played Christmas music only. This morning I played Christmas music for about 40 minutes. Then moved on to classical. My favorite composer is Chopin. It is said that he composed music for his students to learn technique. While I play his pieces, I like to imagine I'm working on a specific technique. For instance, when playing Revolutionary Etude, | I think this genius work of art was composed to train the left hand in fast scales. I'm not a music major, nor have I looked up the history of each piece, but I find Chopin's style, techniques and melodies to be far superior to any other piano composer.
Chopin's Berceuse (click on this link, then on the play button to the right) is genius to me too. I am amazed at how the left hand barely changes its melody throughout the six pages of music, but the piece as a whole is such a fresh, soothing lullaby.
I could go on and on about Chopin, but this is not a dissertation. I am just so thankful today for my piano! I'm thankful for my musical talent that seems to have been ingrained in me from birth. And, I'm thankful for Chopin, who somehow wrote music over 100 years ago that speaks directly to me.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 16

Sometimes it's the little things in life that can make life so enjoyable. Today I'm going to post about one of those little things. I am thankful for socks!
I LOVE socks! I'm not talking about boring, white socks. I mean fun, wacky socks. Holiday socks. Toe socks. Happy birthday socks. Skiing socks. Hiking socks. Workout socks. Fuzzy socks. Slipper socks. Knee socks. Ankle socks. Argyle socks. Froggy socks. Pom pom socks.
I think the only type of socks I don't have are Thanksgiving socks and 4th of July socks.
I have a lot of socks. I think it's one of those things I can't have too much of. It's also one of those things that when I get a new pair, I'm just as excited about them as I was the last pair I got.
I couldn't take a picture of all of my socks. Some are dirty. Some just didn't fit in the pictures. But I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures as much as I enjoy wearing them. I'm thankful for socks!

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 15

Today I'm 1/2-way to my goal of 30 days. I can say I'm thankful for that, which I am, but I can think of something much better that I'm thankful for to blog about: my crock pot!
I love slow cookers. I use it at least once/week. Three days per week I go with Jer to the gym. It's so nice to come home to a warm meal already cooked. I don't have to prepare very much, nor do I have to spend any energy trying to figure out what to make. It's as if elves came while I was gone and filled the house with the aroma of slow-cooked food. It's wonderful!
I've made many things in my crock pot. I've even tried desserts. I made a pumpkin cake once. It was really good!
Tonight we will have Italian herb chicken, mixed vegetables, garlic bread (when I don't have any, I used sliced bread, spread it with butter, add garlic powder and grate some Parmesan cheese on top and throw it in the toaster oven for a couple of minutes!), and tapioca pudding for dessert!
There's something about a crock pot meal while it's cold outside that is wonderful. I smell it...it's warm...it's tasty...it feels like home.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 14

I hope I don't make anyone jealous with this post.
I have one of the coolest nieces ever! Her name is Hannah. She is 11 years old. She is so beautiful, really smart, and very talented. She is very aware of people's feelings. She gives some of the best hugs ever.
She just made first chair for the flute section at her school. She is so dedicated to the things she wants to do.
She has made me many things throughout the years. One of those things was a door hanger. I've had this door hanger for about 4 years now. It hung on my closet door in Virginia, and now it's hanging on my closet door here. She made it with 2 sides. So every once in a while I can flip it over for something new.
She is a good writer. She writes me letters. I love getting her letters in the mail. She usually sends something else with the letter. Sometimes she gets her brothers to draw a picture or make me something. She has very neat penmanship.
She got me a cookie jar for my birthday this year. I was told that when she saw it, she wanted to get it because she knew I liked frogs. She is so thoughtful! I use it too: I have homemade cookies in it right now.
She likes to play Animal Crossing with me!
Today I'm very thankful for my niece, Hannah. She is a wonderful person. I love her very much.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 13

I'm stretching it a little with my picture today, but I want a new picture with each post, and this is the best I can come up with.
Today I'm thankful for a clean mouth.
I went to a Pampered Chef party this evening with one of Jer's coworkers. She is really nice. There were a lot of people there. Everyone brought their kids. It was loud. Regardless, I still had fun and came home with something cool.
During one of the games we were playing, I heard an adult curse right in front of a child. I'm not really fond of swearing. Most people in this world do it. I hear it all the time. I wish I didn't. But how sad that it's such a part of some people's vocabulary that they would do it in front of children.
So, I'm thankful that I can control my language. I'm thankful that I can come home and not have to hear it. I'm thankful Jer has the same morals and I don't have to cringe in my own house. I'm thankful I can feel peace here.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 12

I've always hated to cook. It's not that I don't know how. I grew up in a house where Mom cooked or baked dinner every night. Going out to eat was a treat. Mom is a GREAT cook! She patiently taught us kids how to make things ever since we were little. Every kid likes to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch. The only bad part is the shortening, so Mom always did it.
Mom instilled in me a knowledge of how to cook and bake. She taught basics like when measuring flour, don't pack it, but spoon it in; but you should pack brown sugar.
I love home-cooked meals. I have just hated preparing them.
Since we have moved to our permanent house, and the weather has gotten a bit cooler, I've started cooking. I don't have a job anymore, so decided I needed to take on this responsibility. I have been so surprised that I enjoy it! I LIKE to think of what to make for dinner. I LOVE eating in and sitting with Jer and the table and talking. This has been a highlight of my and Jer's day!
I am so thankful for a mom who taught me how to cook. I am equally thankful for the desire to do it that has finally come. I've been cooking and baking almost daily for a month now, and it hasn't gotten old, it's become routine. And Jer and I both love it.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 11

Today I'm thankful for fun correspondence via snail mail, a.k.a. the USPS! I have always loved stationery, and (note)cards and stickers. What the pictures show is only about 1/2 of what I have! I enjoy writing notes and mailing them to people. My favorite are the unique note cards that come in fancy boxes and have different pictures on each one.
I love greeting cards. I like to pick out a whole bunch and send them randomly to people. I like to think of specific people as I pick them out. I like every holiday because they usually have a greeting card to go along with it. I find cards for all occasions, but mostly "just because." These are the best ones!
Nobody really expects a card in the mail on a random day of the year. I love to surprise people with randomly-sent cards in the mail. In my imagination, it goes something like this:
You get a card and are excited because the envelope isn't white, so you know it's going to be good. You see the return address and wonder why I am sending something to you. You turn it over to open it up and you see a cleverly arranged funny or cute sticker on the flap. Already you are smiling. You open it and read a funny quip and my handwritten message.
And life is good.
I spent $40 last month (I know!) on stickers and greeting cards. I will use them. You might think I'm crazy, but wait till you're the one receiving the card. Then you'll think that $1.99 was worth the money!

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 10

I wanted to follow up on yesterday's post with a topic that is dear to my heart.
Yesterday I expressed my gratitude for the sounds around me. Today I want to express my gratitude for the opposite. I will elaborate:
In Washington, I had a great friend named Beth. She is deaf. She, her husband (also deaf), and her family started coming to church. Although she had hearing children who could interpret, I really felt a closeness to her that inspired me to learn ASL (American Sign Language). I checked out books at the library, and went to her house quite often to ask her how to sign words or phrases that were hard. I became fluent in conversational sign language.
My friendship with Beth opened up another world I didn't know existed! I went on a date with a guy who was deaf. I met other deaf and hard-of-hearing people. I became friends with many of them. They would sign so quickly to each other, but I loved to watch intently and absorb all I could. There were times when I, as a hearing person, was in the minority. But I felt completely comfortable.
Something I have learned from the deaf community: they are some of the most giving, open, patient people. They become fast friends and are very accepting. They are warm and generous. They are skilled and intelligent, and have a wisdom that shows deep insight.
Beth became my best friend for a couple of years until I moved away. I loved signing with her. We would have races to finger-spell the alphabet with both hands. I sometimes won!
The best thing about learning ASL has been the ability to express myself. In spoken English, there are so many times when a word eludes me. In ASL, I can express my emotions. It's not just signing words, but emotions, thoughts, feelings, and using facial expressions. I found ASL to be very liberating!
I once met a man who was both deaf and blind. He used sign language to communicate. When I signed back, he would lightly touch my hands to feel what I was signing. This was one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had. So many people in the world would dismiss such a person. But he was full of life! He had opinions, he was caring!
Today I am thankful for the deaf community. I have used my ASL in many settings. I've interpreted for a wedding, I've interpreted at the doctor's office, I've taught a missionary discussion in ASL, I've taught beginning ASL to many people, I've met people I would have never met before! I have loved meeting deaf people, even here in Germany! If I'd never learned ASL, I would truly be missing out. I have learned things from the deaf community that I couldn't have learned otherwise. I love them, and just want to express my gratitude for them.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 9

I can take all sorts of interesting pictures, but I can't capture the sounds of where I live. I love the things I hear throughout the day. There is a church about a mile away. Every day at around lunchtime and evening, the church bells toll. On Sundays they chime in the morning too. I love the call of the bells.
I looked out of my bedroom window this morning and loved the scenery and sounds. Jack Frost came for a visit overnight. The crisp, clean breeze on a sunny, gray/blue sky; an airplane overhead; distant noise of a saw; people getting into their cars--the exhaust brilliantly expelled in dissipating clouds...all the sounds complete the picture.
In Germany they have quiet hours. It's a law in the whole country. From 1pm - 3pm, and 10pm-7am you cannot make excessive noises. It means you can't do yard work (use the lawnmower, weed whacker, etc.) in the middle of the day. That also means that if you have any glass jars to recycle, you can't take them to the recycle bins during quiet hours because they would make too much noise. (I will blog about the garbage/recycling program in a different post). At first I thought this law was outlandish! But I really appreciate not hearing cars drive by with the bass turned all the way up. I love the peacefulness it brings to hear nature, or at night, listen to the sound of quiet. I am really thankful for the sounds of Germany.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 8

I've come to this realization on my blog before: Even though earth's land surface is an enormous 57.5 million square miles, it's amazing how there are connections on the other side of the world!
Emily's good friends, Rob and Tasha, moved to Munich earlier this year. (Munich is about a 4 hour drive from here). Emily was roommates with Tasha (in D.C.) who married Rob. Jer and I had the opportunity to meet Rob this past week when he came to stay with us while taking a class on base. Rob is a really nice guy!
A few days ago I was talking to my mom and she told me some connections that are really cool! She said she grew up with Rob's triplet aunt and uncles, and she just recently saw them at her class reunion. There are some other coincidental meetings and connections too. It's just so funny to meet someone for the first time in Germany that has a bigger connection to my immediate family than I ever thought! Sometimes it seems like the world's vastness keeps expanding and I live so far away. But then, just as I start to think about how far away from my family I live, or how long it would take to fly back to Seattle (I sort of dread that trip!), something happens that makes the world's expanse shrink a bit.
We've enjoyed having Rob here. I'm a little sad to see him go. He is the perfect guest--quiet, polite, kind, clean...
Today I feel really thankful for family--not just the family you would think of in the traditional sense: my family doesn't have to include only people I'm related to by blood or marriage. I've been realizing over the past several months that other people who truly care about you, and you also care about can also be considered family. It's a different type of family I never knew about or experienced until we moved here.
I'm happy to know Rob now, and hopefully next time, Tasha will be able to come too. It's nice to find and meet people who can be a part of family in Germany. I feel like I'm not alone over here.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 7

Sometimes things happen to make me feel thankful for something that I didn't remember I was thankful for. Jer is sick today. We've eaten the same things, but I don't feel sick. He rarely gets sick. One time he had a fever for 3 days! This was as we were selling our house and moving out at the beginning of this year. I think we were both run down because I caught it a few days later.
Usually if Jer's sick, that means he has a sore throat for a day or two. Today he felt so queasy he had to lie down and close his eyes. I've never seen (or heard) him throw up. He has an iron stomach. I hope the day never comes where he's that sick.
That said, we are both generally healthy. We each take a multivitamin daily and are active. I'm always thankful for my good health, because I know what it's like to not have it. But I'm especially thankful for Jer's good health. I hate seeing him not feel well.
By the end of this evening, Jer was feeling better and gave me a smile on his way up the stairs (without knowing I really was going to post the picture!). To health! Or, as the Germans say, Gesundheit!

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 6

I imagined some days would be harder than others to blog about what I'm thankful for. Today I have waited until the last minute to post something. I've actually had a wonderfully relaxing Saturday. Jer spent most of the day doing homework. I played video games for a bit, then read my book. It was lightly raining outside and I sat curled up on the couch, a blanket over my lap, reading by the light coming in through the picture window. I was soon fast asleep.
I never take naps. It has been so many months since I've taken a nap, I really don't remember the last time I did. It's not like I stayed up really late last night. I woke up at a reasonable time for a Saturday: about 9:00am. It was nice to have Jer home all day even though he was busy on the computer most of the day.
After dinner (I have been cooking dinner every day lately!), we sat on the couch to watch the latest Netflix movie we got in the mail. My Netflix queue is so long, I don't really bother visiting it very often. So, each time I get a movie, it's a surprise. Tonight we watched "The Abandoned." It was terrible. I'm sure I added it to my queue because it was a Netflix suggestion. Whatever the reason, I recommend staying as far away from this movie as you can. There was no plot, no-name actors, boring script--the perfect makeup of a 'B' movie. I would say it was a complete waste of time except it wasn't. I got to snuggle with my man for 1 1/2 hours on the couch!
Whatever the movie, I'm thankful for Netflix! The best thing about Netflix is that we can keep the movies as long as we want, and they have the largest selection to rent from. I love getting a movie in the mail and opening it up to see what we got. Simple pleasures can sometimes be the best things.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 5

For those who don't already know, I have an awesome family. I am the middle of 5 kids. I have an older brother and sister, and a younger brother and sister. We are all very close and involved in each others' lives.
While each sibling deserves to be showcased, and I am truly thankful for each of them, I probably won't blog about each one. I still have 25 days left of blogging each day, so I can't say for sure; but, today I want to express how thankful I am for my little sister, Emily.
I video chatted with Emily today (hence, the funny picture). Emily is a really neat person. She is kind and likable. She avoids contention and likes to make other people happy. She has a witty sense-of-humor. For those that know her, they will agree that she is one of the coolest people to know. She is a great friend.
Emily called one day to tell me that she signed up for the CCFA 1/2 marathon. She will be running in Las Vegas with her D.C. team in December in honor of me and my brother. The next couple of months she has designated to training and raising money. She has agreed to raise a certain amount of money for CCFA and will have to make up the difference out of her pocket if she doesn't meet her goal. Emily is so brave.
In addition to her personal blog, she has also created a blog to track her training progress and talk about her personal experiences of why she chose to run for CCFA. I don't think a lot of people can run a 1/2 marathon, but even less can take on the challenge of fundraising at the same time.
Because of her charity and giving spirit, so many people have responded and donated. I am so humbled by the amount of support she has already received. I think her success so far is a true testament to the awesome person that she is.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 4

What I'm thankful for today is Animal Crossing on the Wii. Before you judge me, I need to backtrack so you understand.
For over four years, Jer and I lived in Virginia. We were a 3 hour drive from my younger sister, Emily, and a 4 hour drive from my older sister, Julie, and her family. I love Julie's kids. Having family nearby while in the military is lucky. Julie and her family, and Emily were the highlight of living in Virginia.
When we moved away, it was really sad for everyone. There were tears. It was sad for me too to leave them all, but it's almost always easier to be the person leaving than be the one(s) left behind.
Anyway, Julie's husband, Steve, bought Animal Crossing and plays it frequently. Soon the kids also started playing it. A few weeks ago I decided to buy the game because I knew they had it. I've enjoyed the game myself, but the best part is getting online with the game. I can go through a tunnel and visit Steve's Animal Crossing town. I have played with 2 nephews and 1 niece this way. We run around the town, picking fruit and selling it, talking to the townsfolk, and typing things our characters say to each other. It's actually been a delight! I've called Julie a couple of times just so one of the kids will get on the game so we can play together.
I love that I can live thousands of miles away and still play a game with my nephews and niece. And it's fun. Thank you, Animal Crossing!

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 3

It is really cold today. It has been cold for two days now, but today marked the first day that was colder than freezing. I couldn't stand having no heat any longer. We both sat here with jackets on and not able to get warm. So, I set out to figure out how to turn on the heat.
Each room has a space heater built in with a "thermostat" with numbers from 1-5. They use water with designated pipes for the heaters to heat the metal elements, and that heats the room. They say we are supposed to open the windows for 10 minutes/day to prevent mold. Can you imagine? Dead of winter and we have to open the windows. This is the norm in Germany.
If it were just a matter of turning the numbered knob on each space heater, there would be no problem. However, we found out that is not the case. So, I went across the street to the German neighbor to ask for help, but her son answered the door and told me to call the landlord when I asked. I don't want to call the landlord. Jer didn't either.
So, we went down to the basement and flipped a switch. No dice. This shut off the gas. No gas = no hot water. Then Jer took the panel off of a box thing (see pic--the normal water heater can be seen to the right of it) and messed around with it and found an "On" switch. We now have heat!
While the heating system is not as convenient as I'm used to in the States, I'm so thankful I don't have to survive the cold months without heaters--like people had to before the 20th century. I'm thankful for heat that is fairly simple to attain. I'm glad we don't have to chop down trees every day to heat the house by fire.
We've never had a fireplace before we moved here. We have one now, and it's sort of a novelty to us. Jer started a fire and I love it! I love the ambiance a fire brings. I love that we can sit comfortably warm on the couch, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the evening together.

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 2

Yesterday I got out everything to make chocolate chip cookies. I washed out my Kitchen Aid bowl and set out all of the ingredients on the counter except one: shortening. I realized I didn't have any. I've been wanting to bake cookies for a while now, so I decided to run to the commissary really quickly and pick some up. Just as I was leaving, Jer and Matt (his friend) walked in and told me we were invited to dinner at Lisa's house. This is good news because it means I don't have to cook, and Lisa always prepares yummy food. So, they went to Lisa's and I ran to the store first and met them there.
Today I am making my chocolate chip cookies. They taste so much better with butter flavor Crisco than regular butter. I used my mom's applesauce chocolate chip cookie recipe. I also tweaked it a little and substituted part of the sugar with Splenda. I'm trying to duplicate the taste of the sweets here in Europe--they have a hint of sweetness, but do not overpower with sugar. They are perfect! I love these cookies! Today I am really thankful for applesauce chocolate chip cookies. And to add to that, I love my Kitchen Aid, so I'm thankful for that too!

30 Thankful Days in Photos: Day 1

My cousin-in-law, Rachel, had a GREAT idea. She decided to blog for 30 days straight and include a picture each day. She has such cute kids and they are always doing something. She challenged her blog readers to do the same thing. At first I thought there was no way I would do it. What could I possibly blog about that would interest people? Then, throughout the day, I kept thinking of something my little brother said in an email recently: Be grateful more often. So, I've decided to put the two together and blog for 30 days about things I'm thankful for. I think some of my readers may be interested, some won't be, but I'm mostly doing this for myself.
Without further ado, here is what I'm thankful for today:
Autumn.
I love this season. I've lived in several places in the world during autumn. Each place is beautiful. Whenever I'm driving home, I pass a tree. It's a unique tree I haven't seen before I moved here. Its leaves flutter in the wind, making it look like it's on fire. There are more blooming flowers here in autumn than I've ever seen anywhere else before. I love autumn in Germany.

KMCC Grand Opening!

It has been the talk of the town since we got here. I'm sure it has been the talk for years before we got here. I'm talking about the new KMCC: Kaiserslautern Military Community Center. It's a mall. Imagine, a mall on base! Different stores throughout, a movie theater upstairs (with 4 theaters!), a Harley Davidson store--with so many motorcycles(!), German and other vendors in the middle--just like any mall in the States. Except, this one houses the largest BX/PX (base exchange [Air Force]/post exchange [Army]) in the world. Now, had this monstrosity opened somewhere in the US, I would have stayed away from the throngs of people and crowded parking lot. But in Germany, where the older BX was small and the dollar doesn't go far off base (and it is quite difficult to find things tailored to Americans), the opening of the new KMCC was like going to Disneyland!
It has been said that if you don't buy what you want when you see it, it will be months before you see it again. I have been looking for months for a dish rack. I saw one once many months ago. I didn't know back then what I know now.
I don't have a dishwasher here, so I have to do dishes by hand. At first it seemed inconvenient, but I have a routine now, and I actually don't mind it. Maybe that's also because there are only 2 of us, and the occasional guest or two.
I have also been looking for book shelves since we don't own any, and houses in Germany don't come with closets or any type of shelves (they say it's because a closet counts as a room and they would have to pay more in taxes).
I've looked for the country track pack for Rock Band.
I've wanted a king-size duvet for our bed.
I wanted a specific perfume.
I need clothes. The old bx catered to teens and old ladies. What about us in-betweeners? Thankfully, I have found a favorite clothing store off base--but haven't quite figured out their sizing for jeans.
Many companies won't ship overseas--even to an American P.O box on base. It's quite frustrating.
These things would be so simple to pick up in the States, but here, I've been looking for these things for months. They never had any of these things in stock when I looked.
And so, you can see why I am quite excited for the new BX/PX, and why I was there first thing in the morning for the ribbon cutting ceremony. I wanted to be one of the first in there to grab a cart and shove my way through the aisles--to all the things I've been wanting, needing, and dreaming of.
I bought my bookshelves, duvet cover, video game, perfume, and dish rack. I daresay I bought more than that. I couldn't believe how enormous the place was. My shopping cart was packed full and I couldn't fit any more in. I happily took my purchases to the car.
I left the KMCC to pick Jer up for lunch, and we headed back (there is an enormous food court there!) so he could take a peek inside. We got lucky finding a parking place since they were closing the lot. My bookshelves were already sold out by the time I returned with Jer. So were the king-size duvets.
We bought a new guest bed there later that week. So much furniture and choices of everything! I was really glad I went to the grand opening so early. I am happy. If I want anything, chances are, the new KMCC will offer it.

Milk It

One evening last weekend, Jer and I decided to watch a couple of movies. Before we started, we went to the kitchen for some movie snacks. Just as I was getting the popcorn popper out, I heard Jer start laughing. I turned around and this is what I saw: empty cup and milk in salsa bowl. OOPS! :D