Don't be late in Germany

In my daughter's school bulletin this reminder to not be late to school struck me as funny and kinda odd, so I thought I'd share!


Lateness due to bad weather
Now winter has set in we are understanding of traffic delays and the like, due to inclement weather. However, think ahead and leave a little earlier so that your child arrives on time. School starts at 8:00 am. This means children are seated in the classroom – not walking through the main door. Punctuality and good time keeping are historically a trait of “North Germany” but also a necessary aspect of everyday life.

So am I wrong to think this only applies to the "Germans" in her International School and the rest of us are exempt or are "North Germans" the only ones that historically have this trait of caring about being on time and keeping good time.

I personally think its the rule through out the world school starts at such and such time and you are to be there and seated as so. But one thing I have learned is "Germans" do not like to be told what to do so this is a kinder more gentle way of saying "get your damn kids to school on time, who do you think you are!"

Hold the confetti, I'm coming back!

Okay my German Gym has not seen me in awhile or at all since my first visit well that 's because I was in the states for the Holiday for two weeks and came back with a terrible cold! But is it really necessary to play on my catholic guilt, is it not enough that I see myself everyday with a muffin top and get winded walking with Sophie. These constant reminders are too much!

Hallo Kathy,
wir vermissen Dich! Komm doch mal wieder zum Training!
Dein Fitness Park Team

Translation:
Hi Kathy,
we miss you! Come have a look back at training!
Your team Fitnesspark


Seriously do they really miss me?
When I show up will they clap?
Hug me?
Cheer?
God I hope not, and here I thought Germans were not friendly....!

Here is their second email attempt to entice me to return, now if they said all the "weight loss water" you can drink, cold and all I'd be there today!

Hallo Kathy,
Damit Du in Zukunft noch erfolgreicher bei Deinem Training bist, möchten wir Dich zu unserem Trainingssteuerungsseminar einladen.In diesem Theoriekurs geht es in erster Linie um Deinen Trainingsplan, Ausdauertraining,Muskelaufbautraining und die richtige Ernährung.Das Fitness Seminar findet jetzt auch immer mittwochs um 18 Uhr im Fitness Park Horn statt.Bitte vorher telefonisch einen Platz reservieren.Fitness Park Horn 0421/2760001Dein Fitness Park Team
Translation:
Hi Kathy,
So you in the future even more successful in your training are, we want to You about our training management seminar invite. In theory, this course is primarily concerned with your training, endurance, Muscle training and proper nutrition. The fitness seminar will take place now every Wednesday at 18 clock in the Horn Fitnesspark instead. Please call in advance to reserve a place. Fitnesspark Horn 0421/2760001 Your team Fitnesspark


Alright, alright I'll be there first thing Monday but no balloons or confetti please!

Reservation or Not

Reservations or Not... we found a restaurant in Oberneuland that we really like, we have frequented several times since moving to Germany. Every time we have gone it's not full and we have never had a reservation yet they always ask if we do. We are talking ten tables or more open but they seem to be put out that we didn't call ahead...a little confused by this! So tonight the manager/ bartender aka best English speaker in place said " it would be BEST if next time you make reservation" okay again empty restaurant, plenty of servers, not necessary but "it would be best". Okay so next time we will follow the rules and make a reservation because " it's best if you do"! Best is Better!

Mad for Mad Men

The only time you can sit or lay all day on the couch quilt free is when you are sick. In between blowing my nose and coughing I watched almost all of season 1 of "Mad Men". My friend gave it to me for my birthday and I have been saving it for the right time, well the time is right and I'm hooked! This is a bad thing, I believe season 2 is out which is good but I'm sure season 3 has started and since TV land doesn't exist beyond BBC and MTV I will patiently have to wait. The character Don Draper is so dreamy its a love/hate relationship we have ,but Edward Cullen is no more Don Draper is my man, my Mad Man!

I'm Sick.....................

Sneezing ,coughing, sore throat, congestion can't get out of bed kind of sick! Hate it! Why, why me!! Not the start to the New Year I was looking for.

Crazy for Hats...........

I have to say that I really don't think that I have a problem....although my family will say otherwise! I love to shoe shop and have my fair share of shoes, and coats, and I may have a slight problem; I'm willing to admit. I think of myself as a collector but not a addict of articles. My current collection though is hats. This it is a necessary collection, or addiction, because of the weather here in Bremen! I have acquired five new hats that I absolutely adore and had to strain myself and say NO to three others that I'm still a little bummed that I didn't get! Which one is your favorite?

1. Green Beanie

2. Diamond Bucket Hat

3. Another Green but different hat

4. Brown Velvet Pageboy Hat

5. Brown Quilted Bucket Hat

6. Brown Houndstooth Page Boy

7. Black and Gray Boiled Wool Bucket Hat

8. Black Herringbone Ball Cap

9. Pink Knit with Green and Brown Flower Beanie

10. Gray Smart Wool Beanie with Pink and White Flowers

Here are the three I had to come home without :(

Blog Award

This award goes to the following Blogs

http://preppyplayer.blogspot.com/

http://lovetobreathe.blogspot.com/

http://natejessanddrew.blogspot.com/

http://benbrittney.blogspot.com/

http://klw1994.blogspot.com/

Rules: pick 5 blogs that you love or enjoy the most and pass along the award!

It's that simple!
ps. make sure you post the award on your blog!!

Thanks Tami @ttmillerandboys.blogspot.com for the award!

The time has come....

Tomorrow is my official start to the New Year. Getting healthy, learning German all those goals I promised myself. Which means losing weight, part of that is giving up several things I've come to love like my Franziskaner Wissbier and chocolate. I think I can give up the chocolate okay but the German Beer! I'm going to try and just have one on the weekends. Its not that I have a problem its just really good beer but wasted calories I know this. Wish me luck and hope my family survives the first couple weeks may be rough.

Utah Photo Sabotage Extreme

Every picture taken while visiting Utah contained one or more photo sabotage's! Nobody seem to want to pose for normal pictures during this trip....could it be because they didn't want to show up in my blog?

Christmas in Utah

We had a great visit home for Christmas. It was a whirl wind of a trip, trying to fit in visiting family and friends with Christmas shopping and stocking up shopping plus eating at our favorite places and movies and skiing. We managed it all and relaxed some. I regret I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to but here are some pictures from our visit home.

Katelyn and Allie decorating the tree

Katelyn Christmas morning

Mom and Dad

West Family

Adamson Family

Spending time with F's

Work buddies

The C's and Us

Me and my GF's

Craig and Kate skiing with L's

New Years Eve Partayers!