Hey there!
I have been pouring over the tourist guides and found out within the last few months that many hotels and restaurants are closed during November in Oberammergau because it's a slow time!!
WOOO HOOOO is all I can say!
I am almost packed and almost ready to go!!
Rowdy
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Just 9 more days and counting....
I started packing this week for the big trip!! I am excited and anxious at the same time!
Got some folks praying for me for the anxiety and I think as I get a little closer to the trip, I will get more excited. Right now I am feeling like I have left something out.....oh....that would be my Mother. She is not going and it really makes me sad. Maybe I will get over it once I get on the plane with my sister and daughter.
I have been watching the webcam in Oberammergau and it's already snowed there! I hope it snows at least once while we are there! Snow and the cemetery where my grandparents are buried is an awesome combo. I have never seen a prettier cemetery than the one where my grandparents are buried in Oberammergau - they were buried there in 1955 and the locals call it the new cemetery. It's way younger than the one where my Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl are buried - the old cemetery next to the beautiful Catholic church. This will be my first trip to the cemetery to visit my Aunt and Uncle. They have passed away since I was there last in 2003. I think it's going to be surreal. In my mind, they still live in their house where we visited them so many times over the years. I will miss them and I will miss my mom going too. I pray for an awesome trip! After all, I am doing what my Mother trained me to do - to keep up the travel tradition so that our familes can stay connected. Thank you Mom. You trained me well. I love you!
Got some folks praying for me for the anxiety and I think as I get a little closer to the trip, I will get more excited. Right now I am feeling like I have left something out.....oh....that would be my Mother. She is not going and it really makes me sad. Maybe I will get over it once I get on the plane with my sister and daughter.
I have been watching the webcam in Oberammergau and it's already snowed there! I hope it snows at least once while we are there! Snow and the cemetery where my grandparents are buried is an awesome combo. I have never seen a prettier cemetery than the one where my grandparents are buried in Oberammergau - they were buried there in 1955 and the locals call it the new cemetery. It's way younger than the one where my Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl are buried - the old cemetery next to the beautiful Catholic church. This will be my first trip to the cemetery to visit my Aunt and Uncle. They have passed away since I was there last in 2003. I think it's going to be surreal. In my mind, they still live in their house where we visited them so many times over the years. I will miss them and I will miss my mom going too. I pray for an awesome trip! After all, I am doing what my Mother trained me to do - to keep up the travel tradition so that our familes can stay connected. Thank you Mom. You trained me well. I love you!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Less than six weeks!
Less than six weeks for Germany!!
I am looking at maps, travel books, travel websites and still feel unprepared. There's that anxiety again! Anxiety be gone!! This will be my 7th trip of a lifetime...I sure need to go. It's like being away from home too long.
Next week I go to see my sister in Bama. She is going to Germany with me and my daughter. I am sure she will get me all excited. We plan to go to AAA to get our international drivers permit or license together after getting a passport pic! We are going to scrapbook together with my Dad and StepMom and hopefully spend time with my Mom and StepDad and go to a local German restaurant. YUM!!
It will be nice to be back in the bosom of the fam! I haven't seen them in over a year! WOOO HOOO!!
Jo Anne
I am looking at maps, travel books, travel websites and still feel unprepared. There's that anxiety again! Anxiety be gone!! This will be my 7th trip of a lifetime...I sure need to go. It's like being away from home too long.
Next week I go to see my sister in Bama. She is going to Germany with me and my daughter. I am sure she will get me all excited. We plan to go to AAA to get our international drivers permit or license together after getting a passport pic! We are going to scrapbook together with my Dad and StepMom and hopefully spend time with my Mom and StepDad and go to a local German restaurant. YUM!!
It will be nice to be back in the bosom of the fam! I haven't seen them in over a year! WOOO HOOO!!
Jo Anne
Monday, September 14, 2009
Bad Travel Dream
It was bound to happen! For this upcoming Germany trip, I have been feeling a little anxious because this will be the first time EVAH that I have gone without my Mom who was born and raised in Germany! I have made all the hotel, vacation house, flight and car reservations myself for my sister and my daughter. They are so hands off they don't have a clue.
Yesterday I was really feeling low - not low about going but about the responsibility!! The last time I went, I flew in with a friend about 3 days before my Mom got there and the responsibility of planning, executing and doing in Munich with someone who was as hands off as my sister and daugther are was almost unbearable. I planned everything. Where to go, when to eat, where to sit, when to go - and all in a place where we don't speak the language and on top of that it was cold and rainy. I was never so glad to leave Munich and get to Oberammergau in my life.
So...after my low day yesterday it's no surprise that I dreamed last night I was in Spain and lost and couldn't speak the language. Spain must have come up from a travel report I was reading on Fodor's yesterday. I dreamed I was in a hotel with lots of people I knew and we were all going to go together to some destination and when I came out of my room to join them, they were all running single file in front of me down the corridor at our hotel and I could not catch up to them. I ran out a side door hoping to intercept them and I guess I decided that I could catch them on a bus that was sitting there but when I got on the bus after paying, I couldn't convince the bus driver that I was on the wrong bus because he had no English and I had no Spanish. So, I just sat down with the attitude that I had plenty of time to find myself before I had to show up at the airpoint to leave the country. That's what I always think when in Germany, if we get lost, we will have x amount of days to get back to the airport and I am not going to worry about it. lol
The bus probably comes about too because everytime I got on a bus with my Mom in Germany, she wasn't ever sure where we were going! Oh my goodness. It's funny looking back on it!
No more anxiety! No more bad dreams! Only good stuff from now on!! Cos we are going in a little more than six weeks! WOOO HOOO!!
Yesterday I was really feeling low - not low about going but about the responsibility!! The last time I went, I flew in with a friend about 3 days before my Mom got there and the responsibility of planning, executing and doing in Munich with someone who was as hands off as my sister and daugther are was almost unbearable. I planned everything. Where to go, when to eat, where to sit, when to go - and all in a place where we don't speak the language and on top of that it was cold and rainy. I was never so glad to leave Munich and get to Oberammergau in my life.
So...after my low day yesterday it's no surprise that I dreamed last night I was in Spain and lost and couldn't speak the language. Spain must have come up from a travel report I was reading on Fodor's yesterday. I dreamed I was in a hotel with lots of people I knew and we were all going to go together to some destination and when I came out of my room to join them, they were all running single file in front of me down the corridor at our hotel and I could not catch up to them. I ran out a side door hoping to intercept them and I guess I decided that I could catch them on a bus that was sitting there but when I got on the bus after paying, I couldn't convince the bus driver that I was on the wrong bus because he had no English and I had no Spanish. So, I just sat down with the attitude that I had plenty of time to find myself before I had to show up at the airpoint to leave the country. That's what I always think when in Germany, if we get lost, we will have x amount of days to get back to the airport and I am not going to worry about it. lol
The bus probably comes about too because everytime I got on a bus with my Mom in Germany, she wasn't ever sure where we were going! Oh my goodness. It's funny looking back on it!
No more anxiety! No more bad dreams! Only good stuff from now on!! Cos we are going in a little more than six weeks! WOOO HOOO!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
NOT GOING to Great American Scrapbooking Convention!!
Disappointed doesn't even describe how I feel. I got an email from the GASC group saying that they were cancelling the convention!! I am still going to Bama and I will just spend two days with my sister but I am going to have to change my flight reservations and that's going to cost 180 dollars to change my ticket! That is such a ripoff!!
Not so sure at this point that I will ever attempt another city other than this one for a scrapbooking convention!
Bummer!
Not so sure at this point that I will ever attempt another city other than this one for a scrapbooking convention!
Bummer!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Going to GASC!
I have made my Great American Scrapbook Convention reservations and I have booked my flight so GASC, here I come!! WOOO WEEEE!!
I get to meet up with my sister and a few friends in Chattanooga and we are going to scrapbook together!!
I get to spend time with my sister Dixie and my friends Jeannie and Barb!!
Come on September, move a little faster!!
Rowdy
I get to meet up with my sister and a few friends in Chattanooga and we are going to scrapbook together!!
I get to spend time with my sister Dixie and my friends Jeannie and Barb!!
Come on September, move a little faster!!
Rowdy
Monday, August 17, 2009
Talking to myself and feeling down.....
I guess these days when I update my blog, I am talking to myself! No big deal!
So...I am not rocking the weight loss yet. Just last week I was a maniac one night on the treadmill and decided to try running and I pulled a muscle on the right side of my abdomen that hurts everytime you get up, lay down, breathe, move...you get the picture!
Since that muscle hurts, I have slowed down a little bit. I also noticed that I wasn't feeling good and it's probably a sugar thing. I have decided to cut back on the carbs, eat smaller meals during the day and I hope to boost my metabolism and lose more than a pound every two weeks!
Gotta get er done!
Rowdy
So...I am not rocking the weight loss yet. Just last week I was a maniac one night on the treadmill and decided to try running and I pulled a muscle on the right side of my abdomen that hurts everytime you get up, lay down, breathe, move...you get the picture!
Since that muscle hurts, I have slowed down a little bit. I also noticed that I wasn't feeling good and it's probably a sugar thing. I have decided to cut back on the carbs, eat smaller meals during the day and I hope to boost my metabolism and lose more than a pound every two weeks!
Gotta get er done!
Rowdy
Monday, August 10, 2009
Let the weight loss begin!
It's official - I am fat.
With me running off to Germany in a little bit more than two months, I need a more updated shape than just round. Hey, round is a shape isn't it? lol
We got a treadmill a couple of weeks ago and it is just amazing to me that you can walk for 30 minutes and that burns up something like a coke. That's just CRAZY!
This week I am ramping up the walking and the decrease in calories. Already I am thinking about how much those cookies or that coke are going to take on the treadmill to get it off!
Really, when you break it down, if you are over weight and you eat sugar, guess where that sugar goes? Since your body isn't using it for fuel, it stores it. I no longer want to be a fat storage facility. From this day forward!
Let the Weight Loss Begin!
WOOOO HOOOO!!
ROWDY
With me running off to Germany in a little bit more than two months, I need a more updated shape than just round. Hey, round is a shape isn't it? lol
We got a treadmill a couple of weeks ago and it is just amazing to me that you can walk for 30 minutes and that burns up something like a coke. That's just CRAZY!
This week I am ramping up the walking and the decrease in calories. Already I am thinking about how much those cookies or that coke are going to take on the treadmill to get it off!
Really, when you break it down, if you are over weight and you eat sugar, guess where that sugar goes? Since your body isn't using it for fuel, it stores it. I no longer want to be a fat storage facility. From this day forward!
Let the Weight Loss Begin!
WOOOO HOOOO!!
ROWDY
Friday, July 31, 2009
German Memories!
My mom called me last night and we talked about my sweet Aunt Ella since yesterday she would have been 75!!
One of my last meals I shared with my Aunt Ella, Uncle Karl, Mom and my friend Cheryl was at La Montanara in Oberammergau, Germany. I always order Spaghetti Carbonara at La Montanara because lets face it, it is absolutely wonderful!! Aunt Ella always enjoyed getting my left overs. That's notable since almost every German finishes their big meals and there are no left overs or no doggie bags! La Montanara sends those left overs home with you!! YUM! My mouth is watering as I am writing this! The last time together, Cheryl and I tried some grappa! Oh my Goodness. It tasted like an electric storm in a glass!
I hope to take Dixie and Erica there when we go back in November. I will be thinking of Aunt Ella when we go!
One of my last meals I shared with my Aunt Ella, Uncle Karl, Mom and my friend Cheryl was at La Montanara in Oberammergau, Germany. I always order Spaghetti Carbonara at La Montanara because lets face it, it is absolutely wonderful!! Aunt Ella always enjoyed getting my left overs. That's notable since almost every German finishes their big meals and there are no left overs or no doggie bags! La Montanara sends those left overs home with you!! YUM! My mouth is watering as I am writing this! The last time together, Cheryl and I tried some grappa! Oh my Goodness. It tasted like an electric storm in a glass!
I hope to take Dixie and Erica there when we go back in November. I will be thinking of Aunt Ella when we go!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
German Bread
What I miss the most about Germany, besides my Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl, is German bread.
When we visited my Aunt and Uncle over the years they thought that someone in our group, which was usually me, should go to the local bakery every morning for fresh bread. They usually wanted me and the bread to be back at the house around 7:30 to 8:00. Okay, during my 20's I didn't grumble too much about that but when I got to be older, I thought hey, it's my vacation!!! What am I doing up at 7:30 going for bread? I was so ungrateful, I was staying with them for free on vacation!!!
Now, since they are gone, I would love to spend one more morning with them in their cozy little kitchen drinking coffee that would grow hair on your chest and eating fresh bread with German butter. I can just see my Uncle Karl putting about 7 or 8 sugars in his Nescafe Instant Coffee and my Aunt Ella setting out the cute little bread plates for us. I can see the semmel roles and the pretzels that were big enough to cut and put butter on the insides. I can see the evaporated milk that went into the coffee. I can see me drinking coffee and enjoying all the milk and sugar.
I will think about my Uncle Karl and Aunt Ella in the mornings in November when I enjoy the bread with my daughter and sister. Thank you Lord for precious memories.
When we visited my Aunt and Uncle over the years they thought that someone in our group, which was usually me, should go to the local bakery every morning for fresh bread. They usually wanted me and the bread to be back at the house around 7:30 to 8:00. Okay, during my 20's I didn't grumble too much about that but when I got to be older, I thought hey, it's my vacation!!! What am I doing up at 7:30 going for bread? I was so ungrateful, I was staying with them for free on vacation!!!
Now, since they are gone, I would love to spend one more morning with them in their cozy little kitchen drinking coffee that would grow hair on your chest and eating fresh bread with German butter. I can just see my Uncle Karl putting about 7 or 8 sugars in his Nescafe Instant Coffee and my Aunt Ella setting out the cute little bread plates for us. I can see the semmel roles and the pretzels that were big enough to cut and put butter on the insides. I can see the evaporated milk that went into the coffee. I can see me drinking coffee and enjoying all the milk and sugar.
I will think about my Uncle Karl and Aunt Ella in the mornings in November when I enjoy the bread with my daughter and sister. Thank you Lord for precious memories.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Germany Plans
I am so stinkin' excited!
My daughter Erica, my sister Dixie and I are going to Germany and Austria in November!
Wooo Hooo!
This year, we are going to try some new things. I have been to Germany multiple times before, however, I usually traveled with my German Mom, Aunt or Uncle. Not this time. Mom doesn't want to go and my German Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl have passed away since I visited last in 2003. This year, we are going to stay in Munich, Oberammergau and Salzburg. We are going to rent our car in Munich (that's new) and drive ourselves down to Oberammergau (that's new). We will drive to Salzburg (been there, done that) and turn the car back in in Munich (that's new). One day I just pulled the Munich map out of my book shelf and saw that where we will be staying in Munich will be dangerously close to the Autobahn so we are going for it!!
I hope that one of my Scrapfreak friends, Tamara, will be able to join us in Salzburg!!
More details later!!
My daughter Erica, my sister Dixie and I are going to Germany and Austria in November!
Wooo Hooo!
This year, we are going to try some new things. I have been to Germany multiple times before, however, I usually traveled with my German Mom, Aunt or Uncle. Not this time. Mom doesn't want to go and my German Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl have passed away since I visited last in 2003. This year, we are going to stay in Munich, Oberammergau and Salzburg. We are going to rent our car in Munich (that's new) and drive ourselves down to Oberammergau (that's new). We will drive to Salzburg (been there, done that) and turn the car back in in Munich (that's new). One day I just pulled the Munich map out of my book shelf and saw that where we will be staying in Munich will be dangerously close to the Autobahn so we are going for it!!
I hope that one of my Scrapfreak friends, Tamara, will be able to join us in Salzburg!!
More details later!!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Spiritual Gifts
I just got home several hours ago from a 24 hour retreat with my Small group. We went away to study our spiritual gifts!! What a great day!!!
I had a 2 way tie for my top gifts - giving and hospitality. In second place, I had another 2 way tie - faith and intercession! I would have thought that leadership would have been at the top but my idea of leadership sure wasn't the same as what was in our study book. lol
I would surely like to operate in all the gifts. We did find out from one of our girls who had completed her gift list about 6 years ago that your gifts can shift. Hopefully as we mature, we can gain some of the gifts. I know I want more!!
I had a 2 way tie for my top gifts - giving and hospitality. In second place, I had another 2 way tie - faith and intercession! I would have thought that leadership would have been at the top but my idea of leadership sure wasn't the same as what was in our study book. lol
I would surely like to operate in all the gifts. We did find out from one of our girls who had completed her gift list about 6 years ago that your gifts can shift. Hopefully as we mature, we can gain some of the gifts. I know I want more!!
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