Operation Smash Everything!

I decided to do a 2008 recap on my living in Germany 1 year anniversary. The holidays and trip to Brussels stories will come later as well. Right now, let me present my goals for 2009:

Feb - have everything done to the Apartment. We are like 97% there.

Mar - have a St. Patty’s Party (in planning phase), attend the Frankfurt Tattoo Convention and at the same time apply to receive my new US passport (in Frankfurt).

(St. Patty”s party complete, but did not make it to Frankfurt. Trip for Passport postponed to May).

Apr - I need glasses man. Gotta see the eye doctor. Take steps towards getting my German driver license + file my German taxes.

(Eye appt made 30-Apr)

Before June - have my German driver license and apply/start volunteering at a local animal shelter

June - go back to Brussels and take Guido to show him around + take a trip to Vienna, Austria.

July/August - travel back up to N. Germany either for my brother’s 10 year death anniversary (July) or for his birthday (August), to visit his grave. Complete this online photo album before his death date, as much as I can:  www.myspace.com/photos_of_joe

August/Sept - try to fly to the US with Guido: attend a Red Sox game with friends, but spend most of the time in Florida

Before the end of the year:

Travel to Poland to visit Ben and to Prague to visit Susie (again) and/or have them visit us. Have my mom visit from the US, and hopefully a FRIEND OR SO. WTF people, get your damn passports and save a little, damn!!

I think that is enough traveling, becuase I know my work is going to throw a few dooseys into the mix. I also think this is do-able and a nice balance between tending to responsibilities and having fun.

Oh and my mom, she just had her 2nd post breast cancer reconstructive surgery. She is happy with the results and is doing well (smiley face).

I know I haven’t posted on here lately. It’s because, well, I’ve had better things to do ;P

Get ready though, because I have about 4 consecutive posts coming up! The following are topics to be covered:

1) how Guido and I spent my first X-mas, New Years, and birthday outside of the USA
2) 2008 re-cap
3) January trip to Brussels
4) goals for 2009, which includes an update on my mom’s health

We are getting DSL finally installed next week, so check back again soon for my updates!

And I have a new want - EGG REPLACER!!!!!!!!!!!! So get on sending me some, people!!

I had to take a mental break and say this:

Panic took hold and is slowly releasing its grip.

Jesus, this year has been quite the emotional ride, however, these last 2 months, and especially this return trip to the USA and back, have really fucked with my head and heart.

Yes, I am back home, or what feels like home, Germany. My home TOWN is Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida (born and raised), and I feel pretty comfortable at my dad’s in North Carolina as well, HOWEVER, when I came back to my apartment, and snuggled and slept with Roxy for 7 hours, as we waited for Guido to get off of work, then snuggled and slept with him and Beauty, I felt the happiest and most comfortable of all places, even though it seemed un-real at times.

What the hell, right? Run-on, no-sense-making-sentence, much? Yea, welcome to the inside of my head. More to come later…

Some thoughts:

I miss Guido and the children, more than I could have imagined. I feel lost without them.

Lufthansa über alles!!! Any airline that serves me free Johnnie Walker Black Label and Warsteiner to the point where I have to refuse, is my kind of airline.

Marie’s vegan Thanksliving, seeing my friends, especially Carol (who made it up from PA btw), and being asked to be the ’God’ mother of my redheaded step-niece, Cailin, all ruled my life.

I am grateful that I was able to spend quality time with Mandee here in NC, and to see how her little girl has grown. Man, time fucking FLIES! Also grateful that I was able to spend some time with my grandmother who happened to be visiting NC from IL right at this time. She made a vegan peach pie for me, with homemade crust and peaches from my dad’s peach trees <3<3<3

Regarding my visit in MA, I miss those who I was lucky enough to see, and also those who just could not work it out to meet me. I would say, “Oh well, next time,” if I felt there will be a next time. I feel pretty confident that I will not return to MA, even if someone offered to pay for my trip and threw in Red Sox tickets. If my work asked me to go there for another assignment, I would probably do whatever I could to get out of it. Not because of the people I left behind in MA, it’s all me. Funny how “Endless” just started playing on my playlist as I typed this…

Off to my hometown, Ft. Lauderdale, tomorrow. My mom planned a Monday night x-mas party. Only 1 dish will not be vegan, but will be vegetarian <3 I have a special surprise for her…

Time for another slice of peach pie and then bed.