Upon hearing my (rather pathetic) reasons for not updating my blog with a _proper_ post about where I have been and what’s been happening in my life up to this point, my friend Steph suggested a wordy “drop box” of all the things I want to talk about.
That way, I get them all out there, and it doesn’t matter if they are not in chronological (or even LOGICAL) order. I can at least give an idea of the drama and awesomeness that has gone on in my life.
This sounded pretty darn on the button for scatterbrain moi.
So here goes!
* We adopted the most incredibly beautiful and intelligent dog called Gina. She is a Berner Sennenhund (Bernese Mountain Dog) from Augsberg. We were lucky enough to connect with her current owners, who are moving to China and (due to various reasons) cannot take her with them. They adore her, and it was a hard decision to find her another home, but it’s what’s best for Gina. It all worked out, as they like us, we like them, and Gina ADORES us 
On Saturday (the 14th April 2012) we will have had her with us for 3 weeks – but it feels like we’ve always had her. She fits into our lifestyle so well, and is getting fit with me and having gobs of fun with my husband (who she is absolutely smitten with) as he rough houses with her when he gets home and they get up to all sorts of mischief when I’m not looking. She is quite a small example of her breed – which is strange because her mother and father were apparently ENORMOUS, even by Berner standards – but that suits us fine, because she fits into our apartment quite nicely And on our bed too! We are teaching her “search” games (as that’s what her breed is bred for, mostly) and other “nose” games. She is very smart and picks up the games very quickly. We are moving on to more complicated games all the time and she keeps excelling. She is amazing.
* After all the issues with paperwork (Home Affairs and USCIS) we finally got everything sorted. I got my command sponsorship (well, partial) and on November 6 2011, landed in Frankfurt early in the morning. My darling husband was there – just as happy to see me as I was to see him. It had been a LONG long journey for us to get to that point and it was a wonderful feeling to be walking with his hand in mine, leaving the airport without that sinking feeling that the “holiday” was counting down. I was at last here for good. With my best friend and comrade in adventure and partner in mischief.
* My husband had to pay for my ticket with his own money (don’t even get me started on the Army reasoning for that) and so he decided to surprise and pamper me with a business class seat on Etihad Airways. What an awesome experience! I got a sleeper seat, next to the window (when they saw the plane was not full, they asked me if I would like to move from the middle to the window – I jumped at the chance) and you are nice and ensconced in your little world. I was not feeling so great (inner ear issue from an infected sinus – delicious, I know – and I had barely slept the night before) by the descent to JHB airport and I knew I was in for a rocky ride. On the flight to Abu Dhabi, I watched a few movies and ate some delicious food, but was dreading the descent to land. I tried to sleep a little bit, but despite the flat sleeper bed, I could not get comfortable and my head started to pound. As expected, the landing made me quite green – we were in a smallish airplane and I felt every tiny fluctuation in the air. Or so it felt! I lost my orange juice after we landed. My ears were ringing. It was not fun. I then began the 30 minute hustle from one side of the airport to the other (gate 87 to gate 5) gate in time. I was told they were “strict” about being there on time, so I really did rush. It was BOILING in Abu Dhabi, and this was at 10pm at night. I was drenched in sweat, and still feeling woozy and nauseous. I was so very tired. I took off my layers (I had prepared myself for German Winter, remember!) and waited outside the gate lounge area- as they were running late on another flight and our passengers had to wait “Away” from the gate. Finally, with 5 minutes before apparent take off (clearly they are not THAT strict) they hustled us in. I went through security (they glared at my tattoos *shrug* I’m used to that, though) and perched on a chair to wait for boarding, with all my belongings strapped and tucked around my body. I was scared that if I put anything down, I would be too tired/woozy to remember to pick it up. Plus, to be honest, I did not like the look of some of my fellow waiting area passengers. They were waiting for the other gate (6) and bound for Pakistan. I got more glares from them, but I didn’t care by that stage. One man even made a hissing sound at me when he decided to come and sit down (his wife had to remain standing with their baggage and 4 children of course) so I just smiled at him with my best “eff you” smile. At last, they had the airplane ready (a nice big one this time) and they called the first and business class passengers up to board. I got in line and when I got to the counter, they checked my boarding passes (all printed in CPT without a hitch) and there was much panicked gabbling in Arabic to each other. Inside, I sighed. Eventually, the woman spoke to me and explained that the business class had been overbooked – so they were putting me in FIRST CLASS! I was pretty thrilled about that! I didn’t complain, just said Wow, thanks! Took my boarding pass and trotted off down the long walkway to the airplane. The air steward looked at my pass, and then at me (I was wearing my usual traveling gear – Billabong soft pants, long sleeved light linen shirt, and Puma shoes – my hair was up in a messy pony tail and I don’t wear makeup – especially not to travel!) and then back at the boarding pass… She smiled politely and called the First class attendant to come and sort me out. She was great! In a short conversation later, as she settled me in to my PRIVATE CUBICLE with LEATHER seat that folded down into an almost full length, wide bed, I found she spoke 7 languages and had a PhD in Social Anthropology. Not just a pretty face (and she was very pretty) then. She gave me my pajamas (yes, you get your own set that you can take home with you) and complimentary chocolates. Offered me champagne (I declined and also declined orange juice, as I was still feeling vaguely ill from the last glass) and asked me to peruse the menu for dinner before I changed and settled in. I decided to stay in my clothes – I was just too tired to even think about moving now that I was seated in this comfortable chair. The menu was incredible, but I was not feeling well at all and I really just wanted to sleep. When she (I think her name was Aryana or something like that – I’m afraid my ears were still ringing and I was pretty much dead on my feet by that stage, so I didn’t listen as well as I would normally) heard I was not well, she fetched me still water, a cup of tea and some good solid bread with pieces of tomato and cucumber and hummus. I ate a little bit, but felt like I wouldn’t keep it down very well, so limited my slices. I drank the tea and sipped the water. When all the other passengers were on board, they came and cleared everything away, stowed my excess bags and hung up my coat and scarf. Take off was super smooth (nice BIG plane – plowed through the air like it was nothing) and when we began leveling off, I put my DND sign on, dimmed all my lights in my little private heaven, and slept for 6 hours. I woke up as I felt we started to descend. I felt SO much better. That’s my issue with flying – I don’t sleep, and it’s downhill for me from there. I switched off my sign, and almost immediately my personal attendant was there! She offered me a menu – but I said I would just like some toast and some more tea. She obliged in minutes. She cleared it all away and we landed about 5 minutes later. So that was my first (and probably only) experience in First Class. It has now spoiled me for any other class of travel. Wow. I would love to fly like that EVERY time I got in the air. That would be amazing. I better get rich and famous then, right?
* We go for our final interview for my green card (immigrant visa) at the beginning of May. That’s just a few weeks away. I have been sorting out the final bits and pieces for this – medical screenings, x-rays, blood draws, vaccinations, antibody tests – and it’s all coming together. Wish us luck!
* My husband was promoted to Sergeant, and I was thrilled to be there, and part of his ceremony. This happened only 2 days after I arrived! I was still feeling a bit surreal. I was very proud – gave him a good smack on the chest when I put his new rank insignia on too. It’s tradition!
* SNOW! I finally saw some! However, it has been a very mild Winter and it only snowed for 3 or 4 days altogether. Not all at once either. We had a couple of days in December, and then a couple in January and that was about it. I was rather disappointed. Then we had a rather early start to Spring and everything blossomed like crazy after about 2 weeks of very warm weather (I’m talking in the mid 20 degrees Celsius - which is very warm after weeks of -14 with max temperatures of about 4 degrees Celsius)
* We have traveled a bit, but not as much as we hoped – but we still have some time left in Germany so we will make the most of it. We have been enjoying the sunny weather (as have all the Germans here in Wiesbaden) and found some new and interesting places to take a walk with Gina. The Germans are awesome about dogs – they treat them as part of the family, so they are allowed pretty much everywhere in Germany: Hotels, shops, restaurants. German people are also very outdoorsy people (like Capetonians) so there’s LOTS to do around here in Spring and Summer, and then other things to do in Winter. Never a case of “there’s nothing to do” when you live here! There’s a chance we are moving to Baumholder at some point in the next few months – so that will be a whole new adventure! It also snows far more there in Winter – which I will look forward to! I might even get a chance to learn how to snowboard this time! There’s also a chance we will be moving to Belgium – that’s still up in the air though as to when that will happen. Either way – it’s going to be awesome and I look forward to the next challenge.
* My husband also reenlisted, recently. I was very proud of him. It was his decision, in the end, but I told him (and I meant it sincerely) that I would back him 100%, no matter what he decided. So another 3 years for my special man. I’m all in. Both feet, running. I have his six.
* My photography started out a little slow here – mostly just me shooting the area where I lived and the changes in weather as seen from our apartment windows. Luckily, my husband put my name forward to be photographer for a rather exciting opportunity: I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and pushed my skills to the limit, taking photographs of the demo of the Combat Life Saving course run at the Viper Pit. He was part of the demo for some high ranking Army officials so I got to see him in action for the first time as well. He really is exceptionally good at what he does. I was so proud to see him at work. I was then invited back a few weeks later to take photos of a group of German Bundeswehr troops going through the whole CLS course at the Viper Pit. That was truly exciting and interesting – and pushed my skills even further, as I had to take photographs in almost pitch black, with thick fog, while standing on a (fake) blood covered floor strewn with bodies and body parts. I also tried not to get in the way of the soldiers as they dragged bodies and bandaged wounds and put on tourniquets.
* I started studying! Through the MyCAA program (for military spouses) I gained access to various courses and I decided to get my Certified Pharmacy Technician diploma. All paid for, including exams, as a “portable career” for a military spouse, by the US government. Go USA! It’s been nearly 20 years since I left school. So my brain was a little out of practice – but it didn’t take long before I was churning my way through each chapter. The first 10 or so were pretty easy – mostly common sense really. Now comes the interesting stuff! More of a challenge too. It’s great to be using my mind again, after so long a hiatus.
* I haven’t found any horses around here, that I can ride, so I have bumped my fitness in other ways. I am fully committed to my running (and with Gina, I have actually pushed myself even harder as she sets the pace now) and I would like to run a 5km race in the near future. I just need to work on my distance a bit more, and keep my pace. My trusty Nike Air’s are still floating me along very well. I am also a newly hooked yoga addict – I do that on days when I am not running. It stretches me and tones me in ways I never thought possible! I also bought myself an exercise ball, and a pair of dumbbells (1,5kg each) which I use on the days when I do yoga as well. I mix and match sessions so that I don’t get bored – as that’s my main block against exercising regularly. I feel healthy, and fit and happy. Even without the horse riding. I don’t have sixpack abs anymore, but I have lost a lot of my wobbly tummy and my thighs are toned too. I feel good!
That’s about all I can think of now, to drop in the hodgepodge, so I will end it here before I ramble on too much.
Thanks for reading!
