DCI weekend travels

Lovely Liz rooked me into taking a car load of kids to DCI in Atlanta - what is DCI?  I have no real clue, something about bands and competition and it's HUGE as it's at the Georgia Dome.  Did she leave an open spot in the car for ME to bring someone with me?  Nope.  Did she think *I* would need something to entertain me while she was on her adventures?  Nope.

Sigh.

So Off I head to Atlanta with 7 kids in the car.  Yeah, me.  I drop them off and decided to try the Varsity for the first time.  I have to say I did like the orange shake - just short of a dream-sickle taste... but good.  The person in front of me recommended a chili dog/chili burger combo.  I was surprised at how THICK the chili was - it could stand up and say 'howdy'... it was OK... the onion rings were the bomb and I know why college students like it after drinking all night, that's for sure!  BUT for this (getting slightly (oh and I mean SLIGHTLY) older) woman, I think I'll pass.  it's not a memory from my college days, so the draw isn't there.  I'll go to Hermies instead for fry sauce :)

Project completed...

I picked up this clock a while back.. I should have taken a before picture - I'm getting to be very bad about that, aren't I?  Well, it was a brown stained bamboo color - dark, not light.

I didn't like it, it had some nicks in the body of the clock (one near the foot), so I patched it all up with some Spackle, hit it with some Kilz and painted it ....

 Purple... this picture makes it look a shade lighter than it looks in person... but it really is purple.  If you look above, you can see why I did purple - to play into the painting above (wisteria) and the curtains in the room... what do YOU think?  Too much?

Threes.. Why three?

Well. Because its just that way... The third was NOT my car it was - drum roll please. The upstairs A/C unit. Yep belly up and blowing HOT air like a heater. Not good. Not good at all! I had known there were bad noises from it and had nudged Butch to fix it - he said the bla bla bla needs a bla bla. So... Do it? Nope. So now it's blowing hot air. The girls had stayed upstairs earlier in the week and knew it was hot up there - another case of NOT telling the parental units. Sigh. So I start calling to check lead times on a technician. I finally found one with Keadle Air. He came out that afternoon and fixed it. Yeah!!! There is a freon leak, however - boooo. That, however will have to be a morning call as our other unit is in the attic. It's WAY too hot to do that job in the afternoon!!

So there you have it...and MY car has still not made it to the shop to see about its sticky lock yet either. Maybe it really doesn't come in threes? Maybe it's 4's and 5's around here? Scary thought! I only say this because that was the trend last year...

Let's hope not!

Someone Jinxed me... saying I hadn't posted in a while.

Why do I say that is a jinx?  I don't post until I have something to say... and regretfully, I have something to say now...

It all started... kidding, kidding - its not that long of a story (or maybe it is!)

I'm working on my three expenses this year that will break me.  The Truck - I offered sweetly like a LOON to have Butch's truck in the shop for a MUCH needed brake job since it hops down the road like a bunny when you are braking - always a fun experience.  Anyway, his comments when I offered this - he's on his way to the Tortuga's when this offer was made via phone - his words?  Well, while you have it there get the transmission service and the 100,000 mile check.  Me, stupidly, had NO idea what that would cost.  Let's see, Ford thinks they are now in a league with Mercedes... $900 for the 100,000 check with transmission flush and coolant, because lets face it I don't think this truck has seen much "servicing" in it's life... THEN the $500 for the brakes and rotors.  OUCH.  So, $1500.00 and it drives (and STOPS) like a top!  Damn well should for that cost!

So... I get the truck home at 6pm (I'm walking a bit funny from loosing part of my a$$ on that one)... I go to the computer - THIS computer... #$%^&*() computer.  It will NOT talk to my iPad nor iPhone anymore... %^&*() yes, I'm NOT happy with this thing... and it won't load the updated drivers - Say's the are just fine... yeah, right.  So, anyway, I'm working on it until 10pm when the girls (Clair and Liz) get home... first solo drive to and from practice... I'm happy to see them - UNTIL.... Until when you say?  Until I go towards bed at 10:30 - remember fighting computers, girls not home until 10... yeah... it's late... I hear a noise... not a good noise... I follow it and the outside upright freezer is SQUEALING... yeah.. and it's THAWING!!!  OK, it had not been doing this when I came in.. however I also didn't notice that the freaking door was OPEN either... ALL DAY. 

OK, so you can tell my language skills are now gone and reverted to four letter words and a LOT of them... "just who is this everyone knows the doors close on their own on fridges and freezers?"  Really????   REALLY???  No, they do NOT close on their own... MORE four letter words... oh, yeah, I'm THRILLED to discover this at 10:30 on the way to bed... NOT.  So... I drag out three coolers and toss all the non-thawed fish into the coolers and have Liz call Mom and Dad in Utah to see if we can stuff their freezer with our fish... LOTS of fish... I stuff our inside freezer with all we can.  I chuck all that is soft and thawed... fast, fast, fast - all coolers full to the brim with fish... dash to mom and dad's house, STUFF their freezer with fish... and I mean it's full.  They also inherited the LARGE box of corn dogs ... I left the candy in the freezer and booked.

So... it's now midnight and I'm dragging butt home.  I decided there was no smoke and maybe just maybe it's squealing for an alarm, and when it gets to temp it will shut up - it has been thawing all day while running... we'll see if it will ever catch up.  Nope.  All night squealing and nada - more melting.  Sigh.  The girls were left with the job of get all the candy out and put it into the cooler in the laundry room...

Now here is the "hello my name is Donna and I'm a hoarder..."

No, your eyes do not deceive you... that is TWO coolers in the laundry room  In my very weak defense, there is probably a tub of margaritas in there as well - the ones you add booze and freeze... yeah, I didn't specify to NOT put that in there and just chuck it.

So there you have it... all my Halloween candy stash - in ONE spot - there is no denying how much there is now, is there?  hahahaha

AND this is WHY the freaking door to the freezer was left open - CANDY raiding.

Guess my savings on the candy cost bit me in the butt, eh?

They come in three's - did I mention I need to take MY car to the shop again because the drivers side lock will not engage via remote anymore.. it's like it's sticking... yep... my third.  Let's just stop there on the expenses please!!

TDY to Dayton

I didn't want to have to go, but it all worked out in the end. 

I took this picture for Liz as the XM radio I had contained Korean music and talk shows.  She would have LOVED it - me?  I sat on the channel long enough to see this and take a picture for her!

 Pretty sunset one night

 the photo's don't really do it justice it GLOWED bright pink - the camera on my phone just wasn't enough to do it... but it was all I had.

 AND regretfully the ONLY phone I had for the dinner photo op as well - we went to dinner one other time after this one too!

This is Doug (DJ), Wendy and Tess.  Tess is the same age as Lizzie and they were bath buddies in Aviano growing up - too bad they have NO memory of all that!

It was SO good to see them again!

 went to Red Robin for lunch while there too - hadn't been to one of these in ages.

 

 Rainy day departure.  I sat in the airport watching the rain and eating breakfast the day I left town... quite relaxing.

 check this - I got UBER leg room on my flight home.  I did have to play footsie with the flight attendant when she was sitting in the jump seat, however that wasn't for much of the trip.  Talk about an AWESOME seat to be in!!

Children and growth

 

Measurements from the beginning of June.. Wow is all I have to say!

Living a "Charmed" life...

After getting back from this trip, I realize I live a very good and adventurous life.

Really, how many people can say they have been to all the places that I have been?  I had traveled more than most by the time I was 29.  I had been to Australia and New Zealand when I was 25.  I then went to Europe with my cousin a few years later and backpacked from Paris, France to Sorrento, Italy and back again.  At 29 I was lucky enough to have gone to Europe to live and was able to travel to Egypt while there to dive in the red sea as well as go to the Netherlands to see the tulips… and many places in between with Oktoberfest and all the things that go naturally with living in Europe.  After putting or traveling shoes back on over the last few years we have been to St. Thomas, Alaska as a family and I was able to take a solo trip to the United Arab Emirates to see friends there. 

After we had moved back state side after living overseas, things did calm a bit on our travel, however to our defense we did have two small children by then. 

Liz was lucky enough to be dragged all over Europe as an infant as we didn’t let her age deter us – she was able to see London and parts a little north at the military base there.  She has played in the dirt of Pompeii and swam in the ocean near Pisa.  How many kids can say that? 

This last trip was fun to take her back to those places and let her see the things she has no memory of as we left when she was 2.

I believe she has the wanderlust in her blood and will want to see more of the world… I sure hope so – it’s a mighty big world out there!

Where do I want to go next?  India… or Greece.  Debby talked to me while we were there about a house rental  on a small Greek island.  Now THAT sounds like a true vacation. J

Still on the bucket list (and has been for YEARS) is an tour of the Rio Negro via boat.

Job hunting

Air Force Materiel Command	TRAINING ADMINISTRATOR	eligible
	Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist (Emerging Leader Program)	eligible
	Supervisory Logistics Management Specialist (Emerging Leader Program)	eligible
Air Force Materiel Command	Operations Research Analyst, DR-1515-2/3/4
Military Sealift Command	IT SPECIALIST (SYSANALYSIS/CUSTSPT)
Forest Service	Program Specialist
U.S. Air Force - Agency Wide	MANAGEMENT ANALYST

 

Well, I was shot down on a few more jobs while I was gone… sad, but true.  I’m down to those seen above.  I was kicked out of the training leadership job possibility – however, qualify for a job there still .  Strange.

So, time is still marching on and things are a-changing at work.  We’ll see what happens on the rest of this for the guys.  They have something worked out with our local contractor and headquarters, so I should still have support, but less of it if they move up to support all three Centers,…. Oh wait, we’re complexes now.  Sigh… things are sure in an uproar all over the place, eh?

Did I mention I’m ‘oh so happy’ to be back at work after two weeks away?  Hahahaha!

 

And I'm back...

I had three foot of growth on the wisteria. I had to have Butch get out a ladder so I could get up to reach the top and weave the new growth through the top rungs of the pergola.
The grapes are fuller and have more grape shape in the fruit.
And regretfully Butch's lawn mower had an engine blow up on him while I was gone. So here he is zooming around the backyard on his new mower. ;)
And the triple deck planter that didn't survive my absence :) Small price to pay for a wonderful two weeks :)

Day Fifteen

Got up and showered and visited with Qamar a while. We talked about his job with Novel and what he does. Sounds like it would be a great job to have ;). Wonder if I could talk Butch into moving overseas? Yeah probably not ;)

I got to the train just a few minutes before it arrived and transferred without issues. I LOVE first class as its all business
men and women and not crowded :)
Oh look found a picture of Berry hanging in Wendy's car as we drive around town. It was nice to see parts of town that are "normal" gives perspective to the Amsterdam life ;).
Berry was now my only travel companion for train so he kept me on track for what station to get off on ;)

He likes the top of the double dockers as well ;)

The train we too went right to the airport which was handy!

We thought for a while we would get two seats so we could spread out. No such luck however our travel partner was nice. His name was Jason from Alabama. He works with pneumatic type tooling and such for cars and aircraft plants. Should have written down his company to see if our work has those type tools. Would have been an interesting coincidence. He had been in France for work. Yeah. How would THAT be? Nice. I think he said the town was Nor or Noc. Hum horrible memorie!
So that and an 8+ hour flight and I'm back in the USA... Sigh. It was a FUN trip.
Can't wait to do something similar with Angela in four years. Until then we may have to get with the Rieblings for the Greek island vacation we talked about :)

Day Fourteen

Staying with the Riebling family yesterday and today had been good. Good to sit and chat and watch the girls get reacquainted. I'm sad that I'm leaving Liz for three weeks but I know she'll have a good time
I got up and for dressed early this morning. I'm not used to SUNNY rooms and their house is very nice with a lot of skylights and big windows. It's a large house by Europe standards - has three beds and a bath in the second floor there is a three step bump on each of the levels as well so two bedrooms on one side then a three step bump and the other two and a bath. The toilets are separate from the bath all together. Different rooms all together so that's something new for me.
The main floor has the living kitchen and dining room and WC then a three step bump for a bedroom and a shower room.
Downstairs they have a full basement with TV and Bar an laundry area so a large house. Oh and a one car garage as well.
To me the neighborhoods here are more utilitarian and like our neighborhoods at home. They do have a cute little downtown.
Liz was able to make a half day of school with Clair yesterday and it's good we were coming in early as they had planned for Liz to go to school with them on friday BUT no school. So Liz got to see the school and meet a few of their friends.
These clouds are zooming by.... Im in pants and a light jacket. Yes a very different experience from the first part of the trip!

Some of the country

The train

CBS
Oh and wifi on this train too :)
And I'm finally on the double deck trains for commuters. :)

Caught up with Wendy over a nice lunch at La Place at the mall near their house then spent the day laughing and catching up. We walked to their local market as well. While there it was sunny, then cloudy then it rained. I'm telling you. If you don't like the weather in Rotterdam, wait. Minute, It will change!

Oh I did take a picture on this outing. Gotta love his hair :)

I'm telling you Dutch are funny.
We stayed up fairly late for me on this trip and went to bed at 11pm. We did, however, fi f a more convenient route for me to take to the airport in the morning. ;)

Day Thirteen.

Our breakfast from the train along with a hot chocolate and a coffee.
There is a horrible bread and a horrible soft cheese in there as well :op. ha! The muffin and OJ was good enough!
After a HUGE language gap and everyone starting to ramble on to me in German. Ha! And me with not even enough combat knowledge of German to be of any help.
Ah well. Then we got to the Dusseldorph stop and could not find the Herzogenrath stop anywhere. Scary! So I finally asked a nice woman who looked up the train info and pointed us to the right track and train. After that it was easy to match up our times and train numbers to the correct train/track number. after that it was a breeze to figure out where we needed to be.

Liz and I waited at the bottom of the train station for Mrs Riebling. Due to a snafu of the first train in missed our first connection and caught the next putting us in conflict with school. We didn't have to wait long.
Leo - love Leo and Leo loves Berry!!

Happy girls!!

Girls watching Dr Who!

And with that I went to take a shower :) now I'm sitting in their cute backyard enjoying a nice cool day and a lot of birds chirping. :)

Day twelve.

Packed up and ready to GO. We had to wait for the taxi for about 15 minutes. The good news? We waited in the lobby ten hiked out. He was waiting at the gate when we got there. AND he was 18€ not the 23€ the metered taxi was. Even better :). I was concerned as I didn't see a meter when we got in so asked how much. He complained (rightly so) that he had provided the rate sheets to the lodge however they don't post it and everyone asks him "how much". Well - would you?? Got to the train station and only had a few minute wait. (less than 15). Off To Munich via Venice. Seems weird, but OK.

Berry waiting outside the Venice station. Since we had an hour and a half we walked out and got some lunch to go. Sandwiches and waters. And a pistachio cookie for me :) as its SUPER hot here right now we also got our final gellatos :)
Looking out from Venice as The train starts out
Looking back at Venice
Little island almost to the mainland

And we're off. I don't have pictures on the phone of the countryside. And I know now I have failed Liz. I told her "this is where Hedi lived" to which I was greeted with "who is Hedi". Sad day for me!!

On the other side of the mountains from Verona we hit rain... Lots of rain. We're still 2 he's from Munich so we could go right out of it fast enough.
Snow covered Alps in the far background.
Innsbruck:
Finally into our night train in Munich. After a few hours wait and a horrible headache for me ... Altitude changes and/or weather changes. Hard to tell. Add that to the smokers in Germany and I was in some pain. So drugs and Burger King for dinner. Sad, but true.

The good news is the headache went away. :)

Our train to Dusseldorph.

Elizabeth in the top bunk... There was a reservation for the middle bunk as well....I had the bottom bunk. We got settled in and turned out the lights. 

We rocked and rolled all night long!

Day Eleven

Doesn't seem like 11 days... Then other days it really feels like ELEVEN days. Ha! The biggest difference the last two days have is that there is a car. A car makes all the difference in the world. If you want to go somewhere you aren't packed In with 100 other hot bodies on a warm day. You're able to come and go and adjust your temperature as you like it...not just pray the metro will start up for a breeze.

So anyway. We went to the post office and found as a retiree we can only mail 1lb packages. Really? That's the weight of the freaking BOX. Sigh. Best laid plans and all. She'll have to get the Rieblings to use their status to mail stuff home.

So. We went To lunch with Denise instead! We had a nice lunch at the Italian Mensa and talked and caught up. I got a picture of us together at the 31OSS offices as she still works for them. It was so good to see her!

After lunch we drove north to Udine... Following signs ro the hospital. That was interesting. We go to the original entrance... Even to the old building.... To the third floor. Neonatal wasn't there anymore. They moved two years prior. I knew we should have gone when Liz was 13! Ha. She didn't get to see the old rooms. Or the visiting peoples viewing areas... The new area is very modern and doesn't have the viewing anymore which makes me sad.

The secretary was so happy to see her and meet her and guess who's the director now? Dr Cartarrosi. The same dr as when she was there years ago! There was also. Female dr there when we were as we'll and she took a liking to Liz and took her back to see the babies :)

I got a photo of Liz with them both and will email the photo to them when I get home. Again on the camera not the phone so I can't post it just yet.

Then the long drive back and I knew where I was in time to side track to the old homestead as I didn't get a picture with Liz in it because the family who lives there was home for lunch when we were there last :o/. Hard to take a picture of their porch when they are home. Ha!

Then we filled the gas tank for tomorrow. It was at 3/4 full still. The cost? €32. Sigh. Expensive trip BUT it only happens once to take your daughter back to her old stomping grounds. Right?? Now that was a trip to Barcis and Udine. So really good length trips in there..self justifying. Can you tell? Ha!

Tomorrow is get up and return rental car and hike off base. Yuck! Catch a cab and head to the train station for the next leg of this trip. :o)

oh I do have a few pictures!
The rental.

Can you see who's gonna drive? 
Ha!
Too tall for this car! The rear view was blocking part of my line of sight so I kept ducking to see. And Liz doesn't say "smile" she just clicks away and moves on ... In telling you no one will believe I was in this trip.
Road to Udine looks a bit different. Lots more stores along the way and only two suspected hookers.
Zoom!
Gas prices...look good until you figure in the euro and that it's in liters. Sigh.
This is what we did when we got "home"
And after and hour or so chilling in the room after a lot of driving/riding we went to dinner.
We went to what used to be the Spaghetti House now known as ? Hum. I don't recall...and after all our travels were taking less and less photos. Sigh sorry folks!!
I did take pictures of the LAST Italian sunset. Makes me sad!
Goodnight Italy! Tomorrow hiking out the gate to catch a taxi to the train station. Off to Venice and on ward to Verona then on to Munich. Catch an overnight to Duessledorph then on to the Rieblings.