My Boss...

..is not a people person. That's ok, he's on the road most of the time anyway and we do not see him much. When he is around and comes by your office, it usually means that your workload just doubled. Does that sound familiar to anyone? Especially appreciated: randomly assigned projects. Most of them really special projects! I have a method to my madness. I volunteer before I am voluntold. Makes life a lot easier, a lot of times. I really like volunteering when it makes sense (does that make sense?)...and so I did just that about 10 days ago. Not saying that I shouldn't have, but I was plenty busy and then took work home. Now the project is complete, just has to be sustained (guess whose job that is). Along the way "the boss" and I exchanged some emails that didn't always have the friendliest of tone (neither his nor mine), but while there is a lot to say about him, one can tell him just about anything (I know, I do!). Today he shows up at my desk and hands me an envelope and dissapears again. I looked at that envelope for quite a while before I decided to open it. It was a handwritten "Thank You" note and a Gift Certificate for the Chart House, a local Seafood Restaurant. Very nice! Happy eats to me!

Fairy Godmother

Christel-Ann has her own, very own, laptop. She has an e-mail address and will get a messenger account, since she has an integrated webcam. She is doing research for her science project right now, but I think she really wants to webcam with her buddies!
I think I mentioned before that I want to be Christel-Ann when I grow up!

Here is my favorite quote from her:
"My favorite birthday gift is the laptop, but I like my kayak too"

11

Christel-Ann is 11! It was Tuesday, it was cold and rainy. Just like today.
She had her choice of breakfast (Biscuit, Eggs, Bacon and Cranberry Juice) and went to School. Paul took Snacks to her Classroom and I got off early to make some preparations for dinner.
In lieu of family we had a few friends over, ate dinner together and ice cream cake for dessert.
Just as Christel-Ann started to unwrap presents, UPS rang the doorbell and delivered a gift from her Grandparents in Germany. Perfect timing.
Christel-Ann got what she asked for: a kayak. Actually she got the paddles today, we are going to pick it up together on Thursday. The kayak is all that she asked for and that's what she got, a pair of comfy lounge pants and tickets to the movies. Emma-Louise bought her tickets to go see "Hotel For Dogs". She asked for money and gift cards to a popular outdoor store (Bass Pro) because she wants to pimp her new ride (the kayak) with a comfortable seat, cup holder, paddle harness etc.

Just a picture

Summer of 1977 is my best guess for the date on this picture.

After the deployment is before the deployment

If you are stalking me on Twitter you already know. Paul will be going on his next deployment later this year. November. Paul called me right away and while the wheels were turning in my head, and I know I don't "like" deployments. It is working out just as good as it could. Paul will leave right before our 14th anniversary but he will be BACK right before our 15th. We can put Christmas decorations up together, the girls and I can go to California for Thanksgiving (one of my best Thanksgiving celebrations ever was in 2007). He will be here during Christel-Ann's first few months in middle school and be back (or gone again) when she goes on to High School. He can take R&R during Spring break and we can meet up in Germany. And all else will fall into place as well. It always does.

Insurance Hassle

I should feel very lucky to not only have health insurance, but also have primary and secondary health insurance and rarely having to pay out of pocket. Typing this I am already feeling guilty to even feeling the least bit hassled by my latest adventure.

As I started typing I started to feel worse about complaining about such a blessing. I am very grateful to have health insurance for my family.

That's all.

2009

Happy new year!
Frohes neues Jahr!

Emma-Louise

While in utero, I referred to Emma-Louise as Emma-Lou'. I have not called her Emma-Lou' since the da before she was born. To me she doesn't look like Emma-Lou'. It's either Emma-Louise (e not silent), Louischen oder Emmalise (leftover from times when she couldn't say her name right).
Funny thing, now that she can write, she writes her name likes this:
Emma-Lu or Emma-Lou. Almost never the -ise.