Heute Köln..morgen Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Wesseling Deutschland!!

 Hallo..images of Köln, the Kölner Dom, and other sights..tomorrow will share pics of the conference center we visited in Wesseling...Gute Nacht!!

We are finally home!!

Good Morning to you all..so very sorry that Fluffy has been on hiatus for several days but we either had to pay for internet usage, sit in the lobby to use, or mostly with all events I just had no time what so ever to sit at the computer for more than a couple minutes at a time..Our whirlwind week and a half found us in Kaiserslautern, a day in Köln, a few days in Wesseling..all in Deutschland, and then we drove thru the Netherlands (Holland) to end up in Brüssel, Belgium..I have, of course fabulous pics to share with you all and will post them later today, I did not take the time to unload the car last night and will have to find..literally..my laptop..thanky to my husband for sharing his!!..after all of the ins and outs, packing and unpacking the car looks like about 3 bombs went off inside of it. I must say though..ending the week with a seminar in NATO headquarters is a bit of an awe inspiring event..as a Captain, being with many , much higher ranking officers from not only the US but from worldwide is a honor that I do not take lightly. I expanded my contact base within my 'German life' as I call it and made new friends..shared shopping tips with Generals and got to exchange thoughts and ideas from 'Think Tanks' from places such as India and Switzerland..Dalton got career advice from LTCs and COLs that took the time for him..heard amazing presentations from highly intelligent individuals and from soldiers who have been there done that. Feeling super blessed to be a part of the CIOMR community and the doors that it has opened in my life. 
Found out while I was gone that I did indeed pass my B2 test..second level German language test..was super happy about that as I was 100% sure I had blown it. That single piece of paper that is called a certificate is about to open the world of working as a nurse in Deutschland for me while I am in PA school..insert about 50 smiles and high fives here!!
After all of the events we were super happy to be home with Matthias and the critters ..not to mention being able to drink a cup of coffee in my jammies and be on the internet this morning..all without having to shower and do the whole getting dressed thing first..ahhh..the little things in life is what makes it good!! Okay, now to enjoy a Sunday morning with my amazing husband and cuddle with the fuzz faces..Bis Später!!

Oh baby it's cold outside!!

 Good Morning all! Wanted to finally post pics of what the weather was when we left Ostfriesland on Wednesday..but as you can see below the sun was starting to shine and it made for a gorgeous day!..these pics were taken between Thusday and Sunday before we left but the snow was still there on drive day! There is no snow here a little further south but the day yesterday was GORGEOUS..about 4 Grad and sunshine! However, as I am doing my normal cannot sleep at the hotel dance this morning when I looked outside at about 0300 I can see that it attempted to spit a little frost onto the cars below! Got Dalton up at 0500 yesterday to go to the gym, we got there about 0530 and it was already full..today we will have PT-physical training with the unit..as usual with team building activities it will be fun and full of some good ol competition and lots of laughs..does a body super duper good! We did splurge yesterday after filing my taxes..yes, one more to do block checked off!! We ventured onto Ramstein and ate dinner at Macaroni Grill- I was so full that when we got back I think I pretty much went straight to bed..after reading of course..
New book..auf Deutsch mind you...Ostfriesen Killer..this is one of the series I wrote about earlier by Klaus-Peter Wolf, a writerfrom the area where we live that bases all of his books from there..I , as usual have lugged all of my homework with me..plus other need to books and notebooks..both for continues Deutsch lernen and upcoming PA school..now to make the time between events to get some of it done..As we only have 1 packet of coffee in the room I ventured down to the lobby this morning and got a cup of coffee..it is much better anyway, the coffee in the room is pre measured in packets and tends to be American style..hard to drink for a girl that is now used to strong, dark energy giving coffee..that is ummmm..Euopean style..sorry Folgers..I was a fan for many years but my tastes and needs have changed!! Thank goodness waiting at work will be good coffee also..thanks Trey!! Below are pics of the beautiful flowers my sweet husband brought me a few days before we left..he is getting to enjoy them now!! and my baby dog Max feeling warm and happy to be indoors with one of


his new toys from Christmas..actually this one was one of Marli's but Max just assumes all toys are for him..while Melissa has developed a love affair with the remote control..it is safe when it is on the table but when on the floor or sofa she just knows it is a toy for her!! We can't be upset with her though, she was a Straßenhund and is just now learning to play...Okay, it is almost 0430 now..time to get the day started..be blessed and enjoy your friday!!

Noch einmal....

Good morning all..today brings yet another day of driving to...drumroll here...Kaiserslautern. I am excited because not only will we be at my second home but then we head to 2 new places also..Wesseling, Germany and then to Brussels, Belgium..Dalton will be traveling with me to see the ROA side of the house..not just what I do when I am at work..wearing clothes that make me look like a man!!..No offense but just how attractive are combat boots really? i must say I was never really a PINK girl before I joined the military but now after several days of wearing green and beige I tend to girl it up more so now than previously. Am excited to see people that I met last summer while in Brno, Czech and meet new ones. At anyrate, have some pics to download for you all but they will have to wait until we are settled into the hotel this evening..I wish you all a great Wednesday..cannot belive an entire week has gone by..time flys when your having fun!!..or at least super busy!!

Monday..already??

Good morning to you all..sorry haven't been on Fluffy for a few days..am feeling a bit overwhelmed and as a result have spent some time totally just vegging out on the couch.Am getting ready to head back to Kaiserslautern and then 2 other stops within a week & a half period of time , then home for a few days and then off to go skiing!! Very excited about that as we need a vacation pretty bad in this household..lots of stress last year..time for some fun, along with lots of hard work and some pretty major changes this year. As, the snow began a few days ago, we have been spending quite a bit of time shoveling the white stuff, not only from our driveway but also from my husband's grandparents driveway..I had previously not had the need to do this very often and find it interesting that it has the same effects as running..you kind of get into a rhythm and it makes it..okay..this sounds crazy..a bit relaxing. okay, since I am a bit older now..my back does not always thank me afterwards but there is something about the serenity of the white, calm, quiet landscape and the fresh air..and I have to say, yesterday as I was walking the dogs..the neighbors who usually just turn their noses up at me when I say Hello actually responded back..maybe that it the secret here..snow on a Sunday morning!! or maybe it is the fact that we were all industrious enough to be outside when we really did not have to be..who knows, I will take whatever it was and be happy with it.
Saw on facebook this morning that some of our soldiers will be leaving..some to go back to the states, a couple on deployments..that is the hard thing #1 about living so far from the unit..you don't really get to stay in touch with what is going on in the military community and #2 the longer I am in the military..esp the reserves I am learning how quickly thew face of our unit changes, people who you grow to like and respect, whose families you get to know..most of them will go on to other assignments, to live in other places..I am finding the older I get these changes affect me differently..maybe it is because most of these soldiers are younger and as I get to know them I feel protective of them, as they are our responsibility..even though most of them have way more knowledge and a lot more time in the military than I do..at anyrate, I stand in awe of them and the choices they have made to be so young and so brave, with young children and their entire lives in front of them and the awesome opportunities they have..hat off to you guys..this includes the girls..know that you have all made a difference and we are proud!!
So, once more to put some warm clothes on and start this day..with the snow of course!! have a great Monday and be blessed!!

It snowed!!! Finally!!

 Good morning to you all, sorry I did not get these posted sooner..but wanted to tempt your tummies with some super healthy veggies and homemade sunflower seed bread this morning!! Along with pics of Miss Marli helping me in the kitchen..loading the dishwasher and then when I was getting stuff out of the fridge for dinner she found a new place to sit and explore..crazy cat, she is something else and absolutely a constant source of entertainment for us here at home. For those of you that read Fluffy on a regular basis, you know that one of my goals this year is to read 8 books 'auf Deutsch' am happy to report first book is finished and we are not even to the end of Jaunuary yet..Kleiner Veganer Bibel was written by a vegetarian who wanted to learn more about being vegan, well wriiten and interesting..would recommend it, note here..this book was wriitten for those from or living in Deutschland. My plan is to begin reading the collection by Klaus - Peter Wolf today, an author from the area where we live that bases

his books off of the area..criminal mysteries..or Krimis auf Deutsch..these type of books tend to be my favorite to read but I have been trying to incorporate other types into my daily reading habit also...so this morning calls for a trip on the treadmill and then we will be heading to the animal shelter to walk some of the pups who have yet to find their forever homes...and then home to walk our babies..Max likes to wait till after his mid morning nap to venture out..oh the perels of being an old man!! So, here is to enjoying being out in the snow, getting some fresh air and being with the pups !! Enjoy your Friday..

Hump day already??

Guten morgen all..I must say, everytime my husband comes home from work and says he has had a $%&%$§"(/&%% day and then plays country music on the internet I can feel the waves of change coming over our household ...I must say, even though we may be 40 something years old maybe the time has come for some life changes for our mental and physical well being..this goes along with my post from the other day..not being everything to everyone..but making ourselves happy and finding that source of peace within..I know that I have definanatly gone through this particular struggle and have had to learn to distance myself and say no..basically to set boundries no only with others but also with myself, the fact that I have learned that I must not jump everytime the phone rings or that if I just do not feel like going to an event, whether it be family or acquaintence related I just don't ...as a result I am calmer and not so pissed off all of the time, because for a while there I was a raging bi%&$§(?!!h..for sure. needless to say, home is a better place to be since I got a grip on myself and regained control of my life..even though it is super busy, it is super busy on my terms..and I have as a result ended up meeting some great people recently and other paths are opening up to not only me but to us as a couple..now to motivate him to join me in some new activities!! But..all is not hopeless, last weekend and the theater was a great start place for trying new things!! I think the keys are having a strong base of faith, a safe place to call home where you are unconditionally loved, finding what you are passionate about ..incorporating this into your life if not everyday at least on a very regular basis, eating healthy and exercising regularly, laughing often, being grateful for what you have, helping others, and as we are big fans of fuzzy critters here..cuddling with a pet..this has been shown in studies after all to bring down blood pressure and reduce sXs of depression and anxiety..and as I continue to walk on this path of growth and self discovery I have become a super big fan of realizing that I (or we) if you.. will should maybe not only think outside of the box but maybe think like there is no box..that all is possible with a little courage and a whole heck of a lot of faith..So, Fluffy readers..I invite you all to dance like nobody is watching and to have an awesome Wednesday..PS..starting the day with a run is a great way to release all of those feel good hormones and chemicals too..and I will get back to posting pics this afternoon..Marli helped me fix dinner last night..got some great..totally out of the box cat pics!!